One Night Stand With My Ex's Billionaire Enemy-Chapter 376 Breaking News

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 first time I’d felt them move, but every time it happened, it still felt like magic.

‘My babies are smart. They can understand what their dad’s saying,’ Ashton said, his voice full of pride.

He reached out and gently touched my stomach.

His palm rested right where the bump had just been. It had flattened again, but the moment his hand landed there, the same spot lifted slightly once more, as if in response, pressing softly against his palm.

‘See? The baby’s saying hello to me.’

I couldn’t help bursting out laughing.

Ashton gave me a puzzled look.

‘You really have no idea, do you?’ I teased. ‘That’s not the baby’s hand, it’s their bum. They’re just stretching. I’ve actually looked this up.’

Ashton wasn’t annoyed in the least. In fact, he seemed completely fascinated. He kept his hand there, lightly stroking my stomach, like he was playing some endlessly interesting game.

At first, my belly still gave little kicks in return, but before long the baby must have grown tired. The movements slowed, then faded altogether.

Ashton, however, didn’t seem ready to stop. His hand lingered, reluctant to move away.

Eventually, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I pulled his hand down. ‘That’s enough. The babies have gone to sleep. Don’t wake them up again.’

***

The trip to the ranch had done me good. I was calmer now, and staying at home no longer felt like being trapped.

It was Saturday, and I didn’t have to go into the studio. Ashton was in his study.

I was in the living room, flicking through variety shows on TV while doing my stretches. The doctor had taught me these exercises to help with an easier birth, and I did them whenever I had time during the day.

But standing there doing them alone made me feel a bit ridiculous, so I kept the television on, not to watch, just to have some background noise. It helped distract me from how uncomfortable the movements could be.

I lifted my left arm straight above my head, bent my knees, and leaned to the right three times. Then I switched sides, one full set. I was supposed to do fifteen in total.

I had just finished the left side and was about to start the right when the variety show ended and the programme suddenly cut to breaking news.

A man’s body had washed up on the shore. The police identified him as Frank Vance, an ex-convict. His death was ruled as misadventure.

I stared at the screen, at my father’s mug shot.

Death by misadventure? Frank hated the sea. What would he be doing near the water?

Ashton had told me he’d sent people to look for Frank. Had they found him? Was his death... Ashton’s doing?

I glanced up at the second floor, at Ashton’s study.

If I asked him, would he tell me the truth?

A sudden, sharp pain twisted through my stomach. I gasped and cried out.

‘What’s wrong?’ Ashton was out of his study in an instant.

It took me a while to catch my breath. ‘It’s fine. The baby’s just being naughty again, but this time it really hurt.’ My voice was tight with the effort of holding back the pain.

I steadied myself against the sofa and sat down slowly.

‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ Ashton looked worried.

I knew what he was like when it came to the babies, so I forced a smile. ‘I’m fine, really, it’s nothing—’

Another wave of pain hit, stronger than before. My hands trembled so much I could barely hold my phone.

‘Where does it hurt? Don’t panic, just tell me slowly.’ His voice was calm, but he was already calling out to Geoffrey, ‘Get the car ready, we’re going to the hospital.’

I was starting to panic. Clutching my stomach, I forced out the words, ‘It really hurts.’

He lifted me off the sofa and carried me out. By the time we reached the door, the car was already waiting.

The moment we got in, it sped off towards the hospital. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Ashton kept talking to me, trying to calm me down. I could only groan in response.