The CEO's Regret: Darling, Don’t Leave Me novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167

+25 Points

Chapter 167

Cora POV

It was all Ruby.

If I were to be honest.

Ruby chose the wedding venue while we were travelling.

I have to admit, this private plane was to die for – like all the comforts of home, you could walk about, lie spread out in the lounge, not squished up in seats, not a grumpy person next to you; it was fantastic. There was even a nice shower, and a queen-size bed, but I didn’t use it; I had the

tour. Impressive; it was decorated internally by Dad, what he needed when on long flights.

The sight of a city showing up after all that desert was amazing; nothing like anywhere else in the

world.

The wedding was so easy; Dad paid and had all our paperwork under control while Ruby and I sifted through mountains of wedding dresses as we hunted for the perfect one. Ruby had a red

one; of course, it would be. I had the traditional white, with blue birds in the dress. Neither of us

had the full veil, just a small one. Ruby has great taste; I wouldn’t have chosen what she had, and I

felt, with her soon-to-be mum, that maybe she should get to choose what she wanted.

But there’s more to Ruby than great taste.

Right from day one, when I met Ruby, we bonded, and since then, I have watched her come out of the darkness where she had been hiding away, in the shadows of the kitchen and into the light, her protective side coming out. Then, when Dad came onto the scene, she blossomed, like a butterfly opening its wings for the first time, displaying its colourful wings, and taking flight, hesitant at first, then gracefully took to the sky, that Ruby. Learning to find herself again, someone she lost years ago, and becoming a new person and direction in this new life that Dad has opened up for her.

“You ready for this? Some will say you are a gold digger; some will say it was all too quick.”

“I am ready; I don’t care what others think about me,” Ruby stated as she smoothed her hand over

the front of her dress, admiring it in the full-length mirror.

“Not even me?” I joked back.

“I do care how you think and feel. Since you came into that kitchen on that first day, it was like this nurturing instinct woke up. I knew you were different, special, and I wanted to protect you. I saw you as the child I never had, right from the first meeting. I can’t explain it.” Ruby looked like she was going to cry, and we couldn’t have that; it took too long to put it on.

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Chapter 167

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“Good, because the moment you say ‘I do, you gain a stepdaughter for real, and I gain a

stepmother, for life. You can’t change that, so suck it up, woman, and let’s get this show on the

road.” I hugged her and looked her in the eyes; they sparkled with unshed tears.

“Hey, don’t you cry; you will ruin your makeup.” Ruby laughed at my jest.

“Ready?” She asked, taking a deep breath to calm her emotions.

“Let’s go out there and change our lives.” We linked arms and walked out the door together.

Ruby stopped at the end of the aisle and stared at the men at the end, taking it in and cementing it

into her memory.

“Wow, they look like they stepped out of a movie set. How did we manage to bag such handsome

men?” Ruby whispered as we hesitated to move forward.

“We deserve the best. With the crap we have had in our lives, this was to compensate for our bad beginning, and the best is what we got. Go get your man, tiger,” I whispered back, and tugged on her arm. Couldn’t have had this back home; no wonder this place got a five-star rating.

Side by side, arm looped in arm, heads held high, we walked down that aisle to the men, our lives

about to change again.

The ceremony was funny; I hope they videoed it, and not just photos, because this celebrant was

hilarious. He spoke in clear, pompous English; it felt like we were in a movie, stepping back in time.

I loved it.

So did everyone else, as Ruby and I giggled at some of the wording, and the men tried not to laugh, but it was hard not to. I think when we started to giggle, the celebrant deliberately made this funnier, trying to look serious at us, but the twinkle in his eyes and the twitch on his lips as he fought not to laugh too were a dead giveaway. He held the wedding to be so much more than

saying I do.

The flight back was full of laughs, cuddles, champagne, and looking over the photos; yes, they did make a video, and they were forwarding a copy on. Dad had to pay extra for it, but I feel it will be worth the extra dollars.

Home, our two homes came into view, and the chopper settled at my place, and Dad let the pilot go for the night. The place smelt of roasted meat, and my stomach grumbled. Drew met us at the

door.

“Welcome home. Dinner will be served in fifteen minutes.” He was ever so polite; I liked him.

“Thank you. I am starved. What’s on the menu?” Ruby chimed in.

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“A simple meal of roast beef, baked root vegetables, steamed greens, and what they call Yorkshire

pudding, but to me, it’s a pancake mix with gravy. Homemade bread rolls. Rhubarb and apple

crumble with custard for dessert.” He noticed our rings and smiled a knowing smile, but didn’t

question it.

“Thank you. We will wait for the food; I don’t need to freshen up. Dinner in the private dining room, please.” I requested, then I headed for the private dining room. To me, it was more intimate; it can hold eight around the table, but the table can shrink to four, which is what I wanted now.

We moved to sit around the table, the staff trying to set it up, moving around us as discreetly as

possible with this sudden change.

“Drew, champagne, please.” Dad requested once we were seated.

“Something special to celebrate?” Drew asked when he returned with pink bubbly and started to pour. The bubbles clung to the inside of the glass as the light pink liquid flowed in.

“Yes, actually, a double wedding,” Dad replied. The staff had signed the NDA agreements; no worries about it being leaked before we wanted to disclose it. Drew wouldn’t gossip anyway, and he asked when the other staff had gone back to the kitchen to get food.

“May I be the first to congratulate you all? This is wonderful news. Maybe one day, the patter of tiny feet in the house. It has been too many years since a little one has been in this house.” Drew smiled

at me and then at Ruby as he filled her glass.

“What? Babies?” Ruby almost choked on the words.

The staff arrived with the food at that moment, and all talk ceased. I could see Ruby was still

thinking baby, her cheeks flushed, her eyes wide.

Interesting.

When did I have my last period?

We have been so busy lately; was I due for another injection?

Why did Drew have to bring up babies? Now he has me worried.

Thoughts of babies fled from my mind; as food arrived, my mouth was watering from the sight and smells.

Dad picked up his glass when it was just the four of us again, and stood.

“To us. One big family, a dream come true. For me, a daughter and son-in-law, and a wife of my

own, may this be the beginning of something bigger and better. Our future together will be full of

love and laughs; we are a team, and stronger for it.”

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Chapter 167

+25 Pouste

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