CEO Ex-Husband, Don't Bother Me

Chapter 241 - 185: Perfectly Legitimate (Part 2)

She stood there, stunned.

Behind her, thousands of fireworks bloomed one after another.

In her eyes, the whole scene felt like a dream.

She couldn’t hear the cheers of the crowd around them, nor could she see the beautiful, brilliant fireworks in the night sky.

All she could see was the man kneeling on one knee before her, beneath the sky full of fireworks.

All she could hear were his tender words of love.

Tears fell without warning.

"I will!"

With almost no hesitation, she spoke those two words with conviction.

She was willing. She had always been willing—from the age of eighteen to twenty-eight, from a naive young girl to a woman who understood the ways of the world.

Julian Donovan slid the ring onto her slender finger, then rose and pulled the sobbing woman into his arms, lowering his head to kiss her lips.

Although he had planned this fireworks extravaganza, he had no interest in admiring it now. His heart and eyes were filled with her alone.

This was all what he owed her.

The affection, the tenderness, the promises, the proposal, and the wedding—he owed her all of it.

He had been foolish in the past, but now he would make up for it, one by one.

To the onlookers, it might have been just another romantic proposal, but only those who knew them understood how hard-won this moment was.

In the crowd, Jean Coleman’s eyes had already reddened. The two children quietly watched their parents embrace and kiss under the fireworks-filled sky.

Perhaps they were too young to understand love, but this warm and affectionate scene filled them with anticipation, making them hope that one day, they too would find someone worthy of their wholehearted devotion.

Naomi Shaw didn’t even know how she got home; even after she was back, she still hadn’t snapped out of her daze. Jean Coleman dropped the two children off and left. She had agreed to join them for a walk in the square because her son had called her beforehand, telling her he was going to propose and asking her to help look after the kids.

’She was so glad her son hadn’t lost the love of his life. Glad that back when he didn’t understand love, he had met such a kind and gentle girl. And glad that this girl, with her own gentle heart, had taught him how to love.’

She wished them a heartfelt blessing.

She wished them a lifetime of happiness as a devoted pair.

After putting the two children to bed after their baths, Julian returned to the bedroom to find her still sitting there in a daze, hugging the comforter. He gave a slightly helpless smile, turned off the lights, and lay down, pulling her into his arms. "Let’s get some sleep. We have to be up early tomorrow!"

’He’d thought that after all the major events she’d been through, his proposal wouldn’t startle her.’

But how could he know that no woman can escape a man’s romantic gestures, especially when that man is the one she deeply loves.

She wasn’t startled; she was just overjoyed.

Cradled in his arms, Naomi Shaw asked in confusion, "Why do we have to get up early?"

"To go to the Civil Affairs Bureau! You already said yes to my proposal. Are you trying to back out?"

He said it with such self-assurance that she hastily pushed at him. "But we don’t have to go first thing in the morning, do we?"

’I need some time to prepare myself.’

"No delays."

Those two words summed up his thoughts. "But... Mmph..."

Before she could finish her "but," his lips descended, sweeping away all her protests.

*For all you dears who wanted some sweetness, la la~*

The next day, Naomi Shaw got up early and made breakfast. Just as she was about to go upstairs to wake him and the children, she saw him walking down, impeccably dressed in a suit. He was tall and well-built, with exceptionally handsome and elegant features. His every move exuded the unique charm of a mature man.

’He looked incredibly handsome and distinguished, but isn’t this a bit too formal? It’s not like he’s going to work or attending some important meeting. We’re just getting our marriage license.’

So, she walked up, wrapped her arms around his waist, and teased him with a smile, "Why are you dressed so formally?"

Dissatisfied with her casual attitude toward getting their license, he leaned down and gave her lip a punitive bite. "We’re getting our license today. Of course I have to be formal!"

She glared at him, stinging from the bite. "You don’t have to go that far! We’re just getting a license, it’s not the actual wedding!"

"We still need to dress respectfully for it. It’s a matter of attitude!"

He said it with a stern, serious face, and she immediately fell silent. ’And here I was, planning to just throw on whatever!’

In the end, after he insisted on picking out her outfit, she left the house wearing a relatively formal coat. They first dropped the children off at Jean Coleman’s place. When Jean heard they were going to get their license, she said happily, "Come over for dinner tonight! I’ll make something delicious to celebrate, and we can discuss the wedding plans!"

Just as they were about to leave, Dylan suddenly called out to them, "Dad! Mom!"

They turned around to see Dylan holding Joy’s hand, smiling at them. "May you two grow old together!"

"And live happily ever after!"

After Dylan spoke, Joy, standing beside him, obediently added the next line. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that her "little adult" of a brother had taught his sister to say that.

Touched, Naomi Shaw’s eyes welled with tears. She went back to hug and kiss her two children. "Thank you, my babies!"

Julian’s expression also softened considerably. ’He had always been a little troubled by his son being too sensible for his age, but seeing this, it was actually quite nice. For him to know to offer them blessings at a time like this... it warmed his heart.’

’How did my son get to be so sensible?’

’How did my daughter get to be so adorable and well-behaved?’

’Thinking that these were the two children she had borne for him, he couldn’t help but feel proud and content.’

The process at the Civil Affairs Bureau went smoothly, as he had made arrangements in advance. For them, however, this single sheet of paper carried more weight than it did for most. Compared to the sheer joy other couples felt after getting their license, their mood was somewhat somber. Because they had experienced the pain of loss, they understood all the more how precious what they had now was.

After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, he suddenly grabbed her hand and said excitedly, "Let’s go! Let’s go shopping!"

She was surprised. "Shopping? What for? We don’t need to buy anything for the house."

"Because I’m in a good mood!"

He took her hand and strode toward the car. "I’m going to buy you clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup—all sorts of things!"

"But I don’t need any of that!"

She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I have clothes to wear. Besides, I’m home all day. What’s the point of buying new clothes? It would just be a waste!"