Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Still, she managed a bitter smile. “Cornell, I’ve already thought this way for a while. Since we last saw each other, I’ve treated you like a stranger. Why can’t you do the same? What’s all this about? I never comment on your upcoming marriage to Katie, and you know that…”
She resumed speaking after pausing for a bit, her voice rough. “You knew Katie was involved in that kidnapping incident, but you still chose to marry her. She’s a merciless murderer, and you’re covering for her. Are you trying to leave me with nowhere to go in Ardlens?”
Audrey’s eyes welled up with tears as she pressed him, “Cornell, who here is truly out of their mind?”
Cornell gripped Audrey’s arm tighter, and no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t break free. He didn’t let go, holding on as if he feared she might vanish right before his eyes.
Audrey struggled multiple times, her arms aching from being pinched.
“Let me go! I want to get out of this car! I don’t want anything to do with you, nor do I want to share the same air! Can’t you stick to your word? Meet and part ways, isn’t that what you said?” she exclaimed.
“Meeting and parting ways…” Cornell echoed quietly, as though speaking to himself.
His eyes reddened as he replied hastily, “I must be the crazy one. Just see me as crazy, but my actions are for your own good…”
Before he could finish, Audrey cut him off with scornful laughter.
“Cornell, since when do you have the right to decide what’s best for me? Aren’t I a stranger to you now? What’s the point of being nice?”
Without waiting for Cornell’s response, Audrey pressed on, “Think about it. Since you’ve returned, have you done anything but embarrass me and make me feel worthless? What good have you done for me?”
Audrey fixed her gaze on Cornell’s troubled face, demanding, “Can you answer me that? What have you done that’s actually helped.”
“I…” Cornell struggled to find the words of apology that lingered on the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn’t utter them.
A cool breeze swept over, jolting Cornell awake. With multiple threats still in the picture, he couldn’t openly explain to Audrey why he was being this cold. All he could offer was a clear way forward for her, free from worries or burdens.
With this in mind, Cornell pulled himself together. His face became cold and stern as he said, “Sorry for being nosy.”
Audrey clenched her fists, unable to respond. She was exhausted, thoroughly so. She had rebuilt her hopes over and over, only for them to be shattered repeatedly by Cornell.
Audrey laughed at herself. Just moments ago, she had thought he still cared about her, and maybe he couldn’t let her go. She assumed everything he did had a reason behind it.
However, it seemed to be all in her head since she couldn’t find any hints about his looking out for her. She overestimated herself.
Clenching her teeth, Audrey fought back the rising sourness in her throat before saying slowly, “Mr. Clement, I hope you won’t interfere like that again. I don’t need you to look out for me, and it annoys me. If we run into each other again, just meet and part ways, okay?”
Cap?tulo 866:
Audrey reflected on Erick’s revelation that the boy she had saved back when she was a child was actually Cornell.
At that time, Cecilia’s family as well as Cornell’s were invited to the estate.
Unfamiliar with the surroundings, Cornell had accidentally fallen through the ice into a lake. It was Audrey, then just a child, who fearlessly broke through the ice to save him.
The rescue was intense. Audrey herself had fallen in the lake and nearly drowned.
After Audrey pulled Cornell up, who was almost twice her size, from the ice, Cecilia quickly ordered servants to take Cornell away.
Audrey, unaware of Cornell’s name at that time, had only mentioned to her brother and mother that she saved a boy. Her mother reprimanded her for recklessly jumping into the water.
But at that moment, Audrey didn’t dwell on it. It was a charity day at the estate, attended by many other children. Cornell and his family had soon left, and what happened next wasn’t hard to guess.
Cornell woke up, and Cecilia took the credit. Being grateful, Cornell had been thinking he was in Cecilia’s debt.
Cornell was oblivious to the truth that Audrey was the one who had risked her own life to save him from drowning. That incident left Audrey with a crippling fear of water every time she saw it.
Later, Audrey got lost and suffered a head injury that caused her to lose some of her memory. She even started to believe she couldn’t swim. But in reality, she was an excellent swimmer. Her skills had saved her when she fell into the river five years ago. The fear spurred her to tap into her hidden potential.
Cornell remained unaware of the truth, and there seemed no point in bringing it up.
As far as Audrey was concerned, this balanced out any debt of gratitude she owed him. They went their separate ways and never crossed paths again.
Just before Audrey got out of Cornell’s car, she stated firmly, “Cornell, I don’t owe you anything. Please, stay out of my life.”
With those words, she grabbed her bag, opened the car door, and stepped out decisively. Audrey’s driver happened to be around when she called.
Audrey soon left, while Cornell’s black Maybach sat unmoving where it was parked.
Cornell slouched in his seat, watching as Audrey left his car and entered another, never once glancing his way. A bitter taste filled his chest and crept up to his throat.
Cornell’s eyes turned red as a single tear rolled down his cheek without a sound.
On the way back, Audrey kept to herself the entire time. Her heart felt empty and immense, like dust settling after a storm.
Audrey gave a mocking laugh and muttered, “It’s for the best.” With each failed expectation, her heart seemed to harden faster. What a relief… Soon, she was able to erase Cornell from her life completely.
After waking up, Elin noticed the disheveled clothes scattered on the floor and a half-naked man on the bed, petrified.
This kind of thing really did happen more than once.
Last night, Erick drove Elin home and came up for coffee. He soon declared to stay, claiming he was too exhausted to leave.
Elin suggested Erick sleep on the couch, but in the middle of the night, feeling pity for him, she covered him with a thin blanket. He immediately pulled her into a kiss, leaving her dazed and confused.
She was still groggy from sleep when he carried her into her bed.
Cap?tulo 867:
They were all adults, lying together with their bodies intertwined.
The attraction was undeniable.
Yet, Erick held back in the end, suggesting an alternative.
Confused, Elin heard him ask, “Didn’t you get your period?”
It took Elin a moment to understand what he meant. He had mistaken her bleeding for menstrual blood, not realizing it was from the breaking of her hymen.
With just a couple of experiences spaced widely apart, it was understandable for Elin’s body to have such a reaction to the sudden closeness with Erick.
Elin managed a wry smile. The notion of a divorced woman like her remain untouched must be absurd to others. In particular, she had married the notorious Dayton.
Dayton had openly bragged about their postures to his friends, boasting of Elin’s alleged willingness.
Even post-divorce, Dayton relentlessly tarnished Elin’s reputation, declaring she was an undesirable woman.
Dayton went so far as to accuse Elin of masquerading as virtuous, while secretly harboring desires stronger than those of many men.
Whenever Dayton’s name came up, Elin’s face turned ashen, like brittle paper that might crumble at a touch. She often woke up from nightmares filled with Dayton’s visions.
Before Elin could manage to get a divorce, she had endured two years living with Dayton, a man who seemed devilish. The mere mention of Dayton’s name unleashed a flood of terrible memories and dreams.
At the thought of Dayton, a wave of discomfort swept over Elin. She got up, poured a glass of water, and tried to steady her nerves.
Unbeknownst to her, Erick was approaching from behind.
“Ah!” Surprised, Elin screamed and the glass slipped from her grip.
Luckily, Erick quickly caught the glass before it hit the floor. He felt the water, frowned, and muttered, “Drinking cold water in the middle of the night, can your body handle that?”
Erick, who had just saved the glass, wished he had advised Elin against drinking cold water during her period.
Erick’s reunion with his sister had made him anxious about her well-being, prompting him to learn all he could about women’s health.
Indeed, a man could know everything about caring for a woman. It all depended on his willingness and whether he thought she was worth the effort.
Erick poured the cold water and handed Elin a cup of warm water.
“Here, drink this.”
Surprised and touched, Elin accepted the cup, murmuring gently, “Thank you.”
Once Elin finished drinking, she felt a bit awkward and started making way to her bed, but Erick blocked her way.
Erick placed his hands on the table, drawing her closer, and raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t told me about last night yet.”
Cap?tulo 868:
Their close stance could easily give someone the wrong idea that they were a couple.
However, Elin knew the reality of her situation. She was merely a casual companion for Erick.
Trapped by Erick, Elin was flustered. With nowhere to run, she Looked down and stammered, “What… What do you mean?”
Erick gazed at her and asked pointedly, “1008, your door’s code. Set it on purpose with my birthday?”
Erick was uncertain about how to confront Elin, feeling slightly frustrated. Their connection would never receive his father’s blessing. After all, Elin was merely the daughter of a maid. Even if Elin had never been married before, it still wouldn’t be acceptable.
Elin squeezed her palm and responded quietly under his stare, “It’s Dayton’s birthday.”