Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Cornell presently found himself at a distant branch office, engrossed in overtime alongside his executives on a project.
Sensing the urgency in Audrey’s tone, Cornell motioned to halt the meeting and withdrew to a secluded area for conversation. “What’s the current situation with Nicole?”
Audrey, her voice nearly catching in her throat, responded, “I’m not entirely sure. She’s being pursued. She mentioned she was looking into Jarrod, but she didn’t disclose the details.”
Nicole refrained from providing further details to prevent alarming Audrey and inadvertently alerting Jarrod, which could potentially jeopardize Audrey’s safety.
Despite Audrey being in a significantly safer situation under Cornell’s protection, Nicole was adamant about not letting her own troubles affect her friend. Furthermore, Audrey had the responsibility of caring for three children.
Upon hearing the limited information, Cornell offered reassurance, “Darling, remain calm. I’m taking action. I’ll have Matteo utilize the backend to pinpoint Nicole’s location and dispatch a security team to retrieve her.”
“Alright. Please hurry,” Audrey urged, fully aware of the urgency of the situation. The sooner Nicole was located, the sooner she’d be out of harm’s way.
With a composed demeanor, Cornell assured her, “Don’t worry. I’ll locate her and update you promptly.”
After ending the call, Cornell contacted Matteo, instructing him to track Nicole’s phone.
Shortly after, the satellite pinpointed Nicole’s phone, which had come to a standstill at a specific location.
Seized by a foreboding sensation, Cornell promptly directed Matteo to dispatch an elite security team to the coordinates and alerted the local authorities, reporting Nicole as missing and potentially endangered.
Once he had initiated the necessary measures, Cornell found himself unable to concentrate on the meeting any longer.
Aware of Nicole’s significance to Audrey and the potential distress Audrey would experience if anything befell Nicole, particularly during her postpartum period, he couldn’t shake off the concern.
He decided to adjourn the meeting and awaited updates from Matteo.
Thirty minutes later, Matteo contacted Cornell with the news.
“Mr. Clement, we located two damaged sedans at the scene, but they were both unoccupied. There were no signs of individuals nearby. Nicole’s phone was discovered in one of the vehicles, while the other bore no personal effects and sported a counterfeit license plate, complicating immediate identification of the owner.”
Frowning in concern, Cornell instructed, “Continue the search and expand the scope of the investigation.”
“Understood,” Matteo acknowledged.
Following the conversation, Cornell contemplated the circumstances.
Deep down, he harbored doubts about Jarrod resorting to such extreme measures as harming Nicole.
He knew Nicole and Jarrod’s relationship was intricate. Jarrod’s sentiments toward Nicole oscillated between affection and animosity, albeit with affection prevailing.
Nevertheless, Cornell couldn’t fathom Jarrod sanctioning any harm against Nicole. There had to be a misunderstanding, yet with his absence from the country, the most expeditious means of Locating Nicole seemed to be reaching out to Jarrod directly.
With resolve, Cornell dialed Jarrod’s number without hesitation.
After several rings, Jarrod finally answered.
Having recently returned from a trip, Jarrod was enjoying a late-night meal with Vicki.
The rapport between Cornell and Jarrod had grown distant over time due to conflicting perspectives and were it not for Luis’ interventions to their childhood uphold camaraderie, they might have drifted apart completely.
Anticipating nothing urgent from Cornell, Jarrod casually greeted him in Vicki’s presence, “Hello, Cornell.”
“Where are you?” Cornell inquired tersely.
“Just landed, grabbing a bite to eat,” Jarrod responded.
Upon hearing Jarrod’s response, Cornell’s conviction regarding Jarrod’s non-involvement in Nicole’s disappearance solidified.
However, he couldn’t shake the suspicion that someone close to Jarrod might be implicated, given that few individuals were aware of Nicole’s return to Ardlens. Apart from Jarrod and his associates, Nicole had few adversaries.
“Nicole is in trouble,” Cornell asserted.
Jarrod’s expression grew tense. “What happened?”
“Audrey called her and heard someone pursuing her. Subsequently, when we traced her phone signal, it vanished. We located the car she had been using, but she’s nowhere to be found,” Cornell elaborated.
After processing the information, Jarrod remained silent for a few moments before responding, “I’ll take care of it.”
Cornell understood the implication. Rescue would come to Nicole’s way.
Jarrod likely had suspicions regarding who might be behind it.
Cornell felt compelled to offer a word of caution, “Jarrod, don’t make decisions you’ll later regret.” It was counsel from a friend who had witnessed Jarrod’s ruthless approach in business, a method Cornell did not condone.
Their growing apart stemmed from Cornell’s preference for achieving success through methods that didn’t completely dismantle smaller enterprises to maximize his gains.
In contrast, Jarrod operated like a shark in his domain, employing ruthless tactics to secure his victories. His methods were widely disapproved of in the financial sphere, resulting in numerous bridges burned, and there were plenty who would welcome his downfall.
Hence, Cornell couldn’t help but feel that Jarrod’s endeavor to take Austin’s custody was ill-advised. Jarrod had amassed a significant number of adversaries, and if they were to learn of his connection to Austin, it could place Austin in jeopardy.
With a heavy sigh, Cornell proceeded to call Audrey to provide her with an update.
Audrey anxiously awaited Cornell’s call and answered his call almost immediately.
“Cornell, what’s the situation?” Audrey’s voice quivered with fear, dreading the possibility of Nicole encountering something dreadful.
“I’ve instructed Matteo to dispatch our most capable team to search and have also notified the authorities, but she’s not at the location where she went missing. We’re continuing the search,” Cornell admitted, opting for full transparency, knowing Audrey’s determined nature made concealing the truth futile.
Cornell feared Audrey might take matters into her own hands if she didn’t hear any updates regarding Nicole soon, adding to his concern.
Audrey burst into tears, her voice trembling with concern. “Nicole, could she… Could she be in danger?”
“Don’t worry. I’ve informed Jarrod. I’m confident we’ll locate her soon,” Cornell reassured her.
“What?” Audrey exclaimed in disbelief.
“You informed Jarrod? He must be the murderer! Who else in Ardlens would have a motive to harm Nicole? When her father’s company went under, she borrowed money to settle the employees. No one but Jarrod would hold a grudge against her. It must be him orchestrating this!”
“It’s not him,” Cornell responded calmly. “Audrey, trust me. Nicole is the mother of his child. He wouldn’t hurt her, and right now, he might be the only one who can find her.”
Every passing minute heightened the danger. Cornell chose not to share this with Audrey. He didn’t want to exacerbate her anxiety.
“Do you truly believe Jarrod would view Austin as simply his child?”
Audrey questioned skeptically.
Jarrod had consistently demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice anything for his own gain, and given his history of extreme actions, Audrey doubted he would spare Nicole just because Nicole was Austin’s mother.
“Audrey, trust me. I wouldn’t make this assertion lightly. He wouldn’t harm Austin or allow anyone to harm Nicole,” Cornell remarked.
There were numerous pieces of advice Cornell could offer to Jarrod, but he recognized the limitations in directly intervening since Austin was Jarrod’s child, and it wasn’t his position to interfere.
However, Jarrod’s recent inquiry about cardiologists for Austin’s sake indicated he wasn’t as indifferent as he appeared.
In fact, Jarrod and Cornell’s lack of interaction for an extended period stemmed from the close relationship between Nicole and Audrey.
Plus, their prolonged absence from each other’s lives wasn’t solely due to ideological disparities but also stemmed from Cornell’s dedication to his spouse and the care of his young children.
Sometimes, adults didn’t need to vocalize everything. Maintaining a respectful distance could be the most dignified approach.
Cornell believed Jarrod understood this unspoken understanding, which explained their lack of contact until now. Yet, Jarrod’s inquiry for Austin’s well-being suggested he still held his child in high regard.
Cornell felt Audrey’s fretfulness proved unnecessary.
“I’ve already arranged to fly back tonight. Matteo and his team are searching. Please, refrain from going out. Stay home and await updates. Wait for my return, alright?” Cornell directed.
At that moment, Audrey felt helpless. While she had indeed contemplated venturing out to search for Nicole herself, she understood her abilities couldn’t match those of Matteo’s professional team.
Venturing out might not only contribute to disorder but also divert resources if she encounters trouble. Thus, she resolved to follow Cornell’s counsel and await news at home.
“Your project is at a critical juncture. Won’t your return affect it?”
Audrey inquired, concern evident in her voice.
“It’s alright. I’ve delegated the necessary tasks. At present, your situation takes precedence,” Cornell assured, prioritizing Audrey’s peace of mind over his professional obligations.
Audrey felt a surge of warmth and said sweetly, “Then travel safely, and try to rest on the flight.”
Audrey understood that Cornell must be exhausted from the effects of jet lag and the intense workload he had endured in recent days.
She harbored deep concern for him, yet she recognized that her best form of support was to offer understanding and encouragement.
“I understand. Once this project concludes, I plan to take an extended vacation to spend quality time with you and our children.”
Since their marriage, Cornell rarely traveled unless necessary. Their children were still young, and despite having ample support from nannies, Annis, and Luciana, he never felt completely at ease about leaving them.
Moreover, mothers in the postpartum period could be susceptible to psychological challenges, prompting Cornell to reduce his workload to remain by Audrey’s side as much as possible.
However, this project held critical importance for the company’s expansion into the international market.