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Chapter 181: The grip of jealousy
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2024-11-21 23:19:46
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The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 182: Are you the stalker?
Ashleyโs POVThomasโs uneven steps echoed in the dimly lit hall, each staggered footfall sending a spike of unease through me. The corridor felt endless now, the way back to the main hall a distant memory as I found myself moving backward, instinctively trying to put as much space between us as I could. His eyes, glassy and unfocused, locked onto mine, and despite the alcohol clearly dulling his senses, there was a sharpness thereโa raw, almost desperate intensity that sent chills down my spine.I tried to step past him, angling my body to slip by, but his arm shot out, blocking my path. I flinched, swallowing hard as he leaned closer. โWait,โ he slurred, his voice a mix of frustration and pleading. โJustโjust wait a second, will you? I need to talk to you.โI forced a calm expression, even as my heart raced. โThomas, youโre drunk. This isnโt the time or placeโโโTime or place?โ he repeated bitterly, a mirthless laugh escaping his lips. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, gripping t
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 183: A mask of fury
Ashleyโs POVI studied his face, searching for any sign of deceit, but all I saw was a deep, raw hurt. โIโve been receiving giftsโtickets, books, notes. Things that seem...off. Unsettling. I thought maybe it was you, trying to get my attention.โHis expression darkened, the hurt in his eyes replaced by a flare of indignation. โYou think Iโd do something like that?โ He sounded wounded, his voice rising with a mixture of disbelief and anger. โI may be a lot of things, Ashton, but Iโm not a stalker. If I wanted to talk to you, Iโd talk to you. I wouldnโt hide behind creepy gifts.โI hesitated, taken aback by the vehemence in his response. He was clearly offended by the accusation, and for a brief moment, I almost believed him. โIโm sorry,โ I said softly, trying to placate him. โI just needed to know.โHe shook his head, the anger slowly fading, replaced once more by that look of deep, aching sadness. โNo,โ he muttered, more to himself than to me. โI didnโt send you anything because I fig
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 184: More than anyone
Andreasโs POVI stood in the corner of the ballroom, my gaze fixed on Ashley as she laughed at something Kennedy said, and my fists clenched and unclenched at my sides as I debated whether I should go back to her. Just as I took a step forward, a familiar figure moved into my line of sight.Sydney.She returned from the bar where sheโd gone to get us drinks with the confidence of someone who knew she wouldnโt be turned away, her smile wide but with a sharp edge I recognized too well. The gleam in her eyes hadnโt changed; it was that same calculating look she always had when she wanted something from me. I felt a flicker of irritation, but I kept my face neutral as she closed the distance between us, handing me a glass as she clinked hers against mine."Andreas," she said, her voice a smooth, practiced purr. "Itโs been too long since weโve really talked."I gave her a curt nod, forcing a polite smile. "I didnโt expect to see you tonight." It was true; I hadnโt seen her name on the gues
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 185: Seeds of Doubt
Andreasโs POVSydneyโs eyes widened, the realization hitting her like a physical blow. Her lips parted, but no words came out. For once, she seemed genuinely at a loss. Her face crumpled, a look of disbelief mingling with the betrayal. "Iโm glad that youโve finally got that figured out."The anguish in her voice was palpable, and for a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. Not for loving Ashley, but for the hope I had let Sydney hold on to for far too long. It was my fault as much as hers. I had never given her a definitive answer, never shut the door completely. I had let her linger in the hope of something that was never going to happen."Yes," I said finally, the word heavy with finality. "Itโs her."My eyes drifted back to Ashley, unable to resist the pull she had on me, like a magnet I couldnโt fight. I watched her across the ballroom, her smile polite as she spoke with Kennedy. There was a comfort between them that I couldnโt ignore, an ease in their conversation that set my teeth on
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 186: You donโt trust me
Ashleyโs POVThe initial wave of relief I felt upon seeing Andreas quickly dissolved into a cold, creeping terror as he and Thomas clashed. It happened so fast that I barely had time to react. One moment, Thomas was standing too close, his drunken smirk making my skin crawl; the next, Andreas was there, shoving him hard against the wall. I could hear the sickening thud of Thomasโs back hitting the concrete, and the sheer force of it made me wince.Andreasโs face was a mask of pure, unrestrained fury. It was a side of him I had never seen, and it terrified me. He was always so composed, so in control, but now he looked like he was on the verge of losing it. His hand gripped Thomasโs collar, twisting the fabric as if he might tear it apart. โWhat the hell do you think youโre doing?โ he demanded, his voice low and deadly.Thomas, despite his disheveled state, let out a taunting laugh. He wasnโt scaredโif anything, he seemed to be enjoying the confrontation. His eyes, glassy from alcohol,
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 187: Broken Trust
Ashleyโs POVI swallowed hard, my throat aching with the effort to speak. โSydney,โ I said, the name bitter on my tongue. โItโs clear that thereโs something between you two. Perhaps because of the marriage contract, and I canโt blame you for that but are you and her stillโฆ?โโOf course not. I havenโt laid a finger on her since you entered the picture and I didnโt think to tell you because sheโs not been hovering around me, or trying to do what Thomas just did. I had no idea Thomas and Ashton were having an affair and the minute you realized, you should have told me, not entertain him because you feel guilty for your sisterโs actions, because thatโs what this is, isnโt it? Arenโt you tired of always cleaning up her messes?โHis words stung like Iโd been slapped and I took a step back, my eyes widening with anger. โYou donโt get to talk to me like that, Andreas. You donโt know shit about whatโs been happening.โ"Thereโs more? What else are you hiding, Ashley?" he snapped, his voice roug
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 188: The shocking return
Andreasโs POVI watched Ashleyโs figure disappear into the night, my heart tightening in my chest with each step she took away from me. The argument played over and over in my mind, every word Iโd said echoing in my head, and a sinking feeling started to settle in my stomach. What had I done? How could I have let jealousy overtake me like that? Iโd pushed her away, said things I never meant, all because I couldnโt stand the thought of losing her to someone else.I wanted to run after her, apologize, but something inside me stopped me. The pounding in my chest was growing worse, too heavy, too familiar. A cold, sharp pain flared through me, a reminder of my deteriorating heart condition Iโd been ignoring for too long. Iโd been so worked up about her keeping secrets from me when I was nothing but a hypocrite who hadnโt even told her how badly my condition had gotten and that the doctor wanted me to do surgery as soon as possible.Shaking my head, I pushed the thought aside, focusing ins
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 189: Iโm alive
Ashtonโs POVWell, now that itโs all out of the bag, itโs safe to say that Iโm alive. I never died. Faking my death was never something I expected to actually do, despite how many times Iโd toyed with the idea.I always admired people who could pull off something like that. I used to watch those movies, the ones where someone just disappears, and Iโd think, What would it be like? To just walk away, start fresh, without the weight of your past chasing you. I remember watching Gone GirlโI loved it, actually. Iโd play it over and over, fascinated by how someone could manipulate everyone around them, even their own fate. I never imagined Iโd end up doing it. But thatโs what I did, isnโt it? I faked it. I left everything, including myself, behind.But hereโs the thingโIโm not dead. Not physically, at least. But I might as well be. I let everyone believe I was. I wanted to vanish. I wanted to escape the mess Iโd created. I thought if I could just disappear, the chaos would stop. I thought i
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๋ฐ์ดํธ : 2024-11-22
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The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 241: A new beginning
Ashleyโs POVโThank you,โ I managed, taking the bouquet from Andreas, my fingers trembling slightly. โYouโฆ you came.โHe chuckled softly, nodding. โWouldnโt miss it. Iโm proud of you, Ashley. Youโre amazing. The bookโฆitโs incredible.โ He paused, and the warmth in his eyes made my heart race. โIโve already read it, by the way,โ he added, a hint of teasing in his tone. โI couldnโt put it down.โA small, awkward laugh escaped my lips, a nervous sound. โYou read it?โ I asked, almost incredulous. โAll of it?โHe nodded, his gaze unwavering. โEvery word. You have a real talent, Ashley. Iโm not just saying that because ofโฆwell, because of us.โ He gave a small smile, almost sheepish, and I swallowed, fighting the urge to reach out and kiss him. โYouโve always had it in you. Iโm just glad the world gets to know the face behind the work.โI 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 heโd leave after I responded a
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 240: A heartfelt reunion
Ashleyโs POVThe book launch venue was everything Iโd hoped it would beโa 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 couldnโt ignore. This moment was f
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 239: An eventful year
Ashleyโs POVA Year LaterThe air was crisp, but the sun cast a warm, golden glow over the gravesite. I sat on the bench near Ashtonโs 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 cookiesโthe kind we used to love as kids.I arranged them carefully at the base of the stone, each movement slow, deliberate. I knew Ashton wasnโt really here, but I couldnโt shake the feeling that she was still with meโsomewhere, 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.โItโs been an eventful year, Ash,โ I murmured, feeling the weight of the words as I spoke them. โI guess you know that already, but I still need to say it. Iโve been doing a lot of things I never thought Iโd do.โI paused, looking out at the rows of grave
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 238: Starting again
Ashleyโs 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 hadnโt known I was waiting for. My sister, my twin, had always been larger than life. She had overshadowed me in everythingโher beauty, her confidence, her charisma. It wasnโt always intentional. She hadnโt 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.โIโm sorry for all the times I overshadowed you, even without meaning to. You were always the best part of me.โThe words blurred as tears welled up in my eyes. I hadnโt 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 Ashtonโs brilliance had left behind. But now, as I read those words, I allowed myself to believe themโfor the first time in my life.โI hope you can forgive me for all the times I wasnโt there, for all the mess I le
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 237: Rediscovery
Ashleyโs 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 elseโs tool, meant for someone elseโs 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, tooโa strange, bittersweet peace. I was no longer just pretending. I wasnโt living in the shadow of Ashtonโs 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
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 236: Letting Go
Andreasโs POVMoving to the bedroom, I laid on Ashleyโs side, feeling the coldness of the sheets where her warmth had once been. Without her, it felt wrong, everything felt wrong. But I couldnโt 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 didnโt 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 wasnโt about to make her feel cornered. I wasnโt 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 didnโt ask me to wait. She hadnโt asked me to do anything, really, except to give her what she needed. But in my heart, I couldnโt shake the resolve that I would wait for her. Time would pass, and maybe sheโd find her way back to me. Or maybe she wouldnโt. But no matter what, I
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 235: Deafening emptiness
Andreasโs 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. โYou deserve someone who fits seamlessly into your life, not someone who makes you choose.โFor the first time, I questioned everything I had built. I had spent years constructing a life that was logical, pragmaticโa 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 wouldnโt be my fatherโs 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 didnโt want to, but because I couldnโt. My heart, damaged by a condit
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 234: A love let go
Ashleyโs 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.โI donโt know where to start,โ I whispered, my voice shaking. โI love you, Andreas. Iโve loved you for so long now, even when I didnโt know how to admit it, even when I didnโt know how to let myself feel it.โHe was silent, his dark eyes fixed on me, watching me with a mixture of concern and understanding. He wasnโt interrupting, waiting patiently as I tried to find the right words. His presence was warm, comforting even, but it only made this harder.โI didnโt 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,โ I continued, the tears that had been threatening to spill finally falling freely. โYouโve shown me love, patience, and given me the strength to face so many things, things I didnโt even realize I needed to face. Youโ
The Wife Swapย ย ย Chapter 233: Saying goodbye
Ashleyโs POVThe day of Ashtonโs burial was a blur of emotions. Grief, yesโI had expected that. But there was also relief, anger, hope, and a strange sense of peace that I couldnโt quite place.The small ceremony was held in a quiet corner of the Thorne estate, under a canopy of trees that Ashton wouldโve loved. The turnout was larger than Iโd anticipated. It wasnโt 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 Ashtonโs 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 hadnโt expected them to come, nor did I want them there. Thomas was absent too, but Sansa had made an appearance. I couldnโt help but notice how much lighter she seemed, almost radian
