I Slapped My Fiancé—Then Married His Billionaire Nemesis novel Chapter 383

**TITLE: The Attention 383**

Jealous? Absolutely not, I reassured myself, yet a nagging feeling tugged at my insides, suggesting that perhaps, just maybe, I felt a flicker of jealousy. Just a tiny bit, if I were being honest.

Ashton emerged from the shower, droplets of water still glistening on his skin, and the first thing he did was check on Minnie, then Mickey. Not a single glance was cast in my direction, as if I were a mere ghost lingering in the background, invisible and unimportant.

With a soft smile, he bent down and pressed a gentle kiss on my forehead. “Don’t worry. You’re still my favorite,” he murmured, his voice warm and reassuring.

“Childish,” I retorted, unable to suppress the smile that crept onto my lips.

Whether I was his favorite or not, hearing those words filled me with a comforting warmth.

“Go to sleep,” he urged, his tone laced with a hint of authority, though I could sense the affection behind it.

I nestled closer to him, my head resting against his chest, and within moments, I succumbed to the embrace of sleep.

In the depths of the night, I was vaguely aware of Minnie’s soft cries breaking through the silence. Just one brief wail, and then it was quiet again. I blinked my eyes open slightly and caught a glimpse of Ashton, cradling our daughter in his arms while speaking softly into the phone, requesting the night nurse to bring in the freshly prepared bottle.

I wanted to stay awake and watch him, to soak in the tender moment, but exhaustion wrapped around me like a heavy blanket, and I drifted back into slumber.

Morning arrived, and when I finally opened my eyes, I found Ashton already busy feeding the babies again. He started with Mickey, who had miraculously slept soundly through the night, before turning his attention to Minnie. She was notoriously particular about her milk; if it wasn’t just right, she’d make sure everyone knew it. Ashton had learned quickly that it was best to deal with her second, to avoid an endless stream of complaints.

As he gently rocked Minnie in his arms, I propped myself up in bed, taking in the sight of him.

“Morning,” he greeted, looking as though he had been awake for hours, his hair tousled and his eyes slightly weary.

“Morning,” I replied, my voice still thick with sleep.

His focus returned to Minnie, and once again, I was left in the shadows, an observer in my own home. After a night of practice, he was already handling the baby like a seasoned pro.

“You’re such a good dad,” I remarked after a moment, my heart swelling with pride.

He turned to me, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. “What about you? Planning to be a good mum?”

I rolled my eyes, yet a smile broke free. “Of course I am!”

As I studied him, I couldn’t help but notice the faint bluish shadows under his eyes. It was clear that sleep had eluded him.

“Did you stay up all night?” I asked, concern lacing my words.

Ashton shot me a quick glance, a hint of annoyance flaring in his eyes, but he remained silent.

Later, the night nurse filled me in on the truth: Ashton had managed to catch some sleep, but only in fleeting moments. The babies demanded nourishment every two hours, and each time he finally settled down, one of them would wake up, often Minnie, whose cries would pierce the stillness of the night, forcing him to leap up before she even had a chance to fully wake.

“So you really didn’t sleep?” I pressed once more.

Mickey, from his cot nearby, glanced over with the same wide-eyed expression as his sister, then promptly returned to playing with his tiny hands, unfazed.

Ashton’s expression remained unchanged; he didn’t even flinch at the smell wafting through the air.

“I’ll take her to get cleaned up,” he said, lifting Minnie with ease, as if this were the most ordinary thing in the world.

The moment he stepped out of the room, I heard Minnie’s wailing echo down the hallway. The sound lasted only a few moments before quieting down again.

From the corridor, I could hear the nanny’s hesitant voice. “Sir, Minnie won’t let me hold her.”

“That’s fine,” Ashton replied calmly. “Just tell me what to do; I’ll handle it.”

Their voices faded as they moved further away, and I couldn’t help but feel a warmth spread through my chest at his words, though a pang of guilt quickly followed.

We were both first-time parents, yet how was it that Ashton seemed to navigate this new world with such ease while I struggled? I found myself feeling disgusted by the very thought of my daughter’s dirty nappy.

I slipped on my slippers and padded over to Mickey’s cot. Leaning down, I gently took his tiny hand in mine, feeling the warmth of his small fingers against my palm.

“Mickey, tell me,” I whispered softly, squeezing his fingers gently, “am I a good mum?”

He looked up at me with those round, innocent eyes, filled with confusion, as if to say, “Mum, what are you talking about?”