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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: THE HELP.
Last Updated:
2025-01-01 01:28:31
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: THE CAGE.
AVERY’S POV:As I rested my head on the couch, trying to settle into a comfortable position, my body begged for sleep. But my mind wouldn’t relent. My thoughts were like a swarm of bees, buzzing with unease. Why couldn’t I relax? This woman had been nothing but kind to me, yet the heaviness in my chest lingered. I sat upright, my heart thudding against my ribs. Where was she? And why did I feel so on edge? Maybe I was being irrational, letting my paranoia get the best of me. But the tattoo on my back gnawed at my thoughts. It had haunted me ever since I noticed it in the hospital. Could I check it here? I shook my head. "Calm down, Avery. Not everything is a conspiracy." Still, I couldn’t ignore the tension crawling up my spine. Rising to my feet, I moved toward the door. My hand hesitated on the knob for a moment before I cracked it open just enough to peek outside. There she was, standing on the porch, cigarette in hand. Smoke curled lazily around her as she stared into the
Last Updated : 2025-01-01THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: SNITCHES ARE BITCHES.
AXEL’S POV:The day started innocently enough, with my little girl and I engrossed in one of her endless imaginary tea parties. She giggled as she poured invisible tea into a porcelain cup, her laughter infectious. Then Logan called, and my mood shifted instantly. Sea’s laughter still echoed in my mind as I picked up Logan’s call, unaware of how quickly the day would shift from innocence to chaos“Turn on the news,” he said, his tone clipped but carrying a hint of satisfaction. I did as he instructed, not out of curiosity, but because I demanded loyalty and obedience from those who served me, and Logan never disappointed. His handiwork lit up the screen of my phone, a blaze of chaos wrapped in polished headlines. Avery’s face stared back at me, plastered across every channel, with fabricated accusations that would ensure no corner of the earth was safe for her. A smile tugged at my lips. Logan had played his part well. I’d told him to light the match, and he’d set the fire where
Last Updated : 2025-01-03THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: ASHES.
AXEL’S POV:"I had plans to be merciful," I said, stepping closer. "You did what those useless cops couldn’t. But for letting your tongue loose, you’ve sealed your fate. You won’t see the light of the next day." The woman froze, her curses dying on her lips as the gravity of my words sunk in. Ryan appeared beside me just then, his face calm but his voice low. "She’s been tossed in the trunk. Everything’s in place." I nodded, satisfied. I spared the woman one last glance before turning my back on her. "Clean this up," I said over my shoulder to Ryan. "I want no traces." The woman’s parting words were like a thorn under my skin, burrowing deeper with every syllable. "When you finally come to me, I'll show no mercy!"I stopped mid-stride, my hand tightening into a fist. Slowly, I turned back to face her, my voice cold as ice. "Tie her up and set her on fire. Leave the gas open so the whole place explodes."Ryan didn’t need further clarification. He gestured to two of my men, w
Last Updated : 2025-01-03THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: HELLHOLE.
AVERY’S POV:I prayed for death as I lay curled up in the cage, crammed into the trunk of the Devil’s car. Breathing my last in that suffocating darkness seemed preferable to whatever awaited me. The rage I’d glimpsed in his eyes, paired with the distant explosion that rattled the air, left no doubt—whatever came next would make death seem merciful. Every attempt to escape him had failed. I was back in his grasp, trapped like an animal awaiting slaughter. The ride stretched on endlessly. The cramped space stole the blood from my limbs, leaving them numb and useless. Every bump in the road jarred the cage, the jagged edges of the metal scraping my skin. Pain pulsed through me, but even that was better than the terrifying silence of what lay ahead. I tried to focus my mind elsewhere—on the fleeting moments of happiness I’d once known. Memories of innocence, laughter, and safety became my refuge, though they felt like they belonged to someone else entirely. Time blurred. The car
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AVERY’S POV:Finally, we stopped. The cage crashed onto the floor of an empty cell with a heavy clang, the vibrations rattling through my body like an electric shock. One of them unlocked the door and yanked me out, their grip rough and uncaring. Pain ripped through me, every bruise and cut roaring back to life. My legs wobbled, half-numb and trembling after the cramped ride, the blood returning to my limbs in a fiery cascade. I bit down hard on my lip to stop myself from crying out, the taste of iron filling my mouth. I crumpled. My knees gave way, and I hit the floor, curling in on myself instinctively. But they weren’t done. “Up,” barked one of the men, his voice sharp and impatient. He grabbed my arm and hauled me to my feet, the movement sending a fresh wave of agony coursing through me. My legs refused to hold me, but they didn’t care. They dragged me to the wall and clamped cold, heavy chains around my wrists and ankles, binding me in place. The chains left me spread out,
Last Updated : 2025-01-05THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER THIRTY: A TASTE OF FEAR.
AXEL’S POV:Now, her real story begins. We’ve been playing this game of hide and seek for far too long, her scurrying around like a rat while I stood as the hunter, patient yet relentless. But the time for games was over. It was time she learned what made me infamous—a name whispered in fear, a shadow cast over the weak and the rebellious alike. When she spat, “Get it over with, moron,” it ignited a fire in me. I felt the pull of my gun, the itch in my finger to press the trigger and let go. A single, clean bullet to her forehead could end this charade in seconds. But no. A rebellious little bitch like her didn’t deserve the grace of a quick death. Mercy was for the deserving, and Avery...she was far beneath it. She had to be reminded—taught—the meaning of fear, of pain. Breaking her, piece by piece, was mine to savor. I circled her, watching her battered form like a hawk studying prey. Cuts and bruises marked every corner of her skin. Her face showed exhaustion—dirt smeared
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AXEL’S POV:Her muscles tensed under my touch, and I smirked at the reaction. “Who knew you’d be tatted up, darling? With that innocent face, I’d have pegged you as squeaky clean. But this—” I pressed my fingers harder against the inked skin, watching her flinch, “—this tells me there’s more to you than meets the eye.” Her silence was deafening, her shallow breaths the only response. “What does it mean?” I asked, my tone deceptively calm. “A lover’s name? A mark of shame? Or is it something darker—something you earned in prison?” I leaned closer, letting the threat simmer between us. “You’ll tell me, one way or another.” She said nothing, only moving her back away from my touch like it burned her, trying to twist it in a different direction from my eyes. Her silence only heightened my curiosity. I stretched my hand and pressed harder, letting my fingers dig into the symbols. “Answer me,” I demanded. Still, she remained mute. My frustration boiled over, and I lashed out, the cha
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AVERY’S POV:The moment the door slammed shut behind him, I exhaled the breath I hadn’t even realized I was holding. It was as if every ounce of air had been trapped in my lungs since the moment I was dragged into that cold, soulless room. My body trembled, my chest rising and falling in sharp, shallow gasps. And then, I broke. Tears spilled over, hot and relentless, streaking down my face as I crumbled. The strong exterior I had painstakingly constructed in front of Axel shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces. My hands shook, and my shoulders sagged as the weight of everything I had endured pressed down on me. Yet, through the sobs that racked my body, I felt a sliver of pride. I hadn’t let him see this. I fought to keep my head high in front of Axel because breaking down in front of him was a defeat I couldn’t afford. It was a vow I had made to myself the moment I became his prisoner: "Don’t let him see you break. Don’t let him see you weak." And even though I was crumblin
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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
