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Chapter 82: Unspoken tension
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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
The Wife Swap Chapter 86: An Unexpected Encounter
Ashley’s POVDinner dragged on, Annabel’s cheerful chatter grating against the thick silence between Andreas and me. I barely tasted the food on my plate. Each glance from Andreas felt like a challenge, daring me to break the ice. But I wouldn’t. Not after what he said. He’d made it clear where he stood, and I had no intention of giving him the satisfaction of addressing it.Annabel’s voice broke through my swirling thoughts. “So, Ashton, what’s been keeping you busy lately? How’s the gallery?”I forced a smile, the weight of Andreas’s gaze pressing heavily into the side of my face. “Just the usual,” I said lightly, taking a sip of wine to keep my hands steady. “Work has been... demanding.”Andreas hummed quietly under his breath, just loud enough for me to catch it. I shot him a sharp glare, but Annabel was already launching into another story about her latest college adventures. I tuned her out, my mind too preoccupied with the tension between Andreas and me.Finally, after what fel
The Wife Swap Chapter 87: A blast from the past
Ashley’s POVKennedy Walters.The name echoed in my mind like an old song I couldn’t quite place. Annabel looped her arm through mine as we walked back towards the campus, her voice chirping with excitement about some new project she was planning. I nodded along, trying to seem interested, but the conversation barely registered. My thoughts were elsewhere.Andreas walked beside Annabel, the two of them engaged in conversation. She hung on his every word, laughing at something he said, while Andreas offered his usual half-smiles. His attention seemed distant, and I knew where that distance came from. That coldness I could never seem to penetrate.I couldn’t stop thinking about Kennedy, about the way he’d looked at me outside the restaurant. The polite smile, the casual ease—like we were just old friends catching up. But there was something else behind it, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.There was something I was forgetting.It shouldn’t have mattered. He was just some kid
The Wife Swap Chapter 88: Nothing Between Us
Ashley’s POVAnnabel pulled me close, her warm lips brushing my cheek in a gentle kiss. “We should hang out again soon,” she said, her voice light and affectionate as if nothing in the world could be wrong. “I love you, Ash.”Her words caught me off guard. Guilt twisted in my stomach, sharp and immediate. I managed a small smile, but it didn't reach my eyes. If only she knew the truth, if only she knew that I was not Ashton—that I was just playing a part in this lie. How would she feel then? Would she still look at me with the same kindness, the same unconditional love? I doubted it.“Love you too,” I murmured, the words feeling heavy in my mouth, and for a brief moment, I almost wished I could just let her in on everything, confess it all. But I couldn't. Not yet.Annabel waved and walked away, her laughter fading into the night as she disappeared down the street past her campus gate. And just like that, the tension that had momentarily lifted came crashing back between Andreas and
The Wife Swap Chapter 89: Tangled emotions
Andreas’s POVThe morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office, casting long shadows across the polished wooden desk. I sat there, staring at my computer screen, yet my thoughts were a thousand miles away, tangled in last night's memories. I had buried myself in work, thinking it would help me forget the sting of Ashley’s words, but they echoed in my mind, refusing to fade.It was a mistake. I had said those words, and now I regretted them. Calling our kiss a mistake had seemed necessary at the time—a way to pull back the curtain on the tangled emotions I didn’t fully understand. But each moment since had only amplified my frustration and confusion. I missed the warmth of the hesitant smile that she usually gave whenever she saw me, the spark that ignited when our eyes met, and it gnawed at me, more than I realized that I cared to admit.I was unable to bring myself to admit that I was feeling more than physical attraction for the woman whose very presence in
The Wife Swap Chapter 90: Under pressure
Andreas’s POVI felt my jaw clench involuntarily. “We’re on track,” I replied tersely, forcing the words through gritted teeth. I could feel Adam's eyes boring into me, waiting for a reaction, for some sign of weakness. But I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.“And how about preparations for the anniversary event?” Amarinth interjected, her voice sharp and filled with disdain. “With it already fast approaching, I would expect better from Ashton. Why hasn’t she begun preparations yet? Father practically insisted she be in charge this year.”My stomach sank, and I could feel the blood drain from my face. Amarinth’s words hung in the air like a noose tightening around my throat. I had been so focused on the mess with Ashton’s disappearance that I hadn’t considered how I would explain the situation to our father like I'd promised Ashley that I would. The gala was only days away, and I had no idea how to protect Ashley while also managing my family’s wrath if they found out about the swa
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