Cheryl’s wedding shock

This month marks 15 years since her whirlwind engagement to Ashley Cole – the man she vowed she’d “never stop loving” and dubbed her “soul mate”, with whom she planned to start a family of “five kids”.

But her dream came crashing down around her just 18 months after their fairy-tale wedding in July 2006, amid claims the footballer had had sex with hairdresser Aimee Walton after a drunken night out before vomiting on her twice and passing out.

And despite the “disgusted” singer vowing at the time to give him a second chance – insisting, “he’s learning” – their reunion was short-lived when fresh claims emerged 16 months later that Ashley had cheated again with four more women, leaving Cheryl “no choice” but to end their four-year marriage.

Having been left “numb” and “broken” by the split, which initially saw Cheryl’s weight plunge to just 6st, she struggled to move on and admitted they were still in contact after their divorce – and the pair were reportedly spotted kissing at her birthday party the following year amid rumours of a reconciliation. In an emotional interview with Piers Morgan in 2010, she broke down, saying, “I’ll always love Ashley”.

Cheryl, 36, has tried to find love since, but now has a second failed marriage behind her – to restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini, 39 – which ended in 2016, and her three-year relationship with Liam Payne, with whom she shares son Bear, three, ended in 2018.

Just a month after her split from the former 1D star, Ashley’s pal, fellow ex-footballer Jermaine Pennant, 37 – who was close to the couple during their romance – said, “I think she’s still caught up over Ash. I think that took a toll on her as a person as well. She was madly in love with Ashley and I think her relationships now, after Ash, she’s sort of struggled [with].”

Check out: A look back at Cheryl's dating history from Ashley Cole to Liam Payne

And while Cheryl’s never reminisced about her other exes, even after her divorce from Ashley was finalised, she said, “I’ll never stop loving Ashley. He’s a big part of my life. I don’t think he ever wanted to let it go. We had a great relationship. He was my best friend.”

Ashley, 39, has gone on to become a settled family man and has been in a relationship with Italian model Sharon Canu since 2014, and the couple have Jaxon, four, and Grace, one. Last year he implied he was a changed man, saying, “These are the things I focus on now – my kids and my girlfriend. It’s a different me, I’m more of a family man now.”

Insiders reveal there are rumours Ashley is considering proposing, and pals wouldn’t be surprised if the news has rattled Cheryl – who is currently single – and that she could be surprised how much it still affects her.

The source says, “When a mutual pal told Cheryl there’s gossip in the friendship circle that Ashley is thinking of proposing, friends worried that she could be a bit upset by the thought that he could marry again. Her pals believe she’s bound to be surprised at how rubbish it may make her feel. They’re concerned that Cheryl could be shocked that the news of a potential wedding – whether it goes ahead or not – still has the ability to unsettle her.

“While she’s moved on, pals are worried that Cheryl may feel sad that she didn’t have that life with Ashley and that it didn’t work out between them. They fear she feels like she’ll always be haunted by his memory and how things didn’t go as she’d wanted.”

Cheryl has maintained a strong friendship with Liam as they co-parent Bear, regularly praising him publicly, but she’s always wanted the big family and happy relationship.

Last year, the former Girls Aloud star – who’s one of five children herself and has always been open about the fact she wants a big family, once saying she’d like “100 children” – revealed she’s looking into all the ways she could give Bear a sibling, adding, “If time was on my side and I was in my twenties, I’d consider my options, or wait for somebody I felt was right.”

Pals say that hearing how Ashley is having that family life with someone else has hit home for Cheryl – who’s admitted to having counselling to recover from a nervous breakdown following their divorce – that she’s a way off from that.

The source says, “She’s pleased and feels lucky she has such a strong friendship with Liam, and that they’re bringing up Bear together. But she’s craving the family life she’s always wanted, while now he’s reinvented himself and he’s the one who is close to getting married again and already has the perfect family unit.”

WATCH: Kimberly Walsh talks play dates with Cheryl and Bear | This Morning Live

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Earlier this year, Closer revealed how the ten-year anniversary of Cheryl’s split from Ashley stirred up difficult memories for her, coming just months after she was left shaken by reports he was house-hunting close to her new Buckinghamshire mansion – into which she moved following her split from Liam, 26 – but he hasn’t moved yet.

While the Newcastle-born star has since insisted she’d “happily date a Sainsbury’s shelf-stacker”, pals say she’s determined not to rely on a man to find inner happiness and has vowed to ensure she doesn’t let her past heartache define her future.

The source adds, “Cheryl’s a tough cookie and a fighter, and won’t let this set her back for long – especially when she’s come so far and has so much to feel positive and grateful for.”

Read even more celeb stories in this week's Closer magazine - out now.

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