Ashley’s POVSitting across from Andreas in the crowded café, I had thought the chatter of strangers and the clinking of cups would diffuse some of the awkwardness that had lingered between us after the gym. But there we were, in a public space, and the tension hadn’t dissipated. If anything, it felt more pronounced, like an invisible cord stretched taut between us.I reached for the menu at the same time as Andreas, our hands brushing, and I jerked mine back as though his touch had burned me. A nervous chuckle escaped before I could stop it. "You can, um, order for us if you want," I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out thin, almost breathless. I quickly glanced around, hoping the room's noise would swallow up the weird energy buzzing between us.He didn’t meet my eyes, just nodded stiffly. "Sure," he murmured, barely looking at the menu as he gestured for the waiter.I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks flush for reasons I couldn’t explain. Maybe I was imagining this. Mayb
Ashley’s POV"I know you want to believe she’s still out there," I added softly, my voice barely above a whisper. "And it's quite commendable of you to be this supportive and willing to help solve this matter even though you and her aren't really married but if there’s anything I know about Ashton, it’s that she never would have left me hanging this long."Andreas inhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. "I get that," he said after a long pause. "But what we have now is a just a high probability, not certainty and I don't now if I can work with that."I closed my eyes for a second, feeling the weight of his words. I understood that feeling. I understood the unwillingness to accept what was staring us both in the face. But holding on to hope was dangerous. It kept you in limbo, kept you from moving forward, even when the world was pushing you to.When I opened my eyes again, Andreas was watching me, his gaze softer than before. "I didn’t apologize because I feel like I have to," he said, h
Ashley’s POV“I can’t do this anymore,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, but the weight of it echoed in the room. “I can’t keep pretending to be Ashton.”Andreas turned his head toward me, his brow furrowing in response, but he didn’t say anything. The silence between us felt charged, as if both of us were waiting for the other to make the next move.I swallowed hard, trying to find the words. “You don’t have to be the one to deal with the fallout, Andreas. I’ll tell your family. I’ll tell them everything—about the swap, about Ashton disappearing. They don’t have to know that you found out eventually and tried to cover it up. I’ll take all the blame. That way, you can—”“No.” Andreas cut me off, his voice quiet but firm. He shook his head, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to work through the situation in his mind. “Even if you do that, it won’t matter.”I blinked at him, confused. “What do you mean? It’ll be easier for you if they think I was the one who orchestrated all of th
Ashley’s POVI stared at Andreas, my mind spinning. The idea of continuing this charade—keeping up the pretense that I was Ashton—felt unbearable. Every instinct screamed that my sister was gone, and yet here I was, being asked to act like nothing had changed. Was this really the right thing to do?Andreas must have noticed the hesitation in my eyes because his expression softened, his gaze locked on mine. “Give me three days,” he said, his voice measured but urgent. “That’s all I’m asking. Three days.”“Three days?” I echoed, my voice barely above a whisper, still processing the request.“There’s a charity gala in three days,” he continued, studying my face for a reaction. “You don’t even have to go with me if you don’t want to. I can handle it alone. After the gala, I’ll speak to my father. I’ll tell him everything. He’s the only one whose opinion really matters in all of this.”I blinked, taken aback. “Your father?”Andreas nodded, his lips pressing into a thin line. “He’s the only
Andreas’ POVAs I pulled up to the restaurant where Ashley had asked me to drop her off to meet up with her friend Liv, the glow of the entrance sign flickered, mirroring my restless thoughts. I glanced at Ashley, her expression a mix of determination and uncertainty as she gathered her things. Part of me wanted to reach out and reassure her that everything was going to be okay, but even I knew that it was a lie. Nothing was okay. Her sister was most likely gone, and I was grasping at straws by trying to private investigator. Worse, I couldn’t shake the memory of Jake’s unexpected appearance and the way my jaw had tightened in response. The way Jake had approached her—so familiar, so casual—had ignited something primal within me. Jealousy. It was a feeling I hadn’t expected to surface, especially given the nature of our situation. Why had I reacted so strongly? Why had it bothered me so much when I thought the guy was Ashley’s ex-boyfriend?What was wrong with me?“Be careful,” I said,
Ashley’s POVI walked into the restaurant where I had arranged to meet Liv, the familiar scent of coffee and pastries mingling in the air. It felt surreal to be here as if life had continued spinning outside while mine was trapped in a frozen moment of uncertainty.Liv was already at a corner table, her expression a mix of concern and warmth as she spotted me. She rose, wrapping me in a gentle embrace that spoke volumes. I felt the weight of the last few days pressing down on me, and it was a struggle to not break down in her arms and sob. “Hey, you,” she said softly, pulling back to study my face. “How are you holding up?”I shrugged, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “You know... one foot in front of the other.”She nodded, her eyes searching mine for the truth beneath the surface. “You can tell me anything, Ash. I’m here.”As I settled into my seat, the reality of my situation flooded back—everything from the airport to the gut-wrenching moments since. I took a deep
Ashley’s POVAs we stepped into the bar, the atmosphere enveloped us—laughter and music mingling in the air, creating a comforting buzz that pushed away the shadows for a moment. I could already feel a sense of relief washing over me, happy that I’d chosen to do this tonight. Liv and I settled into a small booth near the back, the dim lighting casting a warm glow around us.We ordered drinks—something fruity and strong for me, something stronger for Liv. As the first round arrived, I raised my glass. “To distractions,” I said, a hint of a smile breaking through.“To distractions,” Liv echoed, clinking her glass against mine. We both took a sip, the sweetness mingling with the alcohol, igniting a flicker of excitement in my chest even though I knew it was temporary.For the next hour, we laughed and shared stories, the burden of the last few days feeling lighter with every sip. Liv kept checking in on me, her concern still lingering, but I brushed it off, determined to enjoy this momen
Ashley’s POVAs I downed the rest of my drink, the bar's noise swirled around me, but a nagging sense of loneliness settled in as I waited for my cab. My thoughts drifted back to the conversation with Andreas. What had I been thinking, calling him? I cringed at the memory, chastising myself for reaching out in a moment of vulnerability. I wasn’t supposed to need him.Just as I was about to dive deeper into my thoughts, a man slid into the booth across from me. He had a confident smile, the kind that was all too familiar in a bar setting. “Hey there, what’s a pretty girl like you doing alone?”I blinked, surprised at his forwardness. “I’m not alone. My friend just stepped out,” I replied, trying to keep my tone polite.He leaned back, undeterred. “Well, she must be missing out. How about we chat while you wait?”I shook my head firmly. “I’m really not interested. Thanks, though.”His smile faltered, but he pressed on. “Come on, I promise I’m fun. What’s your name?”“Ashley,” I said, ho