Andreas’s POVSweet.That word had lodged itself in my head ever since I overheard a man whisper it to his wife as they strolled past me, her giggles echoing down the hall. It irritated me. It reminded me of Ashley—of the way she had this strange hold on me, how the mere thought of her made me feel like a kid who'd just been allowed to have candy. My eyes kept flicking toward the entrance, restless anticipation bubbling beneath my skin. It was ridiculous, really. Waiting for her like this.I hated that I felt it—that ache, that need to see her again.For what felt like the hundredth time, I reminded myself that tonight was the last night. The last time Ashley would stand by my side before everything fell apart. Tomorrow, I’d have to sit my father down and confess. I’d have to tell him about Ashton. About Ashley. About the wife swap.It would destroy whatever illusion we’d managed to uphold, and after that, I had no idea what would come next. No more pretense. No more hiding behind the
Andreas’s POVAdam was always late. If there was one thing I could count on, it was that he’d make a scene by showing up at the last possible minute, basking in the attention his tardiness garnered. And tonight was no different.He strolled in with his wife, Sansa, on his arm, the picture of the perfect couple. Except, it was all a lie. Anyone who knew them knew the truth—there was no love between them, just an arranged marriage stitched together by our parents to consolidate wealth and power. A hollow, loveless match.Sansa smiled warmly at me, her eyes soft and kind, the way they always were. And I smiled back, a genuine one, though it felt rare on a night like this. A part of me always felt sad for her. She didn’t deserve to be stuck with my asshole brother, trapped in a life that wasn’t hers. Besides Annabel, Sansa was the only other person in this family I didn’t mind helping if she ever needed anything. She was too good for this family.“Andreas,” she greeted, her voice soft, li
Ashley’s POVI stared at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing myself beneath the layers of makeup. My face was flawless, the work of Shannon, who had spent the last hour fussing over me as if I were some kind of doll, which, surprisingly, had made me feel more at ease than I’d expected.“You look absolutely fabulous!” Faye exclaimed from where she sat, her voice bright and animated as always, as Shannon finished up her makeup. Shannon had jumped in last minute after Faye hurried over to the house, desperate because her own makeup artist was running late from another appointment.“Really, you do,” Shannon chimed in, taking a step back to admire her work. “And this dress is perfect for the gala.”I forced a small smile as I glanced down at the gown I’d chosen for tonight. It was elegant but understated, something that wouldn’t draw too much attention while still meeting the occasion’s standards. Exactly how I liked to be. Yet as perfect as it all was—my makeup, the dress, the
Ashley’s POV“She always had that air about her,” Faye continued, her voice growing more thoughtful. “Like, she’d let you in just enough to feel like you knew her, but never too much. Vulnerability wasn’t her thing. And honestly, I’m surprised we even got as close as we did. I think I wore her down,” Faye said with a small laugh. “I wasn’t really taking no for an answer.”I smiled at that, a soft, bittersweet smile, because that was also true. Faye had a way of worming herself into people’s lives, making sure you felt her presence. It made sense that she’d gotten Ashton to open up in ways I never had.“That sounds like her,” I said, my voice quiet. “She liked to keep things at arm’s length. People, emotions... everything.”Faye nodded, her expression softening as she glanced at me, her eyes searching my face. “But you know, Ash...one thing Ashton always said—whenever anyone asked—was that she wasn’t the better twin.”My breath caught in my throat, my heart pounding in my chest. I turn
Ashleyms POVWe arrived at the gala, the car slowing to a stop in front of the grand entrance. The evening air was cool, but I barely felt it as I stepped out, more focused on what awaited me inside. Adam nodded as I exited, and Faye followed, linking her arm with mine as we headed into the hotel. Her usual energy was subdued, a quiet reminder of the conversation we’d had about Ashton. Knowing someone else missed her as deeply as I did, and remembered her so warmly, eased the ache in my chest—if only just a little.Faye let out a soft gasp as we stepped into the hall, and I shared the sentiment. The space was stunning, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the polished marble floors. A soft hum of conversation filled the room as people, dressed to perfection, mingled in their finest attire. I had to shake off the heaviness that still lingered from the car ride, forcing myself to focus on the event and the part I was supposed to play.As we moved further into the crowd, Faye
Ashley’s POVI was still reeling, breathless from Andreas’s words—“You look divine.” His compliment had landed softly, but it lingered, wrapping around me like a blanket. I had been preparing myself for a cold, polite greeting from him, something more in line with the “friendship” we had agreed on. But the look in his eyes, the warmth in his voice, it felt real, too real.Before I could fully recover from that moment, Andreas turned toward his secretary, who had been standing quietly by the side. His hand was still holding mine, like he wasn’t ready to let go.“You were saying something before Ashley arrived?” he asked, his tone calm, but I could hear the underlying tension.The secretary’s posture stiffened as she cleared her throat. There was something ominous in her expression as she spoke. “It’s about our major investor in the donations for the gala, Mrs. Veronica Hastings. She’s informed us that she wants to pull out.”I felt Andreas’s entire body go rigid, his hand tightening ove
Ashley’s POVWe made our way towards the door where the secretary said Veronica Hastings would be, and just as I was about to take a deep breath and steel myself for whatever was waiting behind it, I felt Andreas slow beside me. His hand briefly slipped from mine, and I turned to see him pressing his palm to his chest, his breath shallow."Andreas?" I asked, concern threading through my voice. “Are you okay?”He waved me off, his expression strained. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though his voice lacked its usual strength. “Let’s keep going.”I hesitated, but nodded, deciding not to press. Maybe it was just the pressure of everything, the stress catching up with him. But as we neared the door, I heard him gasp again. This time, he clutched his chest harder, his face pale.My heart jumped in my chest. "Andreas, wait!" I reached out, grabbing his arm. “What’s happening? Do you have your inhaler?”He stopped and turned to look at me, confused. “Inhaler?” he repeated weakly.Before I could resp
Ashley’s POVPanic clawed at me as the seconds stretched unbearably long, the incessant beeping of his wristwatch only heightening the tension in the room as we waited for the doctor to arrive. Andreas trembled as he forced himself into an upright position as he reached into his pockets, struggling to retrieve something.“Andreas, what are you doing?” I asked, my voice tight with worry.He didn't answer right away, his focus solely on pulling out a small pack of pills from his jacket. His fingers were shaking too much to open it, and I immediately stepped in, my hands steadying his as I helped him tear the pack open."Here," I said softly, my voice a bit shaky, “let me help.”The secretary, ever calm despite the situation, rushed to the refrigerator. She grabbed a bottle of water and handed it to Andreas. He took the pills and the water, his hands still trembling as he swallowed them down. For a few agonizing moments, the room was silent except for his labored breaths and the quiet tic