chapter 4

Aliyah 

“I’m so sorry… for stressing you, my love,” Liam said.

I turned to look at him, confused and breathless. Did I hear him right? My love? Is he talking to me?

For a second, hope bloomed in my chest like a dying flower catching sunlight. 

Maybe… maybe he realized his mistake. Maybe he remembered the love I gave, the sacrifices I made. 

I stood up slowly, blinking back the tears that had dried on my cheeks. I wanted to smile. I wanted to run to him. But then… he walked past me without a single glance, without a word.

My smile froze. I turned around in confusion, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

Suddenly, the front door creaked open, and I saw Sarah, my stepsister, stepping in with a smile.

"What is she doing here?" I muttered with a frown, but then I watched, frozen, as Liam pulled her close and kissed her like I didn’t exist. Like I was invisible, like I was nothing.

“What… what’s going on?” I asked, my voice shaking, my hands trembling. I felt like I was floating outside my own body, watching a nightmare unfold in slow motion.

Liam and Sarah looked up at me, and then, like it was the funniest joke in the world, they both started laughing.

I turned to Sarah, my voice rising. “What are you doing here?!”

She smirked, resting her head on Liam’s chest. “What does it look like I’m doing?” she replied, her voice sweet and venomous. “I’m with my man.”

“What?!” I turned to Liam, my eyes wide. “How long has this been going on?” My voice cracked with pain and disbelief. It felt ridiculous asking, but I had to know.

Liam sighed like I was an annoying kid. “Sarah is the love of my life,” he said, wrapping his arm around her. “I met her last year, and she gives me peace… peace I never had with you after you destroyed every happiness in my life.”

His words hit me like a storm. I clutched my chest as my heart shattered again, crumbling into dust.

“You’ve been cheating on me?” I whispered.

He shrugged. “You don't call it cheating when I never saw you as my wife.”

I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Like the walls were closing in on me.

“Liam…” I choked. “How could you say that? After everything I gave up for you.”

Sarah scoffed, stepping forward like a snake ready to strike. “Oh, stop the act already,” she said. “You just wanted to rip where you didn’t sow. Did you really think you could trap Liam? Please. You’re just a shameless gold digger, Aliyah.”

I stared at her, fury and pain clashing in my chest. “You and your mother destroyed my mother’s life. And now you want to destroy mine, too?”

“Enough!” Liam shouted, making me flinch.

“How dare you talk to her like that?” he barked. “She’s more of a woman than you will ever be.”

More of a… woman?

Tears streamed down my face, and for the first time, I didn’t wipe them away. 

I wanted them to see my pain. To see the damage they have caused.

Suddenly, the front door burst open and Mrs. Catherine, Liam’s mother, walked in.

Thank God.

I nearly collapsed with relief. I know she would stop this nonsense; she knew how much I sacrificed for this family.

"Mother, thank God you are..." I began, my voice shaking, but I didn’t get to finish.

Catherine shoved me aside like I was nothing more than a piece of trash blocking her way. My heart skipped.

She didn’t even look at me as she went straight to Sarah, stood beside her, and held her shoulder protectively.

"Who is your mother?" Her voice was sharp, coated with pure hatred. “And why are you still here?”

I blinked, stunned. “W... What?”

“I thought my son already gave you the divorce papers,” she spat, her eyes burning holes through me. “What are you waiting for?”

I just stood there. Frozen, Lost.

“Is… is that all you have to say to me?” I whispered, barely able to hear myself over the sound of my own heartbeat thundering in my ears. “After I gave your son my kidney… after I lost my womb trying to save him?”

Tears streamed down my cheeks, uncontrollable and hot.

I knew she didn’t like me. From the very beginning, she made sure I felt unwanted. But I never imagined she could be this heartless. Not after everything I sacrificed.

Her eyes narrowed. “What exactly did you do for my son, you ungrateful fool?” she hissed, venom dripping from her tongue.

Sarah let out a quiet giggle behind her hand.

“You’ve been paid well,” Catherine continued, waving her hand in the air. “Now that my son doesn’t want you anymore, pack your things and leave. Let him move on with his pregnant wife.”

My ears rang.

“…Pregnant wife?”

I turned my head slowly, afraid of what I would see, but Sarah was smiling like a devil in disguise. She placed a hand gently on her flat stomach and rubbed it like she was already cradling a baby bump.

“Yes,” Liam said coldly from behind them. “Sarah is pregnant for me. She’s going to give me an heir. Something you could never give me.”

My whole world crashed. I staggered back, my heart breaking into a million sharp, jagged pieces that pierced me from the inside.

“But… but I’m pregnant, Liam,” I whispered through the tears that choked me. “I’m carrying your child. Believe me. Please.”

He looked at me with disgust, as if I had insulted him. “Stop the lies, Aliyah!” he yelled.

Sarah rolled her eyes and leaned into him.

“Oh, please,” Catherine added with a mocking laugh. “You actually think he will fall for your cheap tricks? You’re desperate. It’s pathetic.”

“I’m not lying,” I pleaded, my voice trembling. “You can call Doctor Ann and confirm. Please, I’m not making this up…”

But they all laughed, shaking their heads like I was a joke. Like my pain meant nothing.

Then, Liam wrapped his arm around Sarah’s waist while Catherine kissed her cheek. And together, the three of them turned their backs on me and started walking up the stairs with a smile.

I stood there, shattered. My whole body was trembling. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear the walls down. I wanted to fall into the ground and never get up but I couldn't, because of the little life growing inside of me.

How could they do this to me?

I gave Liam everything, my body, my heart, my womb, my love.

I waited, I hoped, I believed and for what?

To be tossed aside like garbage? To be replaced by the very girl whose mother destroyed my family?

I collapsed to my knees. My hand instinctively went to my belly as pathetic tears of heartbreak fell down my cheeks.