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Chapter 98: A delicate dance
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The Wife Swap Chapter 99: A truce
Ashley’s POVThe drive from the boutique to the restaurant was mercifully short, a blessing that spared us any further awkwardness. I focused on the city passing by, trying to ignore the tension radiating from the seat beside me.As we pulled into the restaurant's parking lot, Andreas turned off the engine and reached for a jacket hanging on the back seat. “Here,” he said, sliding it on over my shoulders. “It might get chilly on the rooftop.”I blinked in surprise, instinctively wrapping the fabric tighter around myself. “Thanks,” I mumbled, surprised by how comforting the gesture felt, despite the unresolved strain between us.We stepped out of the car, and I followed him to the entrance, my heart racing as I took in the atmosphere. As we walked through the dimly lit lobby, I could feel a faint chill in the air, a reminder that autumn was creeping in.When we reached the rooftop, the view of the city was breathtaking. The skyline sparkled against the twilight, and I couldn’t help but
The Wife Swap Chapter 100: A step closer
Ashley’s POVAs we finished our meal, a comfortable silence settled around us, and I found myself grateful for this moment—one where we weren’t arguing or avoiding each other. But deep down, the reality loomed like a shadow. I had feelings for him that wouldn’t just vanish with a friendly dinner and a few kind words.The waiter cleared our plates, and I glanced at Andreas again, trying to memorize the contours of his face—the way his smile tugged at the corners of his lips, the warmth radiating from him. I wanted to savor this moment for as long as I could, knowing that the night would eventually come to an end and that if all things worked out, I would probably never have the opportunity to sit in front of him like this again.The drive back to the house felt like a blur. City lights streamed by outside the window, but my thoughts consumed me. I replayed our conversations, searching for meaning in every word he had said.When we arrived, I stepped out of the car, my heart racing slig
The Wife Swap Chapter 101:Goodnight
As we stepped out of the studio and back into the bedroom, I stole a glance at Andreas, my heart still racing from both our conversation and the portrait he’d painted of me.Why had he confided in me tonight? Not that I minded—if anything, I hated that knowing more about him now only made it harder to convince myself that moving on was the right thing to do. And then there was the painting. What had gone through his mind when he created that? His gestures told me one thing, while his words had been painfully clear.The silence between us felt different now, layered with a meaning I wasn’t sure how to navigate.“Um, is everything set for tomorrow?” I asked, breaking the quiet as we entered the living room. I tried to sound casual, but even I could hear the strain in my voice.Andreas shrugged, his tone light. “I hope so. I know I’ve said this already, but thank you for agreeing to come tomorrow, even if it means pretending for one more night.”“One more night.” The words tasted bitter
The Wife Swap Chapter 102: Friends?
Andreas’s POVI blinked, shocked at myself as Ashley and I stepped out of the studio and back into my bedroom. I hadn’t planned on mentioning my mother tonight, or ever. The truth was, growing up, her name was hardly ever spoken. It was as though she had never existed, my father’s way of trying to take for cheating on his first wife and forcing her to accept his son out of wedlock. I had been the only proof she ever lived, and even that felt like a burden. Being alive felt like a burden. Yet here he was, telling Ashley what I regarded as my biggest shame.I’d thought it would be hard to speak of her after all these years, but it wasn’t—not with Ashley. It was as if saying the words released a weight I hadn’t realized that I'd been carrying. I was relieved, unexpectedly so, and I understood why. It was because it was Ashley. Somehow, telling her felt right.“Is everything set for tomorrow?” Ashley asked, breaking the silence.Her question pulled me from my thoughts, but I could still f
The Wife Swap Chapter 103: Tomorrow
Andreas’s POVThe truth was, I didn’t know how much I’d be able to tell my father. This whole situation had spiraled so far beyond what I’d ever anticipated. I was prepared to face the consequences, but I wasn’t ready to drag Ashley into it any deeper than she already was. She’d done enough. More than enough.The silence stretched between us again, heavy and uncomfortable. I could feel her eyes on me, studying me, but I didn’t look up. I wasn’t sure I could handle what I might see in her eyes right now.Then she spoke again, her voice soft, almost tentative. “You know, my childhood wasn’t perfect either. I’ve always felt like I was living in someone else’s shadow.”I glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. She didn’t talk about her past much, not like this. For a moment, I forgot about the weight pressing down on my chest, forgot about everything else except the raw honesty in her words.“What do you mean?” I asked, my curiosity piqued despite myself.“Ashton and I
The Wife Swap Chapter 104: Another layer
Ashley’s POVI had spent most of the night tossing and turning on the bed, the sheets twisted around me like the chaos swirling in my mind. I should be excited that after the gala, I would finally leave this world my sister had dragged me into, a world she had abandoned me in, stolen by an unfortunate accident. But instead, I felt hollow, like a shell of the person I once was. The thought of the gala loomed over me like a dark cloud, not just because of the pretenses I had to uphold but because of what it truly represented—the finality of it all.Once the charade was over, it would be like a stamp sealing the truth: Ashton was dead. No more pretending to be someone I wasn’t, and that also meant no Andreas. With no feedback yet from the airport regarding the possibility of remains found, I was left hanging, wondering if I might have to bury her without even a body to mourn over.Would the Thornes care about any of that? Would they even mourn my sister? I felt a knot tightening in my st
The Wife Swap Chapter 105: The final act
Ashley’s POVThe rest of the salon visit went by in a blur. Faye’s words about Ashton’s mysterious fear kept replaying in my mind, like a warning bell I couldn’t silence. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if I should have been paying closer attention to any clues, the fragments of Ashton’s life that I had been so quick to dismiss. The problem was that I didn’t even know enough to have anything to work with. Who was it that Ashton was so afraid of? Could it be Thomas? Or was there someone else lurking in the shadows? Could that be why she was going on that trip? When we finished up, Faye and I parted ways, but not before she gave me one more reassuring smile, as if to tell me everything would be alright. I tried to mirror her optimism, but it felt like a mask that didn’t quite fit.Adam was waiting outside the salon, his face as impassive as ever, but something about the way his eyes lingered on me for a moment too long made me wonder if he could sense my unease.I cli
The Wife Swap Chapter 106: Heightened emotions
Ashley’s POVThe arrival of the make-up artist had been a welcome distraction, giving me a brief break from the different thoughts spinning around in my mind since Faye’s unsettling revelation. My interaction with her had left me reeling—who was this person Ashton had feared so much? The truth felt like a heavy stone lodged in my chest, one I couldn’t shake loose, no matter how hard I tried. But now, with the lady here to help me prepare for the gala, I allowed myself to focus on something else, even if just for a few minutes.As I stepped out of the bathroom, my hair damp from the shower and a plush white robe wrapped around me and sat in front of the mirror, I heard a soft knock at the door. My heart skipped a beat—was this the final interruption before the evening truly began? The makeup artist, a cheerful woman with warm eyes and an air of professionalism, quickly set down her brushes.“I’ll get it,” she said, her voice light and eager to help. “You just relax.”There was something
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