Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Wife Swap: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Ashley’s POVI don’t remember falling asleep, but when I woke up, the sheets were twisted around me like a cage. For a split second, I expected Ashton to be there, sitting at the foot of the bed like she used to when we were kids and she wanted me up to participate in activities with her. But today, there was nothing—just silence. My heart sank, hollowness spreading through me. I had thought maybe she’d come to me again, like some sign that she was still out there, still fighting. But no dream, no Ashton. Just emptiness.The morning light filtered in through the curtains, but it didn’t feel like morning. It felt like I was stuck in some eternal twilight, where time had no meaning. My phone buzzed on the nightstand. Liv’s name lit up the screen.I had forgotten I’d texted her last night, after leaving for the airport. She must be worried. The ringing continued, a shrill reminder of how I wasn’t ready for the conversation that was waiting on the other end. Liv would ask questions, questi

Ashley’s POVI veered around to make my way out of the gym, my chest tight and my mind a chaotic mess. I didn’t know what just happened—what that moment with Andreas even meant—but the tension was suffocating. My hand was on the doorframe, ready to make a quick exit, when I felt it. A hand—Andreas’ hand—firmly gripping my arm.I gasped, the sound soft and almost startled as goosebumps shot up my arm. My body betrayed me, reacting to the warmth of his touch, and I froze in place, my heart pounding like it was trying to break free from my chest.Andreas didn’t say anything; he just held on to me, his grip steady, his eyes locked on mine. I realized he was still on the call, but that didn’t stop him. He shook his head slightly, a wordless signal telling me not to go.I swallowed hard, trying to process what was happening. My eyes flickered down to where his hand still held me, and the heat of his touch felt like it was searing through my skin. When I gave a small nod, he finally released

Ashley’s POVSitting across from Andreas in the crowded café, I had thought the chatter of strangers and the clinking of cups would diffuse some of the awkwardness that had lingered between us after the gym. But there we were, in a public space, and the tension hadn’t dissipated. If anything, it felt more pronounced, like an invisible cord stretched taut between us.I reached for the menu at the same time as Andreas, our hands brushing, and I jerked mine back as though his touch had burned me. A nervous chuckle escaped before I could stop it. "You can, um, order for us if you want," I said, trying to sound casual, but my voice came out thin, almost breathless. I quickly glanced around, hoping the room's noise would swallow up the weird energy buzzing between us.He didn’t meet my eyes, just nodded stiffly. "Sure," he murmured, barely looking at the menu as he gestured for the waiter.I bit my lip, feeling my cheeks flush for reasons I couldn’t explain. Maybe I was imagining this. Mayb

Ashley’s POV“I can’t do this anymore,” I said, my voice barely a whisper, but the weight of it echoed in the room. “I can’t keep pretending to be Ashton.”Andreas turned his head toward me, his brow furrowing in response, but he didn’t say anything. The silence between us felt charged, as if both of us were waiting for the other to make the next move.I swallowed hard, trying to find the words. “You don’t have to be the one to deal with the fallout, Andreas. I’ll tell your family. I’ll tell them everything—about the swap, about Ashton disappearing. They don’t have to know that you found out eventually and tried to cover it up. I’ll take all the blame. That way, you can—”“No.” Andreas cut me off, his voice quiet but firm. He shook his head, his eyes narrowing as if he was trying to work through the situation in his mind. “Even if you do that, it won’t matter.”I blinked at him, confused. “What do you mean? It’ll be easier for you if they think I was the one who orchestrated all of th

Andreas’ POVAs I pulled up to the restaurant where Ashley had asked me to drop her off to meet up with her friend Liv, the glow of the entrance sign flickered, mirroring my restless thoughts. I glanced at Ashley, her expression a mix of determination and uncertainty as she gathered her things. Part of me wanted to reach out and reassure her that everything was going to be okay, but even I knew that it was a lie. Nothing was okay. Her sister was most likely gone, and I was grasping at straws by trying to private investigator. Worse, I couldn’t shake the memory of Jake’s unexpected appearance and the way my jaw had tightened in response. The way Jake had approached her—so familiar, so casual—had ignited something primal within me. Jealousy. It was a feeling I hadn’t expected to surface, especially given the nature of our situation. Why had I reacted so strongly? Why had it bothered me so much when I thought the guy was Ashley’s ex-boyfriend?What was wrong with me?“Be careful,” I said,