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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & EIGHTEEN: PAIN BEYOND MEASURE.
Last Updated:
2025-04-08 22:17:01
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & NINETEEN: AT PEACE? MAYBE NOT.
AVERY’S POVI tried not to think about the past.Tried not to remember his hands, his voice, the way his eyes looked just before they went dark with rage. I pressed it down like a bruise, refusing to touch it. My strength had to go toward the present. Toward now.The village had become a balm. Quiet, nestled between the curve of two mountains and a forest that breathed with life. The people here spoke in soft tones and walked with purpose. They treated me like I mattered. Like I was someone sacred. The child in my womb was treated the same.I had never felt this kind of care. Not even with Axel.They taught me things—how to prepare herbal medicines, how to read the wind, how to listen to the trees. I was still learning, stumbling over some of their ways, but I was adapting. Slowly. Steadily. I had no other choice. This place was the only place I could exist freely. They were special. And when I wasn’t learning, I trained like I had something to prove.Akira made sure of that.“You mo
Last Updated : 2025-04-09THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY: HE GAVE THE COMMAND.
AVERY'S POV:The village lay in ruins. Nauseating. Smoke twisted upward from blackened roofs like ghostly fingers clawing at the sky. I stumbled forward, my breath caught between a gasp and a sob. The village I had grown to love had been reduced to a scene of quiet devastation.Birds scattered in a frenzied panic above as I approached. Leaves rustled violently even though the wind had died. The animals were gone. Not a goat or a dog in sight. My heart thundered as I broke into the clearing.Everyone had been rounded up.Men, women, children—on their knees in a wide circle, hands bound behind their backs, guarded by men in black tactical gear with sophisticated guns and emotionless expressions. Even Grandma Akira was among them. Her frail frame trembled as she struggled to remain upright, her silver hair streaked with ash and dried sweat, lips moving in silent prayer.The fighters who should’ve protected us lay bloodied at the edge of the clearing. Some unconscious. Others groaning, t
Last Updated : 2025-04-10THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-ONE: FALL OF TRUST.
AXEL’S POV: “How can I have the best and none of you have found her? Is she hiding under a rock?” I roared to the assembled men, my voice echoing harshly off the cold stone walls of tge room. Every eye in the room was fixed on me, but I saw only confusion and fear. The encrypted message that had led us to this dead end now mocked me. Whosoever sent it was a ghost, and worse, my men had searched every inch with no trace of Avery. Meanwhile, an enemy either had her or was near having her while I’d been running around like a headless chicken—and now, I was left seething.Earlier that day, I’d been forced into a meeting with the Dons on my supposed side—a gathering meant to make a statement and reclaim the power that was slipping through my fingers. I was a powerless Don now, and I couldn’t allow that to continue. As I paced in the room, my phone rang shortly. I answered in a snarl.“What?” I snapped into the receiver, not caring who the caller was.“Oh, dear Blackwood,” the voice tsk
Last Updated : 2025-04-10THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-TWO: WATCHING MY WORLD BURN.
AXEL’S POVThe world around me was fuzzy, the remnants of whatever sedative they had injected into me still coursing through my veins but were finally wearing off, leaving me with searing clarity—and a burning vengeance that threatened to shatter everything. My vision swam for a moment as my limbs trembled, but each second reawakened the fury in my veins. I looked around, scanning every corner with a mind consumed by wrath. Someone had dared come to my home to destroy it? They had bound me to a chair, my arms chained behind me so tightly that I could almost feel the capacity of my strength waging war with these restraints. I was a man who had once commanded empires but now held by metals. My muscles strained, every fiber of me screaming to break free.I scanned around, my vision sharpening.Sea. Where was she? I was tortured by the constant question: Did she get hurt? Had she escaped? Was she hiding, or had they already found her? The thought of her in their hands made my blood boi
Last Updated : 2025-04-11THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-THREE: THE GHOST OF SEA.
AXEL’S POV:They’d tried everything—brute force, starvation, isolation, pain crafted like art. The cell was a tomb of suffering, damp with mildew and crusted in dried blood. The stench of decay hung heavy—rust, filth. Heavy iron bars sealed me in, bolted to concrete walls that mocked the idea of escape. My legs were shackled to the wall, the cold bite of metal rubbing flesh down to bone. I’d long stopped counting the days. Time had dissolved into the ache of simply existing.Despite the countless stabs with dull knives, the burning, the electrocutions—none of it had shattered my mind. I had shut down the reception of pain deep within my brain. I was numb, built of stone.The game shifted from physical to psychological torture. They had tried every brutal trick to break me, mutilating those who had once followed me that they could find in my presence. The cell’s roof was open, allowing the scorching sun to beat down mercilessly by day, and the rain to lash against my bruised flesh b
Last Updated : 2025-04-12THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-FOUR: IT WAS NEVER RYAN.
AXEL’S POV:"Not only did I think you were stupid," I began, the taste of blood already pooling at the edge of my tongue, "you're archaic." I kept my eye away from Vaughan. "What’s this? The 1980s?""Seal his mouth. We're about to start filming," he snapped without missing a beat.They pushed me to my knees, the cold bite of concrete pressing into my skin. My hands were tied behind me, and my neck was bared like an offering. An execution. The kind you only read about or see in cartel footage—until it's your turn."Axel, let me tell you before I end you," Vaughan sneered, circling me like a wolf. "You were powerful. But you were also blinded—by pride, by selfishness. You were so easy to manipulate. Infiltrating your organization? Child’s play. Turning you against your second-in-command? A masterpiece."My jaw tightened. What was he driving at?"It was never Ryan, Axel." He crouched down to my level, voice low like a lullaby laced with poison. "This entire game was engineered to divide
Last Updated : 2025-04-12THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-FIVE: COULD ONLY BE ONE MAN.
AXEL’S POV:When thoughts went to the people that mattered in life, I tried to brace myself for that clean slice that would end it all. Or worse—he might do it messy, on purpose. Just to draw it out. Just to hear me scream.My mind found my mother first. I hoped she was in a better place, waiting for me, arms open. Maybe death wasn’t an end. Maybe it was our reunion. And maybe, just maybe, I'd recognize my father too. But guilt didn't let me rest there. It crawled up my throat, settled in my chest. Laurent. I should’ve made time for him. I should’ve asked questions, cared more, listened better. And what about the others—the lives I took? Would they be waiting on the other side too, not with open arms, but fists and rage?"Forgive me, Sea," I whispered in my head. "Wherever you are."I breathed in deep, slow. Vaughan was taking his damn time, drawing out the moment like it was some kind of art. That was the thing about death. Sometimes, the silence before it was louder than the act it
Last Updated : 2025-04-12THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TWENTY-SIX: GETTING THE INFORMATION.
AXEL’S POV:"She's fine," Baron said, steady and sure. "She's with Katie and our men at the safe house."Relief punched through me like cold air after drowning."Where the hell have you been, Baron? How did they even escape?"He exhaled, like he’d been holding the memory in too long. "Boss, it wasn’t easy. When the first explosion hit, I went straight for Sea. Found her curled up in a corner of her room, shaking. Wrapped her in a blanket, threw her over my shoulder, and ran. On the way out, we ran into Ryan—he was barely hanging on, bleeding like hell, but still breathing. He pushed us toward the escape tunnel. We managed to gather Katie and a few others. But before we could get back for the last group..." He paused. "The whole place went up in flames."My heart staggered in my chest. Sea was alive. That was all I needed to hear. That was enough to breathe again, enough to fight again.We’d made it outside now. Armed, masked men formed a silent wall around the perimeter. I stayed aler
Last Updated : 2025-04-12
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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
