LOGINWhen I woke up again, it was already afternoon, and the space beside me was empty.
Ashton had left for work.
My stomach was growling with hunger, and I slowly pushed myself up, ignoring the ache that spread through my body. Sitting up was one thing, but when I swung my legs out of bed, they trembled so badly I nearly ended up in a heap on the floor.
My face flushed hot as the memories from last night came rushing back. ‘That bastard,’ I muttered under my breath. ‘Couldn’t he have been a little gentler?’
I dragged myself through my morning routine: washing up, heading downstairs for a quick bite, then coming back up. Suddenly, the idea of a long, soothing bath seemed irresistible.
I didn’t stay in the tub for too long. After a short soak, I got out, lathered up with shower gel, rinsed off, and wrapped myself in a bathrobe.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I turned into the dressing room to get changed, only to
I pretended I hadn’t heard him. He’d said that every time I was in pain, and I knew he didn’t mean it.But this time, maybe the babies actually picked up on the threat. Because right after he said it, they suddenly went quiet.‘Huh?’ I was bracing myself for another wave, but the pain just... stopped.‘These two little ones are surprisingly well-behaved this time,’ I muttered, still fighting the urge to throw up.It wasn’t real nausea at this stage. It was just that, when the babies had been kicking about, they’d managed to shove everything inside me around, pressing on my stomach until I felt sick.‘They’d better behave every time.’ Ashton’s face was dark.He poured me a glass of warm water. I drank straight from his hand and finally felt a little better. Leaning back against him, I caught my breath.‘You’re right. Two kids are enough,’ I
The pain came in waves, sharp and constant, and I had to clench my teeth just to stop myself from crying out.My face had gone pale, and sweat soaked my hair and skin as if I’d just stepped out of the shower.I didn’t know if this meant the babies were coming. I had no experience, but the due date wasn’t until next month, which felt far too early.Once we got to the hospital and I was examined, it turned out to be a false alarm. The babies weren’t coming yet.The pain, the doctors said, was just because the little ones were unusually active. Nothing serious. The babies were having a great time, apparently, while I suffered for it.I lay in the hospital bed, exhausted after so many tests, but at least the babies had settled down.Ashton was in the room, along with the top obstetrician.‘Mr Laurent, Mrs Laurent,’ the doctor said, ‘there’s really no way to prevent this. In fact, this is a g
Ashton came to the ranch whenever he could, but honestly, he was becoming more childish by the day.Every evening, after carrying me upstairs to the bedroom, he would sit down beside me and start giving our unborn babies a very serious lecture.I’d be half-lying there while Ashton leaned over slightly, one hand braced on the mattress by my waist, his whole face filled with concentration as he talked to my belly.He spoke as if they could actually understand him. It was ridiculous, but I had to admit it was also a little heart-warming.Watching him like that, in the quiet of the night, softened me. I reached out and gently stroked my stomach, thinking, ‘Your dad really does love you two. He’s going to be a good father.’Just then, I felt a faint movement in my belly, and Ashton stopped mid-sentence.I looked down and saw a small bump rise and fall under the thin white fabric of my nightdress.It wasn’t the
Ashton let out a soft laugh and gave me a sidelong look.It made me nervous, and when he finally spoke, his voice was teasing. ‘Are you sure you’re not trying to remind me I should be doing something?’I pushed at his chest, flustered. ‘I’m going to sleep. You do whatever you want.’‘That sounded suspiciously suggestive,’ Ashton said, lifting the hand he was holding and pressing it to his lips.The warmth of his touch made me forget myself, until he lowered his gaze and smiled. ‘Judging by that look in your eyes, I’d say you’re definitely hinting at something.’‘What look?’He leaned in until our foreheads touched, then murmured with a grin, ‘The look of someone who’s trying to undress me with their eyes.’‘You’re ridiculous,’ I muttered, pushing his head away and yanking the blanket over my face to hide how hot it f
Ashton stood there, watching me with that same familiar gaze that felt almost achingly nostalgic.My heart gave a small, helpless tremor.When I finally found my voice, it came out tight, nervous without my realising. ‘You… what are you doing here?’‘I came to see… the babies,’ Ashton said.‘Oh.’So that was all he’d come for.‘How have you been these past few days?’I thought he was still asking about the babies.‘Good,’ I said casually. ‘I’ve been eating and sleeping well. The babies are fine too.’‘That’s good.’‘Mm.’We stood there facing each other, both at a loss for words.After a while, when the silence began to stretch too long, I looked up at him. ‘Would you come for a walk with me? I go out every morning for a bit.’He nodded. ‘Take a jack
Yvaine came to have lunch with me at the studio the next day.We chatted about this and that, then she waited until the mood felt right before saying, ‘By the way, Mira, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.’‘What is it?’ I looked up.‘I’m thinking of taking a little trip somewhere, just to relax for a bit. Want to come with me?’‘A trip?’ I hesitated.Truthfully, I hadn’t been anywhere in ages. But could I even go?Earlier today, I’d only stepped out of the studio for a short while and Ashton hauled me back with a long lecture. If I were to travel, I’d have bodyguards following me everywhere. Just picturing that scene made me feel as if I might as well stay home.In the end, under Yvaine’s hopeful gaze, I shook my head.‘You’re not coming?’ she said, sounding genuinely pained. ‘Why not? You used to love







