Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Audrey, unconvinced by his stoic facade, recalled the size of the rock that had hit him, something she doubted anyone could shrug off.
With concern in her eyes, she started to undo his shirt to inspect the damage. “I need to see for myself.”
Cornell stopped her by pressing her hand against his chest, his tone playful. “Why the hurry? Are you into doing this outside?”
Focused on inspecting his injury, Audrey attempted to free her hand.
“What’s wrong with being outside?”
Cornell quirked an eyebrow. “We’ve got spectators. Doesn’t that bother you?”
Audrey blinked in confusion. “What?”
With a sly smile, Cornell leaned closer, his tone teasing. “If you’re really into it, we can find somewhere private once we’re home. I will surely let you enjoy to the fullest.”
Only then did Audrey realize what he referred. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment, she retorted, “Who’s interested in that? You’re the one who is!”
“Yes, I am,” Cornell admitted nonchalantly. “But the rescue team will be here any moment.”
The guards arranged by Cornell had spotted them before they had fallen down. The sound of a helicopter buzzed in the distance, Likely coming their way.
Cornell pinched Audrey’s cheek gently, his voice low and husky. “I won’t let others see my wife.”
Audrey’s face blushed a deep shade of red. She was done dealing with him.
Cornell saw her frustrated look and felt a wave of tenderness wash over him. He understood Audrey’s concerns.
Each breath he took sent a sharp pain through his back, a harsh reminder of his injury. He didn’t want Audrey to be worried, so he bore the pain silently.
He had to hold on until the helicopter arrived. Out here in the wilderness, he felt a constant unease.
In an attempt to lighten the mood, Cornell teased, “You know, a kiss from you might just be the cure I need.”
Audrey’s cheeks turned even redder, annoyed. “Enough with the jokes.”
“I’m serious,” Cornell replied.
He leaned in, his hand gently caressing her cheek, smiling. “Ready to give it a shot, my little miracle cure?”
Audrey’s ears turned bright red, and she pressed her lips together, visibly struggling.
Just then, the sound of a helicopter’s engine filled the air above them.
Cornell released her, murmuring, “You owe me one.”
Shortly afterward, they boarded the helicopter together.
Cornell draped a blanket around Audrey and then sat down, staying quiet and upright.
Audrey, having seen him joke around before, thought the rock might not have hit him that seriously.
However, even before they landed, Cornell began to show signs of distress. He broke out in a cold sweat with rapid breathing and pale face.
Upon reaching the hospital in town, a local doctor quickly cut open Cornell’s shirt, revealing a sight that shocked Audrey.
Cornell’s back was covered in bruises, making it hard to tell what his skin originally looked like.
The area around his shoulder blade was particularly bad, with large patches of black and purple that looked like they were rotting.
Audrey’s tears flowed freely as she realized the extent of his injuries. They were much worse than she had feared.
It made sense now why Cornell had sat so straight on the helicopter.
Lying down seemed impossible for him.
Audrey couldn’t begin to understand how much pain he must have been in, trying to keep her spirits up with his jokes.
After getting a shot for the pain, Cornell passed out.
The doctor, after examining an X-ray, announced, “He’s got twelve broken ribs. Our hospital isn’t equipped to handle this. He needs to be transferred to a larger facility immediately.”
Twelve ribs of Cornell’s were broken. But one man only had twenty-four ribs in total.
Audrey couldn’t fathom the agony Cornell must be in, her heart nearly breaking with the thought.
She accompanied Cornell to the ambulance, her eyes filled with tears.
If Cornell hadn’t acted to save her, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt so badly. The rock would have struck her if he hadn’t shielded her.
Surviving a fall into the deep pond below would have been doubtful after such a hit. No wonder it took Cornell so long to resurface from the bottom of the lake.
Audrey shuddered at the thought of the sheer willpower it must have taken him to swim up and then, despite his pain, carry her to safety.
Upon reflecting, Audrey realized his position was slightly awkward, indicating the extent of his pain.
After forty minutes, Cornell was transferred to a more advanced hospital.
Matteo hurried over from Ardlens upon learning Cornell’s injuries.
Inside the hospital room, Cornell lay unconscious and pale, his hand hooked to an IV drip.
Observing Cornell’s condition, Matteo was uneasy. Cornell had not yet recovered from previous injuries, and now he had new ones. Only Iron Man could take such torment.
Audrey was confused about the doctor’s remarks concerning Cornell’s condition. Cornell was gravely hurt, yet the doctor was particularly worried about his poor blood clotting. Cornell was known for his robust health, seldom falling ill. What could have caused such a drastic decline in his health?
Audrey approached Matteo, who was on his way out. “Matteo, the doctor said Cornell’s blood isn’t clotting properly. Do you have any idea why?”
At this, Matteo’s face fell. Cornell had been scheduled to have blood tests with a specialist overseas, but those plans were now off the table.
Matteo had never encountered such a medical issue before. He pondered whether the syringe had struck in Cornell was starting to cause complications. However, he couldn’t disclose this to Audrey since Cornell had disapproved.
Nonetheless, Matteo didn’t want Cornell’s efforts to go unnoticed. He paused and then said to Audrey, “Miss Foster, Mr. Clement had assigned me to look into those targeting you. We think the Maxwell family may be involved. In pursuit of this, Mr. Clement had traveled to Aurora, tirelessly seeking contacts but to no avail.
Mr. Clement had been pushing himself hard, sleeping less than twenty hours over several days. This extreme lack of rest was bound to take a toll on his health.”
Audrey’s heart skipped a beat, realizing she had been too caught up in her charity work to notice Cornell’s condition.
Cornell’s trips, which she thought were for business, were actually his way of protecting her, tirelessly investigating despite his own responsibilities, all without telling her.
Tears filled Audrey’s eyes, as she grasped the extent of her oversight concerning his dedication.
Matteo, noticing Audrey’s guilt, softened his expression. He knew what information to share and what to keep to himself. With Cornell’s health in jeopardy, alerting Audrey to potential threats might heighten her vigilance, ensuring her own safety. The last thing Cornell wanted was to see any harm come Audrey’s way.
Matteo added, “Miss Foster, I’m sharing this to urge you to be more vigilant for your safety and to show you that Mr. Clement has been unwavering in his commitment to you. He’s been protecting you with great effort, choosing not to burden you with these issues, but his care for you is deep and sincere.”
Audrey bit her lip, her throat tightening with emotion. She feared that even uttering the slightest sound would unleash a torrent of tears. Cornell had quietly done so much for her, always ensuring her safety, without ever seeking recognition. What a fool he was.
Matteo went off to get in touch with Luis, troubled by the decline in Cornell’s condition, which used to be robust. The pressing issue was whether the decline was due to the effect of the syringe.
Matteo wanted Luis to bring the oversea doctor to Ardlens and diagnose Cornell’s condition.
Audrey remained by Cornell’s bedside, not leaving him for a moment.
In the evening, she tenderly cleaned his face with a warm cloth, her fingers carefully outlining his features.
For so long, she had never taken the time to observe him.
Cornell’s lashes were indeed long, lending him a look of innate affection. His straight nose and well-defined jawline were striking.
There wasn’t a single aspect of him that wasn’t appealing.
As Audrey touched his lips, often seen as a sign of sternness, she felt overwhelmed by his deep love. Tears filled her eyes as she softly said, “You big fool…”
Nicole got back to Jarrod’s place after her day’s work. She had been staying here for some days now. She had brought her clothing over for daily needs.
During mealtime, a servant mentioned Jarrod was in a video conference.
Therefore, Nicole didn’t go up to check on him.
These past few days, Jarrod’s condition has slightly improved. Barely able to get out of bed, he started dealing with the backlog of work.
Nicole respected him for his work ethic. In terms of dedication to work, Jarrod was among the best.
It was a relief to see him getting better. Once he was fully on his feet, she planned to leave.
While eating, Nicole thought about her upcoming deal with Mr. Hampton.
It wasn’t ideal for her to attend in person, but there was no suitable candidate.
After thinking it over, she decided she would have to do it herself.