Cheryl’s baby dream dashed as Liam gets back with his ex
After Liam Payne reportedly reunites with former fiancée Maya Henry, Cheryl is left feeling deflated after hopes that her ex might father her much longed-for second baby
❛ SHE’S ENJOYED THE EXTRA ATTENTION AND TIME THEY’VE BEEN SPENDING TOGETHER ❜
Rumours of a reconciliation between newly-single Liam Payne and Cheryl gathered pace last month when they were snapped together at a family event – weeks after he revealed they were “closer than ever” after ending his engagement to Maya Henry.
Insiders revealed how the former couple – who share four-year-old son, Bear – had even discussed having another child together after the former 1D star gushed, “Cheryl is literally the best person to co-parent with.”
But pals say the former
X Factor judge was left feeling disheartened last week when Liam, 27, was snapped cosyingup to his former fiancée, Maya, 21, at a swanky hotel near Cheryl’s Buckinghamshire home – sparking rumours they were back on after breaking-off their 10-month engagement in June.
A source says, “Of course Cheryl just wants Liam to be happy, but seeing snaps of him and Maya back together really stung.
“She’s admittedly enjoyed the extra attention and time they’ve been spending together and it’s given Cheryl a chance to really see how much Liam has matured since they were together – making her excited about the possibility of co-parenting another child.
SQUARE ONE
“Just as things were finally starting to look hopeful for her, it’s as if all those hopes and dreams for her second baby have been dashed and she’s back to square one and will have to go it alone.”
Following his split from the Texan-born model – who he began dating shortly after his split from Cheryl – insiders told Closer how Liam had been enjoying movie nights and cosy sleepovers at the former Girls Aloud star’s mansion.
They also revealed how the Strip That Down singer whisked his ex of two-and-a-half years to a luxury spa for her 38th birthday after celebrating his niece’s birthday together in his native Wolverhampton.
But she was said to be “stunned” just days later when he publicly posted a late-night Instagram message to Maya, in which he said, “I love you.”
Last year, twice-divorced Cheryl – who’s remained single since parting ways with Liam – said she wanted “100 children” and revealed how she was looking for a sperm donor so she could have a second child.
She said, “I’ve got a friend who has had two children using donors. Not everything has to be conventional. If time was on my side and I was in my twenties, yeah, I would wait and consider more options, or wait for somebody I felt was right...”
And while she is open to fertility treatment, pals say deep down she’d wanted to add to her family with Liam.
The source says, “Cheryl knows there are other ways to have a baby, but after some long talks with Liam, she really thought this could potentially be the answer and avoid her having to go down the complicated fertility route, which has already been delayed due to Covid.
“She also loved the idea of being able to give Bear a fullblood sibling and having Liam’s support rather than doing it on her own.
REAL BLOW
“Cheryl likes Maya and has nothing against her, but she’s gone from envisaging her and Liam expanding their family to him now potentially tying the knot with Maya and the two of them playing happy families
with Bear, which is a real blow.”
Liam and Cheryl’s split in 2018 was said to be fuelled by his loose-lipped antics
– he revealed a string of embarrassing details about their relationship which frustrated his notoriously private girlfriend, including how she had “no complaints” about the size of his penis.
Following their split, he was honest about his struggles with fatherhood in the early days – revealing how he initially found it hard to bond with his son as Cheryl was “always glued to him”.
But after turning to therapy to deal with his deep-rooted issues and getting sober after hitting “rock bottom” with drugs and alcohol, Liam has turned a corner, with Cheryl crediting him as a “great dad” and gushing about their co-parenting relationship.
And pals say while his reconciliation with Maya has stung, Cheryl is determined not to let it affect her future happiness.
The source adds, “If Maya makes him happy, then she knows that’s the best situation for everyone. She’s looking at the positives – things could have got complicated and messy if they’d have had another child together.
“She’s determined to focus on finding her own happy ever after and this has given her the push she needs to get out of her comfort zone, even if that means going it alone to make her baby dream come true.”
By Daisy McLure