Heartbreaking photo of Liam Payne's son Bear as mum Cheryl raises him alone

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Liam Payne's friends and family are in mourning as they prepare for his final farewell after his heartbreaking passing at the age of 31 last month.

The world was left stunned by the death of the ex-One Direction star, who tragically fell from a third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16.

It was later determined that the singer-songwriter suffered multiple traumas leading to "internal and external haemorrhage", which caused his untimely death. In light of the incident, three individuals have been charged, the Mirror reports.

In the aftermath of Liam's tragic end, new details have surfaced regarding the events preceding the fatal incident. A toxicology report revealed that the singer had both anti-depressants and cocaine in his system when he died, despite having been drug-free just a few days prior.

Authorities in Argentina are still piecing together how he came into possession of the illicit substances at the time of his fall.

Reports also suggest that Liam had requested "seven grams" of "cocaine" from a hotel employee before his death. Allegations have been made that the drugs were delivered to Liam's room concealed inside a Dove soap box.

Hotel employees have indicated that only their staff could access the supplies where the soap is stored. Among those arrested is Rogelio 'Roger' Nores, reported to be a close friend of Liam's and seen with him daily.

The loss of the much-loved singer has seen tributes flooding in from fans and celebrity friends globally, including his ex-girlfriend Cheryl, the mother to their seven-year-old son Bear.

Overwhelmed by grief, Cheryl expressed her sorrow saying: "Liam was not only a pop star and celebrity, he was a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to our 7 year old son. A son that now has to face the reality of never seeing his father again."

Adding a personal touch to her homage, Cheryl shared a previously unseen picture of Liam with their son.

Bear entered the world at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London on March 22, 2017. At the time of his birth, a speechless Liam announced on Instagram: "My close friends and family know there are very few times when I'm left speechless... wow! " proudly embracing his role as a dad.

Despite parting ways shortly after their son Bear's first birthday, Liam and Cheryl have continued to co-parent. Even though the singer wasn't always with his son, he ensured that he was well taken care of.

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In 2019, he assisted Cheryl in purchasing a home in the Buckinghamshire village of Chalfont St Peter, where the Girls Aloud star raised Bear with her mum Joan. Liam later bought a property nearby to stay close to them.

Despite their high-profile status, Liam and Cheryl decided to keep their son away from the limelight, only occasionally sharing glimpses of him on social media. Discussing their contrasting parenting styles, Cheryl admitted she was "the strict one", while Liam was "much softer".

In 2020, Cheryl shared the first video of Bear speaking, revealing he had picked up a strong Geordie accent from spending his early years with the Newcastle-born star and her mum. As Bear grew older, Cheryl disclosed that he was showing signs of following in his parents' footsteps, as she praised his singing and performing abilities.

Earlier this year, Cheryl shared a rare photo of Bear on stage with her during a soundcheck for the Girls Aloud tour in May. The image shows Cheryl holding Bear's hand while preparing for her band's concert at Sheffield Arena.

In March, Liam shared a snapshot of Bear from behind as the tot admired a billboard featuring his dad. The accompanying caption read: "I want to be on a billboard one day daddy."

Fans were taken aback by how much Bear had grown, showcasing full brown locks mirroring his mother’s.

Last year, Cheryl opened up about her son just beginning to understand his parents' fame due to her efforts to shield him from the media and ensure a 'normal' upbringing. The mum expressed concerns about Bear being recognised in public, revealing a conversation they had.

Cheryl recounted: "The problem is that I want Bear to have a normal childhood. I don't want people recognising him on the street. But he's twigged that I'm famous. The other day he said 'How lucky am I to have famous parents? ' I said, 'It doesn't matter.' He goes: 'Yeah. But it's pretty cool'."

In an emotional clip posted for his 31st birthday in August, Liam expressed eagerness to spend time with Bear, calling him his "mini me". Reflecting on fatherhood, Liam stated: "I didn't get any dad socks yet though. I'm going to speak to my son in a little bit which I'm really excited about.

"Bless him. He's getting so big now. He's a big boy and he looks like a mini me. As if we needed any more me in the world."

Simon Cowell paid a touching tribute to Liam, expressing fondness for his son Bear, who evidently shares his father's features. Simon reminisced about their connection since Liam's days on the X Factor and his journey to stardom with One Direction: "I have met your son Bear. He has your smile and that twinkle in your eyes you have. He will be so proud of everything you achieved. And how you achieved it."

Following his father's heart-breaking passing, Bear stands to inherit a fortune valued at around £46 million. Friends of the 1D icon reveal he made provisions "some years ago" to ensure his wealth passed on to his son should anything happen to him.

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Despite geographical distances with Liam frequently in the US, he stayed connected with Bear through FaceTime video chats. A source confided to The Daily Mail: "Liam had some very sensible people around him for a time and he adored Bear so much.

"He always wanted to do the right thing by him financially. It is a small consolation that Bear will never want for anything, that he will at least benefit from that."

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