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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIXTY-ONE: RED IS RADIANT.
Last Updated:
2025-05-05 17:44:35
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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
Last Updated : 2025-05-05THE 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
Last Updated : 2025-05-05THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE: NOT ROSES BUT DIVORCE PAPERS.
AVERY'S POV:Today was the day. The day everything I’d sacrificed for—three years of isolation, shame, and clinging to hope—would finally be worth it. Today, Chase and I will be together again. I’d imagined it a thousand times, practically willed it into existence. He’d be there waiting, holding roses, his face soft and full of the love I’d convinced myself still lived beneath the hurt and resentment. It had to be there. He would be my reward for enduring it all.The warden’s voice cut through the waiting room. “Mrs. Avery Grayson!” Her voice loudly pulled me back from my daze. “That’s me,” I blurted, jumping to my feet, my heart doing a little twirl dance. Today was the day I left behind everything—the concrete walls, the metal bars, the fluorescent lights, and that dull ache that had taken residence in my bones. I’d already showered, fixed my hair, and even put on a little makeup that one of the guards had snuck me. I wanted to look perfect. He’d appreciate the effort; he’d see tha
Last Updated : 2024-11-02THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWO: A BROKEN HOMECOMING.
AVERY'S POV:I felt an overwhelming urge to storm into the house, to confront Chase and demand answers for this chaos. But my feet barely took a step before I was abruptly halted. The sudden loss of momentum left me reeling, like a door slammed shut in my face. This was my house. I should be treated with reverence and respect as Mrs. Grayson. Not being handled as a nobody – invisible, insignificant, and utterly powerless.The guard shoved me into a room, dark and suffocating, as if it was meant to close around me like a vice. The rough edges of the doorframe scraped against my arms, but I didn’t flinch. I barely felt it. I could only stand there, swallowing down bile, my heart beating out some useless plea that this was all a nightmare.But it wasn’t. Chase had left me rotting in that prison, only to serve me divorce papers on the day of my release. As if that wasn’t enough, the invitation to his wedding—his wedding to my own sister—had been tucked right beside them like a sick joke.
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AXEL’S POV:Business was good—no, it was flawless. My name alone struck fear wherever it was spoken, and respect was a currency I never ran short of. In every boardroom, back alley, and underground circuit, I was Axel Blackwood: a god among men, ruthless and unyielding. Just the way I liked it.But there was still an itch I couldn’t scratch. The kind that sank deep, an ache gnawing at my insides every time I closed my eyes. Revenge. I’d returned to finish what had started years ago, blood debts left unpaid. I was patient, though. I’d learned to savor it—blood, sweat, and tears from everyone who’d ever dared to cross me.Yet, today, the taste of satisfaction had dulled. I’d spent most of my day distracted, my focus slipping. Sea, my six-year-old daughter, had seemed out of sorts, her usual bright chatter dimmed. She’d stood in the doorway of my office, pouting in that way only she could.“Daddy, you’re always working,” she said, her voice tiny and cracked. “I need someone who can actua
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AVERY'S POV:His voice cut through me, sharp and cold, and I didn’t need a second reminder to obey. As Katie, the maid who introduced herself in a low, calm tone, led me down a quiet, lavish hallway, my mind was fixated on one thing: his left eye. The one I could see.Axel Blackwood’s left eye was a smoldering, molten copper—alive with an inner fire that seemed to light up the very air around him. The iris, polished like burnished penny, radiated an intense warmth and depth that made the gaze hypnotic, magnetic. Flecks of gold glinted within that coppery storm, as if shards of sunlight had taken residence there, restless and burning. The cream-toned skin around his eye only served to make its color more striking, like the contrast of fire against pale ember. And his lash, thick and dark, framed his eye like brushstrokes on a masterpiece, accentuating the dangerous gleam within them.As he’d looked at me, his eys had held a glint of mischief, laced with something far darker—command, au
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AXEL’S POV:I leaned back in my office chair, rubbing the part of my chest that still ached like a damn knife wound. No one knew the truth I was harboring along with a dozen other secrets: I was dying. Slowly, and it felt as brutal as anything I’d ever inflicted on my enemies. The doctors broke it to me two months ago—an inexplicable hole in my heart, they said. "Six months left, if you're lucky." Nature, or fate, or karma—whatever it was—finally decided to catch up.It was right after I’d taken care of a bastard and his entire family who’d tried sabotaging one of my shipments. I didn’t feel a damn thing as I strangled him, then ordered my men to take out every breathing thing in his house. There’s no other way to be clear: you cross me, you die. He knew the stakes when he made his choice. Still, something about him and his family felt… strange.But there was no time for questions now, especially with the ticking clock in my chest. It’s what pushed me to find Sea someone to leave her
Last Updated : 2024-11-06THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SIX: RUN.
AVERY'S POV:I was done with crying. It felt like a curse had latched onto my life, shadowing every breath I took. Why did everything have to go wrong? Not a moment to breathe, to laugh, or feel free—just an endless stream of pain, betrayal, and torment. Let me take you back to where it all started, to the reason I can’t seem to stop the tears.Growing up, the only warmth I felt came from my father and grandfather. My mother, Lyra Russell, used to be loving—at least, that’s what I was told. But then something changed when I turned two. My father said her love began to fade. I didn't understand it then, but as I grew older, I saw the truth for myself. The moment Astrid, my younger sister, entered the picture, it was as if all the love my mother once had for me shifted to her.That alone was hard, but at least I had my father and grandfather. They were my sanctuary, wrapping me in a love that softened the sharp edges of my mother’s indifference. But even that comfort was ripped away all
Last Updated : 2024-11-06
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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
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-SEVEN: GLAD I NEVER LISTENED.
AVERY’S POV:Thank God I didn’t listen.Something told me not to. The moment Axel walked out that door, tension still rolling off his back, I couldn’t sit still. My body wouldn’t let me. So I grabbed my bag, ignored the hesitant grumbles from his guards, and followed.Good thing I did.If I’d been a minute late—hell, a second—who knows what that fat slob would’ve done to our daughter or to Axel.As soon as I reached Axel, I caught him saving him from collapsing. He was trembling. The man who once bathed in the blood of enemies without flinching now couldn’t stomach the sight of one dead body. The irony was bitter.The place was chaos. Screams echoed from the hallway. People tripped over chairs, others bolted for the exits. The guards outside barked orders, trying to herd the crowd into some kind of formation, but it was like trying to sweep water uphill.I stayed inside, watching the mess unfold from behind the glass balcony window above. The moment was frozen in chaos—and then my eye
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-SIX: THE UNEXPECTED BRIDE.
AXEL’S POVAs I leaned back in that leather chair, the scent of sandalwood and fresh polish settled into my nose. The office was polished. Immaculate. A clean display of taste, ambition, and new money. But my gaze wasn’t interested in decor—it anchored to the walls, to the shelves, to the little details most wouldn’t notice but I did.The picture frames.Dozens of them.Sea.Just Sea.Her tiny fingers wrapped around a paintbrush as she sat cross-legged in an art class. Sea grinning beside Ryan at a science museum, both wearing matching safety goggles. Her in a frilly tutu, mid-spin on a recital stage, wings on her back like some kind of seraphim. Ryan, lifting her on his shoulders as they fed a giraffe. Sea asleep on a couch with a book clutched in hand. Sea in a football jersey, cheering from the sidelines. And then Sea again—older—taller, her baby face giving way to teenage edges, beaming next to a golden trophy. Every phase of her life, etched in photographs, trapped behind glass.
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIFTY-FIVE: FACING MY REFLECTION.
AXEL’S POV:Clearing my throat, “Cedric,” I said, my tone shifting as I stood up, brushing invisible dust from my slacks, “we have more to talk about. But for now, I have somewhere to be. Some examples to set.”I nodded toward him in thanks. “Thaddeus will take you back. I appreciate your help.”Avery blinked as I moved, her joy giving way to confusion. She stood too. “Wait—we’re leaving already? I thought…”I turned toward her, placing both hands gently on her shoulders. “Avery, there’s no ‘we.’ You’re staying home. Rest. I’ve been careless with you—almost lost you one too many times. I won’t make that mistake again. Take care of my child.”She tilted her head, stubbornness rising behind her eyes. “Axel… we’re a team. It’s you and I against the world. You’re not going anywhere without me.” “Avery, remember what I told you the first time we met?” I leaned in slightly, my voice dropping. “I. Hate. Repeating. Myself. Stay home and relax. We’ve been through heaven and hell.”She exhaled
