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Chapter 212: Blindfolded
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2024-11-27 04:06:32Related chapters
The Wife Swap Chapter 213: Into the Lion’s Den
Ashton’s POVThe moment I pulled the blindfold over my eyes, my world dissolved into darkness. Every sound became amplified—the hum of the engine, the faint rustle of his jacket as he shifted beside me. My heart raced, but I forced myself to breathe deeply, counting each inhale and exhale like it was the only thing tethering me to sanity.I felt every bump in the road, every sharp turn. Each jolt made my stomach churn, but I refused to let fear take hold. Andreas was tracking me—I clung to that thought like a lifeline. The plan had been for tracking devices to be sewn into my undergarments, specifically my bra incase I was kidnapped and now it had come in handy, with Kennedy thinking he’d won some small victory after throwing out my jewelry, never suspecting I’d outsmarted him."You’re awfully quiet," Kennedy said after a long stretch of silence. His voice was low, casual, but it carried an edge that made my skin crawl."What do you want me to say?" I replied, keeping my tone steady.
Last Updated : 2024-11-27The Wife Swap Chapter 214: The promise and the plan
Ashton’s POVI swallowed my fury, keeping my expression neutral. "What do you want from me, Kennedy?" I asked, my voice steady but low.He stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine. "I want a promise from you," he said. "Your sister’s freedom depends on it."I stared at him, my mind racing. Whatever he wanted, I’d have to play along. For Ashley. For the chance to end this nightmare.Swallowing my anger, I let my face soften, tilting my head slightly as I met Kennedy’s gaze. I forced myself to smile—a soft, almost wistful curve of my lips, the kind that once fooled him into thinking I cared more than I ever did."I never meant to deceive you, Kennedy," I said, keeping my tone gentle, almost apologetic. "When I disappeared... I had no idea it would hurt you like this. I didn’t know you were the one stalking me. If I’d known you were the one watching me, following me...I wouldn’t have run. I wouldn’t have left. Why didn’t you just talk to me? Instead of scaring me?"The lie tasted bitter
Last Updated : 2024-11-27The Wife Swap Chapter 215: A ray of hope
Ashley’s POVAshton.Her name was a constant mantra in my mind, the only thing tethering me to sanity. Ever since Kennedy claimed she was alive, my sister was all I could think about. I pictured her daring grin, the way she’d charge into trouble without a second thought.I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memories to come back, to drown out the voice. Ashton teaching me how to ride a bike when I was too scared to let go of the handlebars. Ashton pulling me behind her when the neighborhood bully tried to take my lunch money. Ashton sneaking into my room the night out parents died, holding me as I cried. What if Kennedy had lied to get me worked up? What if all of what he’d done to me was just to drive me insane? The sound of the door unlocking shattered my thoughts, making me jump. My heart raced as I scrambled to my feet, pressing my back against the wall. Kennedy stepped inside, his smug grin making my stomach churn. “Well, look at you,” he said, his voice dripping with fake
Last Updated : 2024-11-28The Wife Swap Chapter 216: Almost there
Ashley’s POVTime dragged on in a haze of silence and shadows, every second an eternity as I sat curled up in the corner of the darkened bedroom. Sleep was impossible. My thoughts were consumed by Ashton—was she safe? What was Kennedy forcing her to do? A dozen terrifying possibilities raced through my mind, each worse than the last.The faint creak of a floorboard snapped me out of my thoughts. My breath hitched as I strained to listen. The sound was distant but unmistakable—footsteps, slow and deliberate, echoing through the hallway outside.My heart slammed against my ribs as I reached for the small knife I’d hidden in my pocket earlier and the jagged piece of wood. My fingers tightened around the handle as I rose to a crouch, inching closer to the door.The footsteps stopped right outside.I held my breath, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring. My mind raced. If it was Kennedy, I couldn’t afford to hesitate. I’d have to fight, even if it was a losing battle.The doorknob t
Last Updated : 2024-11-28The Wife Swap Chapter 217: Gone
Ashley’s POVThe woods felt endless, the shadows stretching around us like a living thing. But Ashton’s strength kept me moving, her unwavering resolve giving me something to cling to. As the minutes dragged on, the faint sound of something—voices, maybe, or footsteps—echoed in the distance.The clearing was a sudden break in the oppressive darkness of the woods, the faint glow of headlights cutting through the gloom like a beacon of hope. I clung to Ashton, my weight sagging against her as she helped me limp forward. Relief and exhaustion warred within me, each step feeling like the last I’d ever take. Then the sound of a car approaching reached my ears, and I froze.Ashton’s body went rigid beside me. “Stay here,” she hissed, pulling me back into the shadow of the trees. Her arm tightened around me, steadying me as we crouched low, her sharp eyes scanning the approaching vehicle.I didn’t dare breathe, every nerve on edge. What if it wasn’t Andreas? What if it was Kennedy? My mind r
Last Updated : 2024-11-28The Wife Swap Chapter 218: Time to say goodbye
Andreas’ POVThe scene before me felt like something out of a nightmare. The wail of sirens was deafening, but it did nothing to drown out the ache that pressed down on my chest. Every sound, every movement seemed distant, as if I were floating outside my own body, detached from everything happening around me.Ashton’s body, so still and cold in the arms of the paramedics, was the physical proof of the cruelty of this world. She had tried so hard to be better, to atone for her past, to move beyond the things that had held her captive for so long. But it was all for nothing. Her death was an unforgivable wound, one that would stay with me forever, gnawing at my insides.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look away from the paramedics as they carefully loaded her into the ambulance. The finality of it hit me like a sledgehammer. She was gone, and no amount of time or effort could change that.I turned to Ashley, my heart breaking all over again. She was kneeling on the ground, her eyes
Last Updated : 2024-11-28The Wife Swap Chapter 219: When the silence breaks
Andreas’s POVThe drive to the hospital felt endless. The sterile lights of the hallway greeted us as we entered, the hum of fluorescent lights doing nothing to soften the silence. I could feel the tension in Ashley, her body stiff beside me, as though she was bracing herself for what she was about to face. I wanted to say something, to tell her that it was okay, but the words felt empty.We reached the mortuary, and the chill of the room hit me as soon as we walked in. The air was thick with antiseptic, the stark white walls and cold, metallic surfaces making everything feel more like a nightmare than reality. It was the last place I ever wanted to be with Ashley, but I knew this was something she needed.She stepped forward, her movements slow, almost as if she were afraid to disturb the stillness of the room. I could see the trembling of her hands as she reached out to touch the sheet that covered Ashton’s body. Her fingers lingered for a moment before she pulled back, almost as if
Last Updated : 2024-11-28The Wife Swap Chapter 220: Hanging by a thread
Ashley’s POVI sat there, my hands clenched tightly in my lap, the cold, sterile hum of the fluorescent lights above doing nothing but remind me of the harrowing reality that was my life right now. Everything felt so unreal. The waiting space outside the theatre seemed like a world away from everything that had happened just hours ago. My body felt heavy, and my mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t push away the overwhelming worry gnawing at my insides.What if Andreas didn’t make it? What if I lost him, too? The thought was unbearable. I had only just begun to realize how much he meant to me. How much I’d come to rely on him, how much I’d wanted to be with him, even when I couldn’t find the words to admit it. Now, as I sat there in this cold room, waiting for news, I realized just how much I had been holding back. Too many things left unsaid.I’d lost my sister tonight. And now it seemed fate wanted me to lose another precious person
Last Updated : 2024-11-28
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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
