Chapter 133 Chapter 133
Chapter 133 Chapter 133
Aliyah’s POV
“Mommy! Daddy!” Elara’s excited voice broke through the moment. She ran toward us from the doorway, her little arm still in its sling but her face glowing with happiness. Diana must have brought her out at the perfect time. Elara threw herself against our legs, hugging us both as tightly as she could.
“Are we getting married? Is Mommy going to be with us forever now?”
Asher laughed softly, scooping her up with one arm while keeping the other around me. “Yes, princess. Mommy said yes.”
I kissed Elara’s forehead, my heart swelling despite the lingering doubts. This was what I wanted for her — a family, even if it wasn’t perfect yet. Before I could fully process the moment, Cohen stepped forward, his expression unusually serious. He gestured for me to step aside with him, away from the others. I hesitated but followed, my new ring feeling heavy on my finger.
“Aliyah,” he began, his voice low and sincere. “I know this might not be the best time, but I need to say this. I’m truly sorry for everything I’ve ever done to you. The lies, the manipulation, the pain I caused when we were still together, oblivious to the fact that we were twins. I was jealous, angry, and lost. I treated you horribly. Blood. I don’t expect you to forget, but I want you to know I’ve changed. Seeing you with Asher and Elara… it made me realize how much I messed up. I’m sorry, sis.”
Tears pricked my eyes again. After all the years of hurt, his apology felt raw and real. We were twins — connected in a way no one else could understand. I nodded slowly.
"I accept your apology, Cohen. It doesn’t erase the past, but… we’re family. We can try to build something better from now on.” For the first time in what felt like forever, we hugged. It was awkward at first, but then it became genuine — a quiet moment of healing between siblings. When we pulled apart, I saw the relief in his eyes. Tracy bounced over next, her face lit up with pure excitement. She grabbed both my hands, practically squealing.
"Oh my goddess, Aliyah! We have a wedding to plan! This is going to be amazing. Flowers, dresses, everything! I’m so happy for you two.”I managed a small laugh, letting her enthusiasm wash over me. It felt good to have her support, especially now when my emotions were all over the place. But the joy was short-lived.
The sound of tires screeching on the driveway made everyone turn. Tatiana stormed out of her car, her face twisted in fury. She marched straight toward the decorated entrance, eyes blazing as she took in the balloons, lights, and the proposal setup.
“You think this is over?” she shouted, pointing a manicured finger at me. “You stole him from me! That night five years ago meant something to me, and now you’re parading around with his ring like you’re some perfect little family? You’re nothing but a pathetic racer who got knocked up twice. He’ll get tired of you just like he did with me!”
Her words cut deep, reopening wounds I thought were starting to heal. Anger surged through me. I stepped forward, refusing to let her ruin this moment too.
"Enough, Tatiana,” I said firmly, my voice steady despite the tremble in my hands. “You lied about the pregnancy. You lied about having his son. You attacked me at my daughter’s party. You’re not welcome here. Asher is not yours, and he never will be. Leave now, or I’ll make sure security removes you.”
Security guards — Asher’s men — were already moving in. Tatiana’s face reddened with rage.
"You think you’ve won? This isn’t over yet, Aliyah! I’ll make sure you regret ever coming back!” she spat before the guards firmly escorted her back to her car. She struggled briefly but eventually drove off, tires screeching once more.
The tension lingered in the air even after she left. Asher pulled me closer, his arm protective around my waist.
"She’s gone,” he murmured. “And she won’t ruin us again.”I nodded, leaning into him, but deep down I wondered if her threat held any weight. For now, though, I chose to focus on the warmth of my family surrounding me — the ring on my finger, Elara’s happy giggles, and the fragile new beginning we had just stepped into.
The excitement of the proposal slowly faded as the evening wore on. One by one, our family and friends began to disperse to their homes. Papa and Cynthia left first, Papa giving me a tight hug and whispering how proud he was of me for finally opening my heart again. Cohen followed shortly after, squeezing my shoulder with a small, genuine smile before driving off.
Tracy was the last to go, practically bouncing with wedding planning ideas as she hugged me goodbye, promising to call first thing in the morning. Hope waved sleepily from her car seat. Soon, the beautiful decorations were being carefully taken down by the staff, the balloons deflated, and the fairy lights switched off.
The house felt quieter, more intimate, as night settled in. Elara had already been put to bed by Diana hours earlier, exhausted from all the excitement but still murmuring happily about
“Mommy and Daddy are getting married.” I stood at the window for a moment, staring out into the darkness, the diamond ring on my finger feeling both heavy and strangely comforting.
Asher had been watching me the entire time. I could feel his gaze burning into my back even before he approached. When everyone was finally gone and the house was ours again, he didn’t waste a second. He came up behind me, his strong arms wrapping around my waist, pulling my back flush against his chest. His lips brushed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
"I’ve waited all day for this,” he murmured, his voice low and rough with need. “Just you and me, Aliyah. No more fighting. No more doubts tonight.”
I turned in his arms, intending to say something, maybe slow things down, remind him that I was still processing everything, but his mouth claimed mine in a deep, hungry kiss. Before I knew it, he was leading me upstairs to the master bedroom, the one I had avoided since the party. The room was dimly lit, the large bed looking inviting and dangerous all at once.