Chapter 137 Chapter 137

Chapter 137 Chapter 137
Aliyah’s POV 

“Why tonight?” I whispered, more to myself than anyone. “Why can’t she just leave us alone?” Tracy quickly took charge. She forwarded the messages to Asher and blocked the unknown number on my phone. 

"Don’t let her ruin this, Aliyah. She’s jealous. She’s desperate. The DNA test was negative, that boy isn’t his. This is just her trying to get under your skin right before the wedding.”
But the damage was done. The white dress that had felt elegant and pure now felt tainted. I excused myself from the group and stepped into the small private restroom attached to the lounge. Locking the door behind me, I stared at my reflection. My cheeks were flushed, eyes glistening with unshed tears. I placed a hand over my slightly rounded belly, feeling the faint flutter that might have been the baby or just my own nerves.

How many more times would Tatiana resurface to remind me of Asher’s mistake? How many more photos, videos, or surprise appearances would there be? She had stormed Elara’s party, crashed the proposal with threats, and now she was invading my bachelorette night. It felt relentless. What if she showed up at the actual wedding? What if she tried something worse once the baby was born?

A soft knock came at the door. “Aliyah? It’s me,” Tracy called gently. “Open up.”I unlocked the door and let her in. She pulled me into a hug, rubbing my back soothingly. “Listen to me. Asher loves you. He’s been proving it every single day since you came back. The bachelor party is happening right now, but he promised me he’d keep it tame. Cohen is with him. Nothing is going to happen. Those old photos don’t change the fact that he chose you, again and again.”

I nodded against her shoulder, but the doubt lingered like a heavy weight. “I said yes because I love him and I want Elara to have her family. But moments like this… they make me wonder if I’m walking into more pain. What if she never stops? What if our marriage becomes a battlefield because of her?” Tracy pulled back and looked me straight in the eyes. “Then you stand up to her, just like you did at the proposal. You have security, you have us, and most importantly, you have Asher fighting for you now. Don’t give her the power to ruin tonight. Come back out, enjoy the rest of the party. We still have cake and one more game planned.”

I took a deep breath, wiped my eyes carefully so my makeup wouldn’t smudge, and nodded. When we returned to the group, the girls rallied around me with supportive words and fresh drinks. They turned the music up a little, trying to lift the mood. I forced a smile and joined in, dancing slowly again, but my thoughts kept drifting. Across town, Asher was probably laughing with his friends, unaware of the storm Tatiana had just unleashed on my phone. Or maybe he already knew, Tracy had forwarded everything. 

Part of me wanted to call him right then, to hear his voice reassure me, but another part didn’t want to interrupt his night or seem insecure. As the party continued, I kept checking my phone subtly. No more messages from the unknown number, but the images were burned into my memory. Tatiana’s troubles weren’t over. Her words from the proposal echoed in my head: “This isn’t over yet.” By the time the night wound down and we started saying goodbyes, the joyful energy had dimmed for me. I hugged each of my friends, thanked Tracy profusely for organizing everything, and climbed into the car Asher had sent to pick me up. 

The driver was quiet, giving me space as we headed back home. The house was dark and peaceful when I arrived. Elara was safely asleep at Papa and Cynthia’s. I slipped out of the white dress, changed into comfortable pajamas, and crawled into the master bed alone. Asher’s bachelor party was likely still going, but I didn’t mind. I needed the quiet. 

Lying there in the darkness, hand resting on my belly, I whispered to the baby, “We’re going to be okay. Your daddy and I… we’ll figure this out. Tatiana won’t win.” But even as I said the words, a quiet fear settled in my chest. The wedding was so close. Would Tatiana find another way to strike? Would her troubles continue to shadow our happiness?

I closed my eyes, trying to push the thoughts away, but sleep came slowly that night, haunted by old photos and whispered threats.


The morning after my bachelorette party felt heavier than I expected. I had barely slept, the anonymous messages from Tatiana still haunting me with those old photos and the cruel video. Asher had come home late from his bachelor party, sliding into bed and pulling me close without asking questions. I hadn’t shown him the messages yet. I wanted one quiet morning before the final wedding rush swallowed us whole. Elara had spent the night at Papa and Cynthia’s with Hope. It was supposed to be a fun sleepover. Cartoons, ice cream, and grandparents spoiling them rotten before the wedding chaos took over. Asher and I were just finishing a quiet breakfast together when my phone rang.

It was Tracy.
The second I answered, her voice shattered everything.
“Aliyah… they’re gone!” she screamed, her words choked with sobs. 
“Elara and Hope — they’re gone!” My fork dropped with a loud clatter. 
"What? Tracy, what do you mean gone?” Asher’s head snapped up, his eyes instantly alert. I put the phone on speaker with shaking hands. Tracy could barely breathe through her tears. “Papa and Cynthia took the girls to the park this morning for a quick playdate. They turned away for literally one minute. For just a minute, Aliyah! When they looked back, both girls were gone. Security cameras at the park caught it. It was Tatiana. She had two men with her. They grabbed Elara and Hope and threw them into a black van. The van sped off before anyone could react. The police are there now, but they lost the trail almost immediately.”

A raw, guttural cry tore from my throat. “No! Not my baby! Elara!” 
My legs gave out and I sank to the kitchen floor, one hand clutching my slightly rounded belly, the other pressed to my mouth to stifle another scream. Elara, my sweet, smart little girl with her arm still in that supportive sling. The fracture from her accident hadn’t fully healed yet. 
Any rough movement could damage it again.