Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Brushing away her tears, Audrey said, “Grandma, stop talking like that. You’re going to live a long life. Didn’t you tell me that we would go back to your house together one day?”
A glimmer of hope lit up her eyes.
“Could we really go back?” she whispered.
“Absolutely. Even though Brent sold it, it’s still vacant. I’ve rented it, and I plan to buy it back as soon as I can afford to,”
Audrey assured her.
Audrey’s grandmother grasped Audrey’s hands joyfully and said, “Good, that’s wonderful.”
She hesitated before adding, “Audrey, I’m not sure I’ll live to see that day. I dreamt of your father last night. It felt like he was eager to see me in heaven. I suspect my time is running out.”
Tears escaped Audrey’s eyes despite her efforts to hold them back.
Audrey’s grandmother handed her a red paper bag containing a padlock -shaped amulet.
“You used to have it when you were a child. Keep it with you. Let it bless you for the rest of your life.”
Her words struck Audrey like a farewell, causing Audrey to hug her grandmother tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
“Grandma, I’ve actually been married for some time. It’s a complicated situation, so I didn’t bring it up.”
Her grandmother looked stunned.
“When did this happen?”
Audrey laid out the entire story, deliberately leaving out the contractual nature of her marriage.
Concluding, Audrey said, “Anyway, he’s someone I’ve cared about for a long time. He’ll come to visit you after he gets back from his business trip.”
Night had fallen by the time she left the nursing house.
Audrey headed back to Serenity Villas.
Reflecting on her conversation with her grandmother, she texted Cornell to ask if he had reached his destination.
Audrey had verified his flight schedule before texting him.
After a long period of waiting, sleep finally claimed her.
As dawn broke, her phone buzzed to life.
Still in a daze, Audrey heard Cornell’s voice.
“Honey, did I disturb your sleep?”
Cornell’s voice sounded crisp and melodious over the phone.
Still sleepy, Audrey answered, “Are you finished with work?”
“Sort of. I’ve been swamped, so I just got around to calling you.”
The sound of footsteps echoed from his end. Casually, Audrey inquired, “Heading back to the hotel?”
“Yes. Care to join me?” Cornell quipped.
For some reason, Audrey sensed that ever since they reconciled, their relationship had taken a romantic turn.
Previously, their intimacy had always been confined to the bedroom.
“So, you’ll be back soon, right?” Audrey rolled over as she spoke.
There was a brief pause before Cornell replied, “Audrey, are you attempting to seduce me?”
Hearing that, Audrey was stunned.
“What?”
“I wish I could teleport back and have sex with you right now.”
Audrey’s jaw dropped at Cornell’s words. She glanced at her phone and realized they were on a video call.
She was wearing silk pajamas that flattered her figure impeccably.
She seemed voluptuous and enticing in the video call.
Meanwhile, Cornell was in the process of unbuttoning his shirt, his voice was hoarse.
“Is it just me, or has your breast grown bigger recently?”
Instantly, Audrey’s cheeks turned crimson and she pulled the quilt up to her chin.
Unyielding, Cornell continued, “I’ve suspected as much since we made out in the office. Have all your gained weight come to your breast?”
Recalling his passionate kiss that day, Audrey found herself at a loss for words because of embarrassment. Flustered and irritated, she yelled, “Cornell!”
“You should be calling me honey now,” Cornell insisted.
Realizing Audrey wouldn’t comply over the phone, he added, “I’ll make sure you do when I return. So you’re off the hook for now.”
Just as Audrey was about to share her day’s events, the hotel doorbell interrupted them.
Cornell moved to the door and spoke in a foreign language with someone outside. His tone shifted, becoming serious. Audrey couldn’t make out what he was saying as he’d set his phone aside.
Soon after, he stated, “Alright, go get some rest. I have to go.”
Cornell hastily ended the video call.
Audrey was sober now. She replayed the recent phone conversation in her mind. She thought she heard something about a young woman Looking for Cornell.
Though unsure, a wave of unease washed over her.
After lying in bed for a while, her phone rang again. It was Nicole, inviting her to lunch.
Upon entering the restaurant, Audrey was taken aback to see Nicole sporting a new hairstyle.
“Did you get a haircut?”
“Do you not like it?” Nicole inquired, caressing her freshly-cut hair.
“It’s different, but stunning.”
While Nicole had always been gorgeous with her long hair, her new shorter look gave her a more daring aura. It lent her an air of toughness.
Sensing Nicole’s gloomy demeanor, Audrey probed, “Is something bothering you?”
“Nothing much. Someone once promised to marry me when my hair reached my waist. Now that he’s gone, I just chopped it off,” Nicole responded, her smile tinged with bitterness.
Aware of the man Nicole was alluding to, Audrey found herself at a loss for words and stayed silent.
“Has Cornell been out of the country recently?” Nicole shifted topics unexpectedly.
Caught off guard, Audrey stammered, “Uh, how’d you find out?”
Lately, Nicole had been preoccupied with handling Jarrod and wasn’t aware that Audrey had reconciled with Cornell.
“I saw it on Cecilia’s posts.”
Audrey felt her heart plummet.
Struggling to keep her composure, Audrey inquired, “Which platform?”
Nicole pulled out her phone and navigated to Cecilia’s homepage, displaying a selfie of Cecilia in a light-colored beret, seemingly in high spirits.
The caption read, “So touched someone came to pick me up at the airport.” She’d also tagged her Location abroad.
The post had been uploaded just half an hour after Cornell had ended his video call with Audrey.
Additionally, Audrey noticed that Cornell was the one carrying Cecilia’s suitcase in the background. Even though the photo only showed a side profile, she knew immediately it was him.
Comments from mutual friends praised them, declaring them an ideal couple.
Cecilia had responded with a smiley emoji.
To their shared circle of friends, Cornell and Cecilia seemed destined for each other.
Struggling to find her voice, Audrey felt as though her heart had been pierced.
Observing Audrey’s expression shift, Nicole believed that sometimes a sharp, immediate pain was preferable to prolonged agony.