Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Janey, looking down, murmured, “Okay. Daddy, actually, not all my friends get piggyback rides from their dads, but they say as long as a family is together, that’s all that matters for happiness.”
Cornell gently kissed Janey’s forehead, reassuring her, “Don’t worry, my dear. Your mom and I will always be here for you.”
After a while, the surgery had begun.
Audrey was anxious, but thankfully, everything went smoothly, and Cornell emerged from the operating room awake soon after.
Over the ensuing days, Luis monitored the postoperative results and was overjoyed. “Cornell, we did it. You’re a hero. This will change the lives of millions!”
Audrey was puzzled. What had they succeeded in? Change the lives of millions?
Luis, catching her bewildered expression, cleared his throat and said, “You two have quite a bit to discuss.” He then hurried out of the room.
Audrey turned to Cornell, who had shown remarkable improvement in the past few days. He could now stand for over half an hour and walk roughly ten meters without any help. His health was getting better each day.
Feeling confident at last, Cornell decided to reveal the full truth to Audrey. “This operation. I was the first human to undergo it!”
Audrey’s jaw dropped. “Didn’t they claim it was 95% successful?”
Cornell clarified, “It is 95??but that was from testing on animals. I was the first person…”
Before Cornell could continue, Audrey punched him hard. Crying, she said, “Cornell, you lied to me again!”
Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she struggled to catch her breath.
“Audrey, Audrey…” Seeing that just calling her name did nothing, Cornell wrapped his arms around her, which slowly calmed her tears.
“Listen to me, the structure of animals and humans is basically the same. I only tried it because it had a 95% chance of success, and I trust Luis,” Cornell explained.
“You should’ve told me…” Audrey was overwhelmed, yet struggled to articulate her feelings.
She felt she should have realized how much his leg meant to him. He often stared at it when he thought he was alone, lost in his thoughts for what seemed like hours. He would also watch other dads playing with their kids in the park, longing in his eyes.
Audrey scolded herself for not being perceptive enough. How could she have failed to grasp what he was thinking during those moments?
But even if she had, what could she have done? Could she really have stopped Cornell from undergoing the surgery and deny him the chance to get better?
Fortunately, the results were positive. Now that the surgery proved to be a success, there was no point in dwelling on it.
Cornell knew she was worried and fearful about the potential complication, but he had no regrets about undergoing the surgery. He wanted to offer her the best, including the best version of himself, because she deserved nothing less.
Cornell’s recovery was swift, and the surgery turned out to be a resounding success.
While he wasn’t ready for intense activities, he could walk normally and stand for hours without any problems.
Soon, their wedding day arrived.
Audrey slipped into the beautiful wedding gown she had designed during her college days. It was a dream finally coming true. Today, she was donning her own creation, marrying the man she loved.
She waited in the dressing room, poised to make her entrance at the right moment.
Just then, the door creaked open.
Hearing light footsteps, Audrey called out, thinking it was Judd, her assistant, “Is it time?”
The figure didn’t respond but continued moving toward her.
Alerted, Audrey spun around, confronting an unexpected guest.
The man wore a white tuxedo, looking both handsome and refined. He dressed as if he were the groom.
“Henley?” Audrey called out his name cautiously. “How did you get in here?”
After being arrested, Alexis had confessed everything in a bid to steer Henley clear of the mess. But was it ever possible for misdeeds to go undetected?
Henley’s manipulative strategies to sneak onto the board of directors had been laid bare, the police uncovering irrefutable evidence and now hot on his heels.
Audrey had assumed he’d escaped abroad and was shocked to find him at her wedding.
With an icy grin, Henley remarked, “It’s your wedding. I might not be the groom, but I just had to be here.”
“Mr. Brooks, I don’t think our past merits an invite to each other’s weddings,” Audrey replied.
Grinning, Henley replied, “You’re so cruel, Audrey. I’m not here to cause trouble.”
Despite his seemingly innocuous look, Audrey remained on high alert.
His past filled with trickery and lies was not something she could easily forget.
“Am I cruel?” With a wry smile, Audrey responded, “I thought it was clear that we’re nothing more than strangers after our last encounter at the International Banquet Center.”
Audrey made their relationship status clear.
Henley’s exit from the center that day was a silent admission of defeat. He was always one to measure the pros and cons. Clearly, he felt Audrey wasn’t worth the risk to his life.
At her words, Henley momentarily lost his composure before regaining it. “Audrey, is risking one’s life the only way to prove love?”
Looking directly at her, he questioned, “If I hadn’t left that night, if I’d been ready to face life and death alongside you, would you have fallen for me?”
“I wouldn’t,” Audrey stated firmly.
Henley scoffed. “See, that’s why I hesitated then.”
“And that’s why I could never love you,” Audrey retorted. “Everything you do is calculated. Family, friendships, and love… You use them all as pawns. That’s why you end up alone.”
As she spoke, Henley’s face grew darker. Audrey’s words were spot-on.
Those who had once supported him abandoned him upon seeing his true self. Alexis was behind bars, and his ex-fianc?e had lost her mind upon learning she’d been manipulated.
Henley gave Audrey a mocking laugh. “It seems you’re quite concerned about me.”
Audrey shook her head dismissively. “I don’t need to keep tabs. Everything about you is splashed across the legal news.”
Indeed, it was a foregone conclusion that those who followed Henley would eventually depart. Their connections were mere conveniences, fragile and easily broken. The only person who might have truly cared for Henley, Alexis, found himself back behind bars.
It was uncertain if Alexis had acted out of a sense of duty as a father, or simply chose not to betray Henley for other reasons.
Certainly, Alexis’ actions were hardly driven by love. They seemed more like a last resort.
Knowing that both he and Henley facing prison would be disastrous, Alexis took the entire blame upon himself, allowing Henley to remain free with the chance to salvage his own situation.
Like Henley, Alexis had weighed the benefits and consequences before deciding to shoulder the burden alone. But to say he didn’t love Henley at all would be incorrect. His love, however, was conditional, laden with terms and calculated moves.
Audrey’s deepest regret concerned Henley’s former fianc?e, Matilda.
She was a 20-year-old heiress, manipulated by Henley with a doctored drink, and left vulnerable to a man over fifty who exploited her without restraint.
When Matilda awoke, Henley had crafted an alibi that not only cleared himself but also framed the older man, allowing him to seize the projects he had set eyes on.
Henley coldly informed Matilda that to be with him, she had to accept such “accidents” as part of their relationship. This violation wasn’t a one-time event but the start of many.
Despite everything, Matilda’s love for Henley led her to tolerate this ordeal, choosing not to pursue the matter. Yet, hearing the man she loved speak so callously pushed her to the brink of madness. Her treasured first experience was tarnished, and her fianc? brazenly told her to expect more such brutal encounters.
Matilda descended into complete insanity, her speech fragmented and nonsensical. Her parents, though they despised Henley deeply, couldn’t bring themselves to harm him. Left with no other options, they admitted their daughter to a sanatorium for treatment.
Henley scoffed with disdain. “Do you think those secret service guys can actually take me down? Audrey, even if they lock me up now, I’ll be out in twenty-four hours.”
Audrey had no reason to doubt Henley’s confidence. She and Cornell had scrutinized the situation. The financial crimes Henley was implicated in were riddled with legal loopholes.
With a top-tier lawyer, escaping charges would be a piece of cake, and the hefty legal fees were trivial for Henley at this point.
After all, Henley had funneled substantial amounts through financial gaps during his tenure at the Clement Group, then under Alexis’ control.
Now, even if the Clement Group possessed incriminating evidence, they couldn’t touch Henley since Alexis had assumed full responsibility for all associated crimes.
While Henley’s reputation was tarnished at home, overseas he was celebrated as a distinguished young entrepreneur.
Meanwhile, Alexis languished in prison, still hoping Henley would come to his aid. It was a futile hope, as even if he decayed behind bars, that callous Henley would never come to rescue him.
Audrey, exasperated by Henley’s arrogance, confronted him. “You mistreated a woman who truly loved you.”
Henley paused, picturing Matilda’s innocent expression. Of all the women he had encountered, she was indeed the most sincere and selfless. If not for Audrey, he might have genuinely cared for her.
He gave a wry smile. “Audrey, I don’t love her. I only love you.”
Audrey recoiled, disgusted. “Just because you don’t love her, you think you can trample over her feelings? Mr. Brooks, your values are truly unacceptable!” She pointed at the door and said firmly, “Please leave now, or I’ll call security.”
While she spoke, she discreetly searched the desk for her phone to call the police.
However, Henley saw her movements reflected in the mirror and smirked slightly. “Audrey, I didn’t come here to hurt you. I just wanted to see you. There’s no need to be so tense.”