Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
With that, he turned and left.
Luciana stood there, her hands shaking. Despite her relatively robust condition, she had been on psychiatric meds for such a long time under the instruction of the so-called doctor Katie had introduced to her.
Luciana break out into cold perspiration. No wonder her thoughts were always so jumbled since taking the medicine, leading her to act against her own desires. If Cornell was speaking the truth, that suggested Katie had been tricking her all this time. She swallowed hard, wondering the harm she had done to Cornell and and Audrey.
Just then, after consulting Henley, Katie returned and walked up to Luciana, who seemed lost in thought. “Luciana, are you alright?” she inquired gently.
“Nothing, it’s just my hands… They’re not cooperating,” Luciana fumbled for words to reply, keeping her thoughts to herself.
Katie didn’t think much of it, assuming it was merely side effects from the medicine. Holding Luciana’s hand, she said softly, “Luciana, I really need you to have a word with Cornell for me. He’s completely taken with Audrey now. He’s not thinking straight. Please, talk to Cornell for his future’s sake!”
Her mind in chaos, Luciana nodded absentmindedly. “Okay, I get it. I’ll have a chat with him.”
“Please do it today. I bet Cornell’s with Audrey right this minute,”
Katie said, clearly upset. “You might not be aware, but Audrey had given birth to a kid with another man. Cornell ignores his own child but looks after Audrey’s, totally enchanted by her.”
Luciana, thinking back on her encounters with Audrey, felt she got all muddled up. Her memories of Audrey being polite and warm were at odds with the idea that Katie was pushing, painting Audrey as some kind of witch aiming to ruin Cornell.
Gripping her head in pain, Luciana groaned and said, “Katie, my head’s throbbing. I need to lie down.”
Katie, slightly annoyed but hiding it well, sweetly offered, “Alright, I’ll get someone to drive you home.”
Luciana hopped in the car. Before long, she reached home. As she stepped out of the vehicle, she inadvertently saw the driver texting Katie to report.
It dawned on Luciana that her life had been subtly invaded by Katie, even to the extent of arranging her transportation, keeping tabs on her without her noticing.
Back in her room, Luciana emptied all the medication provided by the so-called doctor Katie had introduced to her down the drain. Then, she filled those medicine bottles with similar-looking vitamins.
Just as she felt like making a call, she halted, recalling this phone was sent by Katie.
Instead, Luciana used an old phone, normally for ordering groceries from the servants, and called someone. “Fritz, is that you? It’s Luciana. I need your help to look into someone.. “
Later that evening, Audrey learned about Cornell’s being investigated from Erick, who was abroad.
Without wasting a moment, Audrey called Cornell. The phone barely rang once before he answered.
“Hey, Audrey, what’s going on?” Cornell’s voice was gentle.
“My brother just told me you’re under investigation. Is that true?”
Audrey didn’t beat around the bush.
Cornell paused before answering, “Yes, but it’s no big deal. Don’t sweat it.”
Audrey wasn’t convinced. Erick’s account suggested the gravity of the situation, with Alexis and Henley up to no good.
“You’re not telling me the whole truth again. Where are you?” Audrey pressed.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
“One second,” Audrey said, thinking Annis had reached the gate with her groceries.
Audrey moved to answer the door, but after she opened it, she was met with Cornell, looking as handsome as ever.
Shocked, Audrey switched her gaze between her phone and Cornell.
Cornell smirked slightly, his tone playful. “Miss Foster, it seems a homeless man has shown up at your door. Any chance you could let him in?”
Cornell’s face held a semblance of calm, yet Audrey noticed the shadows of fatigue darkening his eyes.
Immobilized by a tumult of emotions, Audrey felt Cornell’s arms encircle her gently, his chin finding a soft perch on her shoulder.
A whisper from Cornell, heavy with weariness, broke the silence between them. “Audrey, I missed you.”
Cornell held Audrey close with a tender caution, as if he was mindful of her fragility, his touch light to avoid any discomfort.
Cornell’s consistent thoughtfulness toward her, even in his own distress, touched a deep chord within Audrey. Her heart went out to him, all the more because Erick had briefed her on the day’s grim developments.
The betrayal by Alexis, Henley, Katie, and Luciana — each one of them, who were supposed to be Cornell’s support, had instead turned their backs on him. They had unsheathed their daggers, leaving Cornell to fend for himself in the chill of abandonment. The coldness he must have endured!
Audrey knew Cornell’s jest of being homeless transcended the absence of a physical shelter. It meant being devoid of a sanctuary for the soul.
Holding Cornell more firmly, Audrey offered her reassurance with a voice soft as a caress, “You still have me and Janey. We’re right here with you.”
At her words, Cornell’s posture tensed slightly, a silent acknowledgment of the weight they carried. Audrey, with her inherent kindness, had once again managed to stir the depths of his heart.
“That’s why I’m here,” he whispered softly into her ear.
Within the sanctuary of his embrace, Audrey’s reply came as a muffled affirmation.
Soon after, Cornell gently lifted her face until their foreheads met, his voice a tender murmur. “Promise to stay with me, both of you, forever, okay?”
The earnestness in his gaze, star-like and radiant, sent Audrey’s heart into a flurry, compelling her to nod as though spellbound.
Sensing her assent, warmth unfurled in Cornell’s chest, a sensation akin to his heart being enfolded in the gentle embrace of soft cotton candy.
Cornell then leaned in for a kiss, a slow melding of lips that spoke of shared moments and silent promises.
Following their kiss, he teasingly nipped her lip, his voice husky.
“Audrey, how do you manage to be so incredible?”
Resting against him, still breathless from their passionate kissing, Audrey murmured, “Because you deserve everything good, Cornell. You truly do.” His kindness toward her made her support for him natural, unwavering.
Once inside, Cornell’s gaze swept the surroundings, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation. “Where’s Janey?”
“She’s at summer camp for the week,” Audrey replied.
A shadow passed over Cornell’s face at the news, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Audrey reflected on the day’s trials Cornell had faced, including missing out on time with Janey. Hesitantly, she ventured, “Would you like to get some rest?”
His deep gaze met her offer, prompting a rush of panic in Audrey.
Hastily, Audrey added, “I mean… Resting might help you feel better, given everything that’s happened.”
Her hands fluttered in the air as she hurried to clarify, “I didn’t mean… Not in that way, together.”
Cornell’s laughter broke through the awkwardness, his response light-hearted. “Hmm, resting sounds like a good idea. I’ll take a shower first.”
Audrey was left second-guessing her choice of words.
Post-shower, Cornell emerged, his hair still slightly damp, adorned with nothing but a towel.
Audrey, who had readied the guest room, found herself unable to meet his gaze, softly suggesting, “You should get some rest.”
Just as she turned to leave, Cornell reached out to catch her wrist, gently pulling her onto the bed beside him.
“Cornell… Audrey’s voice carried a mix of surprise and nervousness, akin to a kitten caught off guard.”
Cornell wrapped his arms around her, his voice a soothing murmur.
“Sleeping with you in my arms will help me rest.”
Audrey and Cornell both fell into a deep, undisturbed slumber that lasted well into the night, their rest going undisturbed by Annis who was aware of Cornell’s presence.
Wrapped in the comfort of Cornell’s embrace within the cool embrace of the air-conditioned room, Audrey found an unexpected tranquility.
Noticing Cornell’s furrowed brow even in sleep, she carefully extricated herself to avoid waking him and ventured into the kitchen.
There, she found some fresh ingredients and decided to prepare meals.
As she began cooking, her phone rang with a video call from Erick, who was currently overseas.
Drying her hands, Audrey answered with a warm, “Erick.”
Erick, catching sight of Audrey in the kitchen and noting the time, expressed concern, “It’s late. You haven’t eaten yet?”
Audrey offered a casual explanation, “I took a nap in the afternoon.”
She brushed off her late-night culinary activity as a mere extension of her disrupted daily routine.
“I was caught up in a meeting earlier and couldn’t chat much,” Erick explained.
“It’s alright. I understand,” Audrey replied, diving straight into her concern. “Erick, do we have any family projects that could partner with the Clement Group?”
Erick couldn’t resist a playful jab. “Oh, this desperate to help Cornell out? Seems I might need to return and realign your priorities.”
“Erick!” Audrey’s voice carried a mix of amusement and exasperation, familiar with Erick’s teasing nature.