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CHAPTER FORTY-ONE: THE NEGOTIATION.
Last Updated:
2025-02-07 23:19:57
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FORTY-TWO: DEAD GIRL.
AXEL’S POV I DIDN’T WANT to discuss this in front of Avery. Her ears might be sharper than I gave her credit for, and I wasn’t about to give her free ammunition against me. Leading Ryan outside, I stopped just past the doorway, shutting it behind us. “Break the news to me,” I ordered, my patience hanging by a thread. Ryan hesitated, which immediately put me on edge. He wasn’t the type to stall unless the situation was beyond repair. “I halted the delivery,” he started. “The trucks offloaded as usual—four total, all taking separate routes. But the one using the Cold Wing route was intercepted by the DEA.” I exhaled sharply. “Okay?” The Cold Wing and Blue Fox routes were my easiest to maneuver. We’d given them those names to keep them separate from the actual transport paths. If a shipment got caught, I always had contingencies. Ryan didn’t react to my casual response. His body became rigid instead. "It wasn't just the materials that were apprehended," he said grimly. "Th
Last Updated : 2025-02-08THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FORTY-THREE: THE LAST SINNER.
AXEL’S POV: The moment my feet crossed the threshold, he began to shiver. A pitiful sight—pale, sweat-slicked skin clinging to brittle bones, his breathing uneven, like a man already teetering on the edge of the grave. The scent of rot clung to him, thick and sour, mixing with the iron tang of old blood that coated the dungeon walls. I walked toward him, slow and deliberate, like death itself had taken human form and decided to grant him a personal visit. Because, in many ways, that’s exactly what I was offering him. A final absolution. A reckoning long overdue. He whimpered, his wide eye darting between me and the door as if he still believed in the possibility of escape. "Please, don't hurt me," he begged, his voice cracking. "Forgive me. I'll do anything you ask me to do." They always did this—pleading, bargaining, desperate to claw their way out of damnation. But forgiveness wasn’t mine to give. And mercy? Mercy was a privilege reserved for men who still had something worth
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AVERY’S POV: I had always prided myself on being a woman of will and persistence. A survivor. But the moment Axel Blackwood stepped into the room, covered in splashes of blood, his pupils blown so wide they swallowed the light, I felt my resolve wither. He looked like something out of a nightmare. His white shirt was ruined, stained in dark patches, and his hands—God, his hands were dripping with it. I didn’t want to know whose blood it was. Bile surged up my throat, and I had to swallow hard to keep it down. Still, I forced myself to stand, my movements stiff and unsteady. His presence had always been oppressive, but now? Now, it was deadly. "Avery, you will make that appearance tomorrow," Axel said, his voice eerily calm, as if he hadn’t just returned from whatever act of horror he’d committed. "You will act like my trophy wife at several events tomorrow. The priority, however, is for you to make a statement with your appearance." I stared at him, stunned by the audacity.
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AXEL’S POV: I never planned to show Avery the envelope. Never intended to let her see what was inside. It was supposed to be leverage, a weapon I could use when the time was right. But she had this way of getting under my skin, of unearthing something within me that even I couldn’t fully understand. Her defiance mirrored my own. Instead of subduing her, I had ignited an unquenchable fire. I had done my research. I always did. I knew everything I needed to about the people I allowed in my orbit. And yet, despite knowing what I knew, I hadn't planned to share any of it with her. It was supposed to remain tucked away, a tool to use when necessary. But I had shown her anyway. And seeing her reaction, watching the way she processed it, unsettled me. The way her expression had cracked—not just with pain, but with something deeper—had stirred something in me. Something I didn't like. Maybe she had seen that flicker of hesitation in me. Maybe she had sensed it. That pissed me off more
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AVERY'S POV:"Good job, wifey," Axel murmured against my ear as we stepped out of the elevator. "You're a fine actress." His voice was mischievous—almost like he was testing me, waiting to see if I’d break character now that we were alone. But I held my ground, even as the heat of his breath on my skin ignited an involuntary fire within my core. The last few hours had been a whirlwind. From the moment I sat in the makeup chair, watching the artist transform me into a woman I barely recognized, to the second I stepped into Axel’s office, my heels clicking against the polished marble, every moment had felt surreal. The office itself was a show to the kind of wealth that made people listen before they even knew your name. But it wasn’t the decor that had shaken me. It was him. Axel Blackwood, standing close, his presence consuming every ounce of air between us. His touch, brief yet electric, sent an embarrassing rush through me. It was maddening. How could my body react to him when
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AVERY’S POV:At some point, I found myself joining in. Maybe it was the way the kids smiled at me, or maybe I just wanted—needed—a distraction from my own thoughts. Either way, I found myself playing hide-and-seek with a little girl in a lavender hospital gown, her giggles echoing through the halls. Then, pain shot through my feet. I winced, the nude Louboutins digging into my toes from standing too long. Before I could even think about taking them off, Devon appeared at my side, holding a small designer bag. I recalled the brief exchange I'd overheard earlier. Ryan's voice had carried across the room, "Devon, get the last set of gift boxes." The name had stuck in my mind, and now I mentally paired it with the face of the guard who stood before me - Devon. "Here," he said, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Boss sent me to get these." I frowned, taking the bag. Inside was a pair of flat designer slippers. I looked up, my gaze instinctively seeking Axel. He was still surround
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AXEL’S POV:There was something about Avery that made me want to take her everywhere. Maybe it was the way she carried herself tonight—poised, effortless. She played the role of my wife so seamlessly that I almost forgot it was a performance. She didn’t just stand beside me like a fragile accessory; she engaged in intelligent conversations, entertained every guest who approached us, and, most importantly, understood when to speak and when to let silence be her strength. She didn’t pry. She didn’t overdo it. And for that alone, I planned to reward her. I despised these gatherings. They were breeding grounds for hypocrisy, a room full of people who smiled with one hand extended in friendship while sharpening their knives with the other. But I couldn’t avoid this one. Not when it was personal. The cancer research gala wasn’t just another event on my calendar—it was something I had built from the ground up. A program I had started in honor of my mother before her life was cut sh
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AXEL’S POV:"Yes, I did," I answered Ryan nonchalantly. Baron grinned, stepping closer to Ryan with his arms wide, either for a handshake or a hug—I wasn’t sure which. Whatever it was, Ryan wasn’t having it. He took a step back, arms crossed, expression blank. Baron clicked his tongue. "Still stiff and unwelcoming as always," he joked. Then, without missing a beat, he turned to me, his usual grin in place. "Thank you for having me back, boss." I nodded. "You're welcome." Truth be told, it was good to have Baron back. Maybe he’d shake Ryan up a little. Ryan saw him as a challenge, and that was exactly what he needed. He was growing too... predictable. Baron was my third-in-command, the complete opposite of Ryan. Where Ryan was cold and disciplined, Baron was dangerous in a different way—rational, brutal, but somehow, annoyingly charismatic. He made friends easily, never raised suspicion, and had a charm that worked on both children and women alike. A deadly combination. "Ryan
Last Updated : 2025-02-11
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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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-FOUR: SETTING AN EXAMPLE.
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
