LOGINShare
Chapter 157: I know who you are
Related chapters
The Wife Swap Chapter 158: Growing suspicion
Ashley's POV “Look at the words,” Sandra said, her voice strained as she pointed. I swallowed hard, forcing my eyes to focus on the jagged letters that marred the painting’s surface. The message was clear and sinister, a chilling reminder that someone was watching, someone who knew more than I realized. One thing I was certain of was that whoever this was knew I was not Ashton.“I can’t believe this is happening,” I said, my voice shaking as the reality of the situation crashed over me.“Who do you think it could be?” Sandra asked, her brow furrowing. “A rival gallery? What if they’re trying to get inside our heads? This feels targeted, like they’re playing a sick game.”“I know,” I said, even though I suspected that this had nothing to do with the art business at all. I couldn’t tell Sandra that though. She was already spooked.“I’ve told the police everything I know and I’m sure they’ll take action. They can’t ignore physical evidence like this,” Sandra said, her voice firm. “This i
The Wife Swap Chapter 159: Two dolls
Ashley’s POVAfter Thomas left, I returned back to the wreckage of Ashton’s office, the feeling of unease gnawing at me. The slashed painting had been horrifying enough, but now I was alone, combing through the mess left behind, trying to make sense of it. It felt like walking through a minefield, every shattered piece of glass a reminder of how exposed I felt. Andreas had gone back to speaking to the officers, leaving me with my thoughts and the growing fear that I was missing something.I needed to find a clue, anything to tell me why this was happening. My hands trembled slightly as I sifted through papers scattered across Ashton’s desk, the scent of paint still heavy in the air. I glanced around the room, desperate for something out of place, something I could piece together. And then I saw it.The display case.Or what was left of it.I moved closer, my heart pounding in my chest. Shards of glass glittered on the floor like tiny shards of ice. Among the broken pieces and toppled
The Wife Swap Chapter 160: A dark turn
Ashley’s POVWhen I finally stepped out of the bathroom, still feeling shaky and lightheaded, I almost collided with Sandra, who was waiting right outside. Her eyes were wide with alarm, taking in my disheveled appearance, the remnants of panic still evident on my face.“Ashton, are you okay?” she asked, her voice laced with genuine worry.I forced a smile, but it felt like a grimace at the reminder that I was still pretending to be my missing sister. I knew I looked anything but okay. “Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. “Just…it’s been a long day. A lot to take in.”Sandra didn’t look convinced. She stepped closer, lowering her voice as if she was afraid someone might overhear us. “You don’t seem fine. Maybe you should sit down, take a breather. This is…it’s all really intense.”I swallowed hard, trying to muster a reassuring tone. “I appreciate it, Sandra, really. But I can’t rest. Not right now. There’s too much happening, and I need to figure ou
The Wife Swap Chapter 161: Safe for now
Ashley’s POVAndreas cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "You don’t have to talk about it if you’re not ready," he said quietly. "But I’m here when you are."I swallowed hard, feeling a lump in my throat that wouldn’t go away. "It’s just... I feel like I’m being watched," I finally managed, my voice barely more than a whisper. It felt like such an understatement, like calling a hurricane a gentle breeze. "Not just today. It’s like every step I take, someone is there, waiting, watching."His grip tightened on the steering wheel. "You’re safe with me, Ashley," he said, his voice low but filled with an intensity that almost made me believe him. "I promise you that."I wanted so badly to believe him. I wanted his words to be a shield, to block out the fear gnawing at my insides. But I knew better. I knew this wasn’t going to stop just because someone promised it would. He had no idea about the stalker. Whoever was doing this wasn’t going to back down because I had someone by my side
The Wife Swap Chapter 162: I need a break
Ashley’s POVI paced back and forth in Ashton’s bedroom, the phone pressed tightly against my ear as Liv’s breathing filled the line. I could hear the shock in her silence as I recounted everything that had happened at the gallery—the slashed painting, the dolls, the vandalism, the taunting message. I paused for a moment, giving her a chance to process it all. I knew it was a lot; it was overwhelming for me too, and I had been right there, staring at the destruction with my own eyes.“You’re telling me someone went to Ashton’s gallery and did all that?” Liv finally said, her voice a mix of disbelief and horror. “And you think it’s related to the messages you’ve been getting?”I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “I don’t know, Liv. It’s too much of a coincidence, don’t you think? The messages, the vandalism, the memories tied to those dolls—it feels like someone’s trying to get inside my head. But…” I trailed off, glancing toward the kitchen where Andreas was busying
The Wife Swap Chapter 163: Escape to Vermont
Ashley’s POVLiv's voice brightened on the other end of the line, and I could almost see her grinning. "You know what you need?" she quipped, breaking the tension I’d been carrying like a weight on my shoulders.I sniffed, still wiping away the remnants of my tears. "What’s that?" I asked, half-laughing, half-sobbing at her sudden shift in tone."A girl’s trip!" she declared, her excitement palpable. "Just you and me, Ash. We’ll go to Vermont tomorrow. You can do your digging, and we can get away from this whole mess, even if it’s just for a couple of days. We both need this."I blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. "Wait, what? Tomorrow?""Yes, tomorrow," she insisted. "No point in wasting time. We’ll pack up, hit the road in the morning, and just take a couple of days to breathe. It’ll give us a chance to reset, and who knows, maybe getting out of this city will clear your head a bit."I let out a shaky laugh, the thought of an impromptu trip with Liv already making me feel l
The Wife Swap Chapter 164: Nostalgia
Ashley’s POVI was feeling light as I closed my suitcase and zipped it up for the hundredth time, certain that I was finally ready for the trip with Liv. When I told Andreas I was going to Vermont with her, he’d smiled in that way of his that always made my heart skip a beat. Even though I knew he was a bit disappointed that he couldn’t come along, he had supported the idea, saying it would do me good to have some time away. His exact words had been, “You need this, Ash. It’s good you have Liv. I’ll be here when you get back.”The tenderness in his voice had made me want to cancel the trip right there and stay with him, wrapped in his arms. But I knew I needed to do this. I needed to clear my head, to find some semblance of order in this chaos. We’d shared a lingering kiss before I left, and I couldn’t help but think how lucky I was, even in this mess, to know that what we had was real even though deep down, I didn’t know for how much longer.On the drive up, Liv and I slipped back in
The Wife Swap Chapter 165: Unmasking obsession
Ashley’s POVI swallowed hard, unsure where this conversation was headed. Was he talking about Ashton? I couldn’t tell, and it unnerved me. Maybe I was even reading too much into it. “I’m sorry to hear that,” I said quietly. “It’s hard when things end like that.”“Yeah, it is,” he agreed. “But I guess it’s just part of life, right? Learning to let go, even when it’s the last thing you want to do.”As Kennedy continued speaking, I could hear the undercurrent of sadness in his voice, the kind that comes from years of lingering regrets and unanswered questions. He chuckled awkwardly, but it didn’t quite mask the emotion behind his words.“You know, back then, it felt like my entire world revolved around this person,” he admitted. “It got to a point where I couldn’t move on, even after she did. I kept thinking, maybe if I just did one more thing, one more gesture…I could win her back. It was like I couldn’t let go.”His voice softened, trailing off as if he were lost in the memory. I felt
Latest chapter
The Wife Swap Chapter 179: Unwelcome reunion
The Wife Swap Chapter 178: The corner of my eye
The Wife Swap Chapter 177: Now and always
The Wife Swap Chapter 176: Stay
The Wife Swap Chapter 175: Missing him
The Wife Swap Chapter 174: You don’t have to pretend
The Wife Swap Chapter 173: The weight of lies
The Wife Swap Chapter 172: The Drive
The Wife Swap Chapter 171: A friend’s embrace
