Liam and I were celebrating our anniversary on a sunlit beach, laughter echoing around us, when suddenly, a woman in a bikini came running toward us. She dropped to her knees in front of him and whispered his name.
My heart froze.
Who was she? And why was she looking at my husband like that?
I had no idea that moment would unlock a painful truth I wasn’t prepared for.
It felt too real to be just a dream.
“Please, Liam, don’t leave me,” she pleaded. “Liam!”
I jolted upright in bed, heart racing, gasping for air. My hand reached instinctively to his side of the bed—but the sheets were cold.
Then I heard his voice.
“Ava? Are you okay?”
Liam stood in the doorway, holding a steaming mug of coffee, worry etched on his face.
Relief washed over me—it had only been a nightmare. A vivid, disturbing dream.
“I’m fine,” I whispered, still trembling. “Just a bad dream.”
He came to my side and kissed my forehead. “You were calling out my name. It freaked me out a bit.”
I managed a weak smile. “You left me. On an island.”
He chuckled softly. “Well, that’s not happening.” Then, as if suddenly remembering, he added, “By the way, happy anniversary.”
My eyes widened. “Wait… is it our tenth?”
He grinned. “Yup. Ten years today.”
I leapt into his arms. “I can’t believe I forgot! Happy anniversary, Liam!”
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said. “Close your eyes.”
I obeyed, and a second later, he placed something smooth and light in my hands.
I opened my eyes and gasped. “Plane tickets? Punta Cana?”
Liam beamed. “We leave in three hours. You have twenty minutes to pack!”
I squealed with joy and dashed to get ready.
We hadn’t spent real time together in months. Liam had been buried in work, and I was juggling freelancing and everyday chaos. This trip—it was exactly what we needed.
The flight was a rush of excitement. When we landed, the Caribbean heat wrapped around us like a welcome embrace.
“Wow,” I breathed, admiring the turquoise sea and palm trees as we stepped off the plane.
“Just wait until you see the resort,” Liam whispered, squeezing my hand.
A sleek black SUV was waiting for us. As we drove along the coast, I couldn’t stop staring out at the water.
“This is crazy. How did you plan this without me knowing?”
He smirked. “Let’s just say I had to fake working late a few times.”
Guilt pricked at me. “I’ve been so distracted lately… I know your job’s been hard, too.”
He waved it off. “That’s why we’re here. No schedules. No phones. Just us.”
When we arrived, I gasped again. White-sand beaches, coral villas, hammocks swinging in the breeze—it looked like paradise.
“This must’ve cost a fortune,” I whispered as we walked into the open-air marble lobby.
“Only the best for you,” Liam said, kissing my temple.
Our suite had floor-to-ceiling windows and a private terrace with a view of the beach. As the ocean breeze played with my hair, Liam wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Was it worth the wait?” he asked.
I turned to him. “Every second.”
The next two days were pure bliss—sun-soaked mornings, long dinners on the sand, dancing under the stars. We laughed more than we had in ages. It felt like we’d rediscovered ourselves.
On the third evening, we sat in lounge chairs, watching the sunset paint the sky in shades of gold and pink.
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” I asked dreamily.
“Because I wanted it to be perfect,” Liam replied.
I smiled, resting my hand on my stomach. Inside me, a secret was growing—a secret I hadn’t shared with anyone yet. Just before the trip, I’d found out I was pregnant. I’d brought a small gift box, waiting for the right moment to tell him.
“What’s making you smile like that?” Liam asked, glancing at me.
“Just… happy thoughts.”
He stretched. “Want to take a walk before dinner?”
“Yes,” I nodded. “This sunset is too beautiful to waste.”
We walked barefoot along the beach, the warm waves lapping at our feet. I could feel the tiny box in my pocket. It was time.
“I’m—”
Suddenly, a figure appeared, sprinting toward us. A woman in a white bikini, her hair wild in the breeze, ran straight to Liam. She stopped, dropped to her knees, and cried out.
“Liam! You’re the love of my life! Stop pretending—leave her and be with me. Marry me!”
The world went silent.
I stared at Liam. Then at her.
My fingers clenched around the gift box in my pocket.
Liam looked as stunned as I was. He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Then—he laughed.
He laughed so hard he doubled over, gasping for breath. And then, to my horror, he pulled the woman up and hugged her.
I stepped back, confused and hurt.
Was this some twisted joke?
“Liam?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Who… who is she?”
Liam finally looked at me, suddenly serious. “Ava, I’m so sorry. This is Julia.”
Julia offered a sheepish grin. “Hi! Sorry about the drama.”
I stared in disbelief. “Explain. Now.”
Liam rubbed the back of his neck. “Julia and I went to college together. She was in the drama club. I once pulled a prank on her during a play—really embarrassed her. She swore she’d get revenge someday.”
Julia nodded. “And when I saw him today, I couldn’t resist! It took me twenty minutes to build up the courage.”
I nearly collapsed. “That whole thing… was a prank?”
Still shaken, I managed, “You scared the hell out of me.”
Liam stepped closer, apologetic. “I swear I had nothing to do with it. She got me too. Totally unexpected.”
I laughed, half-crying. “You’re such an idiot.”
He pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry. But you’ve got to admit—she got us both.”
Julia grinned. “Revenge complete. And hey—congratulations! You two are adorable.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, shaking my head. “You nearly gave me a heart attack.”
Then I remembered the surprise I had planned.
“I had something for you too,” I said, pulling away. “I think now’s the time.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
I handed him the small box. He opened it slowly to reveal a silver necklace with a tiny baby feet pendant.
His eyes snapped to mine.
“Ava… are you saying…?”
I nodded, tears brimming. “We’re having a baby.”
Overcome with emotion, Liam lifted me off the ground, spinning me with joy. “We’re going to be parents?! This is the best news ever!”
Julia clapped. “That’s incredible! Definitely better than my little prank.”
She pulled out her phone. “We need a picture of this moment!”
With the ocean behind us, we posed—his arms around me, my hand on my stomach. The setting sun framed us perfectly as Julia snapped a few shots.
She smiled as she handed back the phone. “Congratulations, both of you. And don’t worry—I’ll keep the dramatics to a minimum from now on.”
Liam hugged her. “You win this prank war.”
She waved and disappeared down the beach.
As the last rays of sun dipped below the horizon, Liam turned to me.
“We’re really having a baby?”
I nodded, laying my head on his chest.
“Are you happy?” I whispered.
He kissed me deeply. “More than I’ve ever been. I love you, Ava.”
“I love you even more,” I whispered back.
We walked hand in hand down the beach, our shadows trailing behind us.
The sky turned a rich violet, stars beginning to twinkle. The waves murmured beside us, soft and steady.
What started as an anniversary trip had turned into something far more meaningful.
A new beginning.
And this time, no nightmares—only love, laughter, and the steady beat of a tiny heart growing inside me.