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CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT: MY NEW BESTFRIEND.
Last Updated:
2025-02-20 22:35:00
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE: BLOODIED WHITE.
AVERY’S POV:Her words touched a nerve, and my chest grew tight as she repeated calling me mom—so naturally, as if the words had been waiting inside her all along, just waiting for the right moment to be spoken. I knelt beside her, helping distribute the small gifts I had picked out. Baron had taken me shopping without a single question, letting me pick whatever I thought Sea might need. He didn’t make me feel like a prisoner, didn’t hover over my every move like the others. With him, I had a sliver of freedom, something I hadn’t had in years. It was strange—liberating, yet unsettling, like I had forgotten how to exist outside of someone else’s control. As we handed out the last of the gifts, Sea beamed up at me. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For what?” “For coming.” I brushed a strand of hair from her face. “Always.” Time slipped away as I observed Sea effortlessly connecting with the other children. Several parents approached me, beaming with admiration, and complimented m
Last Updated : 2025-02-20THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SIXTY: BEFORE THE BLOODIED WHITE.
AXEL’S POV:I had eyes and ears everywhere, so the moment I left that godforsaken pit of horror, I tracked Ryan down. We flew out immediately, landing on the outskirts of his location, though I knew full well that his attackers would’ve already been alerted to our arrival. They’d be watching, waiting. The sky was burning red from the fires, thick columns of smoke rolling toward the heavens like the battlefield itself was screaming. The stench of gunpowder clogged my throat, mixing with the iron tang of blood that had long since stopped fazing me. Bullets tore through the air, whizzing past with deadly precision, chipping the concrete walls of the fortified mansion ahead. Ryan crouched behind a wrecked car, his knuckles white around his rifle. His men—what was left of them—were taking cover behind whatever they could find: bodies, debris, smoldering remains of vehicles. The battlefield looked like a goddamn war zone. I stormed over, firing off a few rounds before ducking beside h
Last Updated : 2025-02-21THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE: BEGGING MY BIGGEST ENEMY.
AXEL’S POV:The battle was supposed to be over. For seven days, we had fought through hell, clearing every one of Bruno’s strongholds, cutting through his defenses like a relentless storm. We were exhausted—our clothes tattered, covered in soot, sweat, and the blood of men who hadn’t been fast enough to survive. Our bodies ached from sleepless nights and countless injuries, but there was relief in knowing it was done. Bruno was dead. His empire was dust. Or so we thought. Our sole means of escape, our ticket home, was now nothing more than twisted wreckage.I had no time for arguments. The ambush was perfectly timed. Whoever was left in Bruno’s command wasn’t just throwing bodies at us; they were executing a planned counterattack, waiting for the moment we dropped our guard. We were only four now—me, Ryan, Devon, and one other. Our clothes were shredded, burned in some places from close encounters with grenades. Blood had dried in patches on our skin, most of it not even ours.
Last Updated : 2025-02-21THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO: BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH.
AXEL’S POV:I felt myself slipping away, my grip on consciousness tenuous at best. The edges of my vision began to blur and darken, like ink spreading through water. A dull, throbbing pain still radiated from my shoulder, but it was no match for the crushing weight that threatened to flatten me. My skull felt like it was being squeezed in a vice, making it hard to think. Yet, despite the fog closing in, I could still hear everything around me – the distant voices, the rustling of clothes, the sound of my own ragged breathing. It was a strange, disjointed sensation, as if my body was shutting down, but my senses remained stubbornly alert.I expected her to hesitate. To freeze. Maybe even walk away and let me bleed out, considering everything I'd done to her. It would be a fitting end, wouldn't it? But Avery surprised me. She moved. Not with panic, not with fear, but with purpose and confidence. Then she screamed. "Help! Someone! We need help!""Fuck." I groaned. This was exactly wh
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AVERY'S POV:The silence in the medical room was oppressive, weighing heavily on my chest. My hands shook as I gazed at the two people I had just cared for. Axel sat slumped in a chair, his body a roadmap of old scars and fresh pain, his limbs splayed out. Ryan, on the other hand, seemed fragile, his skin pale and clammy under the harsh fluorescent lights. I felt a wave of nausea, smell of blood lingering mingling with the antiseptic scent of the medical supplies. My mind recoiled at the sight of their battered bodies. Had I really just thrown away my one chance at freedom? My pulse thundered in my ears as I pressed my hands against the counter, gripping the edge as if it could hold me together. This was it, wasn’t it? The moment I realized—no, admitted—that despite everything Axel had done to me, despite all the reasons I had to hate him, I couldn’t let him die. I was fighting to keep him alive for some reason.The irony burned, unforgiving. I'd spent every waking moment plann
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AXEL’S POV:I slowly woke from the haze of anesthesia, my mind foggy and heavy as if wading through thick molasses. The remnants of anesthesia clung to me, and my mind struggled to catch up with reality. In that blurred moment, I could barely distinguish shapes or sounds. But then, slowly, the world began to seep back in. I felt a warmth at my fingertips—a gentle, steady pressure that wasn't mine. I forced my eyes open, blinking away the fog, and, and the first sensation I registered was the gentle, warm pressure of a hand in mine. I blinked, struggling to focus on the shape beside me. Avery was there, her head resting against the back of a chair, her hand interlaced with mine. For a moment, the chaos of the night all faded into a hushed background. In that suspended moment, the chaos of the past few days melted away, replaced by an almost unbearable peace. I stared at Avery, taking in every detail: the gentle curve of her cheek, the quiet determination softened by exhaustion in her
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AXEL’S POV:“I created a diversion—it looks like a daylight robbery. Let the local police handle it so neither the FBI nor SWAT gets involved. They’ll have plenty of heat on them for a while.”I smirked and quickly replied, “Good. I’ll donate five million dollars to the district responsible.”A little extra grease had to be applied to keep the sheriff's department and detectives sufficiently distracted, fed with enough scandal to keep their eyes off our operations during the investigation. A carefully crafted scandal ensured they remained focused on the wrong trail, giving our operations room to breathe. With that settled, I walked over to Devon, gently tapping his shoulder. His eyes fluttered open, and I signaled him with a curt nod, silently urging him to keep his voice low—Avery and Ryan needed their rest.“Walk with me,” I muttered, leading him out of the room and quietly shutting the door behind us.We made our way down the corridor toward the second wing that led to my offic
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AXEL’S POV:"My name is Devon Lugi," he declared with an edge of vulnerability I hadn’t expected. He fixed his gaze on me as if daring me to question him further. "I served in the Army—part of Blackhawk Shadow, a covert unit trained in assassination and high-risk combat." His tone dropped, reverent and raw. "Before all that, I was just a kid from the slums. My mother was dying of a disease we couldn’t afford to treat. I remember that charity event you held in our broken-down neighborhood—you, dressed so casually, laughing with the kids and comforting the old. When you were about to leave, I ran to you, desperate. Security tried to stop me, but you—God, you stopped them. You scooped me up in your arms and asked why my eyes were red. I told you, 'Mummy is going to die. Please, save her.'" He paused, the memory clearly written in his eyes. "Without hesitation, you took me by the hand, walked me to my home, and saw the state of our living. You saw my mother, bedridden, clinging to life.
Last Updated : 2025-02-26
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-SIX: FILL ME IN.
AVERY’S POV:When I finally woke up, my body groaned in protest.Sleeping on the ottoman had twisted my spine like a corkscrew. I shifted and stretched, every joint aching as I planted my bare feet on the cold marble floor—only to feel a tight, stabbing pressure in my left leg.I looked down.It was swollen. Badly.Puffy from the ankle to the knee, tender and discolored in some spots. My stomach dropped.“I need to go to the hospital… or see Cedric,” I muttered.I peeled off the crumpled sleep clothes and changed into a flowing emerald gown that gathered around my legs and swept the floor. The fabric was light and loose—strategically chosen. No one would notice my limp, not right away.I paused at the closet door. My heart thudded against my ribs.Please don’t be outside. Please let him be gone.I unlocked it slowly, inching the door open. The room was still. Quiet.Axel wasn’t there.Relief flooded my chest like a tide.My eyes flicked to the clock on the nightstand.7:03 AM.A new d
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-FIVE: SILENT NIGHT.
AVERY’S POV:Sleep had finally wrapped its arms around me, heavy and dreamless. The sheets tangled around my legs, and the weight of exhaustion from the day made my body sink deeper into the mattress. For once, I wasn't overthinking. I wasn't haunted by what I had seen on that balcony or the blood Axel had ordered spilled.But suddenly—I couldn’t breathe.My throat clamped shut as if someone shoved cotton down my windpipe. I jerked, trying to swallow, but there was no space for air. Only panic.I coughed. Thrashed. My lungs screamed for oxygen as my eyes flew open.And that’s when I saw him.Axel.Hovering above me like a shadow, his hand wrapped tight around my neck. His grip was brutal—his thumb pressed into my windpipe, fingers digging into the sides of my throat like he meant to snap it clean off. His body pressed over mine, pinning me down, suffocating me."A—Axel," I choked out, barely a whisper.His eyes were hollow. Not just blank—hollow. Like something had scooped the soul ou
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AVERY’S POV:I rested for a while, my head spinning with thoughts I couldn’t pin down. Something about Axel felt... off. Distant. Like he’d taken three steps back from a war he was the one who started. This was his world—his creation. So why did it feel like he was trying to unmake it?With a long breath, I sat up and forced myself to move. Each step toward the bathroom made me wince—an intimate reminder that he'd been inside me not long ago. Whatever storm was brewing in his head, one thing hadn't changed: his need for control. For me.After washing up and pulling on a soft robe over a tank and shorts, I padded down the hallway. I needed to check on Sea. That girl was tougher than she had any right to be. Just like her father. Resilient. Quietly fierce.I nudged her door open and heard her soft, even breathing. She was fast asleep, arms flung wide over the blanket, mouth parted, utterly at peace.But when I reached to close the door, I realized I was gripping the knob too tightly.I
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-THREE: HUNGRY FOR MORE.
AXEL’S POV:“I would’ve followed you anywhere,” Avery whispered, her hands slipping around my neck, her body tightening beneath me. “I have died beside you, Axel. That should be enough proof.”I stilled inside her, the weight of her confession pressing down on my chest like a curse I couldn’t outrun.“Why now?” she asked, panting as she wrapped her arms tighter, pulling me toward her. “Why have this conversation now, Axel?”The urge to push myself all the way back in was infuriating, but I didn’t move an inch, savoring the way she begged with her eyes and her body.I tangled my hand in the back of her hair, holding her gaze. “Because it’s been eating at me.”Her eyes narrowed, suspicious. “What happened back there? Why did you miss the aim? One thing I know for certain—you’re a great shooter. If you wanted that man dead, he’d have dropped before I even arrived.”That was the thing. I was exceptional. Precise. Deadly.I slammed back inside her.“I don’t know,” I admitted, the words for
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-TWO: COUPLE'S TALK.
AXEL’S POV:As Baron left, the room finally settled into silence. I leaned back, the material creaking beneath me, shadows from the light stretching across the floor. My mind wandered—first to Sea, and how she’d surprised me. There was no tantrum, no cold stares. Just quiet acceptance. A daughter who’d been confused for years but chose love over resentment. She was more like Avery than I realized.Speaking of her—Avery sauntered into the living room like a flame in the dark, barefoot, legs bare, wrapped in a blood-red satin nightie that clung to her body like it had been painted on. Thin straps kissed her shoulders, the silk dipping low enough to tease the soft weight of her breasts. Every sway of her hips pulled me to her. Desire pooled low in my stomach, uncoiling like a fuse waiting to be lit.She walked over without a word and slipped onto my lap, her legs curling around me. Her lips found mine in a soft kiss.“Sea’s asleep,” she mumbled against my mouth.I wrapped an arm around
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-ONE: RED IS RADIANT.
AXEL’S POV:As Baron left, the room finally settled into silence. I leaned back, the material creaking beneath me, shadows from the light stretching across the floor. My mind wandered—first to Sea, and how she’d surprised me. There was no tantrum, no cold stares. Just quiet acceptance. A daughter who’d been confused for years but chose love over resentment. She was more like Avery than I realized.Speaking of her—Avery sauntered into the living room like a flame in the dark, barefoot, legs bare, wrapped in a blood-red satin nightie that clung to her body like it had been painted on. Thin straps kissed her shoulders, the silk dipping low enough to tease the soft weight of her breasts. Every sway of her hips pulled me to her. Desire pooled low in my stomach, uncoiling like a fuse waiting to be lit.She walked over without a word and slipped onto my lap, her legs curling around me. Her lips found mine in a soft kiss.“Sea’s asleep,” she mumbled against my mouth.I wrapped an arm around
THE WIFE YOU LEFT REMIND THEM WHO THE DON IS.
AXEL’S POV:Avery was bent over Sea, her brows tight with focus as she ran test after test to make sure our girl was okay. Her hands moved gently, like she was touching glass that might shatter. I stood close, arms crossed, jaw clenched, watching every emotion on Sea’s face.“Did anyone hurt you?” Avery asked softly, brushing a strand of hair from Sea’s forehead.“Did anyone ever touch you in a way you didn’t like?” I added, trying best to stay in control while waiting for her answer Sea looked up at us. Her eyes were bright but calm. She looked older than her years—seven years had done that.“No,” she said quietly. “Ryan never hurt me. He was always... kind. Protective. Present. He took care of me. Always made sure I had what I needed. He taught me things, helped me grow up. Like a father should.”I exchanged a glance with Avery. A bitter taste bloomed in the back of my throat.“And the marriage?” Avery asked gently. “Did he force you to marry that man?”Sea shook her head. “No. He
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-NINE: WHOLE AGAIN.
AVERY’S POV:All this time, Baron and the rest of the guards stood still—positioned with militant stillness, their eyes never drifting from Axel and Ryan. They weren’t statues, though. You could feel the readiness in their posture, in the way fingers hovered just near triggers, how Baron’s gaze scanned every shadow like he expected a war to break out.Me? I kept scanning too. Old habits. But I didn’t feel cornered. Not with Axel here—and not with the numbers we brought. He’d made sure we had enough men. If this turned bloody, it wouldn’t end well for Ryan.Still, something in the air told me we were far from done.Defensively, Ryan snapped, “Her father kept her a secret to shield her from attacks.”Axel’s brows narrowed. “If you found yourself a mafia princess, why couldn’t you stick with her? Build your alliances the right way instead of giving away my daughter?” His voice turned lethal. “If her father is truly who you claim, then why not use that leverage?”Ryan’s jaw flexed. “Becau
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-EIGHT: TRUE COL6.
AVERY’S POV:“No peace is worth her dignity,” I snapped, my fists clenched so tightly they ached. “You sealed her fate to get yourself out of trouble.”Ryan shook his head violently. “Don’t twist this. You weren’t here. Enemies were striking from all sides. The Russians in Tampa. The East Coast Syndicates in Italy. Everyone thought Axel was dead and Miami was up for grabs. I was just a name. They smelled weakness.”“You were weak,” Axel snapped. “And stupid. You believed that dirty-bag wouldn't touch her? You believed some overweight, power-drunk animal wouldn’t lay hands on my daughter the second she was his?”Ryan’s lip curled. “You think I didn’t struggle with it? That I didn’t weigh every option? I was desperate, Axel. Desperate to hold together what was left of your kingdom while you were dead. I didn’t have the luxury of morals. I had to survive. We all did.”“And for that,” Axel said slowly, stepping toward him until they were nearly nose-to-nose, “you offered her like a gift o
