Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“I will get better soon to play with you and your little brothers.”
Annis, worried that Luciana might get tired, suggested taking Janey outside for a while.
Once only Audrey and Cornell remained in the room, Luciana, with tears in her eyes, turned to Audrey and said, “Audrey, I owe you the most. Can you forgive me?”
Luciana’s thoughts drifted to Janey’s adorable face, regretting her past blindness. Before, her consideration was limited to Cornell, having fully neglected Audrey’s feelings.
Audrey sat down, took Luciana’s hand, and reassured her, “Luciana, let’s put the past behind us. Get well soon. I want you to enjoy some time with my babies. You’re the grandmother, after all.”
Luciana was taken aback, hardly believing that Audrey would forgive her, let alone want to be close again. She was surprised that Audrey held no grudges about the past and even wanted her to spend time with her babies as a family should.
Tears welled up in Luciana’s eyes as she felt a surge of motivation to make amends. “Thank you, Audrey. Thank you so much…”
Luciana wept uncontrollably.
Wrapping her arms around Luciana, Audrey murmured, “Janey and I… We’re grateful to you.”
Their deep conversation helped Luciana shed her initial reservations.
Realizing Audrey had truly forgiven her, she felt a wave of happiness and started to look out for Audrey.
Turning to Cornell, Luciana inquired, “Cornell, when do you plan to marry Audrey?”
This question took both Audrey and Cornell by surprise.
Judging by their reactions, Luciana figured they hadn’t yet talked about it. She warned Cornell, “Listen, if you don’t arrange a proper wedding, her parents will never approve. You better start planning soon, or I won’t stand by and watch Audrey be treated unfairly.”
Cornell remained silent, his eyes fixed on Audrey.
Luciana pressed on, “What does your silence mean? Don’t you want a wedding?”
“Mom, of course I want one, but I’m not sure if Audrey agrees…”
How could Cornell not want a wedding with Audrey? They’d divorced and remarried, but never with a proper ceremony. It was just the legal formalities.
Cornell’s fake wedding with Katie had later been exposed as a setup to catch the international criminal, Lorenzo, with the police revealing the whole plot.
Therefore, to the people of Ardlens, Cornell was still a bachelor.
After the rollercoaster of losing and regaining Audrey, Cornell was eager to announce to everyone that Audrey was his wife.
Yet, bringing up a wedding so soon after the death of Davey, who was Audrey’s biological father, felt out of place to Cornell.
Luciana, observing Audrey and knowing the couple’s reserved nature, realized that without a nudge, they’d remain silent. Eager to become an official grandmother, she decided to step in.
“Audrey, would you like to have a wedding? It’s your call,” she proposed gently.
Audrey turned to Cornell, meeting his hopeful gaze, his mind transparent to her. She had considered it herself. Her previous wedding with Stefan in Aurora was merely a sham, having missed out on many traditional elements.
It was Audrey who had suggested skipping them, feeling that certain rites should be reserved for a heartfelt celebration with her true love.
Now, with no more upheavals, Audrey was ready to move forward without delay. As she was about to speak, Cornell cut her off.
“Alright. Mom, take it easy. We’ll visit again soon.”
Luciana paused, spotting Cornell’s “V” sign behind his back, and murmured, “Clever boy, you’ve got plans…”
Feeling reassured, Luciana relaxed, content to await her official title as a grandmother.
Audrey was abruptly pulled away by Cornell. She hadn’t answered yet when he hurriedly whisked her away.
Outside Luciana’s ward, Janey and Annis were nowhere in sight. Audrey was just about to call them when Cornell intervened and explained, “Janey was getting sleepy, so I had Matteo take them back first.”
Audrey simply responded, “Oh. She then pocketed her phone and thought nothing more of it. However, as they drove, she began to wonder why Cornell hadn’t let her speak.”
Suddenly, the car came to a stop.
Cornell asked, “Want a cup of coffee? There’s a coffee shop over there. Want to give it a shot?”
Audrey glanced at the shop, advertising her once favorite, which she had avoided since she started breastfeeding. Hesitant, she turned to Cornell and inquired, “Can I have some?”
“Absolutely.”
Cornell, leaning on his crutch, helped Audrey out of the car and into the shop. After taking their coffee, he led her to a bench in the park where they sat sipping their drinks.
Audrey was overwhelmed with joy in these moments.
As they finished their drinks, Cornell turned to her. “Want to take a stroll around the park?”
Audrey gave a nod, and they held hands as they walked through the park.
Without realizing it, they wandered into a sea of flowers.
Thousands of red roses formed a heart-shaped arrangement in the middle of the park, with Audrey and Cornell right at its center.
Audrey gasped in awe. “These flowers are so beautiful,” she remarked.
Cornell, gazing at her with deep affection, smiled and replied, “As long as they make you happy.”
Before Audrey could respond, Cornell suddenly let go of his crutch, slowly knelt down, and presented a ring box, opening it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring. “Audrey, will you marry me?”
Audrey was lost for words.
Only then did Audrey realize why Cornell had silenced her earlier. He had been orchestrating his proposal.
Tears filled Audrey’s eyes as she nodded and whispered, “Yes.”
Moved by the moment, tears welled up in Cornell’s eyes. He had meticulously arranged this proposal. A team was chosen to set up the scene, just waiting for the right moment to execute the plan.
Once Cornell learned about Audrey’s feelings at the hospital, he immediately directed the team to begin setting up. He then intentionally lingered at the coffee shop, granting him the time to check and ensure everything was set.
Thankfully, it all worked out beautifully.
As Cornell slipped the ring onto Audrey’s finger, a flock of white doves soared into the sky.
Simultaneously, fireworks erupted, lighting up the evening. The sky was adorned with red balloons and white doves, creating a breathtaking spectacle.
Overwhelmed and at a loss for words, Audrey covered her mouth.
Cornell, leaning on his crutch, stood up and then stooped to embrace Audrey.
By this time, a crowd had formed around them, their voices echoing with congratulations. The atmosphere was vibrant with bubbles of joy.
Afterward, Cornell began planning their wedding, eager for it to be flawless. Tons of details needed to be prepared well in advance, including ordering items and flowers from abroad for the venue.
Everything was coming together smoothly, with the wedding scheduled for Valentine’s Day.
Cornell decided to have surgery before the wedding to fully heal his leg.
Audrey understood his reasons. He wanted to look his best and not feel impaired on their special day. Though he tried to hide it, he was quite self-conscious about his leg.
Audrey asked about the risks of surgery, learning that it had a 95% success rate. It was a reassuringly high figure. Nonetheless, she couldn’t help but worry about the remaining 5% chance of complications.
As they lay together, Audrey whispered a reminder, “Don’t forget your promise. No matter what happens, you won’t leave me.”
She wanted to remind him that their being together, along with their children, was the most important thing.
Uneasy, Audrey began to reconsider their plans. “Cornell, what about skipping the wedding and going on a honeymoon? What do you think?”
Deep down, she was tormented by fears of his impending surgery.
Cornell, trying to soothe her fears, replied, “Don’t fret. The surgery is safe. I’ll be right by your side, come what may.”
With lingering anxiety, Audrey awaited the day of Cornell’s surgery.
Outside the operating room, Audrey, along with Janey, Westin, and Juan, awaited news.
Earlier, Janey had caught a glimpse of Cornell, clad in hospital garb, which nearly brought her to tears.
After some coaxing from Audrey, Janey’s tears had dried, though she still yearned to speak with Cornell.
Cornell, stroking her hair, smiled and inquired, “What’s bothering you, Janey?”
“Daddy, why do you need surgery?”
“I want to be your superhero again, sprinting and playing without a hitch,” Cornell explained with a hopeful glint in his eyes.
Janey pondered silently. She no longer needed Cornell to carry her.
Yet, Audrey had emphasized the crucial nature of the surgery.