Ask Sandro to investigate
Marco’s POV
I knew this wouldn’t be easy for Ashlyn.
Just imagine your twin sister, the one you loved unconditionally, trusted with your life, the person who literally shared a womb with you, turns out to be the very reason behind your accident. The reason you lost your memories. The reason your parents died and the reason our entire marriage fell apart.
How do I tell her that without completely breaking her? How do I pull a truth from the wound of the past when that truth is as sharp and deep as betrayal itself?
Ashley knew their parents could have died because of what she did, and they did.
And still, she did it.
For what?
So Ashlyn could disappear… and she could take her place as my wife?
It wasn’t just a scheme. It was a masterfully crafted performance, an act wrapped in pity, drama, and lies.
Evil. Unforgivably evil.
There’s no word crueler, darker, more accurate than evil to describe her.
And the worst part? Almost everyone believed her.
Even me.
Every little detail of Ashlyn, from her gestures and tone to the way her smile curled shyly when she felt awkward and the softness in her voice when speaking to others, Ashley copied it all. And she did it perfectly.
It wasn’t a simple imitation.
She studied her. She planned this. She executed it flawlessly.
And she fooled us all.
Only now does everything make sense.
Ashley had always been around, hadn’t she? Always nearby, especially when it came to Ashlyn. Every occasion. Every small gathering at my in-laws’ house. She was always present. Always close. Even when my wife and I had to attend an event, she was always there.
“You two are inseparable again,” I once teased Ashlyn, stepping into the kitchen and seeing them chopping garlic together for adobo.
Ashlyn smiled at me. “Ashley’s fun to talk to. She always has a story.”
Ashley giggled. “And she’s the best listener. That’s why we click.”
I never paid her much attention. My eyes, my heart, were always on my wife.
I knew who Ashlyn was by the way she smiled at me, by the softness in her touch, the look in her eyes.
Ashley could never imitate that in front of her twin.
That’s why I had no problem telling them apart until Ashlyn lost her memory.
When she woke up, she couldn’t do the things only she did. And Ashley… she took full advantage of it. She mimicked everything, Ashlyn’s affection, her sweetness, the tenderness that my wife always showered me with.
And now I wonder…
Maybe even Ashlyn’s stories, those little moments she shared with me in bed, on the couch, during quiet mornings, were all part of Ashley’s weaponry.
She used them. Twisted them.
Turned memories into lies.
A deceptive ally disguised as a sister, infiltrating our lives.
There were so many things I should have done.
From the moment I first noticed something was off with the woman I believed to be my wife, I should have walked away.
But what was I supposed to do?
I had no proof.
And if I had gone through with the annulment back then, Ashley might’ve just pulled the switch again. Who would’ve believed me?
“Fuck…” I muttered under my breath, clenching my fists so tightly my knuckles turned white.
“What a goddamn fool I’ve been.”
This wasn’t just deception.
It was a calculated invasion.
She’s a thief of identity, of love, of trust.
And now… she knows where we live.
“How did she find us? Was she following us all this time?”
This cannot happen again.
I will never let her hurt Ashlyn again.
“I won’t let her touch you,” I whispered, almost like a prayer, eyes fixed on a photo on my desk, Ashlyn with Maya and Asher. “No matter what it takes… no matter what I have to become… I will end this nightmare.”
And as for the accident… Ashley, you will pay for it.
I was in disbelief when Sandro showed me the documents. Investigative reports were conducted by his private investigator. All signs pointed to Ashley.
She orchestrated everything in collaboration with a man named Ismael Oregas, someone she had apparently turned to for help.
I never questioned the accident before. Someone had already taken the blame. There were findings, statements, and official results; everything seemed to support Ashley’s version of events.
Besides… I was too busy nursing her back to health. Thinking she was my wife.
But Sandro… he started to suspect something.
Ashlyn had confided in him, telling him how Ashley seemed to know certain things about their life. Their life that even Ashlyn herself still couldn’t remember.
Which meant…
Ashley might never have lost her memory. She might’ve planned everything from the start.
Ashlyn still gave her the benefit of the doubt. Of course she did; they’re twins. They share blood, a childhood, and a connection. But Sandro?
He wasn’t bound by family or sentiment. He had been quietly watching Ashley for a while, following his instincts. And now he was certain.
Then I grew impatient, waiting for the results of the background check I had asked Andy to handle. That contact might be outdated. Maybe it’s time to hand everything over to Sandro.
“Sir,” Andy interrupted, removing his glasses. “I think it’s better if we let Atty. Sandro handles this from here. If Ashley’s keeping tabs on you, she won’t suspect anything from him.”
I nodded, the unease in my chest heavy and sharp. Andy had just returned from an informal follow-up. Still nothing. No results. No timeline.
“Then call Sandro,” I ordered. “I need to speak to him. Don’t waste another second. Set the meeting. Tonight.”
“A secret meeting, sir?” he asked, unlocking his tablet.
“Yes. I want this completely off the record. And I don’t want Ashley finding out I talked to him.”
“Understood, sir. I’ll set something up. He knows a private lounge in Makati. Very discreet.”
“Good. And Andy…”
He turned back to me.
“Be careful. If my gut is right, Ashley is more dangerous than we ever imagined.”
He gave a slow, solemn nod. “I’ll take care of it, sir.”