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Chapter 66: Crossing Lines
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The Wife Swap Chapter 1: Identical but nothing alike
Ashley’s POV"Oh, you are so lucky that you have an identical twin. What's it like?" The question, a tired chorus, rolled off the tongue of the woman sitting in the booth next to me at the coffee shop. If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question, I could probably fulfill my deepest dream–to leave this bustling town and move to another continent where I would own a nice little cottage nestled amongst rolling hills in New Zealand. There, amid the quiet solitude, I could escape the constant comparisons, the expectations, and most importantly, the feeling of being perpetually overshadowed by my twin, Ashton Grey.When we were little, being Ashton's twin held a certain playful charm. We were masters of disguise, able to swap places seamlessly, driving our parents to the brink of exasperation with our elaborate pranks. Back then, our differences were subtle – mere nuances in personality that manifested in our clothing choices (I, a sucker for mismatched socks and oversized s
The Wife Swap Chapter 2: An unusual request
Ashley's POVMy jaw practically hit the tabletop as Ashton finished laying out her outrageous request. “You have got to be bullshitting me, Ashton. Is there a camera somewhere making a video of us? There has to be, right?” My sister remained silent as if she hadn’t just dropped a bomb on my lap and I had to look around to be sure that I wasn’t dreaming. "A weekend pretending to be you to visit your in-laws? Are you serious?"A forced laugh escaped Ashton's lips, devoid of any humor. "Deadly serious, Ash. This isn't some prank like the time we convinced Mrs. Henderson she was seeing double."The memory of that particular prank – complete with a strategically placed wig and a well-rehearsed limp – brought a reluctant smile to my face. But this situation felt vastly different, a world away from our childhood theatrics. Over the years, Ashton had perfected the art of the outrageous while I remained sane–quitting her stable job to backpack across Europe on a whim, that disastrous skydiv
The Wife Swap Chapter 3: Becoming Ashton Thorne
Ashley’s POVThe leather seat of the luxurious car that had picked me up outside the airport felt alien beneath me, or maybe it was the fact that I had a driver. Gazing out the window at the snow-capped peaks blurring by, I still couldn't quite believe I was actually in Aspen, on my way to the Thornes’ mansion, masquerading as my sister, Ashton.Just days ago, I’d been sitting in the cozy familiarity of my favorite coffee shop in Vermont when Ashton had dropped her bombshell request. The memory of her pleading eyes and the hesitant smile, a ghost of our childhood goofiness, had been my undoing and why I was now on my way to what I believed was a suicide mission. After agreeing, I’d had to follow Ashton back to her New York apartment that very day. Thankfully, her husband, Andreas, was on a business trip to London and would be flying directly into Aspen. A small mercy, because the prospect of spending hours trapped on a plane with a complete stranger while posing as his significant oth
The Wife Swap Chapter 4: My sister’s billionaire husband
Ashley’s POVPanic coiled in my gut, squeezing the air from my lungs. There he was, my sister’s husband, Andreas Thorne, a living, breathing man, and the reality of the situation slammed into me with the force of an avalanche. How had I forgotten that I was supposed to be sharing this room with him like a normal couple would? I scrambled off the bed, my bare feet sinking into the thick carpet. Quickly, I reached for the bedside lamp, the light casting a warm glow over the room, and illuminating Andreas’ form. He rose from the armchair, his movements slow and deliberate. My breath hitched in my throat as our eyes met.Steely grey eyes, dark ebony hair that tumbled across his forehead in a way that seemed artfully messy, with a jaw that was sharp, clean-shaven, and held a hint of stubble that only added to his rugged appeal. His build sent a jolt through me. Even in the loose-fitting clothes he wore, I could see the broad expanse of his shoulders tapering down to a lean waist. He towe
The Wife Swap Chapter 5: Meeting My “Husband’s” Family
Ashley’s POVMy reflection stared back at me, a stranger in my own skin. I was so used to drowning myself in oversized t-shirts and the comforting embrace of sweatpants.m that wearing something other than that felt odd. In place of my usual fits, I'd picked out a sundress from the array of clothes that Ashton had packed for me for this weekend.I ran a hesitant hand over the smooth fabric, the material clinging to my curves in places I never knew I had curves, accentuating the unfamiliar contours of my body. But it was the neckline that truly shocked me.A daring plunge that showed a cleavage I hadn't known existed. It was like staring into a mirror and discovering a hidden landscape. I'd always believed that I was flat-chested, a fact I'd accepted with a shrug, but this dress was daring me to embrace what I'd previously ignored, or maybe it ass just that I wore too many oversized fits to have her noticed in the first place.A wave of self-consciousness washed over me. I was no Bridge
The Wife Swap Chapter 6: Off to a bad start
Ashley’s POV"I'm so sorry for being late," I began, my voice barely a whisper. I knew I was already off to a bad start, because even in the movies, being late to a family dinner of this magnitude was almost like a cardinal sin, especially in a household like this.Amarinth, her eyes slicing me up from head to toe, let out a dramatic scoff. "Well, somebody pinch me because this is a first. Or is the sky red? Since when did the almighty Ashton ever apologize for anything?" Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, and I could feel the icy daggers of her gaze piercing through me. Her reply made me realize that my sister had once again, shown off her talent for turning even the most mundane situation into a battlefield and provoking people. Growing up, Ashton had always had a knack for blunt honesty, a trait I both admired and dreaded. She was never the type to back down and it was clear that on more than one occasion, she must have clashed with Amarinth because Ashton was a lot of things, wh
The Wife Swap Chapter 7: It's hunting day!
Ashley’s POVHeading into the bathroom to change into my nightdress, I tried to shake off the curiosity that had gripped me. Ashton’s instructions were to just make it through the weekend with her in-laws so why was I curious about the state of her marriage? Even if I figured out why, it wasn't like it was something I could change. “You just need to make it through this weekend, Ash” I whispered to my reflection in the mirror and let out a sigh, making my way back into the bedroom.When I came out, I found Andreas already lying on the couch, a book in his hands. He looked up as I entered, his expression neutral but eyes locked on me and I suddenly felt self-conscious, looking away.Taking in the vast expanse of the king-sized bed, I hesitated. Perhaps it was unnecessary to share the bed, but, if Ashton was his wife, wouldn't it be strange to not offer? "You don't have to sleep on the couch," I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. "The bed is big enough for four people. We can put pi
The Wife Swap Chapter 8: Conflicting maps
Ashley’s POV"So, are you and your sister, Ashley close?" Annabel asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. I paused, turning to look at her.“The last time I saw her was at the wedding,” she continued, blissfully unaware that the person was asking about was much closer than she knew."We have our moments," I replied cautiously, trying to sound like the confident, outspoken Ashton I was supposed to be. "Siblings, you know. We fight, we make up."Annabel nodded thoughtfully. "I know exactly what you mean. My siblings don't see eye to eye at all, as you saw at dinner. I'm glad Andreas married someone as charming as you."A warm blush crept up my cheeks, even though the compliment wasn't for me. "Thank you," I replied, trying to sound casual “I'm glad I have a sister-in-law as charming as you.”Annabel laughed, a bright, infectious sound that filled the quiet of the hallway. "Don't let Amarinth hear you say that," she whispered. "Andreas is the only one who doesn't give me a hard t
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The Wife Swap Chapter 66: Crossing Lines
The Wife Swap Chapter 65: Unspoken tension
The Wife Swap Chapter 64: The discussion
The Wife Swap Chapter 63: the promise
The Wife Swap Chapter 62: One more farce
The Wife Swap Chapter 61: A promise
The Wife Swap Chapter 60: Loose footing
The Wife Swap Chapter 59: The cold hands of grief
The Wife Swap Chapter 58: Acceptance
