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Chapter 12: Best of the best
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The Wife Swap Chapter 13: Our Last Night
Ashley’s POV"But even the most perfect of us have a weakness, don't we? And I will find yours, I promise.” Adam's words hung in the air like a poisonous fog. I watched as they seeped into Andreas, turning his face a sickly shade of pale that I didn't think was even possible on him. His face became stoic almost immediately but I'd caught it; he was afraid, which meant only one thing, that he had a secret that he was guarding jealously. Did Ashton know what secret it was? Before he could say anything, Adam turned around and walked away. Andreas’s hand fell from my waist and he mumbled an excuse and disappeared into the crowd in the opposite direction. A part of me wanted to follow him, to see if he was okay, but another part, the part that remembered that he had already accused me of acting nice to him the entire weekend which made it clear to me that Ashton wasn't behaving like that prior, held me back. I moved towards the bar, my mind racing. I needed a moment to process everythin
The Wife Swap Chapter 14: Back to Reality
Ashley’s POVWhen I woke up, Andreas was gone. For a moment, I wondered if he'd retreated to the couch after I fell asleep, but the rumpled sheets beside me and the lingering warmth of his body told a different story. He had spent the night in the bed with me. A strange mix of relief and uncertainty washed over me. Relief that our shared night hadn't been as awkward as I'd imagined, and uncertainty about what this meant for his relationship with my sister who I was pretending to be, if anything. Perhaps it had been a meaningless act of comfort to him, or maybe, just maybe, there was something more to it. I headed to the bathroom, my mind racing. If this shared night could somehow mend whatever rift existed between Andreas and Ashton, it would be a small miracle and it meant that I'd not only survived swapping with her successfully for the weekend but that I'd helped her take a step forward in resolving whatever issues she had with her husband, because knowing Ashton, she was as stub
The Wife Swap Chapter 15: We should talk in person
Ashley’s POVA rush of adrenaline shot through me as Liv’s voice, bright and cheery, filled my ears. Her suggestion to come over to see me in Vermont was nothing out of the ordinary, because more often than not, I hardly ever came to New York where she lived, partly because I was trying to avoid Ashton. I had been avoiding Liv’s messages all weekend, trying my best to hide that I was in Aspen playing the swapping game because I knew that she wouldn't approve but the thought of lying to her again about attending some phantom function so that she wouldn't leave her apartment felt like a betrayal, plus she wouldn't bore me because I had the social battery of a hermit.My heart pounded in my chest. What was I going to do?“Hey, Ash,” Liv’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “You there?”I realized with a start that I’d been silent for too long. A nervous laugh escaped my lips. “Yeah, sorry. Just zoning out.”“You okay? You sounded a little off.” Her tone shifted, concern creeping into her
The Wife Swap Chapter 16: To get through this week
Ashley’s POVThe bell above the restaurant door jingled as I stepped inside. A wave of relief washed over me as I spotted Liv sitting at a corner table, her vibrant energy cutting through the atmosphere. Olivia ‘Liv’ and I had been inseparable since high school, her infectious laughter and boundless optimism a constant in my often quiet world. While Ashton had thrived in the spotlight and ended up mingling with crowds that didn't appreciate my introverted self., I'd found solace in the quiet corners, and Liv had been my steadfast companion through it all.Thankfully, Liv had also gotten into the same college as Ashton and me. It was a stroke of incredible luck. Though we hadn't been coursemates, sharing the same campus had cemented our bond. We spent countless hours together, studying, laughing, and sharing dreams. It was during those late-night study sessions that my love for writing blossomed into my decision to take the first step and put my thoughts on paper. Liv was always my bi
The Wife Swap Chapter 17: Fading to Black
Ashley’s POVThe car came to a screeching halt, the engine roaring to a silent hum. I glanced at Liv, her face a mask of uncertainty and worry. The giant gates of Ashton’s mansion stood ominously before us and I could see that Liv hadn’t wanted to bring me back here. Ashton and Liv were like oil and water. Liv always never hesitated to call out my sister while Ashton hated her guts and said she was jealous about not having a sister. “Are you sure about this, Ash? You know that we could just turn around and leave. Your agreement with Ashton was the weekend, it doesn’t matter if the flights changed last minute, because there’s no explanation for why she’s been radio silent since she gave that excuse” Liv whispered, her grip tightening on the steering wheel.I forced a reassuring smile, my heart pounding against my ribs. "I’m sure, Liv. Just a few more days, then I’ll be back to my normal, boring life. We can even talk about my books and the unveiling you spoke about after this is over.
The Wife Swap Chapter 18: A broken promise
Ashley’s POVI blinked, disoriented, as my consciousness slowly returned. The familiar scent of hay and horse sweat filled my nostrils, and my eyes widened as I took in the surroundings around me. I was dreaming. It had to be a dream. I was back on my late aunt’s ranch, a place I hadn’t visited in years. And there, sitting alone on a bale of hay, was a younger version of myself, my eyes swollen and red from crying.A pang of sadness pierced my heart. I remembered that day so vividly. It had been weeks after our parents' funeral, and I was still unable to hold back the tears. I had cried at the dinner table, at school, and even in my sleep. Ashton, who didn't particularly like crying, had tried her best to comfort me, but I had been inconsolable. To escape the pitying glances and forced smiles in the house, I had found solace in coming to hide away in the barn whenever I wanted to cry. The quiet solitude, the gentle sway of the horses, and the comforting scent of hay had provided muc
The Wife Swap Chapter 19: Ashton or Ashley
Ashley’s POVAs I rattled off the address to the hospital to Liv and the call ended, I stared at the ceiling, trying and failing to delude myself that all of this was just a very bad dream. The door opened and Andreas walked in, the doctor closely following behind him. "Mrs Thorne, how are you feeling today?" the doctor asked, his voice gentle with a kind smile on his face. "Your husband said you fainted from shock."I nodded, ignoring the way my spine stiffened at the sharp reminder that I was still pretending to be my missing sister, my voice a mere whisper as I responded, "He's right. I think I did."He hesitated for a moment, then continued. "If you need to talk, I'm here. Or if you'd prefer, I can get you a psychologist."I shook my head, hating the fact that tears had already begun to blur my vision again. This wasn't the time to be such a darned crybaby, Ashley. "No, it's okay. I just need to be alone for a while."The doctor nodded, his expression somber. "I understand. I'l
The Wife Swap Chapter 20: Crafting a plan
Ashley's POVAs soon as the door closed, Liv turned to me, her expression one of disbelief. "What the fuck?" I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. My throat felt constricted as if someone had tied a knot in it. Liv stared at me, her expression a mixture of confusion and frustration. "Are you seriously still trying to keep up this charade? Just come clean to Ashton's husband about everything. Tell him the truth." I shook my head, my eyes filling with tears, "I tried, Liv. I did. But I don't know where to start." Liv sighed. "You can't keep lying to him, Ashley. It's not fair to him, because if Ashton was really on that flight, her husband deserves to know.” I knew Liv was right, hell, before she entered, I’d almost decided to damn the consequences and come clean about everything, but I had so many doubts. Too many. "What if I tell him the truth about the wife swap and it turns out that Ashton never even got on the flight? What if she’s alive and well?" Liv's eyes
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