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Chapter 43: The contract
Last Updated:
2024-08-31 23:12:25Related chapters
The Wife Swap Chapter 44: Penalties
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
Last Updated : 2024-08-31The Wife Swap Chapter 45: The husband’s secrets
Ashley’s POVLiv’s eyes were practically bulging out of her head, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief as she gripped the edge of her coffee mug tighter. “Wait, Ashley… you’re telling me that Ashton agreed to a contract marriage? With Andreas? You’re going to have to repeat that because I don’t think I’m hearing you right.”I sighed, running my hand through my hair as I slumped back into my chair. “Yes, Liv. That’s exactly what I’m saying. Ashton agreed to a contract marriage with Andreas, and now I’m stuck in the middle of it.”Liv blinked a few times, trying to process what I’d just said. I could see her brain working overtime to connect the dots, but even I wasn’t sure I fully understood it myself. Everything still felt surreal, like some sort of twisted nightmare I couldn’t wake up from.“Andreas?” Liv repeated, her voice going up an octave. “As in Andreas, Mr. Perfect, the guy who has women lining up just to get his attention? That Andreas?”“Yeah, that Andreas,” I muttered
Last Updated : 2024-08-31The Wife Swap Chapter 46: The meeting
Ashley’s POV“I just wish Ashton had told me,” I said quietly, the weight of her absence settling over me like a heavy cloud. “I don’t know how to fix this without her.”Liv reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “We’ll figure it out, Ash. Whatever it is, we’ll get to the bottom of it. Starting with finding Ashton." I let out a long sigh, my fingers tracing the rim of my coffee cup. “I don’t know. I want to believe that Ashton’s okay, but I can’t ignore the fact that she’s put me in this situation again to clean up after her." My phone buzzed on the table, breaking the tense moment between us. I glanced down and saw Andreas’ name flashing on the screen. My stomach twisted as I opened the message.“Come to the company so we can discuss the contract.”I rolled my eyes and set the phone down, not even bothering to respond. The last thing I wanted was to see Andreas, especially after the way he talked to me last night. “I guess he’s ready to discuss the contract,” I said, my voi
Last Updated : 2024-08-31The Wife Swap Chapter 47: A new contract
Ashley's POVI hadn’t seen Andreas before he left for work this morning, and now, taking in the sight of him, my mind betrayed me. Unwanted memories of that kiss in the music room crept in—the way his lips had caught me off guard, the heat that had surged through me against my will. I felt my face flush, and I immediately scolded myself. What am I doing? This man basically called me and Ashton gold diggers last night.Reminding myself of how much I disliked him, I squared my shoulders and for a moment, neither of us spoke. We just stared at each other, the air between us thick with tension. His piercing grey eyes seemed to search mine, and for a split second, I wondered if he was remembering the kiss too. But then his lips twitched into that infuriatingly calm, knowing smile, and whatever vulnerability might have been there was gone.“Please, have a seat,” he said smoothly, gesturing toward the plush chair in front of his desk.I hesitated for a moment, then crossed the room and sat do
Last Updated : 2024-08-31The Wife Swap Chapter 48: Way over my head
Ashley's POVMy heart stopped for a second. Two years? My eyes widened in shock as I leaned forward, unable to hold back my disbelief. “Wait, you expect me to be a part of this charade for two years? Even if we find out Ashton is fine?”Andreas met my gaze, his expression calm, almost too calm, as if we weren’t discussing something completely outrageous. “Of course not. Ashton’s contract was for two years. What I’m asking you to sign now is a non-disclosure agreement.”I blinked, the words taking a second to sink in. “A…non-disclosure agreement?” My voice was laced with suspicion. “So, what? You want me to keep quiet about this whole wife-swap situation and your deal with Ashton?”He nodded, his tone steady as ever. “Precisely. No one can know. That includes your friend Liv and your sister Faye. I’ve already started drafting letters for them to sign as well.”I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Letters? He was really going to make them sign NDAs too? “And what if Liv and Faye refus
Last Updated : 2024-09-01The Wife Swap Chapter 49: Drowning
Ashley’s POVAs I stepped out of the elevator, the metal doors sliding shut behind me, the weight of the contract in my hand felt almost oppressive. Each step I took across the floor seemed to echo in the lobby, amplifying my growing sense of dread, but before I could gather my thoughts, I saw Faye walking into the building.Faye, seemingly preoccupied, was holding a phone to her ear, her voice a steady stream of professional calm. But the moment her eyes locked with mine, she lowered the phone, cutting off whoever was on the other end mid-sentence. “Ashton?”I could see the way her face fell when she realized that I wasn’t my sister, returned from wherever she disappeared to, but she smiled again as she headed for me, “I was just about to call you,” she said, slipping the phone into her bag with a practiced motion. Her tone was a mix of surprise and curiosity. “What are you doing here?”Caught off guard, I stammered, “I could ask you the same thing.”Faye chuckled, the sound tinged w
Last Updated : 2024-09-02The Wife Swap Chapter 50: Vermont
Ashley’s POVThe drive to Vermont was long, but I didn’t mind. I welcomed the distance, the time to myself, even if Adam’s presence was a constant reminder that I wasn’t truly alone. As we neared my apartment, I finally opened my eyes, staring out at the familiar streets that felt almost foreign after everything that had happened.“Can you drop me here?” I asked, my voice still soft but a bit steadier now. Adam didn’t respond verbally, just nodded once again, his gaze flickering to me in the rearview mirror.The last thing I needed was for someone to see me getting out of a chauffeured car,l with a driver that was dressed like a bodyguard, especially in this neighborhood, where people would notice. Questions would be asked, and I wasn’t in any state to answer them.I stepped out of the car, the cool evening air brushing against my skin as I made my way down the familiar streets toward my apartment building. My steps were slow, and hesitant, as if I was trying to delay the inevitable r
Last Updated : 2024-09-02The Wife Swap Chapter 51: Unabashed desires
Andreas’ POVI leaned against the chair as Ashley stormed out of my office, the beeping of my watch evidence of the rapid pounding in my chest. It had been several hours since Ashley confessed to me that she’d been pretending to be her twin who was my wife in paper, Ashton and even though I’d not wanted to believe it, watching her today in my office had finally fixed the missing part of the puzzle that I’d been trying to solve since I noticed something was amiss back in Aspen.How had I not even seen it?For months after we married, Ashton had tried to seduce me, to blur the lines of our marriage contract for her own personal gain. I had resisted her advances, not because I thought she was unattractive but because people like Ashton were never satisfied and mixing business with pleasure with someone like her whose loyalty was only to herself was foolery.I had thought I was going mad when I had started to find Ashton's allure impossible to ignore. But it wasn't Ashton I was attracted
Last Updated : 2024-09-03
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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
