Cheryl’s fresh baby heartache
As her ex Liam Payne sparks engagement rumours, Cheryl is left reeling as the dynamic between them shifts and she comes to terms with the reality she may not be the first to give their son Bear a sibling
They’ve stayed close since their split two years ago and have achieved a harmonious friendship as they co-parent their three-year-old son Bear. But Cheryl and Liam Payne’s once unbreakable bond risks coming under threat as speculation mounts that the former 1D star is engaged to his girlfriend Maya Henry, after she was snapped with a reported £3million diamond on her ring finger last week.
As the news made headlines, with sources claiming Maya was proudly showing off her ring during a romantic meal, fans were quick to get excited about the prospect of Liam, 26 – who said in 2017 the “options are definitely open” for him having another baby – and
Maya starting a family. One wrote online, “What’s the rush to whizz a 20 year old down the aisle? Knocked up?” while another added, “What 20 year old wants to become a step-mom to a three year old? Unless she is pregnant too.” It followed an already tough few days for the mum-of-one after news that her former Girls Aloud bandmate Sarah Harding is battling breast cancer, with Cheryl posting a broken-hearted emoji under Sarah’s emotional update on social media.
After years of being estranged, in 2017 the pair showed fans there was no animosity as they shared a sweet Twitter exchange.
TIME PASSING
Liam’s news comes after
Cheryl, 37, admitted last year that she would be looking into all her options to give Bear a sibling, saying, “You don’t necessarily need to be in a relationship. I’ve got a friend who has had two children using donors. Not everything has to be conventional.”
At the start of the year Cheryl also hinted that she was conscious of her age, saying, “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.”
Insiders say the bombshell rumours of Liam’s future plans with Maya, 20, have been a double-edged sword for Cheryl.
The source says, “Cheryl is thrilled that Liam is happy, she only wants the best for him. They’re still pals and Cheryl has always supported him and he’s been there for her, so she knew a proposal was on the cards.
“As things became more serious with Maya the dynamic between her and Liam changed a little. They don’t speak on the phone as regularly but they do message a lot still and give advice on career stuff too, but things have changed.”
Last year Cheryl – who is one of five children – opened up about her desire to have more kids, saying, “I would like to. Not just for Bear having a sibling – I grew up with a lot of siblings, so I can’t imagine having an only child.”
And pals say she’s preparing herself that she may not be the first one to give Bear a sibling.
CROSSROADS
The source says, “Her friends wouldn’t be surprised if Cheryl is reflecting on where she’s at in her own life, and how much she would love to give Bear a sibling. It’s heartbreaking that she may not be in a position to do so.
“With Liam and Maya’s relationship going to the next stage, friends think Cheryl will be preparing herself for news that they may be the first to have a baby – she always hoped that would be her, but is coming round to the idea that dream might be shattered. She’s at a crossroads and is working through her feelings and accepting life as it is right now.”
As Closer has reported, Cheryl was nervous around the idea of Liam and Maya – whose wealthy family are from Texas – being based in America, which would mean Bear could spend long periods of time there. Insiders recently told Closer that the couple had invited Cheryl to stay with them in LA for extended periods as a show of unity.
To add to Cheryl’s heartache, this week marks the tenth
anniversary of her divorce from first husband Ashley Cole which ended after four years following multiple claims of his infidelity.
As Closer reported in June, Cheryl – who has failed to find lasting love since her second marriage to Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini ended in
2016 – was shocked by how it still upsets her to see Ashley, 39, live her family dream with Italian model girlfriend Sharon Canu, who he’s been dating since 2014 and with whom he has children Jason, four, and Grace, one. The source adds, “It may have been a long time ago but the end of her first marriage still stings – she loved Ashley so very much.
“The reminder of how it ended still hurts. And seeing him in such a good place – and now Liam too – has made her reflect on where she is right now. But she’s an incredibly strong woman and has always bounced back from heartache and hardship.”
SHE HOPED SHE’D BE FIRST TO GIVE BEAR A SIBLING. HER DREAM MIGHT BE SHATTERED