Chapter 2

Alia saw Jasper and Rhea ran towards her, unexpectedly, Rhea was also struck by a speeding car. Her body rolled to the ground — as hard and painful as Alia’s fall.

Alia’s chest tightened as she saw Jasper sprinting toward Rhea, panic and fear written all over his face. Not for her — his wife — but for his first love. The scene cut her deeper than any wound. Her body might already be numb from the pain, but her heart felt like it was about to burst.

Before her vision faded into darkness, she caught a glimpse of a pair of black leather shoes standing in front of her.

When she opened her eyes again, she wasn’t truly awake — she was asleep, trapped in a coma. Her body was heavily damaged by the crash, and the emergency cesarean that followed left her womb fragile and scarred — a cruel reminder of the life she couldn’t save.

In the midst of the darkness that surrounded her, a blinding light appeared.

Her eyes welled with tears when she saw her baby — her little angel — calling out to her.

“Mommy! Mommy! I’m here, Mommy!”

She ran toward the tiny voice, her heart aching yet full. She knew she had lost him, and yet there he was, smiling at her.

When she reached for his small hand, he spoke again — this time with unexpected urgency.

“Mommy, don’t give up. Someone’s still waiting for you! You have to fight back, Mommy, or I’ll be mad at you!”

Confused, she asked softly, “What do you mean, sweetheart?”

But the boy only smiled and pointed toward a golden door. As they moved closer, faint voices echoed from beyond it.

“Ali, please, wake up!”

“Open your eyes, Ali! Please!”

The voices sounded desperate, familiar yet strange. She hesitated to approach the door, but her baby’s eyes urged her forward. When she couldn’t move, he gave her one last smile—then gently pushed her through.

She woke up to an unfamiliar ceiling. Her whole body ached, still numb from anesthesia. She tried to move but couldn’t. Only her eyes shifted around the room—until she noticed them. Five men stood in her ward.

The one closest to her stepped forward. She couldn’t make out his face clearly, but something about him felt... safe.

“Ali, don’t worry. I’m here now,” the man said softly. “No one can hurt you. I promise.”

Then his voice faltered. “You’re safe… but your child…”

Her tears fell before he could finish. He quickly wiped them away, his touch careful, almost trembling.

“Don’t cry, Ali. Please. You’ll have another one, I swear.”

But his words couldn’t reach her. The emptiness in her chest grew heavier. Her lips quivered as she forced the words out — broken, fragile.

“My-my… ba-baby… I wa-want… my-my ba-baby…”

Suddenly, the ECG monitor beside her flared with a rapid, uneven sound.

The steady beeping turned chaotic — her heart was failing.

“Ali!” the man shouted, panic lacing his voice. The others moved quickly, calling for help.

He grabbed her hand tightly, desperate.

“Ali, please! Hang on! You have to live! You can’t leave me! Please—don’t die!”

Her fading gaze fell to his hand holding hers. That’s when she noticed it — the ring.

That ring… it looked so familiar.

But before the thought could form, darkness swallowed her again.

She returned to the darkness—where Alia once met her baby.

She called out for him, her voice echoing through the void, but no matter how loud she shouted, no reply came.

“Baby! Honey! Where are you, my baby?!”

Her voice broke as tears streamed down her face. The emptiness swallowed her cries, and she began to weep, terrified she’d lost her little angel forever.

Then, out of nowhere, she heard it—a child’s laughter.

Her heart skipped. She lifted her head and saw a white, glowing door slightly ajar. Drawn to it, she walked closer and pushed it open.

Behind the door was a breathtaking garden full of flowers swaying under the golden light—so peaceful that anyone would want to stay there forever.

Suddenly, a small hand clasped hers. A laughing child tugged her forward. She couldn’t make out his face, but his joy was pure and contagious.

He led her toward a large tree. On the ground was a picnic cloth, a wicker basket, and some baby formula neatly placed beside tiny toys.

She sat down, still trying to understand what was happening. Then, a man appeared, carrying a baby in his arms.

“Hey, sweetheart, are you tired? Do you feel unwell?” he asked softly, brushing her hair aside to check her forehead.

When his fingers brushed her cheek, something caught her eye—a ring. The same ring she had seen on the man’s hand at the hospital.

Her breath hitched. “Wh-who are you?”

He chuckled. “You were just playing with ****** moments ago, and you already forgot about me? Alright, I’ll remind you.”

He smiled warmly. “My name is ****** ******. Don’t forget, sweetheart, or I might get upset.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead gently.

That simple act made her heart ache. The tenderness in his touch was something she’d never felt with Jasper. This man’s warmth—his love—was different.

Without realizing it, Alia hugged him tightly. He smiled and hugged her back.

“Go play with ****** while I set up the food,” he said, pointing at the baby in his arms. “I’ll take care of this little one.”

She nodded and walked toward the child playing with a kite.

“Honey, come on, let’s eat first,” she called.

The child dropped the kite and ran to her, taking her hand. “Mommy,” he said softly.

Alia froze. She could finally see his face—clear and radiant. It was her baby.

Her tears flowed again as she wrapped her arms around him. “Baby… it’s you…”

He hugged her back but then gently pushed her away.

“Mommy, you shouldn’t be here,” he said. “You need to go back.”

“Go back? What do you mean, honey?” she asked, confused.

Instead of answering, the boy looked upward and pointed to a blinding light in the sky.

“Mommy, you have to go there. You don’t belong here. You need to go back—to avenge me.”

“Avenge you?”