Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
As Cornell carefully undid the last button, he reassured her, “Easy, I’ll be gentle…”
The room swelled with tender passion, marking the sweet beginning of their new life together.
At a small town nestled at the base of the mountains.
Nicole sat in the courtyard, cozily bundled in a big down jacket that could double as a blanket. She relaxed, enjoying the gentle warmth of the winter sun, her eyes closed in contentment.
Suddenly, the gate creaked open.
A small black dog in the yard excitedly wagged its tail, welcoming the newcomer first.
Roscoe entered, carrying two black fish and a basket filled with winter jujubes.
Nicole got up, removed the medical bag from his shoulder, and asked, “Are these from Mr. Nixon’s family again?”
“Yes, he was quite insistent. He claimed these wild ones are very nutritious and asked me to bring them back for a nourishing soup for you,” Roscoe answered.
After he placed the fish and jujubes down, Roscoe took a large chunk of meat and put it in the dog’s bowl, announcing, “Keith, you get an extra treat today.”
Keith wagged his tail even harder and bent down to eat.
While feeding Keith, Roscoe asked, “Did you keep the house safe today? I wasn’t here, so you had to look out for Nicole.”
Hearing him speak to the dog, Nicole laughed and said, “It’s only a few months old, and you give it lectures every day like this.”
Roscoe stood up, brushed off his hands, and explained, “When I was young, an elder told me all-black dogs without white hair are extremely perceptive. Tell them something a few times, and they’ll remember it.”
Nicole was astonished that Roscoe, being so young and educated, still held onto these beliefs.
What Nicole didn’t realize was that Roscoe only embraced these superstitions after her illness began. In desperate times, people often turned to higher powers, hoping for divine compassion.
Nicole’s situation was critical, and every day Roscoe prayed that the heavens would show her a little more kindness, not asking for much, just some improvement. For him, her health and Austin’s well-being were all that mattered.
Nicole then asked, “How is Mr. Nixon’s grandmother?”
“She caught a cold because of the weather. I’ve given her some herbal remedies. She should recover soon,” he replied.
“That’s good to hear,” Nicole responded.
They had been living in this remote mountain village for nearly half a year.
On the night of their escape, they decided on their car not to flee the country. They knew that crossing the border, no matter how carefully disguised, would inevitably leave traces. Often, the places that seemed the most dangerous were actually the safest.
They decided to remain within the country, changing cars at a junkyard during their journey, and continued driving west for a full week, day and night.
On their journey, they swapped vehicles at junkyards in every town they crossed.
By the time they arrived at their current Location, they were driving the fifth car of their journey.
When their car eventually broke down, an elderly man at the entrance to the village offered them a place to rest.
The old man attempted to repair their car with tools he fetched, but since he had only ever worked on bicycles, he was unable to fix it.
Roscoe concluded it wasn’t worth repairing, thinking it was almost ready for the junkyard and might not even be fixable at a regular garage. He handed the old man several hundred-dollar bills as a token of gratitude for his kindness.
But the old man declined and instead invited them to stay the night.
That evening, the old man built a bonfire. The village was tiny, and mostly inhabited by elderly people. His family and one other couple were the remaining couples. He explained that the village would disappear from the map because it lacked younger residents. Once everyone from their generation was gone, the village would be entirely empty.
That evening, all the villagers emerged, thrilled to see younger visitors after such a long time. They greeted Nicole and Roscoe warmly, not asking why they had come but eager to hear tales from beyond their village.
Nicole felt an unexpected warmth that night, with the elders affectionately calling her “Sweetie,” which reminded her of her late parents.
Assuming Nicole and Roscoe were a couple, the villagers offered them a room to themselves.
Nicole took the bed, while Roscoe settled on a mat on the floor.
As they listened to the cicadas and crickets, Nicole suddenly proposed, “Roscoe, let’s stay here.”
This place was meant for them.
They initially planned to purchase a home, but the villagers insisted it was destiny that brought them there, offering a house where a centenarian couple had lived and died together, claiming it brought good luck and blessings.
Nicole fell in love with the house right away. It had a main building with three rooms, a well, and a big courtyard adorned with a fragrant osmanthus tree blooming in the summer.
And so, they made it their home.
To show his gratitude, Roscoe began offering free medical check-ups and prescriptions to the village elders.
Given the village’s remote location, over sixty miles from the nearest town, Roscoe acquired a motorcycle and a tricycle to facilitate travel.
He cleverly planned to use the motorcycle during the warmer months and the tricycle during the winter to accommodate Nicole’s sensitivity to the cold.
Initially, to keep things low profile, they stayed within the village boundaries for three whole months.
Luckily, the village was a haven of self-sufficiency, with everything they needed, including fruits, vegetables, chicken, duck and fish.
After the first three months, Roscoe started weekly trips to the nearby town. He fetched necessities for the villagers and kept up with the latest happenings in Ardlens. He discovered that Jarrod was the subject of a legal investigation because of a scandal involving his abusive behavior, which had significantly damaged his reputation.
Amid Jarrod’s challenges, the shareholders of the Schultz Group united to vote him out. Officially, they claimed Jarrod was on sick leave, but the consensus was clear. His career was all but finished.
But Jarrod wasn’t one to give up easily. After staying out of the spotlight for two months, he regained support by proposing to Vicki and taking back control of the Schultz Group. He appeared to change his ways, often participating in charity events and openly showing his love for Vicki.
Jarrod continued his career quietly, acting unaffected by Nicole’s disappearance.
However, his efforts to expand the business internationally hinted that Jarrod was still searching for Nicole, albeit more cautiously.
Fortunately, Jarrod centered the search for Nicole abroad, just as Nicole and Roscoe had predicted and desired. This was the reason they had kept Austin away and not brought him to the village. Austin was safe Living with the nanny.
Nicole made video calls every Wednesday to check on Austin, who spoke with Roscoe occasionally.
Despite missing Austin terribly, Nicole limited her video calls with him.
Nicole and Roscoe would not risk bringing Austin to the village until they were certain it was safe. After six months of vigilant observation, they deemed the village secure and secluded enough for their needs.
They planned to bring Austin to the village in the spring. Given his delicate health, the harsh mountain winters were not suitable for him.
They envisioned spending the next few years with Austin, living in the village during spring, summer, and fall, and only moving him to a warmer location during winter.
With Austin in the nanny’s care, they felt at ease. Hopefully, in a few years, when Jarrod might lower his guard, they could all live together.
Financially, they were secure.
Nicole’s investments, managed under Audrey’s name, sufficiently covered Austin’s medical bills.
Roscoe had secretly bought several properties. Now, all they needed to do was wait quietly in their secluded mountain retreat for a suitable match for Austin.
Nicole and Roscoe only regretted missing Audrey’s wedding, though she sent them a live stream of the event.
Nicole had been cautious, waiting two months in the village before reaching out to Audrey, aware that Cornell and Jarrod were acquaintances. She trusted Audrey’s discretion, which allowed her to trust Cornell.
However, knowing Jarrod’s cunning nature, Nicole feared that Cornell might inadvertently disclose something in Jarrod’s presence, so she advised Audrey to keep their situation confidential, even from Cornell.
At Audrey’s wedding, which Jarrod couldn’t attend because of his scandal, the ceremony was grand, and both Audrey and Cornell Looked amazing.
Audrey shared generously, and Nicole was touched by Cornell’s sincerity, thrilled that Audrey had found happiness.
Yet, to be cautious, Audrey and Nicole decided to limit their communication, opting to check in just once a year to ensure each other’s safety and well-being.
The fish thrashing in the basin abruptly pulled Nicole back to the present. She noticed Roscoe cleaning jujubes and stood up, offering, “Let me take care of the fish.”
“Stay put. Don’t bother,” Roscoe insisted. “I’ve got this.”
The mountain jujubes were pesticide-free. After washing them quickly with warm water, he handed them over, warning, “Don’t eat too many.”
They’re cooling.
He then took the fish to the well to wash them.
The sunlight was perfect, casting a radiant glow on Roscoe’s profile.
An old scar, a reminder of a long-ago injury and delayed medical attention marked his face. Still, it didn’t diminish his attractiveness. He had a calm demeanor and kind nature, the scar adding a rugged charm to his looks.
Nicole crunched into a jujube, savoring its freshness and sweetness.
She thought about how actions lead to consequences. She wasn’t the one to save Roscoe. She was just a passing flower that caught his eye during her prime years. To her, he was her true savior. Without him, she might not have survived in this world.
Their days unfolded quietly. One day, after attending to the villagers’ health, Roscoe called for Nicole.
Before they went outside, he wrapped her carefully in a scarf, hat, and gloves. Then, leading her out, he pointed and said, “Look.”