Ashley’s POVThe rest of the dinner passed in tense silence. I tried my best to avoid making eye contact with anyone because the last thing I wanted was for them to notice was how fidgety I had started to become as dinner went on. The worst part was that every time I looked up, certain that someone was watching me, I was always surprised to find that it wasn't even Ashton’s in-laws who kept staring at me so unabashedly but Andreas', his gaze intense and unwavering. I tried to ignore him, to focus on my food, but it was almost impossible, the tension in the room suffocating. As we finished our meal, Alfred announced that dessert would be served in the living room. Everyone stood up and followed him, their footsteps echoing through the empty hallway. When we arrived in the living room, we were greeted by a table already prepared. As we sat down, Alfred cleared his throat. "Now, to the reason why we have gathered here tonight, I have an announcement to make," he said, his voice filled
Ashley’s POVAs I wandered through the hallway looking for a restroom, it felt like the walls were starting to move or perhaps it was because I was suddenly feeling dizzy, overwhelmed by the anxiety attack that had just hit me in the presence of Andreas and his entire family. I was lost, and disoriented, and my mind was racing as I struggled to comprehend that a new problem had just arisen as if Ashton being missing was not enough. I had no single idea what this anniversary thing was about but from Amarinth and Adam’s retort at what Alfred had said, it was a big thing and I certainly could not accept to do such a thing, especially with Ashton yet to be found. I had to tell Andreas the truth about everything as soon as possible. Realizing that I had spent so much time thinking that I hadn’t been focusing on my surroundings, I looked around, wondering which path to take back and I was about to break down in tears when Andreas appeared, reaching for my hand and pulling me into a large,
Ashley’s POVAndreas's touch sent a shockwave through my body, freezing me in place. His hand grazed the fabric of my panties, and for a split second, the world around me blurred. Every nerve ending in my body screamed for more, for the connection that I knew was dangerous but suddenly felt so right. I could feel his breath warm against my skin, and all the reasons why this was wrong seemed to melt away in that moment.But then clarity crashed over me like a wave, cold and relentless. What was I doing? What were we doing? This wasn’t just a mistake—it was a betrayal of everything I stood for, everything I’d promised myself. Andreas was my sister’s husband. And Ashton... my sister was missing, possibly dead. The thought struck me with the force of a punch to the gut. How could I even entertain the idea of sleeping with him, knowing that?Shame clawed at me, wrapping itself around my throat until I could barely breathe. My vision blurred, and before I knew it, tears were streaming down
Ashley’s POVWhen we finally entered the room, the conversations came to an abrupt halt. Every eye turned to us, and the weight of their gazes was almost unbearable. I forced myself to stand tall, even as my heart threatened to burst out of my chest.Clearing my throat, I mustered up a small, apologetic smile. "I’m so sorry for disappearing like that," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. "It seems... it’s my time of the month, and it caught me off guard."I saw the understanding nods, the polite expressions that flickered across their faces. Except for Amarinth. She sat back in her chair, a sly smile playing on her lips, and then she snorted—a sharp, dismissive sound that cut through the tension like a knife."A shame," Amarinth said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I hope you aren't too disappointed by this, darling. Just try harder again next month."Her words hit me like a slap, and I had to fight to keep my composure. I knew she was trying to provoke me, to make me feel smal
Ashley’s POVThe ride home was cloaked in an oppressive silence, more suffocating than I could have imagined. The tension between Andreas and me was palpable, like a heavy fog pressing down on us. The streets blurred past outside the car window, each streetlight casting shadows that seemed to echo the turmoil inside me.I kept stealing glances at Andreas, but he was fixed on the road, his expression unreadable. I couldn’t tell if he was brooding over the events of the evening or if he was merely lost in his thoughts. Either way, the silence was unbearable. My mind raced with the countless implications of what had happened.What would his reaction be when he discovered the truth? The woman he had kissed, the woman he had nearly slept with—it wasn’t his wife Ashton but me, her twin sister. The realization made my heart pound harder. Andreas had no idea that it was me in her place, living her life, pretending to be her. The guilt and shame I felt were almost overwhelming. How could I have
Ashley’s POVSince I returned from Aspen and learned about the plane crash, my mind had been consumed by the thought of how I would reveal the truth to Andreas. The possibility that Ashton might be dead only intensified my anxiety. I had rehearsed what I would say, how I would explain everything, but standing here now, looking into his eyes filled with rage and betrayal, I realized that nothing could have truly prepared me for this moment.Andreas’s eyes bore into me, a storm of emotions swirling within them. His expression was one of pure accusation, and I could feel the weight of his anger pressing down on me. The enormity of what I had done seemed to close in on me, suffocating me with its gravity.I fidgeted nervously, my hands twisting together as I tried to gather my thoughts. The words that had seemed so clear in my mind now felt like they were tangled in a knot. I opened my mouth to speak, but no coherent words came out. I stumbled over my own thoughts, my voice catching as I t
Ashley's POV Andreas scoffed, his frustration palpable. "I've never been so deceived in my life," he said, his voice dripping with contempt. "And honestly, I'm not surprised by any of this. I just got off the phone with someone from the airline. I had thought that you, Ashley—" he gestured towards me, his expression twisted with anger—"were the one who was in the crash. Even though you told me not to worry, I felt compelled to help, like a real husband would. Only to find out that my actual wife was scheduled to be one of the passengers on the flight, right around the same time you and I were in Aspen."My eyes widened in shock. "What? Is there any news about the survivors?" I asked, my voice trembling with urgency.Andreas shook his head, his frustration evident. "No, there isn't. They haven't confirmed if Ashton was on the flight. Isn't that convenient for both of you? For all I know, this could be some sort of ploy between the two of you. Maybe there's something more sinister at pl
Ashley’s POV“Are you and Ashton really married for convenience?” I whispered into the silence that had descended in the room. As Andreas stood and disappeared into his closet, I felt a sinking dread wash over me. I turned to leave, convinced that he wasn’t coming back and had dismissed me from the conversation. The weight of our earlier exchange seemed to press down on me, making my thoughts swirl in confusion and regret.But just as I was about to step out, Andreas reappeared, holding a file. He walked over to me and extended it wordlessly. I took it from him with trembling hands, the heaviness of the situation making my palms sweat.Opening the file, I saw the document inside, and my heart nearly stopped. My eyes widened in shock as I took in the details. There, in bold letters, was the name of my sister, Ashton, prominently displayed on a marriage contract. The realization hit me like a tidal wave. Andreas’s earlier comment about the marriage being "on paper" suddenly made horrify