Loving The Temperamental Adonis
Chapter 231: Kicks

Chapter 231: Kicks

Weeks after Neil’s proposal at the amusement park, the news was still the hot topic of every entertainment show and magazine. Everyone was still talking about it like it had just happened yesterday. It was still shown on television, and the amusement park had even used the video of the proposal for their ads with Neil’s approval. The spot where Neil had proposed had now turned into a destination for couples, with their pictures on every wall.

In the first week of the engagement, Mia hadn’t had a moment of rest without her phone ringing. She’d turned down dozens of invitations to talk shows and only attended one with Neil where they were asked questions and played games about love. They were questioned about when the wedding would be, but thankfully, she and Neil had already decided to sign the wedding certificate and then have the ceremony after she’d given birth. They’d recently signed the certificate, and now she was his wife by law.

The first week had been so stressful that Mia had been having a few complications with her pregnancy. She went through intense stomach aches at times, the pain so severe that she’d end up crying and curled up on the bed. She spent three days at the hospital the first time it happened, but the scariest part of it all was that the doctors said her pregnancy was fine and the stomach pain must be due to stress.

Despite being on bed rest for almost another week, she still experienced the pain occasionally. Neil had brought his work home just so he could stay with her whenever she experienced the pain. He’d give her the recommended pain reliever from the doctor and hugged her through it until it subsided. He’d gotten many expert doctors from different countries to check on her, and they all said the same thing—some even said it would stop after she gave birth.

Every time Mia woke up at night to find Neil working in their room with weary eyes heavy with dark circles, she felt guilty. He rarely slept, always tending to her during the day and working at night. She didn’t know what was causing this pain, but she wished it would go away so she could be a good wife to him. She went shopping for a wedding gown with Rayne yesterday just so she could prove to him how fine she was, and despite telling Neil that he could go to work or even take a nap at home, he still insisted on going with them.

Recalling how he’d insisted on carrying her after a little walk around the mall and how he was sweating so hard from it because she’d gained weight, a small smile graced her face. She knew her body shape had changed and that she’d added more weight, but Neil would never agree to her complaints because he still believed she was the most beautiful woman on earth.

Though for a woman pregnant with twins, a lot of people said her body looked perfect and in shape. But to her, she hated looking in the mirror to see the changes in her body, but Neil didn’t mind one bit about the change. He still showered with her and held her to sleep every night, just like when she was still only three months pregnant.

"You’re awake," came Neil’s voice, breaking her out of her thoughts. He took off his reading glasses and closed the documents he was going through. "Did I wake you, sweetheart?" he asked, standing up from his desk.

Mia sat up on the bed as Neil walked toward her, a soft smile on her face. She shook her head gently. "No, you didn’t wake me. I just wanted a glass of water."

Neil nodded, walking around the bed to get her a glass. He watched her closely as she drank it, then took the glass from her and set it on the nightstand. He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear with a tender touch. "Are you still having the pain in your stomach?" he asked softly, his voice filled with love and concern. He knew the pain was the only reason she woke up at night, which was why he’d chosen to work at night so he’d be awake whenever she woke up as he’d noticed that she liked to endure it alone and not wake him.

Mia shook her head. "No, not since last week. Maybe the doctors are right. Maybe it’ll stop the closer I get to having the babies. I’ll be seven months pregnant in four days." She took a breath to continue speaking, but gasped and held the side of her stomach.

Neil’s eyes widened in panic as he rushed to her side. "Is it the pain again?" he asked, already reaching for the pain reliever on the nightstand.

Mia grabbed his sleeve and laughed softly. "No, it’s not the pain. Your children seem to like hearing your voice. One of them just kicked my ribs. They always seem to kick when you talk."

They’d discovered a few months ago when Mia went for an ultrasound that she was carrying two boys, and Neil could never forget the shock he’d got from the news and when he’d heard their heartbeat. They’d had a small party at home to celebrate but because of her condition, they’d not made it grand and only invited a few close friends.

Neil’s expression relaxed upon hearing it wasn’t the pain, a smile spreading across his face. He settled himself beside her on the bed, placing his hands on her bulging belly. "If I had known we’d have two stubborn boys our first time, I wouldn’t have gotten you pregnant so soon. Maybe I would have avoided it back at the mountains. Then you wouldn’t be going through all this on our first few months of marriage."

Despite his words, his eyes were filled with love as he stroked her belly. But he suddenly jerked his hand back when the baby kicked again, cursing under his breath, he leaned down and said, "You two better stop kicking my wife if you don’t want me to do the same to you when you’re out. If you want to fight, wait until you’re out of there. Don’t injure my angel."

As if in response, the baby kicked again, and Neil laughed in amusement and wonder. Mia watched him with a smile, her heart swelling with love. He moved down and laid his head on her lap, his ear close to her belly. Looking up at her, he asked, "Do you really think they can hear us?"

Mia nodded. "I think so. They’ve become more responsive since the day you played the guitar for me and sang my favorite song." She thought back to that evening, the way Neil’s voice had filled the room, the babies’ kicks seeming to dance in time with the melody. It was as if they were already connecting with their father, drawn to his love and presence even from within her womb. She’d been unable to sleep that night, and he’d wanted to help her relax, surprising her by picking up her guitar and playing her favorite song.

Recalling the night now, Mia looked down at her husband, who was fascinated by their children hearing his voice and kicking. He pressed his ear against her belly, as if wanting to hear their movements again, and smiled boyishly when he felt their tiny kicks. Reaching out for her phone beside her, she angled it down and snapped his photo to capture the moment for keepsake. The picture captured his boyish smile and his fascinated gray eyes. She took three more before putting the phone aside and stroking his hair.

"I never thought how amazing it is to listen to their movements in your womb," Neil said, his voice filled with wonder. "You women are incredible. The way you can bring life into this world is beyond anything I could ever imagine. Thank you, Mia, for this gift. For carrying our children and for being so strong." He yawned, "I might end up falling asleep hearing their movements. I’d better go back to my work and let you sleep."

Neil was about to get up, but Mia pushed his head back onto her lap. It was already 2:20 A.M. and she’d had enough sleep while he hadn’t. "I’m not sleepy. You can sleep for a while, Neil. You’ve been awake all night." She stroked his hair and watched as he fought with his heavy eyelids, trying to stop them from closing.

"I dare not sleep while you’re awake, you—"

"Hush," she pressed her finger against his lips, "Don’t fight it. Go to sleep, darling."

With his eyes closed, he asked, "Are you sure you aren’t in any pain?"

"Yes. I’m not in pain. I’ll let you know if I am. Now go to sleep."

"Hmm," he turned his head on her lap and kissed her belly before he let himself fall into slumber with Mia stroking his hair.

Mia watched with a smile as his features softened in sleep and his chest rose and fell slowly. She traced her finger under his dark circles and hoped he’d get the sleep he deserved before the sun rose.

He’d been more worried and stressed about her condition than she was, and his research on the internet wasn’t helping. She’d told him to stop searching about her pain as the results did nothing but add to his panic, but he wouldn’t listen. There were times she feared he’d fall sick from how much he stressed. If he wasn’t calling some doctors abroad, he would be searching for the reasons behind her pain on his computer.

His efforts and hard work made her feel loved, and she couldn’t have asked for anything else as long as Neil was with her.