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Chapter 139: Honesty is just another complication
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The Wife Swap Chapter 140: In the Shadow of Expectations
Andreas’s POV “And if Ashley doesn’t…fall in line with whatever you decide?”I flinched, remembering the promise I’d made to her—the promise to let her go if that was what she wanted. I’d held back what the investigator had found, knowing it might tempt her to stay. As much as I wanted her by my side, it couldn’t be under false pretenses.“She doesn’t have to,” I replied, defiance lacing my voice. “If she wants to leave, I’ll respect that.”An eyebrow arched, a shadow of amusement crossing his face. “You’ve grown soft, Andreas. Are you forgetting what’s at stake if anyone gets even a whiff of what you just told me?”“I’m not forgetting,” I said firmly. “But Ashley…she deserves the opportunity to do what’s best for her.”His gaze hardened. “You’re letting sentiment cloud your judgment. You don’t get where I am by indulging emotions.”I fought to hold my ground. “Maybe not. But I’m not willing to turn this into a game of manipulation.”Silence settled over us, thick with tension. His d
The Wife Swap Chapter 141: The sidelines
Ashley’s POVI woke to the first sliver of morning light creeping through the blinds, its pale warmth doing little to shake the lingering exhaustion weighing me down. I was tempted to close my eyes again, pull the blanket over my head, and pretend that everything was fine, that last night’s events hadn’t happened. But it was no use; there was too much to do, too many questions without answers. And the worst of it? The thought of Andreas—how we’d left things, his anguished expression, the edge in his voice… It twisted in my chest like a knife.With a sigh, I grabbed my phone, planning to call Liv and tell her everything about the investigator’s findings and the possibility that Ashton might still be alive. But a message from Thomas lit up the screen instead: I miss you. Let’s meet up. I rolled my eyes, irritation flaring. This was the last thing I needed. I’d had enough of Thomas’s messages, his attempts to stay in Ashton’s life as if he somehow deserved a place here. Ignoring him, I t
The Wife Swap Chapter 142: Messy or complicated
Ashley’s POV“I’m already mixed up in it,” I replied, my voice steady even as my heart hammered. “Look, I want to meet with the investigator. I need to know everything you know, every detail—no matter how messy or complicated.”He sighed, looking down for a moment, his brow furrowing as if he was weighing something heavy in his mind. When he looked up again, his gaze had softened, and he nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Alright,” he said. “We’ll go together.”A rush of relief flooded me, though I was careful not to let it show. I nodded, managing a small smile. “I can live with that.”A faint smile ghosted across his face, and for a moment, the tension between us seemed to ease, leaving something else in its wake—something unspoken yet almost tangible. He released his hold on me, and I took a step back, missing his warmth instantly.Andreas’s hand remained wrapped around mine as we made our way toward the dining table. His grip was warm and steady, and though he didn’t look back, I could
The Wife Swap Chapter 143: His Heart
Ashley’s POVThe ride to the hospital was quiet, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. There was an unspoken understanding between us—a fragile thread that neither of us wanted to break. I felt it, this gentle, lingering energy, as I sat beside Andreas, watching him stare out the window. His posture looked relaxed, yet his shoulders held a hint of tension that seemed… vulnerable.In these moments, I almost forgot the Andreas I first met: the untouchable CEO with the steely gaze and perfect composure. Today, he seemed more human, as if all the walls he’d spent years constructing were letting a little light through.I wanted to reach over, just to touch his hand or brush his shoulder, but I held back. A part of me wondered if I was overstepping. After all, I barely knew the depth of what he was dealing with, and yet, here I was, sharing in this intensely personal moment. But then again, he’d invited me to come. That must mean something… right?As we pulled up to the hospital, Andreas glanced ove
The Wife Swap Chapter 144: A shared secret
Ashley’s POVCuriosity—and maybe a little fear—urged me to type in a few words: pacemaker heart condition. As I read through the basics, fragments began to piece together in my mind. The watch that beeped frequently, the scar I’d noticed on his chest, his fatigue that he tried so hard to hide…He hadn’t wanted me to know. Or maybe, he didn’t want anyone to know. And that was why his secretary had looked at me with that odd, almost pitying expression when I’d casually mentioned asthma. I’d been so, so wrong.I slipped my phone back into my bag just as Andreas reappeared from the lab. His shoulders were stiff, his smile tight as he listened to something the doctor said. I couldn’t hear the words, but I saw the slight crease in Andreas’s brow, the way he nodded in that polite, detached way he used when he was trying to keep his emotions at bay. He caught my eye and walked over, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.“Do you want to get something to eat before we meet with the i
The Wife Swap Chapter 145: Meeting Ashton
Ashley’s POVI looked down at our hands, still clasped together on the table, his warmth grounding me. The weight of what he’d just shared settled between us, and I found myself at a loss for words. It was as if I was seeing a part of him he’d hidden from the world—a part he’d let me glimpse, if only for this moment.“Thank you,” I murmured, my thumb brushing over his. “For trusting me with this.” I could feel his gaze on me, searching, as though he were gauging my reaction, waiting to see if I’d recoil from the truth. But how could I? Knowing only made him seem more…human. Real. And despite everything, I couldn’t deny the growing protectiveness unfurling in me—a feeling I hadn’t expected, but couldn’t ignore.“What about the watch?” I blurted out, curiosity winning over my hesitation. “What’s it for?”Andreas’s gaze flickered to the watch on his wrist, a sleek, modern piece that seemed to pulse with a life of its own. “It monitors my pulse,” he said, his voice steady but his eyes bet
The Wife Swap Chapter 146: Unearthing the past
Ashley’s POVI searched his eyes, wanting to understand more about the dynamics between him and Ashton but resisting the urge to rush him. A part of me didn’t want to know more, afraid of what else I might learn about Ashton’s choices.Andreas leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as he collected his thoughts. The café bustled around us, but in our little bubble, the noise faded into a distant hum. “It was during that vulnerable moment,” he began, his voice tinged with a hint of regret, “that Ashton figured out I had some sort of condition. I tried to deflect, to brush it off, but I could see the wheels turning in her mind.”I nodded, holding my breath because I wasn’t certain I might like what came next. “Oh,” I said softly, not sure of what else to sayin that moment.“Over time, we met a few more times casually, because I felt indebted to her, but it became painfully clear that she was very much interested in knowing more about my health,” he admitted, his gaze d
The Wife Swap Chapter 147: A kiss of promises
Ashley’s POVAndreas’s smile deepened, and I could see he’d seen right through me when he squeezed my hand. “Throughout the marriage, Ashton tried her best to get me interested in more,” he continued, his tone soft but distant. “I didn’t blame her, really. We were only supposed to be married for a short time, and I guess she really enjoyed the perks of being married to me and thought she could convince me to extend the timeframe, but we both knew she didn’t care about anything beyond financial security. I never had any illusions about our marriage being for love.” He shrugged, almost wistful. “It was a business arrangement—she could have her lovers, and I could have mine.”He said it so plainly, but the truth behind those words weighed heavily between us. A part of me couldn’t help but wonder if he knew about Thomas, if he was aware that one of the men she’d chosen as a lover was his own brother-in-law. My stomach tightened at the thought. If he knew, would he have cared, or would it
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