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CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT: CHECKMATE.
Last Updated:
2025-03-24 16:18:11
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER NINETY-NINE: FOREVER GONE.
AXEL’S POV:The night was merciless. Sleep remained out of reach, chased away by the storm inside my head. I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, then turned onto my side, restless. Vaughan’s words played in a loop, scraping at my pride. Rusty. Was that how they saw me now? Was I losing control, letting distractions dull my edge? Frustrated, I slid out of bed, careful not to wake Avery. The soft rise and fall of her breath filled the silence, but even that did nothing to calm me. I needed answers. I moved to my study, flipping through reports, files, anything that could tell me what I had failed to see. Who the hell are you, Vaughan?Hours passed. I kept searching. The deeper I dug, the less sense it made. There were barely any records on him—like he had appeared out of thin air. That alone was a problem. No one in this world was a ghost. No one except the dead. A knock at the door. I looked up, rubbing the exhaustion from my face. "Come in." Devon entered, his expression
Last Updated : 2025-03-24THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED: ASHES AND PROMISES.
AVERY’S POV:The more I learned about Axel, the more my heart broke. My hatred for him had diminished so easily, almost effortlessly. How could I hold onto anger when I saw the truth so clearly now? He had been a boy betrayed, discarded, and left to navigate a world that had never once been kind to him. The only person who had truly loved him—his mother—had been taken from him. And with her death, any chance of salvation had died too. Now, all he knew was rage and hatred. Exhaling softly, I rubbed slow circles on his back as he stood motionless, watching the flames consume what remained of his father. The funeral home was eerily silent, save for the low hum of the cremation chamber. The fire’s glow flickered in Axel’s dark eyes, reflecting something deeper than grief—something restrained, something raw. When Laurent died, something in Axel had gone with him. The light in his eyes, the faint smile he had begun to wear over the past week—it had all vanished. If I wasn’t mistake
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AVERY’S POV:I tried to be there for Axel. To understand him, to love him, to give him what no one else had ever given him—patience. In return, he started to open up in ways I never imagined. He told me things that seemed impossible for a man like him to say. Deep secrets, old wounds, regrets. It was as if, piece by piece, he was handing me the fragments of his soul, trusting me to keep them safe. But as much as I loved Sea, as much as I loved Axel, I knew I couldn’t just exist within these walls. I needed something of my own. Something beyond being a mother, a spoiled wife, or a woman lounging around a mansion all day. So, I decided to volunteer at a hospital. The nearest one wasn’t near at all, but that didn’t matter. I needed this. Axel had been reluctant, naturally, but after thorough research—and his personal approval—I had finally gotten the green light. Early in the morning, Axel drove me with his guards, Sea nestled between us in the backseat, humming a tune. She was hal
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AVERY’S POV:The morning started like any other. Axel was already gone when I woke up, leaving a note on his pillow that simply read, "Call me once you’re up." It made me smile. Despite everything—the walls he’d built over the years, the hardened exterior—he was always looking out for me. I went through my routine: a quick shower, a simple black dress paired with flats for comfort, and then waking up Sea, who, as usual, groaned and tried to negotiate five more minutes of sleep. "No, ma’am," I teased, tickling her side. "Up, up, up!" She whined but sat up, rubbing her eyes. "You’re so mean." "Mean?" I gasped dramatically. "And here I was, thinking I’d get an award for Best Mom of the Year." Sea giggled, swinging her tiny legs off the bed. "Okay, okay! I'm up!" After breakfast, we headed out. Baron and a squad of five guards took charge of Sea, while Devon went with me. "Good morning, Mrs. Blackwood," he greeted as he opened the car door. "Morning, Devon." He didn’t sp
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AVERY’S POV:It was surprising how a good woman was all I needed to feel human again. To feel emotions beyond rage, beyond vengeance. When Avery confessed that she loved me, I was speechless. Not because I didn’t feel the same, but because I didn’t know how to contain the excitement surging through me. I wanted my response to be backed by action—something solid, something undeniable. I had it all planned out for when she came back home with my angel. But for now, business came first. I sat in my office, surrounded by men in pressed suits, their eyes filled with greed as we discussed investments. The relaunch of my nightclub was on the table, along with other ventures that would serve as cover for the money I intended to launder. After Harrington’s stunt, I needed new allies and new shields, and investing in these businesses was just another move before the real game began. The conversation droned on, figures and projections thrown around, but I wasn’t truly listening. My mind wa
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AXEL’S POV:The moment I pulled up to the estate, the atmosphere showed that I was ready to end the world for Avery and Sea. The training field was crawling with my men—an army of ghosts and reapers, men who only knew war, waiting for my command. Snipers had taken their positions on the rooftops, their rifles gleaming under the floodlights. Hackers sat behind screens at the far end of the yard, eyes locked onto lines of encrypted codes as they tracked signals, scoured CCTV footage, and intercepted communications. Hitmen were assembling in clusters, loading magazines, sharpening knives, and awaiting orders. The air itself felt heavy, laced with the smell of gunpowder and sweat. The scent of impending violence. As I stepped out of the car, every man on the field turned, their movements synchronized like a well-oiled machine. One by one, they bowed, showing respect. I ignored them, my gaze fixed on Devon, who stood at the far end, a phone pressed to his ear, his other hand clenched
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AVERY'S POV:The car I was driving would be too recognizable, I thought. Too flashy. It would get me caught before I even got close to Sea. My heartbeat thundered in my chest as I veered off the main road, spotting a rundown gas station where a teenager was refueling an old, dented sedan. Perfect. I pulled up beside him, stepping out before he could process what was happening. His eyes widened as I approached in a hurry. "Hey, kid," I said, tossing my keys at him. He fumbled, catching them with confusion. "Wha—?" "Trade me," I cut in, already pulling a wad of cash from my pocket and shoving it into his hoodie. "I need your car." His jaw dropped. "You serious?" I didn’t have time for this. "Do I look like I’m joking? Take the cash, take the car, and get the hell out of here." He gawked at the machine behind me, then at the crumpled bills in his hands. "Holy shit," he breathed before tossing me his keys. I didn’t wait for a thank-you. I jumped into the rickety car and pe
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AVERY’S POV: Gunfire erupted, loud and sudden, tearing through the air. The crack of bullets sent my heart slamming against my ribs as I instinctively ducked, pressing Sea tightly against my chest. Chaos exploded around me. Men shouted, scrambling for cover, their weapons drawn, but they weren’t quick enough. Whoever was shooting had the upper hand, and the sound of bodies dropping confirmed it. What was happening? I prayed that whosoever was attacking was on my side and not another bad story. I used the distraction to turn as I made my way back to the filthy shack where the other children were trapped. My heart pounded and the kids flinched at the noise, their eyes wide with terror. "Come on," I urged. "We’re getting out of here." Most of them hesitated, too frightened to move. I scanned the room, looking for any who seemed braver and stronger. One boy, probably around ten, had a defiant glint in his eyes. "You," I said, crouching beside him. "I need your help. Get the o
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AXEL’S POV:I leaned forward, palms flat on the wood.“First of all,” I began, “I owe every single person in this room an apology. For my absence. For what’s happened to MedixGen. And for the uncertainty it’s caused you.”A few heads nodded. Others watched, arms folded.“My wife and I…we needed time. Time to reevaluate things. Time to breathe after years of building an empire that never once let us rest. We didn’t think the empire would crumble behind us.” I paused, letting my lies sink in. “But it did. And I take responsibility for that.”There was no way I would open my mouth to narrate our ordeal to anyone. That would break my promise to Akira. “But I’m back now. And I promise you—” I looked around the table, steady and certain— “I will rebuild MedixGen. Not just to what it once was, but beyond. I’ll triple your profits, bring every failed investment back to life. I just need one thing—your trust.”The room was quiet, though not silent. There was a current of murmurs. Doubt. Restl
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AXEL’S POV:"It's been such an honour to make this press release with my beautiful wife. Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood are back to run MedixGen and all related companies," I finished, my voice steady as steel.Avery, ever the graceful actress, clapped along with the others. Her hand was warm in mine as I stepped down from the podium, the flash of cameras trailing behind us like wolves scenting blood.They thought I was heartless. Maybe I was.What they didn’t see was the truth: control was slipping—at home, at work, inside me. I wasn’t just battling with external forces, but with myself, too. I was battling ghosts. And if I had to be cold to win, so be it. Avery’s plan was idealistic. I needed something guaranteed.Sea had to disappear—boarding school under a fresh identity or at Akira’s, hidden away. I couldn’t gamble with her life. Not again. As for Ryan… the last time we danced this dance, I’d been wrong. This time, the evidence screamed louder than his lies ever could.The next conferenc
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-SEVEN: INSENSITIVE.
AVERY’S POV:I thought she was leaving, but Katie stopped midway, her brow wrinkled as she turned back to me, the batter still in her hands. “Mrs. Blackwood… with all due respect, it’s my job to take care of this household. That includes making meals for you and Mr. Blackwood. If he's been cautious about who makes his meals, it's definitely not with me.”I closed my eyes briefly, trying not to snap. “Katie, don’t argue with me. Please—just let me do what I want.”The edge in my voice came out sharper than I intended. Frustration had been bubbling under the surface since yesterday, and this little back-and-forth nudged it past civility.Katie blinked, clearly taken aback.I sighed, immediately softening. “I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I just… I need this right now. Let me handle breakfast.”Her shoulders dropped in a slight nod. “Alright. Then I’ll take Mr. Blackwood’s coffee to him—”“That won’t be necessary,” I cut in. “I’ll make another one for him.”“It’s okay, Avery,” came a voi
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
