Identical twins. One outrageous lie. A deadly game. Ashley Grey has always lived in the shadow of her adventurous twin, Ashton. But when Ashton convinces Ashley to masquerade as her for a weekend with her husband's icy family, a harmless prank turns into a nightmare. Ashton vanishes, leaving Ashley trapped with a man who seems to despise her. As Ashley struggles to deal with the news about her sister's disappearance, a chilling truth emerges – Ashton's marriage was a web of deception, and Ashley may have inherited more than just her sister's marriage problems. Now, a mysterious stalker threatens to expose Ashley's secret, and the only person she can trust is the very man that doesn't trust her. Can Ashley solve the mystery and unmask her stalker before they strike, or will she become the next victim of a twisted game?
View MoreAshley’s POV
"Oh, you are so lucky that you have an identical twin. What's it like?" The question, a tired chorus, rolled off the tongue of the woman sitting in the booth next to me at the coffee shop.
If I had a dollar for every time I was asked this question, I could probably fulfill my deepest dream–to leave this bustling town and move to another continent where I would own a nice little cottage nestled amongst rolling hills in New Zealand. There, amid the quiet solitude, I could escape the constant comparisons, the expectations, and most importantly, the feeling of being perpetually overshadowed by my twin, Ashton Grey.
When we were little, being Ashton's twin held a certain playful charm. We were masters of disguise, able to swap places seamlessly, driving our parents to the brink of exasperation with our elaborate pranks. Back then, our differences were subtle – mere nuances in personality that manifested in our clothing choices (I, a sucker for mismatched socks and oversized sweaters, Ashton, a vision of coordinated outfits and effortless style).
But as we entered the horror that was high school, the gap between us widened to the point that it was almost like we had not shared the same bedroom for years growing up or swapped outfits. I, Ashley, retreated into the comforting embrace of books and solitude, finding solace in fantastical worlds and the comfort of my few friends. Ashton, on the other hand, blossomed. Dying her wild brown hair a shocking red, the long waves cascading down her back, and an infectious laugh that could turn a frown upside down, she became the life of the party, the girl every boy wanted to be with and every girl aspired to be.
My existence became an afterthought, a mere footnote in Ashton's story. The taunts started – "Ashton's boring twin," "The shadow." I was the invisible girl, the unassuming bystander in a life that, by birthright, felt like it should have been mine too, a life that I wanted no part of. So, while others romanticized the idea of having an identical twin, I yearned for a life where I wasn't constantly measured against Ashton, a life where I could finally emerge from her shadow and embrace who I truly was.
Raising my head to ask the woman how she'd known I was an identical twin, the words died in my throat as the cafe door chimed, announcing a new arrival. My breath hitched. It was Ashton. But there was something different about her. Her fiery red hair, usually the envy of every woman in the room, was gone, replaced by its natural shade of warm brown, the same color as mine. More surprising than the hair color change was the fact that Ashton had not sent for me like she always did whenever she wanted to see me but had chosen to come find me from New York without calling ahead too. Had she…missed me? The thought sent a pang of warmth through my chest, quickly extinguished by a flicker of apprehension. No, my sister would not have come here just because she missed me.
Ashton scanned the room, a confident smile blooming on her face as her eyes landed on me. That smile – it was as familiar as my own reflection, yet somehow different. Maybe it was the absence of her usual carefree swagger, replaced by a subtle tension in her shoulders.
She weaved through the tables, her gaze lingering on the woman next to me for a beat before settling on me. My stomach tightened with each step that she took towards me. Ashton rarely frequented Vermont, preferring the trendy hotspots buzzing with activity in New York, and on more than one occasion had tried to ‘rescue’ me from a life of boredom in what she called a ghost’s state. So why was she here now?
As she neared, I couldn't help but notice a glint of gold on her ring finger. My heart skipped a beat. It was a new ring, a dazzling diamond piece that sparkled under the cafe lights. A wave of memories washed over me, vivid and unsettling. Six months ago, Ashton had met, fallen for, and married a billionaire named Andreas Thorne in a whirlwind romance that had left me and the rest of our extended family baffled. To me, it was just another one of her impulsive decisions, an experience that left me, the cautious romantic twin who wanted nothing more than to find love, knocked over and strangely envious.
The last time I'd seen a glimpse of the Ashton from our childhood before she became this glamorous, confident woman, was at our parents' funeral. Even Ashton, who usually prided herself on being the elder twin by a cool five minutes, had reached for my hand that day, her eyes red-rimmed and voice trembling as she apologized for not knowing what to do. At that moment, beneath the weight of grief, there was a vulnerability in her, a flicker of the little girl who used to love getting lost in fantastical stories with me.
But that vulnerability had vanished as quickly as it appeared. Ashton, ever the social butterfly, had soon been swept up in a crowd of condolences and well-wishers, leaving me alone with my grief.
"Hey, Ash!" Ashton greeted me, her voice a touch too bright.
"Ashton," I echoed, unsure of what else to say. The woman next to me, oblivious to the silent exchange between twins, beamed.
"See, I told you!" she exclaimed to one of the waiters, gesturing excitedly between us. "Identical twins! That's so cool!"
Ashton forced a smile, her usual vibrant energy dimmed. "Uh, yeah," she mumbled, glancing around the cafe again.
The air crackled with unspoken tension. Clearly, Ashton had something on her mind, something that had brought her to my quiet corner of the world. But what was it? And why the sudden change in physical appearance? A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. This wasn't just a casual visit. Ashton needed something, and I had a feeling my life was about to take a dramatic and unexpected turn.
Ashley’s POV“Thank you,” I managed, taking the bouquet from Andreas, my fingers trembling slightly. “You… you came.”He chuckled softly, nodding. “Wouldn’t miss it. I’m proud of you, Ashley. You’re amazing. The book…it’s incredible.” He paused, and the warmth in his eyes made my heart race. “I’ve already read it, by the way,” he added, a hint of teasing in his tone. “I couldn’t put it down.”A small, awkward laugh escaped my lips, a nervous sound. “You read it?” I asked, almost incredulous. “All of it?”He nodded, his gaze unwavering. “Every word. You have a real talent, Ashley. I’m not just saying that because of…well, because of us.” He gave a small smile, almost sheepish, and I swallowed, fighting the urge to reach out and kiss him. “You’ve always had it in you. I’m just glad the world gets to know the face behind the work.”I felt a warmth in my chest, the kind that had been absent for so long. I opened my mouth to thank him and paused, wondering if he’d leave after I responded a
Ashley’s POVThe book launch venue was everything I’d hoped it would be—a cozy, intimate setting with an air of understated elegance. The soft glow of chandeliers reflected off the polished wood floors, and the tables were lined with white tablecloths, their centerpieces adorned with my favorite flowers. It was the kind of place that felt warm and welcoming, just like the people who had supported me along the way. As I stood outside for a moment, taking in the sight of it all, a nervous flutter took over my stomach. The event was finally happening. This was real. I rushed to the back entrance, slightly out of breath as I adjusted my dress. It was simple but elegant, a soft blue outfit that felt just right for the occasion. I had done everything to plan, but of course, I was running behind. The chaos of getting ready and the last-minute checks on everything had left me feeling a bit frazzled, but beneath the nerves, there was a sense of excitement I couldn’t ignore. This moment was f
Ashley’s POVA Year LaterThe air was crisp, but the sun cast a warm, golden glow over the gravesite. I sat on the bench near Ashton’s tombstone, the scent of fresh flowers mixing with the earthy smell of the cemetery. In my hands, I held a bouquet of bright flowers and a box of cookies—the kind we used to love as kids.I arranged them carefully at the base of the stone, each movement slow, deliberate. I knew Ashton wasn’t really here, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was still with me—somewhere, somehow. Sometimes, I liked to think she could hear me, or at least, feel my presence. So, I began speaking aloud, as if she were sitting right beside me, just like when we were younger, chatting about everything and nothing at all.“It’s been an eventful year, Ash,” I murmured, feeling the weight of the words as I spoke them. “I guess you know that already, but I still need to say it. I’ve been doing a lot of things I never thought I’d do.”I paused, looking out at the rows of grave
Ashley’s POVI swallowed hard, my throat tightening. The words felt like a punch in the gut, but in a way, they were also the relief I hadn’t known I was waiting for. My sister, my twin, had always been larger than life. She had overshadowed me in everything—her beauty, her confidence, her charisma. It wasn’t always intentional. She hadn’t known the effect she had on me, the way I always felt like I was just trying to catch up, just trying to exist beside her.“I’m sorry for all the times I overshadowed you, even without meaning to. You were always the best part of me.”The words blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I had needed to hear them. I had spent so much of my life feeling like an afterthought, living in the space that Ashton’s brilliance had left behind. But now, as I read those words, I allowed myself to believe them—for the first time in my life.“I hope you can forgive me for all the times I wasn’t there, for all the mess I le
Ashley’s POVThe room was quiet, save for the hum of the heater, a soft background noise that reminded me that I was no longer at the mansion. I sat at the small desk in the corner of my now shared apartment with Liv, staring at the blank page of my journal. The pen in my hand felt foreign, like I was holding someone else’s tool, meant for someone else’s purpose.It had been weeks since I left Andreas, though it still felt like I was living in the aftermath of that decision. The pain was still there, a constant presence in the pit of my stomach, but there was something else, too—a strange, bittersweet peace. I was no longer just pretending. I wasn’t living in the shadow of Ashton’s life, her successes, her untimely death. I was just... me.I shifted in the chair, pulling my knees up to my chest as I let my gaze drift out the window. The lights of the city twinkled below, but the sky above was dark, as though it mirrored the way I still felt inside. Despite the nights I cried myself to
Andreas’s POVMoving to the bedroom, I laid on Ashley’s side, feeling the coldness of the sheets where her warmth had once been. Without her, it felt wrong, everything felt wrong. But I couldn’t change it. Not yet, at least. She had made her choice, and I had to respect that.I had to admit it, even to myself: I didn’t think I could live without her. But as much as I ached for her, chasing after her now would only drive her further away. She needed time, space to figure herself out, and I wasn’t about to make her feel cornered. I wasn’t about to be the one who trapped her. She had already sacrificed so much for me, for Ashton. If I was going to love her the way she deserved, I had to let her go.I knew that she didn’t ask me to wait. She hadn’t asked me to do anything, really, except to give her what she needed. But in my heart, I couldn’t shake the resolve that I would wait for her. Time would pass, and maybe she’d find her way back to me. Or maybe she wouldn’t. But no matter what, I
Andreas’s POVThe glass of whiskey sat in front of me, untouched, and I stared at it without really seeing it, my mind preoccupied with the words Ashley had left me with, the ones that echoed in my head like an unwanted refrain. “You deserve someone who fits seamlessly into your life, not someone who makes you choose.”For the first time, I questioned everything I had built. I had spent years constructing a life that was logical, pragmatic—a life that adhered to the rules of the world I was born into. A life where love was a luxury, something I could never afford. I married Ashton, not out of love, but because it was expected of me and I had wanted someone who wouldn’t be my father’s pawn. The contract was simple, clean, and it served its purpose. I chose the company over everything else, convincing myself that reputation, power, and control were all that mattered. I never allowed myself to truly love, not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t. My heart, damaged by a condit
Ashley’s POVI took a deep breath and sat down beside Andreas, feeling the coolness of the leather against my skin, the space between us growing more fragile with every passing second.“I don’t know where to start,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I love you, Andreas. I’ve loved you for so long now, even when I didn’t know how to admit it, even when I didn’t know how to let myself feel it.”He was silent, his dark eyes fixed on me, watching me with a mixture of concern and understanding. He wasn’t interrupting, waiting patiently as I tried to find the right words. His presence was warm, comforting even, but it only made this harder.“I didn’t know what I was getting into when I agreed to the swap but meeting you has been one of the most rewarding moments of my existence,” I continued, the tears that had been threatening to spill finally falling freely. “You’ve shown me love, patience, and given me the strength to face so many things, things I didn’t even realize I needed to face. You’
Ashley’s POVThe day of Ashton’s burial was a blur of emotions. Grief, yes—I had expected that. But there was also relief, anger, hope, and a strange sense of peace that I couldn’t quite place.The small ceremony was held in a quiet corner of the Thorne estate, under a canopy of trees that Ashton would’ve loved. The turnout was larger than I’d anticipated. It wasn’t just family, though the Thorne family was represented in some way, with Andreas and Annabelle by my side. Workers from the gallery had come too, some of them tearfully recalling stories of Ashton’s quick wit and unmatched dedication to her work. Liv had been by my side the entire time and Faye had managed to track down a few close friends, and seeing their faces filled me with gratitude.Of course, Adam and Amarinth were nowhere to be seen. I hadn’t expected them to come, nor did I want them there. Thomas was absent too, but Sansa had made an appearance. I couldn’t help but notice how much lighter she seemed, almost radian
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