Semua Bab THE WIFE YOU LEFT: Bab 171 - Bab 180

AXEL’S POV:How was I supposed to look my wife in the eyes and tell her I’d zoned out in a meeting—our meeting—because I was seeing ghosts?If not that she stepped in and saved the situation, I would've made a laughingstock of myself. I didn’t say a word. Just waved Avery off gently and hurried toward the car like a man being chased by demons no one else could see.The second we got in, Thaddeus climbed into the passenger seat up front, while Serena was already seated in the rear-facing seat across from ours. Avery slid in beside me, and I could feel her eyes boring holes into the side of my face."You didn’t tell me we had company?" she asked, voice even but laced with irritation. She crossed her legs and adjusted her posture with the grace of a queen and the tension of a lioness on a leash."It was urgent," I muttered, brushing her off with as much care as I could afford at the moment. I turned to Serena before she could press further. "Okay. What did you find?"Before we left for

AVERY’S POV:“Thaddeus, why is it taking forever for us to get home?” I asked, the edge in my voice betraying my growing impatience.“I apologize, Mrs. Blackwood. The faster route has a crazy traffic jam,” he replied smoothly, his tone calm despite my frustration.I exhaled hard through my nose, leaning back in the seat and letting my head rest against the window, eyes half-closed as the car moved through the dark. I didn’t respond. There was no point in lashing out. Not at him.But every second that crawled by felt heavier than the last. My fingers tapped restlessly against my thigh. The soft hum of the car, the blur of headlights, the faint sound of the radio in the front seat—it was all supposed to be soothing.It wasn’t.I just wanted to be home. Wanted to wrap my arms around Sea, feel the softness of her hair against my cheek, and sit in the silence that didn’t ask me to explain my mood.Instead, I was stuck here, between places, between emotions, between everything I knew and ev

AVERY’S POV:The ride was silent.Even Thaddeus knew some silences shouldn’t be filled—not with music, not with talk, not with breath.When the cemetery gates creaked open, my stomach churned. It was almost dawn, but the world was still cloaked in darkness. The mist hovered low, brushing the cracked headstones like fingers trailing over forgotten skin.“We’re here, ma’am,” Thaddeus said gently.I nodded, my throat clogged. I reached for the bouquet wrapped in soft brown paper—white lilies and blue forget-me-nots, flowers I’d never given him in life.“Wait here,” I murmured, already stepping out.Thaddeus gave a respectful nod and stayed by the car.The path was uneven, the weeds tall and unbothered. This wasn’t one of those polished, garden-like cemeteries with polished marble and trimmed lawns. This was… neglected. Old. A graveyard where even the dead were forgotten.It made me mad because Flynn deserved way better. He was wealthy, hard working, and reputable, only for Lyra to reduce

AVERY’S POV:The examination room smelled like antiseptic and lemon air freshener that wasn't fooling anyone. The walls were a washed-out white, and there was a mounted monitor in the corner blinking with soft blue lights. Sea was sitting in the corner with her legs crossed, spinning slightly on the wheeled stool like a restless child. I was perched on the examination bed, stripped down to nothing but the blue hospital gown they gave me. It barely covered anything. One wrong stretch and the back would be a broadcast.“I swear,” I whispered to Sea with a dry chuckle, “if I sneeze too hard, this thing’s flying off.”Sea laughed, covering her mouth. “You look like a sad burrito.”“I feel like a sad burrito.”Just then, the door opened, and Cedric stepped in with his usual calm confidence. His lab coat flared slightly as he moved, tablet in one hand, a kind smile on his face.“How’s our patient doing?” he asked warmly.“Cold, cranky, and contemplating a dramatic exit,” I said.He chuckle

AXEL’S POV:Contacting Thaddeus had been quick—getting the address, not so much the drive. Every red light mocked me. Every second in traffic felt like a chokehold. I was gripping the wheel so tightly my knuckles paled under the pressure.By the time I arrived, the sun was beating down hard, but I didn’t bother hiding my irritation. I threw on a pair of sunglasses—not for the sun, but to keep from glaring at anyone who dared make eye contact—and stalked toward the children’s wing with purpose.The atmosphere inside the hospital shifted the moment I stepped in. It was clean and warm, with pastel walls and the distant sound of laughter floating down the hallway. Balloons were tied to the railings. Nurses smiled as they passed. The place smelled like sanitizers and crayon wax.I followed the sound of Avery’s voice before I even saw her.She was sitting cross-legged on a colorful rug in a semi-circle of wide-eyed kids. Sea sat beside her, animatedly turning pages as Avery read aloud. The