Suddenly, a lady in a bikini came running toward Liam and me as we were celebrating our anniversary on the beach, surrounded by the warmth of the sun and the sound of our laughing. She got down on her knees in front of him and spoke his name in a low voice. The temperature of my heart dropped. Is she a person? The question is, why was she gazing at my spouse in such a manner? When that time came along, I had no clue that it would reveal a devastating reality that I had not anticipated.
The dream seemed too real.
“I beg you, Liam, to not abandon me,” she said. “Liam!” While I was jolting upright in bed, my heart was pounding in my chest. I let out a gasp. I instantly reached out with my hand, hoping to grab him, but the blankets that were lying next to me were chilly.
I then became aware of his voice.
“Ava? ” “How are you doing?”
While standing at the doorway, Liam was clutching a mug of coffee that was scorching hot, and his forehead was wrinkled with anxiety.
It was a torrent of relief. It was little more than a nightmare, a vivid and nasty one at that.
“I’m okay,” I murmured, trembling slightly as I exhaled. It was just a dream. It is a poor one.”
He came around the corner and planted a kiss on my forehead. You were yelling out my phone number. It was a bit frightening to me.
I smiled at him, but it was brief. “You have left me in the middle of it. On a particular island.”
He chuckled in a low voice. To put it simply, it is not going to take place. After that, he began by saying, “By the way, happy anniversary.” It seemed as if he was just recalling something.
My eyes became more wide. “Oh, my word… what is our tenth?”
Through a smile, he nodded. It’s true. It has been ten years today.”
I threw myself into his arms and jumped in. How could I have forgotten? Greetings on your anniversary, Liam!
He stated, “I have something for you,” and I believe him. Close your eyes, please.
After I had done so, something that was slender and smooth appeared in my palms a moment later. I glanced in.
“Do you have plane tickets?” I let out a gasp. “What about Punta Cana?”
Liam smiled broadly. We will be departing in three hours. There is just twenty minutes left for you to pack!
I couldn’t contain my shock, yet I couldn’t help but shout with joy and leap into action.
We hadn’t had the opportunity to spend time together as a couple in months. In the meanwhile, Liam had been buried in work, and I had been juggling freelance tasks in addition to the turmoil that is daily life. This—It was just the break that we needed.
The trip was a whirlwind of anxious anticipation. As soon as we touched down, the humid air from the Caribbean enveloped us like a warm blanket.
At the moment when we got off the aircraft, I said, “Wow.” The palm palms and the sky that was a brilliant shade of blue made it appear like a picture.
Liam squeezed my hand and whispered, “Just wait until you see the resort,” as he said my name.
When we arrived, a beautiful black SUV was waiting for us, and as we drove down the shore, I couldn’t prevent myself from looking at the sea.
I said, “This is completely insane.” “How were you able to accomplish this without me being aware of it?”
Liam gave a smirk. Let’s just say that on more than one occasion, I had to act as if I was working late.
I had a twinge of remorse. “I am so sorry that I have been so preoccupied. I am aware that your work has been quite hard.
It was dismissed by him. “why is the reason why we are here. There are no time limits. There will be no phones. Only the two of us.”
I could be heard letting out a loud gasp when we arrived at the resort. It was picture-perfect, with white beaches, coral houses, and hammocks that swayed in the breeze.
After having our luggage taken by the bellhop, we entered a lobby that was airy and had marble flooring underneath us.
My voice was soft as I said, “Liam… this place must have cost a fortune.”
As he bent down, he kissed the temple of my head. “Only the very best for you.”
We had a room that had windows that reached from floor to ceiling and a private patio that overlooked the beach. I was standing there with the breeze from the beach blowing through my hair when Liam placed his arms around my waist.
He inquired, “Was it worth the wait?”
I turned around to face him. It was well worth the effort.
The next two days were spent floating in paradise, where we enjoyed lengthy meals on the beach, dancing under the stars, and resting by the pool. It had been months since we had last laughed so much. As if we had regained our sense of ourselves.
On the third night of our trip, as the sun sank below the horizon in a blaze of pink and gold, we sat on beach chairs with our arms intertwined and watched the waves come in.
“What stopped us from doing this earlier?” As I inquired, my tone was ethereal.
According to Liam’s response, “Because I wanted it to be perfect.”
Although my fingers were lying on my tummy, I grinned. Inside of me, a secret began to develop, one that I had not yet divulged to anybody. Just a few days before the trip, I had discovered that I was expecting a child. I had brought a little present box from my house, and I was holding it back till the appropriate time.
“What is it that’s making you smile?” Liam inquired when he turned his head in my direction.
I responded with, “Just… happy thoughts.”
He sat up and extended his muscles. “Would you like to go for a stroll before dinner?”
I gave a little nod. It is true. This sunset is just too lovely to be thrown away.
While we were walking down the beach barefoot, the sea was not only warm but also soothing on our ankles. It was ready, I felt the little package that was in my pocket.
“I am Liam’s—”
Suddenly, it seemed as if a person was running toward us through the waning light. The breeze caused the woman’s hair to become unruly and wild as she sprinted on the beach while wearing a clean white bikini. After coming to a complete stop in front of Liam, she knelt down and lowered herself to her knees.
And she shouted out, “Liam!” It is you who is the love of my life! It’s time to quit acting like you don’t care; leave her and come be with me. Please wed me!
It was a chilly planet.
I blinked my eyes.
My eyes shifted to Liam. As for her, then.
With my breath stopped in my throat, I gripped my palm around the present box that was stashed away in my pocket.
Liam seems to have been struck with a bat by an unknown individual. After opening his mouth, he then shut it. Next, —
It was a laugh.
I couldn’t believe my eyes as I saw him stoop down and laugh so hard that he was gasping. After that, to make matters even worse, he dragged the lady to her feet and embrace her.
I moved further away.
This was a joke, right?
Is it a joke?
A hurtful reunion with a former partner?
“Liam?” he asked. It was difficult to speak. “Who… and who is she?”
My expression was abruptly brought to his attention as he gazed at me. The expression on his face changed. My deepest apologies, Ava. Hello, my name is Julia.
A bashful grin appeared on Julia’s face as she extended her hand to me. “Hello! Many apologies for the drama.
It was not taken by me.
Please explain, Liam. Right now”
It was the back of his neck that he massaged. “Two years ago, Julia and I attended the same college. In the theater, she was there. One time, I humiliated her to the point of extreme humiliation by playing a trick on her while she was performing. Soon, she vowed to exact her vengeance.
Julia gave a resounding nod of approval. “And when I saw him on the beach, I was unable to say no to him! Twenty minutes were spent by me in order to get the courage for it.
My knees were on the verge of giving up.
This whole thing… was a joke?
An amusing remark from a buddy from college?
Despite the fact that my voice was quivering, I said, “You scared the hell out of me.”
As he took a step closer, Liam’s eyes were filled with contrition. “She was not really on my radar at all. I solemnly swear. I was not responsible for any of this.”
The exhalation was shaky, and I was half laughing and half weeping. “You are such an idiot.”
With a smile on his face, he drew me into his arms. “I am very sorry. That is the case. However, she also managed to get me. I was not anticipating it at all.
She laughed out loud. “I believe that I can finally relax now. This is the end of my vengeance.”
She gave a wink. “By the way, congratulations are in order. The two of you are really cute.
While I was shaking my head, I swallowed the lump that was in my throat. “You just about caused me to have a heart attack.”
Then I recalled what I had intended to convey to Liam before to all that had transpired. Perhaps the timing wasn’t as bad as it seemed after all.
“I had a surprise too, you know,” I said as I pulled away from his grasp. “I thought it was funny.”
It was with a raised eyebrow that he said, “Oh?”
The tiny package was removed from its container, and I handed it to him.
He took his time opening it. The contents of the package were a lovely silver necklace that included a little locket in the form of baby feet.
My eyes were immediately drawn to Liam’s.
“Ava! ” You are claiming that…
I nodded, tears welling up in my eyes. This is my pregnancy.
His eyes welled up with passion as he grabbed me off the ground and joyfully spun me around. His eyes were filled with emotion.
“It’s not a coincidence! Indeed, we are going to become parents! His laughter was audible through his tears as he yelled.
A clap of hands was made by Julia. Whoa, it is just incredible! By a wide margin, it is superior than my small joke.
She pulled out her mobile device. This moment is worthy of being captured in a photograph, right?
With the ocean in the background, we stood with our arms around each other and my hand resting on my stomach. While Julia was taking a few photographs, the sun, which had transformed into a massive orange ball, wonderfully framed us.
The phone was returned to her with a grin on her face. A hearty congratulations to you both. I’ll get out of your hair now, and I promise that I won’t be as theatrical in the future.
Liam gave her a hug. The prank war is definitely won by you today.
After that, she gave a wave before vanishing into the darkness.
My attention was drawn to me by Liam as the sun’s waning rays disappeared below the horizon.
Then… Are we going to have a child?
While laying my head on his chest, I gave a little nod.
“Do you feel content?” I inquired about it.
He gave me a slow and passionate kiss. Ever in my whole life, I have never been happier. Hello, Ava! I adore you.
“I love you even more,” I murmured to her.
As we made our way back down the beach, hand in hand, our shadows were visible and stretched out on the sand behind us.
As the sky became a deep violet and was dotted with stars, the ocean murmured to us from its position next to us.
The vacation we took to celebrate our anniversary had all the makings of a celebration, but it turned out to be the beginning of something far more significant.
It’s a fresh start. A fresh start in life.
And there will be no nightmares this time. I only have love, laughter, and the sound of my heart beating very slowly inside of me.
