Ashley’s POVI glanced at Andreas through the rearview mirror, my heart pounding in my chest. His gaze was steady and unwavering, and a shiver ran down my spine. I knew he was searching for something, something he couldn't quite pinpoint. It was clear that he was trying to piece together a puzzle and as I looked away, I prayed that he didn’t figure it out just yet. Annabel, seated beside me with Andreas in the driver’s seat remained oblivious to the staring match between her brother and me. “Ashton, you don’t have to go home tonight.” She suggested, “The doctor said…”"I'm fine, really," I interjected, my voice a bit too forced. "I just need some rest, that’s all."Annabel squeezed my hand, her eyes filled with concern. "Are you sure? We can always stay at the hospital.""No, no," I replied hastily. "I want to go home."The doctor, due to my insistence had cleared me to be discharged not long after Liv left and it was just as well because the faster I left the hospital, the faster I
Ashley’s POV“Tell me what you like, Ash” A voice whispered in my ears and even though I already knew this was a dream, the last thing I was expecting was for it to feel this real. My thoughts had moved so far away from the moment that I did not realize that my legs had been separated until a warm wet tongue licked between my folds, causing me to groan and shut my legs together around the head of my tormentor. As if that could stop him. Looking down at him, our eyes met and I sucked in a breath. Andreas Thorne. My sister’s husband. Hands moved all over my body and I felt my nipples being sucked on both sides even as the tempo increased between my legs. The pleasure was almost blinding and I could feel my insides tighten as I surrendered to the ecstasy that their ministrations brought. Maybe because this was a dream, I was able to allow myself to enjoy the pleasure of being thoroughly eaten out by him because here, we were nothing more than man and woman. Such simplicities were a lu
Ashley’s POVI kept staring into the hallway several minutes after Andreas left before catching myself and remembering that I had a task at hand that day. A task that would either give me the good news that I was longing and hoping for or shatter all my delusions about the whereabouts of my sister, AshtonA black sedan was parked outside the front door as I stepped out, a driver waiting patiently behind the wheel. As I approached, he stepped out of the car, his face a mask of politeness."Mrs. Thorne," he said, his voice formal. "I'm here to drive you wherever you need to go."Despite Nora’s reminder the last time I was about to leave the house that I could call a driver if I wanted, I was still taken aback by the reality that my sister was married into a family where they could each have a personal driver "It's not necessary," I replied finally, trying to sound confident.He shook his head. "Mr. Thorne insisted. He said he didn't want you taking cabs."I raised my brows in confusion,
Andreas’s POVThere was something off about Ashton. It wasn't just a fleeting impression; it was a nagging suspicion that had been growing stronger with each passing day. It was as if a switch had been flipped during our trip to Aspen, transforming the woman I'd married into a subdued, almost unrecognizable version of herself.Before our trip, she'd been a turbulent whirlwind, her quick wit and unwavering self-centeredness a constant source of irritation and a stubborn streak, that while admirable in some ways especially when it came to how she dealt with the rest of my family, had often made her difficult to deal with. She'd been a woman of strong opinions, quick to argue and slow to compromise. But now, she seemed quieter, more subdued. She was almost too polite, too accommodating as if she were playing a role.At first, I attributed these changes to her efforts to finally try to win my family’s approval. Perhaps she was trying to be more demure and sensitive, to make a good impress
Ashley’s POV“The crash was catastrophic.”“It may take some time to retrieve all the information, but we can check the security footage to see if she arrived at the airport.”I didn't know how long I sat outside the airport, Liv by my side in her car with the windows down, the cold air hitting my face. I couldn't shake the feeling of numbness that had washed over me. It was as if my mind had shut down, unable to process the news we'd just received.Liv reached out and took my hand, her warmth a comforting distraction from the chill in the air. I squeezed her hand tightly, grateful for her presence. We sat in silence for what felt like hours, my mind racing with thoughts of Ashton.Finally, I whispered, my voice barely audible, “How long did they say we'd have to wait for the footage to come out?” “A week. Two at most.” Liv responded. Turning my gaze away from the window to look at her, I sucked in a breath to stop tears from escaping "What if they send for us to come and check the
Ashley’s POVFaye watched me with a knowing smile as Nora returned with our drinks, breaking the tension that had suddenly enveloped the room at her admission that she knew about the wife swap. The sudden appearance of the housekeeper startled me, momentarily snapping me out of my shock. "What would you like for dinner, ma'am?" Nora asked, her voice polite as she set the drinks down on the table.I tried my best to remain composed, my mind still reeling from Faye's revelation. "Whatever Andreas prefers," I replied, my voice a bit monotone.Nora nodded and turned to leave, her footsteps fading into the background. As soon as she was out of earshot, Faye leaned forward, her eyes filled with concern."Surprised? I didn't mean to scare you with the news" she stated."Who are you?" I repeated, my voice barely a whisper.Faye reached into her purse and pulled out her phone. Shifting closer to me, she scrolled through a series of pictures, each one capturing a moment shared between her and
Ashley’s POVAs I stood outside Andreas' bedroom door, my heart pounded in my chest. The weight of the situation pressed down on me, a heavy burden that I was struggling to carry. I knew I was doing something wrong, something that could have consequences., especially because I might not even find anything remotely related to getting answers about Ashton’s plans before the crash in this bedroom but then again, I wasn’t about to leave any stone unturned. I couldn't shake the feeling that I had to do something. Something was better than doing nothing anyway. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I could feel the sweat beading on my forehead, a physical manifestation of my anxiety. I knew that if I was caught, the outcome would be dire. But I was willing to risk it all for Ashton.With trembling hands, I reached for the doorknob. I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing with thoughts of what might happen. Looking around one more time to see if anyone was coming and finding no o
Ashley’s POVMy hand was already on the doorknob but then, I paused. I reminded myself that I wasn't here for a tour. I was here to find answers, to get to the bottom of whatever was happening. The best place to do that was probably Ashton's room first, not even here, but I wasn't about to leave without searching anyway since that was why I was here in the first place. Turning away from the locked door, I headed towards the drawers, pulling them open one by one. I rummaged through the contents, searching for anything that might be out of place. But all I found were Andreas' personal belongings. There wasn't a single feminine item in sight. A wave of realization hit me. It was clear that Ashton hadn't lived here since they were married. She had told me they were having a spat, which had made me even more surprised when I had first found out that she had a separate room from him but I hadn't thought much about it then because this was a mansion and perhaps she needed her own space but