Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Luckily, Stefan enjoyed privacy, and his villa was located in the far north. This meant Audrey did not need to interact with other members of the Clifford family.
Stefan’s father had explicitly ordered that Audrey be left undisturbed, allowing her to rest and prepare for childbirth in peace.
Erick, meanwhile, remained in Aurora, covertly searching for Casey.
Although a week had passed since the gifts were sent out, there had been no response.
The gifts were straightforward, consisting of gold items and various luxurious celebratory objects.
The real secret was in the unassuming silk sash wrapped around them.
The embroidery and calligraphy subtly informed Casey that Audrey was now in Aurora.
This present was actually a test, with hidden signals in the embroidery that only Casey and Audrey could interpret.
After a calm week, on this fine day, Audrey planned to take a walk after lunch. Now six months pregnant, she couldn’t stay confined indoors continually, as her doctor had advised her to get some exercise.
However, with numerous spies from the Clifford family around, Audrey was cautious and generally avoided wandering around.
Audrey and Stefan resided in different rooms within the villa, with her upstairs and him downstairs, maintaining their disguise.
For the first three days, they didn’t even step outside.
Rumors were circulating about them being inseparable, staying Locked up in their rooms without leaving their doors.
Even during dinner with Stefan’s father, he had acknowledged their close bond but advised them to be cautious, given Audrey’s pregnancy was no trivial matter.
After dinner, Stefan’s father even suggested that Stefan might take a concubine to satisfy his needs.
Stefan firmly declined, pointing out they had only been married for three days. Yet, his father was already considering a concubine for him.
This incident highlighted the diminished status of women in Aurora.
In the view of those men, women were merely tools for reproduction and physical pleasure, devoid of any rights.
Audrey understood why Stefan opted for a fake marriage to get away from the Clifford family, as anyone with a modern education would struggle to tolerate such outdated, oppressive views.
After lunch, Stefan took Audrey for a walk in a park near the villa.
Having never been outside the Clifford family’s manor in Aurora, Audrey found everything outside intriguing. On the way, she eagerly absorbed the surrounding landscapes, while Stefan shared stories linked to the local customs.
Their conversation flowed easily, free from any discomfort.
Behind them, a black SUV followed at a leisurely pace.
Stefan could see the driver of the SUV from the rearview mirror.
Though not recognizing the driver, he had a suspect of the man in the backseat.
Stefan glanced at Audrey, who seemed unaware, still captivated by the roadside scenery.
Stefan chose not to mention it.
When they arrived, Stefan opened the car door for Audrey and offered his hand to assist her. This gesture was somewhat intimate, resembling that of a genuine couple.
Audrey hesitated, unsure about accepting his help.
Noticing her hesitation, Stefan explained, “The ground is covered in pebbles, so I’ll support you to ensure you walk safely.”
Embarrassed by her hesitation, Audrey realized how thoughtful Stefan always was, and felt it was unreasonable of her to feel awkward about such a small act. She reached out her hand, which Stefan took firmly.
After they disembarked, Stefan maintained his hold until they had walked past the pebbled path. He then walked beside Audrey without holding her hand.
In sparsely populated Aurora, the park was still underdeveloped, making a variety of charming Little animals.
As they walked, various animals approached them.
Stefan had come prepared with bread and nuts, knowing these were approved foods for feeding the wildlife here. He crouched down and scattered the nuts on the ground.
A lively squirrel dashed forward, seized a nut, and then retreated a few steps before settling down to munch on it.
The squirrel’s eating behavior was quite charming, and Audrey’s eyes lit up with a soft smile as she observed. She watched the squirrel, the squirrel clutched the nut, and beside her, Stefan’s gaze was intently fixed on her smile.
At first glance, Audrey appeared pure and beautiful, but those who got to know her discovered her many other admirable qualities, extending far beyond her outward appearance.
She was exceedingly kind, unselfish, and always mindful of the elderly’s feelings. She treated everyone with fairness, provided they weren’t prone to mistreating others.
However, Audrey stood her ground against those who were malicious.
She could be gentle and sweet when the situation called for it, yet also strong and decisive when needed. She was the type of person who continually drew others in, making them appreciate her virtues more and more.
Noticing Audrey’s enthusiasm for feeding the animals, Stefan offered her the remaining food. “Would you like to try?”
Audrey looked at the food, excitement evident in her eyes. “Can I really feed them?”
Some wild animals could be somewhat aggressive toward newcomers.
Audrey figured Stefan must be a regular visitor here, which explained the animals’ familiarity with him. Even though she was keen to try feeding them, she hadn’t suggested it herself.
“Absolutely,” Stefan assured her with a gentle smile. “The animals here are very tame, and the food I’ve brought is approved by the park staff, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Then I’ll give it a try.” Audrey took the bread from him, broke it into small pieces, and scattered them on a stone bench. Soon, a flock of birds swooped in and swiftly carried away the bread pieces.
The food vanished in moments.
They continued their walk around the park, and by the time they decided to head back, the air had turned cooler.
“Are your hands cold?” Stefan suddenly asked. He had noticed her fingers tucked into her sleeves.
The day-to-night temperature swing was significant, and though Audrey felt a bit cold, she preferred not to bother others. She smiled and said, “It’s alright. We’re nearly at the car.”
To Audrey’s astonishment, Stefan suddenly pulled out a pair of gloves from his pocket and helped her put them on. He said cheerfully, “I saw these at the store recently and thought you might need them in this chill.”
Audrey examined the gloves, noticing their soft pink wool, clearly designed for a woman, and very cozy.
Stefan’s thoughtfulness made Audrey feel slightly overwhelmed. Yet, she fumbled for the right words to say, assuming she had overthought things, as both Stefan and Erick had advised her not to worry too much.
“Thank you, Stefan,” Audrey whispered gently.
“Don’t be so formal with me,” Stefan replied.
Stefan’s expression was tender, his eyes gleaming with happiness as he Looked at Audrey.
Meanwhile, a black SUV was leaving the park.
The sound of the engine starting was quite loud, making Audrey instinctively turn her head to look, but the dark tint on the windows blocked her view. Yet, she couldn’t rid herself of the nagging sensation that something wasn’t quite right, as if a set of eyes had been observing her.
“Audrey?” Stefan called out twice to recapture her attention.
“What?” Audrey responded.
Stefan smiled. “What were you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
The air was getting colder, and Audrey rubbed her arms. “Stefan, let’s head back.”
In Audrey’s eyes, Stefan was like a big brother. She addressed him as naturally as she would her brother. Thus, the word “let’s” came out effortlessly.
A soft smile appeared in Stefan’s eyes as he gently suggested, “Okay, let’s go home.”
In the black SUV, Cornell’s handsome face was expressionless, as cold as ice.
The driver in the front seat sensed the cold atmosphere and cautiously asked, “Mr. Clement, where to now?”
“Back to the hotel,” Cornell replied curtly.
The driver breathed a sigh of relief, glad that the day of tension was over.
The driver had been working for Cornell for a week. His assignment was to specifically monitor the entrance of the Clifford family’s manor from morning to evening, with someone else taking over at night.
Today, they had ventured out, tailing Stefan’s car to the park for a walk.
The driver was puzzled over why Cornell insisted on watching the young couple’s romance, yet appeared so irritated by it. Why bother to follow them in the first place?
On the way back, Audrey fell asleep. Likely due to the advanced stage of her pregnancy, she often felt exceptionally drowsy.
Upon reaching their destination, Stefan carefully parked the car.
Not wanting to disturb her, he observed the sleeping Audrey. He softly adjusted her seat back, tugged the blanket up a bit higher over her lap, and turned down the air conditioning to ensure she could sleep as comfortable as possible.