THE WIFE YOU LEFT のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 21 - チャプター 30

AXEL’S POV:The room was simple. No need for complicated furnishing since I occasionally used this house. Mahogany furniture, custom-designed chandeliers, and marble floor. The walls were a muted shade of gray, adorned with minimalist art—pieces chosen for their precision rather than emotion. A bar sat in the corner, stocked with top-shelf liquor that rarely saw use. The air smelled faintly of leather and cigars, though I neither smoked nor lingered here long enough to drink. Grabbing my suit jacket and phone, I stepped into the corridor, where over thirty men stood at attention. Their heads were bowed in reverence, their black suits masking the firepower some carried beneath. A few had shoulder holsters peeking out, straps taut against their broad frames. These weren’t just men—they were soldiers bound to me by loyalty and fear, their lives pledged by an oath I ensured they would never dare break. Walking past them, not a single head rose as I moved through their ranks. My presenc

AXEL BLACKWOOD:"Mr. Blackwood," he started, "sorry for barging into your office—" "You better be," I cut him off. "And it better be for a damn good reason." The man straightened, trying to recover. "I'm Detective Harrington Smith," he said. I tilted my head, unimpressed. Surveying the man at the front of the pack, I was able to tell that he was middle-aged, balding, and reeked of bureaucratic arrogance. He tried to look confident, but his shifting eyes gave him away. "And?" Slowly, I removed my hand from the button and clasped it with the other, resting them on my desk. "I know you don’t often get visits like this—" "Because I’m a very busy man," I interrupted again, my patience thinning. "And I hate being interrupted by people who can’t justify their presence. So, tell me why you’re here and get the hell out." Detective Smith hesitated, then placed a document on my desk. A search warrant. I didn’t touch it. My eyes skimmed the bolded text as he continued. "We’re here

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

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

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,