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Chapter 77: Fractured control
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The Wife Swap Chapter 78: Unspoken Obligations
Ashley’s POVSteam swirled around me as the hot water cascaded over my skin. I closed my eyes, letting the heat soak into my muscles, hoping it would wash away the confusion I couldn’t seem to shake. I pressed my palms against the cool tile of the shower, breathing deeply as my thoughts kept circling back to one thing.Him.I could still feel the echo of Andreas’s lips on mine, the way his touch had made my pulse race in ways I hadn’t expected. No matter how much I tried to rationalize it, the moment had felt… real. Too real. And now, all I could think about was how dangerous it was for me to let those feelings surface.He wasn’t mine. I wasn’t his. And there were too many lies between us for this to ever work. I shouldn’t have kissed him. Worse, I shouldn’t have wanted more.I tried to force the memory away, my fingers trailing absently down my body, the touch too reminiscent of the heat from before. I inhaled sharply, feeling my breath catch as my fingers grazed the sensitive skin o
The Wife Swap Chapter 79: Solitude in Shadows
Ashley’s POVI had spent the rest of the day hiding out in Ashton’s bedroom, the walls echoing with memories that felt both comforting and suffocating. The soft hum of the house blended with the distant sounds of life below, reminding me that the world continued to turn outside this bedroom. Each time I considered going down for a meal, the knot in my stomach tightened, forcing me back into bed.For once, I was thankful for the kind of home my sister had married into. If I didn’t venture downstairs, food would be brought to me. A small comfort, reinforcing my plan to avoid Andreas. Every moment with him felt like dancing on the edge of a cliff, and I was terrified of the fall—terrified of what it would mean to surrender to the feelings I wasn’t ready to face.Curled up on Ashton’s bed, I inhaled the faint scent of her perfume lingering in the air—sweet, floral, and achingly familiar. It should have soothed me, but instead, it filled the room with a heavy sense of loss. I traced the so
The Wife Swap Chapter 80: The Unexpected Call
Ashley’s POVI had barely set down my phone down when it buzzed in my hand again. For a brief second, I thought it might be Liv calling, maybe to check in on me. But the name on the screen wasn’t hers.Annabel.I hesitated before answering. Andreas’ sister had been nothing but kind to me since I took on Ashton’s life, and the guilt of deceiving her weighed heavy on me every time we spoke. She was under the impression I was Ashton, her sister-in-law, and I hated lying to her the most. But what choice did I have? I dreaded the look of disappointment she would have when she found out the truth in a couple of days.Taking a deep breath, I answered. “Hey, Annabel.”“Ashton!” Her voice was frantic, almost breathless, immediately putting me on edge. “I—sorry to bother you, but I—” She cut herself off, clearly struggling with whatever it was she needed to say.“Annabel, it’s okay. What’s going on?” I asked gently, already sensing the panic bubbling under her words.“I—I have my play tonight,”
The Wife Swap Chapter 81: That door
Ashley’s POVFinally forcing myself out of the room, I made my way down the hall toward Andreas’s suite. Every step felt heavier than the last, as though some invisible force was trying to drag me back. I wasn’t sure what I would say to him after agreeing to Annabel’s plea. The thought of confronting him about something as personal as his sister’s play filled me with unease. Yet, the larger part of me dreaded the weight of the kiss, the confusing tangle of emotions we hadn’t yet addressed.When I reached his room, I found it empty, which was both a relief and a disappointment. The air felt different in here, still carrying the faint musk of his cologne, and my gaze shifted around the space, seeking... I wasn’t sure what. Maybe clues to who he really was beneath the guarded exterior.That’s when my eyes landed on the door. That door. The one that had been locked the first time I’d snuck into his room. Curiosity bubbled up, as it had the moment I’d first seen it. What could he be hiding
The Wife Swap Chapter 82: Unspoken tension
Ashley’s POVI finally took in all of Andreas: his sweaty body, the way his abs gleamed under the soft light, the gloved hands stained with paint, and the fine-lined scar in the middle of his chest—a reminder of something painful, something intimate that I had no clue about. My gaze drifted up to his eyes, those piercing grey orbs that held a mixture of surprise and something deeper, something I couldn’t quite place.I swallowed nervously, the weight of my intrusion crashing down on me. “I—I’m sorry for intruding,” I stammered, desperate to regain some composure. “Can we talk outside?”For a moment, Andreas didn’t move. His eyes searched mine, lingering longer than usual, as if he was deciding something. His jaw tightened slightly, and his lips parted like he wanted to say more than just the words he finally settled on.“Outside.” He nodded, his voice low and unreadable.Before he could respond further, I stepped past him, moving into the coolness of the main bedroom. Despite the refr
The Wife Swap Chapter 83: The Distance between us
Ashley’s POVThe drive to Annabel’s college was suffocating. Silence stretched between us, thick and uncomfortable. I stole a few glances at Andreas, but his eyes remained focused on the road, his jaw clenched in that stubborn way he had when he was shutting himself off. There was so much I wanted to say, but the weight of everything kept me silent.My thoughts kept drifting back to the painting, the way he looked at me, and that kiss. It had changed something between us, something that neither of us was willing to acknowledge out loud. I fiddled with my fingers, trying to think of something to say, but the words got stuck in my throat, caught up in all the confusion swirling inside me.Without warning, Andreas pulled the car over in front of a small flower shop, breaking the silence.“We should get Annabel something,” he said, his voice even, eyes still looking anywhere but at me.I nodded, grateful for the distraction. We stepped inside, the scent of roses and lilies filling the air
The Wife Swap Chapter 84: The Breaking Point
Ashley’s POVThroughout the performance, I could feel Andreas’s tension radiating off him in waves. His arms were crossed, his jaw clenched tight, as if even being here was an effort. Annabel was brilliant on stage, pouring her heart into her role, but all I could focus on was the growing chasm between Andreas and me.At one point, Annabel delivered a line about love—about how it could heal or destroy, depending on how it was wielded. The words echoed through the theater, striking a chord in my chest. I stole a glance at Andreas, wondering if he felt the same. But his face was impassive, his eyes focused straight ahead, showing no hint of emotion.By the time the play ended, my heart felt heavy. We stood with the crowd, clapping for Annabel, but Andreas’s applause felt mechanical, distant. I couldn’t take it anymore. The weight of everything—his coldness, the confusion over what had happened between us—was suffocating me.As we left the theater, I finally snapped. “Are we just going t
The Wife Swap Chapter 85: To family
Ashley’s POVThe restaurant was cozy, a perfect blend of warmth and understated elegance. It was very on brand with Annabel’s bubbly personality. Pretty lighting, soft chatter, and the clinking of glasses filled the air as we walked in behind her, the hostess leading us to a table tucked away in the corner.I felt the weight of Andreas's presence beside me, but he hadn't said a word since we'd left the theater. His silence was louder than any words could have been, though. Every step we took felt like the distance between us grew, especially now that we were sitting mere inches apart once again, Annabel sitting across from us.Annabel, as usual, seemed blissfully unaware of the tension. She chattered away about the play, thanking us repeatedly for coming and supporting her. I nodded along, half-heartedly, but my mind was elsewhere, replaying Andreas's words in my head on an endless loop. It was a mistake. The sting of it hadn't dulled, and I wasn’t sure if it ever would.I glanced at
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