Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
The lack of heating in the office meant that if Audrey had lost consciousness inside, her situation could become perilous.
Despite the silence that followed his calls, a part of Cornell clung to the hope that no response might mean Audrey was safe elsewhere.
He knocked persistently, but when he received no answer, a slight sense of relief washed over him.
However, just as he considered taking a break, a soft sound caught his attention. It was a noise as subtle as the flutter of butterfly wings in the empty corridor, which was audible due to the stark quiet of the night.
Cornell’s heart clenched at the sound, a terrifying confirmation of his fears. Audrey was indeed inside his office!
Unable to wait for power restoration, Cornell resorted to using his cane to hammer against the sturdy door, which resisted his desperate strikes.
Frustrated but determined, he shouted, “Audrey, Audrey, don’t fall asleep! Hold on, just hold on!” as he continued to batter the door, each strike a plea for her safety.
Within Cornell’s office, silence prevailed. Even the faint sounds had ceased.
Only Cornelll’s distressed shouts and the noise from his urgent actions echoed throughout the empty halls. It appeared that the earlier sounds might have been just an illusion.
However, Cornelll remained convinced that Audrey was indeed inside.
He repeatedly struck the door lock, managing only to mark it, without any response from inside.
He realized this approach was futile.
Spotting a fire hose cabinet nearby, which contained an emergency fire extinguisher and an axe, his expression turned grave as he approached it.
Audrey was overwhelmed by the cold. Her awareness ebbed and flowed.
In her delirious state, she felt Cornell had come to her rescue, prompted by the sounds of banging from outside.
On impulse, she reached out and tapped on the door, hoping to signal her presence to Cornell.
Exhaustion overwhelmed her, however, and she struggled to keep her eyes open.
The cold had numbed Audrey completely. All she experienced was a profound fatigue enveloping her.
Her hand fell weakly by her side as she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.
Just as her consciousness was about to fade, a large hole was chiseled through the door by Cornell. He quickly hacked away the lock, and the door finally swung open.
Audrey was found curled on the floor, enshrouded in the deep blue blanket Cornell had previously used.
Suddenly, with a loud snap, power surged back throughout the building.
Gazing at Audrey’s frail, pale figure on the floor stirred a sharp pain in Cornell’s heart.
He knelt down and gently lifted her, her body so cold and rigid that her legs wouldn’t bend. She was still breathing, her furrowed eyebrows indicating distress.
Taking a moment to collect himself, Cornell stood up carefully.
Without his cane, he was unsteady on his feet.
He carefully shifted his weight onto his stronger leg, crouched to retrieve his cane, and propped it against the wall for support.
Struggling with his own physical limitations, Cornell couldn’t carry Audrey in his arms. Instead, he droped her over his shoulder, supporting most of her weight, and used one hand to stabilize himself with his cane as they made their way to the elevator.
Inside the elevator, he pressed the button for the first floor.
As the elevator doors slid open, Matteo was already there with an ambulance team and a stretcher, prepared to assist.
The medical team quickly took charge of Audrey, transferring her to the stretcher as Cornell looked on, following them out with heavy steps.
Matteo, trailing behind, was engulfed in silence, his face etched with guilt. It was his invitation to Audrey that had led to her accidental confinement in Cornell’s office amid plummeting temperatures. If Cornell hadn’t found Audrey, and if assumptions had been made that she wasn’t in Cornell’s office, the consequences might have been dire, beyond any hope of timely rescue.
The ambulance reached the hospital where Aurora’s medical facilities, well-equipped for frostbite, quickly set to work.
Using specialized equipment, they rapidly warmed Audrey’s body, though stabilizing her temperature was only the first step. The recovery from frostbite was slow, and they had to remain vigilant for any signs of fever or other complications.
Erick rushed to the hospital soon after. Despite understanding that this was accidental, frustration and concern clouded his expression.
The thought of his sister suffering stirred deep anxiety. How would he ever explain such a situation to their parents?
Erick recalled the day Audrey was born. Their mother had gently linked his small hand with Audrey’s, asking, “Erick, can you help me look after your sister?”
Gazing down at Audrey, then a tiny, endearing infant, Erick’s heart had swelled with brotherly love. He had energetically nodded, vowing aloud, “I will protect my sister for a lifetime.”
This was a promise Erick had always strived to fulfill.
Throughout the years of Audrey’s absence, there wasn’t a single day Erick didn’t feel consumed by worry, nor could he truly find happiness. It was only upon being reunited with Audrey that he allowed himself a genuine smile, the first since her disappearance.
Erick then looked earnestly at Cornell, his tone heavy with a mix of disappointment and resolve. “Cornell, I think you’re not capable of protecting her.”
“I’m sorry,” Cornell sincerely apologized. He knew he was at fault.
If not for his oversight, Audrey would never have suffered such an ordeal. His self-disgust was so profound that he hoped Erick would hit him so he could feel some relief from his guilt.
At that moment, Matteo dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. He confessed to Erick, “This is on me, sir. I was the one who invited Miss Foster to come see Mr. Clement.”
Matteo was consumed by guilt. His actions had inadvertently led to Audrey being locked in Cornell’s office. He was the one who extended the invitation, but failed to make sure that she left safely. This was a clear neglect of his responsibilities.
Matteo thought to himself that even if Cornell banished him to Tanzania for a decade, he would accept it.
Erick was fully aware of the whole story after investigation.
Initially, Audrey had reached out to Matteo, who then suggested she meet with Cornell.
Erick was convinced that Audrey would have sought Cornell out even without Matteo’s suggestion. It wasn’t Matteo who influenced her decision. She simply needed an excuse, and Matteo had unintentionally provided one.
Erick was a fair man. He placed the blame squarely on those at fault without misdirecting his anger. He helped Matteo to his feet and declared firmly, “Get up. This is mot your fault. Audrey chose to visit on her own.”
Cornell’s face drained of color upon hearing this.
Erick looked at Cornell and remarked, “Audrey isn’t the type to be swayed easily by others. If she sought you out, it was because she couldn’t let go.”
Erick paused, and with a hint of disbelief, he added, “Cornell, I refuse to believe you don’t really understand her.”
“If that’s the case…” Erick was forthright. “You should keep your distance from her for now. Take some time to reflect until your thoughts are clear.”
Honestly, Erick felt let down by Cornell’s actions. He had believed Cornell was capable of protecting Audrey, but this serious blunder had happened.
As Erick turned to walk away, Cornell abruptly seized his arm and said with a trembling voice, “Erick, I don’t want to…”
Cornell lowered his head, conceding defeat. Even if Audrey’s feelings for him were merely out of pity, he was willing to accept them. He simply couldn’t bear to be apart from her…
Erick glanced back, wanted to pull away but found himself unable to.
After all, Cornell had risked his life by donating a significant amount of blood to Audrey for the sake of her well-being.
Yet, the thought of Audrey in pain was unbearable for Erick. He was deeply conflicted!
Eventually, Erick found a middle ground. “I won’t tolerate something like this to happen again. Next time, I won’t be lenient, even if it pains me to separate you two.”
Cornell muttered, “Thank you…”
Erick let out a weary sigh. He decided to view this as settling the life-debt Audrey owed to Cornell. Otherwise, he might continue to be consumed by unease.
Should there be another slip-up that inflicted harm on Audrey, Erick vowed to sever their connection permanently and ensure their paths never crossed again.
At this point, Stefan had made his way to the hospital. After confirming that Audrey was safe, he quickly went back to handle those servants for their slacking off. The nerve of them shirking their responsibilities, under the false belief that Audrey lacked support!
Stefan was determined to set a strict example. He administered a harsh lesson to the negligent driver and the night shift servants who had failed in their duties.
Amidst the cries and howls that followed, the message was clear to all. Audrey was important and should be treated as such. From then on, they wouldn’t dare to neglect their responsibilities.
Stefan then went to find Erick to discuss the situation. This time, he arrived with significant news to share.
Stefan intercepted a clandestine dialogue between his father and another party, unveiling Davey’s scheme to offload his companies in Aurora. It was evident Davey was gearing up to disappear once more.
Whenever Davey slipped away in the past, he left without a trace, offering no breadcrumbs to his whereabouts.
Now on high alert, locating Davey again would be akin to plucking stars from the sky.
Erick’s brow furrowed deeply, knowing full well that this time, their plan had to prevail without a hitch. If they missed this opportunity, locating Casey would be an insurmountable challenge.
Erick’s countenance darkened further, particularly with Audrey’s illness exacerbating the somber atmosphere. Just as the babies’ celebration loomed a mere three he fretted over days away, Audrey’s ability to attend. If not, they’d need to swiftly find a suitable stand-in.
Upon awakening, Audrey found herself confined to a hospital bed, her mind heavy with the remnants of tumultuous dreams.
In those dreams, Cornell seemed to drift farther and farther away, disregarding her pleas and Leaving her with naught but the sting of his merciless departure.
“How are you feeling?” Cornell’s deep voice resonated near her ear.