chapter 1

Aliyah 

I sat in the hospital’s reception, waiting for the doctor's report when my mind went to my husband, Liam Hemsworth. The CEO of Hemsworth Group.

Today is our fourth wedding anniversary. I sent him a message early this morning, reminding him of our dinner reservation. The message showed that he had seen it but he didn't reply.

I sighed heavily as I reached into my bag, took out my phone, and checked again, praying silently that maybe, just maybe, he had responded while I was waiting.

I stared at the screen but nothing changed, the message was still there, read… and ignored.

I swallowed hard as my heart ached with pain.

Why did I let myself hope again?

Every year I hoped but he always forgot or pretended to.

“Mrs. Hemsworth?” a nurse called gently, pulling me out of my thoughts. “The doctor wants to see you in her office.”

I blinked and quickly stood up. “Thank you,” I said softly, forcing a small smile.

My heart pounded in my chest as I walked down the corridor. I didn’t know what to expect. I only came here because of the dizziness and nausea that wouldn’t go away which I assumed was stress,  Maybe exhaustion. After all, carrying a loveless marriage on your back is not an easy load.

I knocked gently on Dr. Ann's office door.

“Come in,” she said warmly.

I stepped inside, and she smiled at me. “Good afternoon, Aliyah,” she said. “Please, sit.”

I sat slowly, anxiety crawling up my spine.

She reached for a brown envelope and handed it to me with a gentle look in her eyes. “This is your report,” she said softly. “And… congratulations. You’re four weeks pregnant.”

I froze, My mouth opened but no words came out.

“I… I’m what?” I stammered, staring at her in shock.

“You’re pregnant, Aliyah,” she said again, smiling. “I must say, it's a miracle.”

A miracle?

Yeah, It must truly be a miracle because this was the same doctor who told me four years ago after I gave Liam one of my kidneys that my womb had been damaged in the process. She told me I might never conceive again.

And now… this?

Tears blurred my vision and for the first time in years, they weren’t tears of pain... They were tears of joy, of shock, of something I thought I had lost long ago… hope.

God has given me something I thought I had lost forever.

I looked up at Dr. Ann, my voice trembling. “But… you told me I couldn't... You know, after the surgery... ”

“I know,” she said gently, “and I stand by what I said. Medically, it shouldn’t have been possible but here we are.”

I nodded slowly, pressing a hand against my flat stomach. There’s a baby in there… my baby and then, my heart clenched again as I thought of Liam.

What will be his reaction? Would he be happy?

“There’s one more thing,” Dr. Ann added, jolting me out of my thoughts. “Your blood level is quite low. You need to avoid any surgeries or transfusions. It could put the baby at risk. I’ll prescribe some iron supplements and multivitamins. You must rest well.”

I nodded eagerly, tears still glistening in my eyes. “Thank you so much, doc. Thank you for giving me hope again.”

She smiled and squeezed my hand. “Congratulations, Aliyah. This baby is already a fighter.”

I walked out of the hospital with a lightness in my steps that hadn’t been there in years. My hands protectively rested on my still-flat belly and I smiled to myself. He or she… you’re already my everything.

I couldn’t wait to tell Liam. Maybe, just maybe this would change everything. Maybe it would remind him of the reason we even got married in the first place. Maybe, this miracle would be our fresh start.

I was almost at the parking lot when my phone rang in my handbag. I fumbled for it, my smile stretching wider when I saw Liam's name flashing on the screen.

I quickly picked up. “Liam, I’ve been meaning to...”

“Come home. Now,” he cut me off, his voice as cold and sharp as a blade.

My smile froze. Something about the way he spoke sent a chill racing down my spine. Liam could be distant, emotionless even but this… this isn't just cold. This is terrifying.

I didn’t ask questions. I just rushed into my car and started the engine with shaky hands.

My mind was spinning the entire drive home.

Did something happen?

Is he angry about the anniversary again? Or maybe… maybe he planned a surprise?

I shook my head, laughing bitterly to myself. Liam has never remembered any anniversary. It was always me, hoping, begging for scraps of attention. Why would today be different?

Still, part of me held onto hope. A baby is on the way... He has to be happy. He just has to be.

As I pulled into the compound, my heart thudded wildly. The house looked the same... tall, cold, and beautiful like everything else in Liam’s world.

I stepped out of the car and walked quickly to the front door, my heels clicking softly against the marble floor and as I entered the sitting room, I saw him pacing back and forth with a paper in his hand.

“Liam?” I called softly. “Are you okay?”

He turned around sharply. His eyes were dark and unreadable, and they locked on mine like I was some stranger, making me freeze.

“Look at the time you are just coming in,” he snapped, his voice laced with venom.

“I… I was at the hospital,” I began, my voice barely a whisper. “The doctor said...”

“Enough!” he thundered, his face twisted with disgust. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Before I could respond, he threw the envelope at me. It hit my chest and fell to the floor. I stared at it in confusion, my hands trembling as I bent down to pick it up.

“Look at it,” he said coldly.

My fingers shook as I opened the envelope. I pulled out the documents, and my breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened in horror while my knees buckled.

Divorce processing?

The word screamed at me in bold letters.

My lips parted, but no sound came out. I looked up at him, my heart shattering with every beat.

“Liam…” I whispered, “What is this?”

“What does it look like?” he replied without emotion. 

My hands dropped to my sides, still clutching the papers. I suddenly felt cold... Numb.

But I’m pregnant…

I was going to tell him…

I opened my mouth to speak again, to explain, to plead... but my voice failed me.

“Divorce?” I managed to ask, my voice barely escaping my lips as I stared at him, trembling. “You… you want to divorce me?”

“Yes,” he said flatly. “I’ve already signed the papers. I want you to sign them as soon as possible. My lawyer will send you the alimony...  let me know if it’s not enough.”

I felt the ground beneath me shift. My knees grew weak. I had to steady myself by holding onto the edge of the couch.

“Liam… is this some kind of joke?” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Please tell me it is.”

But he just stared at me like I was an unwanted burden, his eyes cold and distant.

“No,” he said. “It’s not a joke. I can't keep living with the woman I didn't love, a barren one at that!"

My heart thudded loudly in my chest as I tried to breathe. No… this couldn’t be real.

I must be dreaming.

Yeah, I must be having a nightmare. A cruel, twisted nightmare.