Ashley’s POV“Wow,” was the first thing Liv said as she walked through the front door into the mansion. The word dripped with awe, and I understood her reaction completely. Every day in this house felt like stepping into a fairy tale and a nightmare simultaneously.“Right?” I responded, forcing a smile as I closed the door behind us. “It’s a lot to take in.”Liv’s eyes roamed the grand foyer, taking in the marble floors, the elaborate chandeliers, and the sweeping staircase that led up to the second floor. “This is incredible. Rich people know how to do things, don't they?”I nodded, but the excitement felt hollow. “Yeah, it’s...it’s something.” I paused, glancing toward the living room, then changed my mind. “Let’s go outside. We can sit in the garden.”Liv smiled, her enthusiasm contagious, and I felt a flicker of warmth. I led her through the house, past the living room where I’d had so many awkward moments with Andreas, and stepped outside into the expansive garden.The fragrant b
Ashley’s POVLiv stared at me, her mouth slightly agape. When she didn't say anything, I continued, “I know, it's a surprise to me too! I didn’t expect it either,” I confessed, my voice laced with anxiety. “I keep thinking it’s wrong, especially with everything that’s happened. But it’s there, and it’s complicated. I shouldn’t be feeling this way at all.”Liv took a moment to process this revelation, her expression shifting from surprise to concern. “I mean, I suspected something was off between you two. You’ve been...different, but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. But now? It makes sense.”“Does it?” I asked, my heart sinking. “Because it feels like a betrayal to Ashton. I should be grieving her, not developing feelings for her husband, no matter if they weren't really together or anything.” I looked around, my voice dropping to a whisper.Liv leaned closer, her voice softening. “Hey, you’re allowed to feel conflicted. Just because Ashton’s gone doesn’t mean you have to shut d
Ashley’s POV“Yes, he seemed quite eager to talk,” Sandra continued, her voice steady and reassuring. “Since he couldn’t get through, I explained to him that you’d lost your phone and had to change your number. I gave him your new number so he could reach out to you directly. I hope that’s all right?”I hesitated for a moment, feeling a mix of gratitude and concern. “Um, yeah, that’s fine. I appreciate you handling that for me, but what did he want?”Sandra paused, as if contemplating her response. “He didn’t go into specifics while he was here, but he did seem curious about some of the upcoming exhibitions we’re planning. I thought it might be related to his interests in the gallery. But honestly, he had this urgency about him, like he was looking for more than just a casual chat.”“Urgency?” I echoed, feeling my heart race a little. “What do you mean?”“Oh, just the way he was asking about you and looking around the gallery. It felt a bit more personal than professional, if you know
Ashley’s POVThe air in the house had grown tense over the past few days, thick with unspoken words and lingering tension. I found myself avoiding Andreas at every opportunity, slipping into different rooms, burying myself in tasks, or simply finding excuses to stay out of sight. It felt easier that way, safer. After all, it was for the best, wasn’t it? Keeping my distance meant fewer chances for awkward encounters, fewer chances to get tangled up in whatever this mess between us had become.Last night, I’d been curled up in the living room, pretending to read, when Andreas walked in. I could feel him before I saw him, the air between us crackling with tension. He cleared his throat awkwardly, and I reluctantly looked up.“The gala’s tomorrow,” he said, his voice flat, though his eyes seemed to study my reaction. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”I hesitated, searching for the right words. A part of me wanted to stay hidden, to avoid the public eye and any further entanglem
Ashley’s POVI felt the weight of Thomas’s revelation settle heavily on my chest, the implications of Ashton’s activities suffocating me. My breaths quickened, and I glanced into my water glass, searching for answers in the rippling surface. How long had they been seeing each other? Out of all people, Ashton had chosen to be involved with her brother-in-law? I remembered how Thomas had looked at me every time we were in the same room and how I had always hoped I was mistaken—that I was being paranoid. How many more messes would I have to clean up before this charade was over?“Look, I just think it’s important for us to be honest with each other,” Thomas said, his matter-of-fact tone pulling me out of my thoughts. “I don’t want to end things between us before they’ve really begun.”I blinked at him, my thoughts racing at how he looked so relaxed by this. “You don’t feel sorry for Amarinth?” I blurted out, disbelief and frustration bubbling inside me. “We are both married!”A shadow cr
Ashley’s POVAs the car pulled away from the restaurant, I leaned my head back against the seat, closing my eyes for a moment to collect myself. The weight of the day pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. Thomas’s words, the confessions, the insinuations—it all stirred together, leaving me feeling utterly out of control.And then there was Ashton. My sister. My other half, or at least she used to be. I couldn’t wrap my head around it—her affair with Thomas, the secrets she had kept. How much more was I going to discover about her life? How had we become so distant that she’d hidden something this monumental from me?Growing up, Ashton had always been the daring one, the one who spoke her mind and pushed boundaries. I remembered us as kids, playing by the old oak tree in our backyard. Ashton had always been the leader, coming up with wild adventures and pulling me into her schemes. Even when I hesitated, worried about getting caught or breaking a rule, she’d flash that mischie
Ashley’s POVAs we stared at each other, the tension between Andreas and me grew heavier with each breath, suffocating—the kind of weight that wrapped around my chest and made it hard to breathe. I could feel him watching me out of the corner of my eye, and it sent a prickle of discomfort and anticipation across my skin.He finally broke the silence. “How did your appointment go?” His voice was casual, but an edge crept in, as if he was trying too hard to keep it neutral.I glanced at him, searching for any sign that he might know—any hint about Ashton’s affair with Thomas. But as usual, Andreas was unreadable. His expression was controlled, his gaze steady as he waited for my answer.Part of me wanted to ask outright. Did you know your wife was having an affair? But I swallowed the words back. Even if he knew, what would it change? Their marriage was nothing more than a contract—bound by obligation, not affection.As I opened my mouth to bring up the affair—about Ashton’s choices and
Ashley’s POVMy stomach twisted at his offer. It felt like a strange blend of necessity and forced interaction, the two of us trapped in this uncomfortable dynamic. “Are you sure you want to?” I asked cautiously, a part of me dreading the thought of being so close to him while we were still caught in this tension.“Why not?” he replied, his gaze unwavering as it met mine. The intensity in his eyes sent a shiver down my spine. “Let’s just get this over with.”I nodded, feeling the weight of his words settle between us, thickening the air. There was a strange formality to our interaction, a reminder that while we were physically present with each other, we were still worlds apart emotionally.As Andreas moved closer to assist with the dress, the heat radiating from him was a stark contrast to the coldness that had enveloped us for so long. His fingers brushed against the fabric as he adjusted the straps, and I had to fight the urge to lean away. This was supposed to be a simple task, ye