Eighteen Again: The CEO's Wife was a Delinquent

Cassidy has no idea what's going on.

She was going to ask what's happening until an explosive sound suddenly pierced through the air just as when a bright burst of vibrant colors painted the night sky, making her turn in its direction. Her eyes flew wide in surprise at a resplendent sight - fireworks shot up at the same time her husband dropped on his knee. 

It's like a scene straight out of a movie - a man proposing to a woman. Only this time, it was real, and they're already married. 

Adrian continues to behold Cassidy with so much love and affection. 

She's at a loss of words. She doesn't know how to react to all of this.

"I believe I owe you a proper marriage proposal..." he began again before he drew a small box out of his pocket and opened its lid to show her a diamond ring. 

"Didn't I say I'd do things the right way this time around? That's why I want us to start all over again. For real this time."

By that point, she can no longer hold back the gush of emotions that surge through her along with the stream of tears that flow down from her eyes. She then fell on her own knees and wrapped her arms around him, taking him aback. With so much joy and gratitude, she hugs him tightly and nods fervently.

Adrian smiles in triumph and returns Cassidy's embrace. 

"Yes, I do. I want to have a new beginning with you," she beamed at him, pulling away and looking straight into his eyes.

Feeling as if he's falling deeper in love again, he leans in and captures her lips with so much passion, bliss, and affection. Underneath the starry sky and blooming fireworks, the couple shares an intimate kiss, sealing their promise to create a new beginning with it.

They'd been through so many things for the last few years – things that shook, ruined, revived, and strengthened their love for each other. Fate had been a cruel orchestrator to them. They couldn't figure out which side it was taking. Sometimes, it's on theirs, and sometimes, it's not.

Yet, no matter how much destiny tried to bring them down or even when it brought forth tons of calamities and disasters, Cassidy and Adrian remained alive - so did their love, which also went through a cycle of creation and destruction with them.   

---

"I'm done! I hope Aunty will like it!"

A few wayward notes are sustained before fading away.  Hugo smiles down at his fingers. Behind him, Joshua grunts as he finishes hanging the last of the streamers.

They've been handling the preparations all day, setting up the sound system, clearing up a place in the entrance hall of the mansion, and decorating. Damien had fiddled with Edward's electronics system all weekend, and he had finally managed to upload all the photos Aira had lent to him.

By noon, all of Cassidy's younger pseudo-siblings that Adrian had been able to contact came. 

They're the children who grew up with her at the same orphanage. In the present, their ages are ranging from fifteen to twenty-four. They're scattered all across the country, having already been taken in by their foster families. 

Irish had set up the tables with Anthony's help. Olivia had also tried baking as many pastries as she could with Mia, though the children running around the place didn't help at all. Luckily, Bryan had brought a huge chocolate cake with him that morning.

"It was supposed to be for yesterday…" Bryan had informed them when they asked how he'd whipped up such a humungous thing in the little time they'd had to prepare. 

"Ma'am Cassidy didn't want us to plan her a surprise party."

"Is this a little overboard…?" Olivia winced, feeling uncertain.

"I'm not so sure how to… celebrate someone's dismissal from the hospital."

"Tell me about it. Every celebration that was personally prepared was kinda cringy to me…" Irish commented with a shrug.

"But we really can't let Adrian keep taking the spotlight, can we? Damien, Joshua, and Hugo are smart to propose this." 

After that conversation, the three parted ways, hoping to fulfill their respective tasks in the hours to come. Now that it's mid-afternoon, Cassidy is bound to be coming soon.

"All the streamers are up, and everyone is ready…" Damien announced, coming up to lean by the edge of the piano at the center of the room. 

"Uncle Bossman plays good, I've heard."

"Then, let's have him do it…!" Hugo chirped, ecstatic to hear their uncle play.

"And while he does it, I'll dance with Aunty!"

"You still have to consider Aunt's health, okay…?" Joshua reminded him to which he nodded.

"Don't go pulling her arms and dragging her around." 

Moments later, there's the distinct sound of a car parking outside the mansion. 

Damien stands up abruptly, rushing to prepare everyone in giddy anticipation. He then comes striding to the front of the gates, plastering an innocent little grin on his face. Cassidy hops out of the car before turning back around again to look at Asher who steps out after her. Adrian, Charles, and Edward all clamber out of the vehicle as well.

"You didn't have to do this, you know," Cassidy said with an unimpressed look, crossing her arms.

"Welcome back, our dearest Cassie," Asher drawled, ignoring her comment. 

He gives Damien a look, and he springs into action, whipping out a blindfold from his pocket. She gasps when Asher grasps her shoulders to keep her in place while Damien ties the blindfold. Adrian simply smiled from behind her while Charles and Edward went ahead to signal everyone inside.

"There's no need for this, you know...!" Cassidy whines loudly, kicking her feet petulantly as Damien and Asher steer her to the door.

"You guys suck at organizing surprises-"

"Welcome home, Cassidy!"

The blindfold falls away, and she gapes in astonishment.

Standing before her are all these familiar faces. Of course, she'd recognize them – these were the people she used to protect, sung lullabies to, and grew up with, after all. They are all smiling brightly at her, and her heart melts at the sight. 

"Y-You're all… H-How?"

"We're all here…!" the younger ones cried, rushing to pull Cassidy in a group hug. 

"We missed you!"

And she cries too, hugging them all back. Her other pseudo-siblings fling themselves into her arms as well, tackling her to the ground in a bone-crushing embrace. 

"I missed you guys, too! So, so much…!" Cassidy croaked. 

"But how did you get here so fast? Even I couldn't reach you for months."

"It was that rich guy! We got to ride private jets, Cassidy! Private jets! It's so awesome!"

She follows the direction where they're pointing at and gasps when she sees her husband smiling at her. Greatly touched, she breathed, "You… did this?"

"It's our nephews' idea, though. I was the only one who brought them here." 

Cassidy can't believe it. Adrian had gone out of his way to fly her pseudo-siblings there. Also, there were Damien, Joshua, and Hugo who had come up with the plan, which made it all more moving. 

Everyone is doing so much for her, and it is more than enough to make her feel the happiest in the world at that moment. 

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