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CHAPTER NINETY-SIX: ESCAPE ISLAND.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-03-24 15:35:42
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER NINETY-SEVEN: FRACTURED LOYALTY.
AXEL'S POV: The last four days had been the most normal of my life. No blood, no deals, no threats. Just Avery and me, isolated in paradise. I woke up with her in my arms, spent afternoons watching her run barefoot on the beach, cooked meals with her, did laundry—laundry—for the first time in my life, and learned the sound of her laugh by heart. We made love in every corner of the house, and at night, she read bedtime stories to Sea over FaceTime, her voice soft and full of warmth. But the illusion of peace had to end. Reality was waiting, and it arrived with a phone call. As I zipped the last suitcase into the helicopter, my phone buzzed in my pocket. One of my men in China. My gut twisted even before I answered. "Sir… our operation in Beijing has been shut down."I went still. "What the fuck did you just say?" "It’s on hold for now. The entire production facility was suspended until further notice." My grip tightened around the phone. "Who the hell ordered this?" "The o
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER NINETY-EIGHT: CHECKMATE.
AXEL'S POV:I stood at the entrance, arms folded, pacing from one end to the other. Vaughan was an hour late, and I wasn’t exactly known for my patience. Devon watched from one corner, his stance rigid, while Baron hovered near the gates with his squad. Ryan was nowhere in sight, likely cleaning up from our earlier… discussion. Then, headlights flared in the distance, cutting through the darkness like a blade. A black SUV rolled up the long driveway, as if taunting me with every inch it covered. When it finally stopped, Vaughan stepped out. Alone. I raised a brow. Either he was stupid, or he was making a statement. No security. No backup. Just him. And what the hell was he wearing? Track pants. Sneakers. A plain T-shirt like he was on his way to the gym instead of dining with a Don. Disrespect dripped from every inch of his presence. He might as well have spat on my shoes. I straightened, rolling my shoulders back. I wasn’t about to let him see that his lack of etiquette i
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-24THE 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-26THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & ONE: VOLUNTEER.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWO: TAKEN.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-27THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & THREE: DEMANDS.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-28THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FOUR: SEARCHING.
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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-29
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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
