Chapter 136 Chapter 136
Chapter 136 Chapter 136
Aliyah’s POV
We spent the first hour chatting and laughing. Tracy had prepared games, a “roast the bride” session where everyone shared funny stories about me, keeping it light and kind. One friend recounted the time I had nearly crashed during a race but recovered with pure skill. Another joked about how I had once tried to bake cookies for Elara and ended up burning them to charcoal.
The laughter felt good, healing in a way. It reminded me that I had built a support system beyond just Asher. As the night progressed, we moved to a small dance floor. I danced slowly, swaying to the music, careful not to overexert myself. Tracy joined me, holding my hands and spinning me gently. “I can’t believe you’re getting married in two weeks,” she said, her eyes misty.
“After everything, the accident with Elara, Tatiana’s drama, the DNA test, the proposal, you two are finally doing this. I’m so happy for you.” I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“It still feels surreal. I have moments where the doubts creep in, you know? The one-night stand, the fear that someone else might show up… but Asher has been trying. He’s been there for Elara, for the bar launch, for every doctor’s appointment even when I didn’t ask him to come.”
We returned to the seating area, and the conversation turned more intimate. The girls asked about the wedding details, the flowers (white roses and blue hydrangeas to match the bar’s theme), the cake (a three-tiered design with a moon goddess topper), and how Asher had been surprisingly involved in planning. I shared how he had insisted on extra security to keep any uninvited guests like Tatiana away. Just mentioning her name made my skin crawl, but tonight was about celebration, not fear.
Meanwhile, I knew Asher was having his own bachelor party across town with Cohen, Papa, and a few close friends. I wondered what they were doing. Probably something low-key like drinks at a private club or watching a game, knowing Asher’s protective nature. He had promised not to go overboard, and I trusted him. Still, a small part of me felt a pang of jealousy mixed with relief that we were doing this separately but equally.
Elara and Hope were safe with Papa and Cynthia for the night. Before leaving, Elara had hugged me tightly, whispering, “Have fun, Mommy, but come back soon. I can’t wait for the wedding so we can all live together forever.” Her innocence melted my heart. Knowing she and Hope were being spoiled with bedtime stories and ice cream made me relax more.
As the clock ticked past midnight, the energy remained joyful but calm. We took group photos, posed with props like oversized sunglasses and “Bride” sashes, and shared more stories. One friend gifted me a beautiful journal for writing down memories once the baby arrived. Tracy presented a custom scrapbook filled with photos from our friendship, from racing days to the bar launch to candid shots of me with Elara and Asher. Tears pricked my eyes as I flipped through the pages.
“Whatever happens, you’ve got us,” Tracy said softly, squeezing my hand. The night wound down with everyone sharing well-wishes for the marriage and the new baby. I felt surrounded by love, yet a quiet nervousness lingered beneath the surface. In two weeks, I would walk down the aisle toward Asher. In a few months, we would welcome another child. Life was changing so fast, and while part of me rejoiced, another part still wondered if this fairytale ending could truly last.
I leaned back in my chair, sipping my cider, listening to the laughter around me. The white dress felt symbolic, pure, new beginnings, but I knew marriage wasn’t about perfection. It was about choosing each other every day despite the scars of the past. For tonight, though, I allowed myself to enjoy being celebrated. The bachelorette party had been perfect in its simplicity and warmth.
As Tracy called for one last toast, I raised my glass with a genuine smile.
"To new chapters,” I said quietly, more to myself than anyone else. The girls cheered, and the music played on.
But peace never seemed to last long in my life. My phone vibrated on the table beside me. I glanced at the screen, expecting a sweet message from Asher checking in from his bachelor party or perhaps a photo from Papa and Cynthia of Elara and Hope fast asleep. Instead, the notification was from an unknown number. Curiosity got the better of me, and I opened the message. The first image loaded slowly. It was a photo of Asher from five years ago, clearly taken in a dimly lit bar. He was smiling, his arm loosely around a woman, Tatiana. Her face was unmistakable, even with the passage of time.
The next photo showed them closer, lips almost touching. A short video clip followed: muffled audio of laughter, clinking glasses, and Tatiana whispering something in Asher’s ear before they disappeared toward what looked like a back room. My stomach dropped. The room around me seemed to tilt. Another message popped up right after:
“You think a fancy proposal and a pretty white dress erase the past? He fucked me that night. He chose me when you were gone. Check the timestamps. He was still looking for you, but he couldn’t keep his hands off me. Enjoy your ‘perfect’ night, homewrecker.”
The words burned into my eyes. My hands started shaking so badly that the phone nearly slipped from my grip. Tracy noticed immediately and leaned closer. “Aliyah? What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I couldn’t speak at first. I just handed her the phone with trembling fingers. She scrolled through the messages, her face shifting from concern to pure anger. “That bitch,” she muttered under her breath. “How did she even get your number?”
The other girls started gathering around, sensing the sudden shift in mood. One of them asked if everything was okay, but I barely heard them. My mind was reeling, replaying every painful detail from Elara’s welcome party, the way Tatiana had yanked me to the floor, torn my gown, scratched my neck and elbow while screaming insults.
The humiliation. The public declaration that Asher had a son with her.
Even though the DNA test had proven the child wasn’t his, the one-night stand had been real. Asher had admitted it. And now these photos and the video were shoving the truth back in my face on what was supposed to be my special night.