Chapter 542 Let's Remarry
Every search result confirmed Aurelia's worst fears—the medication was designed to suppress drug withdrawal symptoms. He was battling addiction.
She knew with absolute certainty that Nathaniel would never voluntarily take drugs. The only explanation was what had happened in Elvenia—someone had done this to him deliberately.
Aurelia pressed her hand to her mouth, fighting back sobs as the weight of realization crushed down on her chest, making it impossible to breathe. She stumbled to the bathroom and collapsed beside the toilet, retching up her entire dinner. The thought was too devastating to process—every memory from recent weeks now took on a sinister new meaning.
He had endured this nightmare alone, carrying this burden in silence. She couldn't fathom the hell he'd been living through.
Her distress woke Nathaniel, who padded barefoot across the cold floor to find her crumpled on the bathroom tiles, tears streaming down her face. "Aurelia, what's wrong?"
She looked up at him through blurred vision, her voice raw and broken. "Nathaniel, let's remarry. Tomorrow—what do you say?"
Nathaniel stared at her in bewilderment. This sudden proposal seemed to come from nowhere, especially given her previous resistance to marriage and commitment.
"Aurelia, let's get you back to bed first." He extended his hand, and she grasped it like a lifeline, allowing him to guide her back to their room while tears continued to fall silently.
Once they were settled under the covers, Nathaniel gently dabbed at her face with a tissue. "Aurelia, why are you crying?"
She shook her head, struggling to form words. "I had a nightmare."
"Come here. Let me hold you." Nathaniel opened his arms, and though she usually found comfort nestled against his chest, tonight she wanted to be the one protecting him, shielding him from whatever demons he was fighting.
"You haven't answered about remarrying," she whispered against his shoulder.
Nathaniel remained silent, torn between desire and uncertainty. His life had become a minefield of complications, and he wasn't sure he could risk dragging her down with him.
When he didn't respond, Aurelia slipped from beneath the covers and disappeared into the walk-in closet, returning with a familiar box that made Nathaniel's breath catch. It was the same box he had buried four years ago when he thought she was dead—somehow she had retrieved and preserved it.
"Aurelia, you shouldn't have kept that. It's morbid," he said softly.
Ignoring his protest, she opened the box to reveal two neatly folded nightgowns and their original wedding rings, still gleaming despite the years.
Aurelia lifted the men's ring with trembling fingers. "Nathaniel, this is the first and only time in my life I've loved someone this deeply, with every fiber of my being. I want to spend whatever time we have together—in life as companions, in death sharing the same grave. Through everything, inseparable. Will you marry me again?"
Nathaniel's breathing grew heavy as he watched her slide the women's ring onto her finger with ceremonial precision, then hold out his ring with the solemnity of a true proposal.
"Do you know I designed these rings myself? Before you ever proposed, I had already created them—the only pair of their kind in the world. Grandfather somehow acquired them, and now they've found their way back to us through fate's strange design. When I first designed them, I dreamed of finding someone who would love me more than themselves. But now I want to change that philosophy—I hope whoever wears this ring will love themselves more than anyone else."
Her voice cracked with emotion, each word a struggle. Nathaniel felt his resolve crumbling—he had dreamed of making her his wife again countless times.
"Aurelia, what's brought this on so suddenly? If marriage frightens you, I'd be content to court you for the rest of our lives."
She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "I'm Jacob and Dorothy's sole guardian. I want to add your name to theirs. I want us to be a complete family of four, wherever life takes us—back to Imperick, staying in Coral Bay, or anywhere in the world. No matter where we go, we stay together."
Nathaniel felt his throat tighten with unshed tears. "Yes. Whatever you want."
"Then let's sleep. We'll get up early tomorrow and go to City Hall." Aurelia's voice carried a mixture of exhaustion and determination.
Nathaniel's emotions churned between bitter and sweet—after so much suffering, this unexpected gesture of love left him dizzy with hope. Watching her pour her heart out, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, not from passion but from pure, overwhelming tenderness.
The next morning, Aurelia's alarm jolted her awake. She had arranged for Dahlia to handle the school run so she could dedicate the entire morning to their plans.
In the closet hung matching white shirts she had bought weeks earlier on a whim, with the letters 'A' and 'N' embroidered at the collar—her own handiwork.
After applying subtle makeup, she hurried Nathaniel into his shirt and drove them to City Hall. They arrived before opening hours, becoming the day's first couple in line.
Nathaniel felt her firm grip on his hand and experienced an unfamiliar sense of being cherished. This was the sweetest queue he had ever stood in.
Once the staff arrived, the marriage registration process moved smoothly. Within thirty minutes of submitting their paperwork, they emerged as husband and wife once again.
Aurelia stared at their marriage certificate with wonder. "This is the third time we've walked into a government building together, and here we are, bound to each other once more. Nathaniel, let's celebrate."
Since Nathaniel's knee hadn't fully healed, Aurelia had been doing all the driving. As she settled into the driver's seat and reached for her seatbelt, a wave of nausea hit her without warning.
She dry-heaved once, then quickly jumped from the car as her stomach churned violently. The sensation felt hauntingly familiar.
She tried to remember her last period—it had been nearly two months. She had tested a few weeks ago with negative results and dismissed the possibility, but perhaps it had been too early to detect.
Nathaniel rushed to her side. "Aurelia, what's happening?"
She managed a weak smile. "I think I might be pregnant."
Nathaniel froze, then felt bubbles of joy rising in his chest. "So I'm getting a promotion based on the baby's influence?"
"It's just a guess. We should get it confirmed at the hospital."
"Are you still feeling sick? Should I call a driver?" Nathaniel's excitement made him want to wrap her in cotton wool, the thought of another child dissolving all the shadows in his heart.
"I can drive. It's manageable."
From City Hall, they went straight to the hospital's obstetrics department. The test results confirmed Aurelia's suspicion—she was indeed pregnant, and the baby was developing perfectly with a strong heartbeat.
The day had brought them double blessings, and Nathaniel's joy transformed him into an exuberant schoolboy. He had always carried guilt about missing Jacob and Dorothy's early years, never imagining he would get the chance to be present for a third child from the very beginning.
For him, this was nothing short of miraculous.
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