As Liam and I savored our anniversary on the beach, wrapped in sunshine and laughter, a woman in a swimsuit suddenly rushed toward us. She dropped to her knees in front of him and softly spoke 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 unravel a heartbreaking truth I never saw coming.
The dream felt too real.
“Liam… no, please don’t leave me… Liam!” I gasped, jolting upright in bed, my heart hammering in my chest. My hand shot out instinctively, reaching for him—but the sheets beside me were cold.
Then I heard his voice.
“Ava? Are you okay?”
Liam stood in the doorway, holding a steaming mug of coffee, his brow furrowed with concern.
Relief flooded me. It had only been a nightmare—a vivid, cruel one.
“I’m okay,” I said, exhaling shakily. “Just a dream. A bad one.”
He crossed the room and kissed my forehead. “You were calling my name. You scared me a little.”
I gave him a weak smile. “You left me in it. On some island.”
He laughed softly. “Well, that’s not going to happen.” Then, as if just remembering something, he added, “By the way, happy anniversary.”
My eyes widened. “Oh my God… our tenth?”
He nodded, grinning. “Yep. Ten years today.”
I launched myself into his arms. “How could I forget? Happy anniversary, Liam.”
“I’ve got something for you,” he said. “Close your eyes.”
I did, and a moment later, something thin and smooth landed in my hands. I peeked.
“Plane tickets?” I gasped. “Punta Cana?”
Liam beamed. “We leave in three hours. You’ve got twenty minutes to pack!”
My jaw dropped, but I squealed with excitement and jumped into motion.
We hadn’t had time for just the two of us in months. Liam had been buried in work; I’d been juggling freelance projects and the everyday chaos of life. This—this was the break we needed.
The flight was a blur of excitement. When we landed, the humid Caribbean air wrapped around us like a soft blanket.
“Wow,” I breathed as we stepped off the plane. The palm trees, the cerulean sky—it all looked like a painting.
“Just wait till you see the resort,” Liam said, squeezing my hand.
A sleek black SUV waited for us, and as we drove along the coastline, I couldn’t stop staring at the water.
“This is insane,” I murmured. “How did you pull this off without me knowing?”
Liam smirked. “Let’s just say I had to pretend I was working late more than once.”
I felt a pang of guilt. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted. I know your job’s been demanding.”
He brushed it off. “That’s why we’re here. No deadlines. No phones. Just us.”
When we pulled up to the resort, I audibly gasped. It was postcard perfect—white sand, coral roofs, swaying hammocks.
The bellhop took our bags, and we stepped into a breezy, marble-floored lobby.
“Liam… this place must’ve cost a fortune,” I whispered.
He leaned down and kissed my temple. “Only the best for you.”
Our room overlooked the beach, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a private balcony. As I stood out there, ocean wind in my hair, Liam wrapped his arms around my waist.
“Worth the wait?” he asked.
I turned to face him. “More than worth it.”
We spent the next two days floating in paradise—lounging by the pool, dancing under the stars, and savoring long dinners on the beach. We laughed more than we had in months. We felt like ourselves again.
On our third night, as the sun dipped below the horizon in a blaze of pink and gold, we lay on beach chairs, arms entangled, watching the waves roll in.
“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” I asked, my voice dreamy.
“Because I wanted it to be perfect,” Liam replied.
I smiled, fingers resting on my stomach. A secret bloomed quietly inside me—one I hadn’t shared yet. I’d found out I was pregnant just days before the trip. I’d brought a little gift box from home, waiting for the right moment.
“What’s got you smiling?” Liam asked, turning his head toward me.
“Just… happy thoughts,” I said.
He sat up and stretched. “Want to take a walk before dinner?”
I nodded. “Yes. The sunset’s too beautiful to waste.”
We strolled barefoot along the shoreline, the tide warm and gentle against our ankles. I felt the small box in my pocket, ready.
“Liam, I—”
Suddenly, a figure dashed toward us through the dimming light. A woman in a white swimsuit ran across the sand, her hair loose and wild from the wind. She came to a halt directly in front of Liam… and dropped to her knees.
“Liam!” she cried. “You’re the love of my life! It’s time to stop pretending—leave her, and be with me. Marry me!”
The world froze.
I blinked.
I looked at Liam. Then at her.
My hand clenched around the gift box in my pocket, my breath caught in my throat.
Liam looked like someone had hit him with a bat. His mouth opened, then closed. Then—
He laughed.
I stared in disbelief as he doubled over, wheezing with laughter. Then, even worse, he pulled the woman to her feet and hugged her.
I stepped back.
Was this a joke?
A prank?
Some cruel reunion with an ex?
“Liam?” My voice trembled. “Who… who is she?”
He looked at me, suddenly noticing my expression. His face sobered. “Ava, I’m so sorry. This is Julia.”
Julia gave me a sheepish smile and extended her hand. “Hi! Sorry for the drama.”
I didn’t take it.
“Liam, explain. Now.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Julia and I went to college together. She was in the theater. Once, I played a prank on her during a performance and completely embarrassed her. She swore revenge one day.”
Julia nodded enthusiastically. “And when I spotted him on the beach, I couldn’t resist! I spent twenty minutes building up the nerve.”
My knees nearly gave out.
All this… was a prank?
A joke from some college friend?
“You scared the hell out of me,” I said, my voice shaking.
Liam stepped forward, his eyes full of apology. “I had no idea she was here. I swear. I didn’t plan any of this.”
I exhaled shakily, half laughing, half crying. “You idiot.”
He grinned, pulling me into his arms. “I’m sorry. I really am. But… she got me too. I wasn’t expecting that.”
Julia chuckled. “I think I can rest easy now. My revenge is complete.”
She winked. “Congrats, by the way. You two are adorable.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and shook my head. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”
Then I remembered what I’d meant to tell Liam before it all happened. Maybe the timing wasn’t ruined after all.
“I had a surprise too, you know,” I said softly, pulling away from his arms.
“Oh?” he said, raising an eyebrow.
I took out the small box and placed it in his hand.
He opened it slowly. Inside was a delicate silver necklace with a tiny locket in the shape of baby feet.
Liam’s eyes shot to mine.
“Ava… are you saying…?”
I nodded, tears brimming. “I’m pregnant.”
His eyes welled with emotion as he lifted me off the ground in pure joy, spinning me around.
“You’re pregnant! We’re going to be parents!” he shouted, laughing through his tears.
Julia clapped her hands. “Oh my God, that’s amazing! That beats my little prank by a mile.”
She took out her phone. “You two need a photo—this moment deserves it.”
We posed with the ocean behind us, arms around each other, my hand on my belly. The sun, now a giant ball of orange, framed us perfectly as Julia snapped a few pictures.
She handed the phone back with a smile. “Congratulations, you two. I’ll get out of your hair now—and no more dramatics, I promise.”
Liam hugged her. “You definitely win the prank war.”
Then she waved and disappeared into the dusk.
As the last light of day slipped below the horizon, Liam turned to me.
“So… we’re having a baby?”
I nodded, resting my head against his chest.
“Are you happy?” I asked.
He kissed me slowly, deeply. “I’ve never been happier in my life. I love you, Ava.”
“I love you more,” I whispered.
We walked back along the beach, hand in hand, our silhouettes stretching behind us in the sand.
The ocean whispered beside us, the sky now a deep violet scattered with stars.
Our anniversary trip had started as a celebration—but it had turned into the beginning of something much bigger.
A new chapter. A new life.
And this time, no bad dreams. Just love, laughter, and the tiny heartbeat growing inside me.
