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Chapter 190: The price of deception
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2024-11-22 22:13:23Related chapters
The Wife Swap Chapter 191: The consequences of cowardice
Ashton’s POVThe plan started falling apart the moment I realized I had forgotten my checkbook at the airport. It seemed like a small inconvenience at first, something I could easily rectify by rescheduling my flight. I was already running late, and missing the flight felt like just another delay in the long string of chaotic events in my life. Frustrated but not panicking, I headed back to the check-in counter, paid the fee, and got myself booked on a later flight.I remember sitting in the airport lounge, annoyed at the wasted time, scrolling through old photos on my phone. I wasn’t paying attention to the news on the overhead screens until a sudden hush fell over the room. The low buzz of conversation died out, replaced by the urgent, grave voice of a news anchor. "We have breaking news," she said. "A commercial flight from Aspen has crashed shortly after takeoff. The details are still emerging, but initial reports indicate there are no survivors."My blood ran cold. That was my fl
Last Updated : 2024-11-22The Wife Swap Chapter 192: Unmistakably alive
Andreas’s POVThe sight of Ashton standing there, drenched and disheveled but unmistakably alive, hit me like a freight train. For a long moment, I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. My mind was struggling to reconcile the impossible reality in front of me. There she was—Ashton—her face and her body exactly as I remembered, except for the haunted look in her eyes, something I’d never seen before. It was her, in the flesh.Her smirk was the same too, a small, familiar quirk of her lips that I’d seen countless times. “In the flesh,” she said, the casualness in her voice making my head spin even more. It was as if she hadn’t been missing for weeks, as if we hadn’t submitted her sister’s sample for investigation to determine if h she was among the deceased on that plane. Her words were so nonchalant, as if she’d simply stepped out for a walk and was now back like nothing had happened.“Ashton,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I didn’t know what else to say. Her name was the only th
Last Updated : 2024-11-22The Wife Swap Chapter 193: Recount of events
Andreas’s POVI could feel my pulse pounding in my ears as we hurried downstairs. As Ashton began her rapid recount of events—the years of manipulation with Shawn, the schemes she had played a part in, and then the relentless terror from this stalker, it felt as if each revelation was slicing away at whatever small thread of control I had left. She was talking, filling in the gaps I hadn’t known were there, but the fury boiling inside me made it hard to process anything beyond the sheer audacity of it all.I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to keep quiet, to hold back the thousand things I wanted to yell at her. Not here. Not now. I needed to find Ashley first. The anger could wait. But it was there, simmering just below the surface, my whole body practically vibrating with it. When Ashton finally finished her hurried summary, there was a tense silence between us. I looked at her, just staring, momentarily unable to find any words that could cut through this thick fog of
Last Updated : 2024-11-22The Wife Swap Chapter 194: The stalker unmasked
Andreas’s POVThere was a beat of stunned silence on Liv’s end, as if she hadn’t fully registered what I’d just said. I could imagine her standing there, frozen, her mind trying to process that one bombshell piece of information. She mumbled a quick promise to be at the house soon, and the call ended with a sharp click.For a second, I just stood there, staring at the screen, watching the raindrops splatter against the glass. My phone buzzed with new messages, and I scrolled through them rapidly. Faye’s reply came in: She’s not with me. We haven’t spoken since yesterday.I frowned, reading over her message again, and growing even more agitated. Where could Ashley have gone? Just as I was about to toss my phone to the ground in frustration, another notification popped up. This one was from Annabelle: Hey, have you found Ashton yet?Annabelle didn’t know it was Ashley who had been at the party, pretending to be her sister. My sister was just another person who had been fooled by the per
Last Updated : 2024-11-22The Wife Swap Chapter 195: Behind the obsession
Ashley’s POVThe dull, throbbing ache in my head dragged me from unconsciousness. My eyelids felt impossibly heavy, as though they were weighted down, but I forced them open, blinking into the dim light of the room. Everything was blurry at first, the shadows around me shifting as I tried to focus.It wasn’t until I tried to move that I realized something was wrong. My arms didn’t budge. I tugged harder, only to feel rough, biting pressure around my wrists. Panic surged through me as I twisted my hands, the ropes scraping against my skin. I glanced down to confirm what I already feared—my wrists were bound tightly to the arms of a wooden chair. My chest heaved, and my breath came in shallow gasps as I tried to process what was happening.Where the hell was I?I struggled harder, ignoring the sting as the ropes cut into me. “Hello?” I called out, my voice shaky. The word echoed back at me, swallowed by the room’s oppressive silence. My heart pounded as flashes of memory came back—the p
Last Updated : 2024-11-23The Wife Swap Chapter 196: No matter what
Ashley’s POVHe smiled, his expression almost tender, as if my question had been exactly what he wanted to hear. “You’re different, Ashley,” he said, his voice soft with reverence. “You’re not like Ashton. She...lied to me. She manipulated me, always dangling promises in front of me and then snatching them away. But you—” He reached out and brushed a tear from my cheek with his thumb, and I fought the urge to recoil. “You’re pure. Honest. Real. I was just... looking in the wrong place before.” I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “Kennedy...you’re confused,” I said, my voice barely audible. “I’m not who you think I am.” “No,” he said firmly, cutting me off. His eyes darkened, and for the first time, I glimpsed the anger simmering just beneath his calm facade. “Don’t do that. Don’t sell yourself short. Ashton was the one who was confused, always running away from what was meant to be. But you—” His voice softened again, the shift in tone making my skin crawl. “You’re everything she was
Last Updated : 2024-11-23The Wife Swap Chapter 197: I didn’t know
Andreas’s POVThe silence in the house was suffocating, pressing down on my chest and making it hard to think straight. Each tick of the clock felt like a hammer to my skull, stretching every second into an eternity. My mind raced, replaying everything—every moment with Ashley, every interaction with Kennedy, every creeping unease I’d brushed aside.She was gone. Not just gone, but taken. And the one who took her wasn’t a stranger—it was Kennedy, her childhood friend. Kennedy, who had been right under our noses this entire time.I ran a hand through my hair, gripping it at the roots as I tried to focus. The air felt heavier in the stillness of the house. It was like the walls themselves were holding their breath, waiting for me to do something.I turned to Ashton, who sat stiffly on the edge of the couch, pale and distant. She hadn’t said much since Liv’s call, but I didn’t have time for her to process things at her own pace. Not now.I crossed the room, stopping in front of her. “Ash
Last Updated : 2024-11-24The Wife Swap Chapter 198: Where is Ashley?
Andreas’s POVThe weight of my own words crashed over me, but I held her gaze, unflinching. She needed to understand this. I could see the flicker of realization, of shame, of something like horror in her eyes.I stared at her, my jaw tight. “People don’t just snap out of nowhere. You must have seen something. Some sign that he wasn’t as harmless as you thought.”She hesitated. “There were… moments,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “Like when I started dating Shawn. Kennedy hated him. We had a huge fight about it, and he said… things.”“What kind of things?” I demanded, stepping closer.She swallowed. “He said Shawn didn’t deserve me. That he’d ruin me. He was so… angry. I thought it was just jealousy. I thought he’d get over it.”“And did he?” I asked sharply.She shook her head. “Not really. He kept showing up. At my apartment, at work. Always with some excuse—checking on me, needing to talk. I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t listen.”“Did you ever connect the dots
Last Updated : 2024-11-24
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The Wife Swap Chapter 241: A new beginning
Ashley’s POV“Thank you,” I managed, taking the bouquet from Andreas, my fingers trembling slightly. “You… you came.”He chuckled softly, nodding. “Wouldn’t miss it. I’m proud of you, Ashley. You’re amazing. The book…it’s incredible.” He paused, and the warmth in his eyes made my heart race. “I’ve already read it, by the way,” he added, a hint of teasing in his tone. “I couldn’t put it down.”A small, awkward laugh escaped my lips, a nervous sound. “You read it?” I asked, almost incredulous. “All of it?”He nodded, his gaze unwavering. “Every word. You have a real talent, Ashley. I’m not just saying that because of…well, because of us.” He gave a small smile, almost sheepish, and I swallowed, fighting the urge to reach out and kiss him. “You’ve always had it in you. I’m just glad the world gets to know the face behind the work.”I felt a warmth in my chest, the kind that had been absent for so long. I opened my mouth to thank him and paused, wondering if he’d leave after I responded a
The Wife Swap Chapter 240: A heartfelt reunion
Ashley’s POVThe book launch venue was everything I’d hoped it would be—a cozy, intimate setting with an air of understated elegance. The soft glow of chandeliers reflected off the polished wood floors, and the tables were lined with white tablecloths, their centerpieces adorned with my favorite flowers. It was the kind of place that felt warm and welcoming, just like the people who had supported me along the way. As I stood outside for a moment, taking in the sight of it all, a nervous flutter took over my stomach. The event was finally happening. This was real. I rushed to the back entrance, slightly out of breath as I adjusted my dress. It was simple but elegant, a soft blue outfit that felt just right for the occasion. I had done everything to plan, but of course, I was running behind. The chaos of getting ready and the last-minute checks on everything had left me feeling a bit frazzled, but beneath the nerves, there was a sense of excitement I couldn’t ignore. This moment was f
The Wife Swap Chapter 239: An eventful year
Ashley’s POVA Year LaterThe air was crisp, but the sun cast a warm, golden glow over the gravesite. I sat on the bench near Ashton’s tombstone, the scent of fresh flowers mixing with the earthy smell of the cemetery. In my hands, I held a bouquet of bright flowers and a box of cookies—the kind we used to love as kids.I arranged them carefully at the base of the stone, each movement slow, deliberate. I knew Ashton wasn’t really here, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was still with me—somewhere, somehow. Sometimes, I liked to think she could hear me, or at least, feel my presence. So, I began speaking aloud, as if she were sitting right beside me, just like when we were younger, chatting about everything and nothing at all.“It’s been an eventful year, Ash,” I murmured, feeling the weight of the words as I spoke them. “I guess you know that already, but I still need to say it. I’ve been doing a lot of things I never thought I’d do.”I paused, looking out at the rows of grave
The Wife Swap Chapter 238: Starting again
Ashley’s POVI swallowed hard, my throat tightening. The words felt like a punch in the gut, but in a way, they were also the relief I hadn’t known I was waiting for. My sister, my twin, had always been larger than life. She had overshadowed me in everything—her beauty, her confidence, her charisma. It wasn’t always intentional. She hadn’t known the effect she had on me, the way I always felt like I was just trying to catch up, just trying to exist beside her.“I’m sorry for all the times I overshadowed you, even without meaning to. You were always the best part of me.”The words blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I had needed to hear them. I had spent so much of my life feeling like an afterthought, living in the space that Ashton’s brilliance had left behind. But now, as I read those words, I allowed myself to believe them—for the first time in my life.“I hope you can forgive me for all the times I wasn’t there, for all the mess I le
The Wife Swap Chapter 237: Rediscovery
Ashley’s POVThe room was quiet, save for the hum of the heater, a soft background noise that reminded me that I was no longer at the mansion. I sat at the small desk in the corner of my now shared apartment with Liv, staring at the blank page of my journal. The pen in my hand felt foreign, like I was holding someone else’s tool, meant for someone else’s purpose.It had been weeks since I left Andreas, though it still felt like I was living in the aftermath of that decision. The pain was still there, a constant presence in the pit of my stomach, but there was something else, too—a strange, bittersweet peace. I was no longer just pretending. I wasn’t living in the shadow of Ashton’s life, her successes, her untimely death. I was just... me.I shifted in the chair, pulling my knees up to my chest as I let my gaze drift out the window. The lights of the city twinkled below, but the sky above was dark, as though it mirrored the way I still felt inside. Despite the nights I cried myself to
The Wife Swap Chapter 236: Letting Go
Andreas’s POVMoving to the bedroom, I laid on Ashley’s side, feeling the coldness of the sheets where her warmth had once been. Without her, it felt wrong, everything felt wrong. But I couldn’t change it. Not yet, at least. She had made her choice, and I had to respect that.I had to admit it, even to myself: I didn’t think I could live without her. But as much as I ached for her, chasing after her now would only drive her further away. She needed time, space to figure herself out, and I wasn’t about to make her feel cornered. I wasn’t about to be the one who trapped her. She had already sacrificed so much for me, for Ashton. If I was going to love her the way she deserved, I had to let her go.I knew that she didn’t ask me to wait. She hadn’t asked me to do anything, really, except to give her what she needed. But in my heart, I couldn’t shake the resolve that I would wait for her. Time would pass, and maybe she’d find her way back to me. Or maybe she wouldn’t. But no matter what, I
The Wife Swap Chapter 235: Deafening emptiness
Andreas’s POVThe glass of whiskey sat in front of me, untouched, and I stared at it without really seeing it, my mind preoccupied with the words Ashley had left me with, the ones that echoed in my head like an unwanted refrain. “You deserve someone who fits seamlessly into your life, not someone who makes you choose.”For the first time, I questioned everything I had built. I had spent years constructing a life that was logical, pragmatic—a life that adhered to the rules of the world I was born into. A life where love was a luxury, something I could never afford. I married Ashton, not out of love, but because it was expected of me and I had wanted someone who wouldn’t be my father’s pawn. The contract was simple, clean, and it served its purpose. I chose the company over everything else, convincing myself that reputation, power, and control were all that mattered. I never allowed myself to truly love, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t. My heart, damaged by a condit
The Wife Swap Chapter 234: A love let go
Ashley’s POVI took a deep breath and sat down beside Andreas, feeling the coolness of the leather against my skin, the space between us growing more fragile with every passing second.“I don’t know where to start,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I love you, Andreas. I’ve loved you for so long now, even when I didn’t know how to admit it, even when I didn’t know how to let myself feel it.”He was silent, his dark eyes fixed on me, watching me with a mixture of concern and understanding. He wasn’t interrupting, waiting patiently as I tried to find the right words. His presence was warm, comforting even, but it only made this harder.“I didn’t know what I was getting into when I agreed to the swap but meeting you has been one of the most rewarding moments of my existence,” I continued, the tears that had been threatening to spill finally falling freely. “You’ve shown me love, patience, and given me the strength to face so many things, things I didn’t even realize I needed to face. You’
The Wife Swap Chapter 233: Saying goodbye
Ashley’s POVThe day of Ashton’s burial was a blur of emotions. Grief, yes—I had expected that. But there was also relief, anger, hope, and a strange sense of peace that I couldn’t quite place.The small ceremony was held in a quiet corner of the Thorne estate, under a canopy of trees that Ashton would’ve loved. The turnout was larger than I’d anticipated. It wasn’t just family, though the Thorne family was represented in some way, with Andreas and Annabelle by my side. Workers from the gallery had come too, some of them tearfully recalling stories of Ashton’s quick wit and unmatched dedication to her work. Liv had been by my side the entire time and Faye had managed to track down a few close friends, and seeing their faces filled me with gratitude.Of course, Adam and Amarinth were nowhere to be seen. I hadn’t expected them to come, nor did I want them there. Thomas was absent too, but Sansa had made an appearance. I couldn’t help but notice how much lighter she seemed, almost radian
