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CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FOUR: SEARCHING.
Last Updated:
2025-03-29 23:37:19
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIVE: HUNT GAME.
AVERY'S POV:The car I was driving would be too recognizable, I thought. Too flashy. It would get me caught before I even got close to Sea. My heartbeat thundered in my chest as I veered off the main road, spotting a rundown gas station where a teenager was refueling an old, dented sedan. Perfect. I pulled up beside him, stepping out before he could process what was happening. His eyes widened as I approached in a hurry. "Hey, kid," I said, tossing my keys at him. He fumbled, catching them with confusion. "Wha—?" "Trade me," I cut in, already pulling a wad of cash from my pocket and shoving it into his hoodie. "I need your car." His jaw dropped. "You serious?" I didn’t have time for this. "Do I look like I’m joking? Take the cash, take the car, and get the hell out of here." He gawked at the machine behind me, then at the crumpled bills in his hands. "Holy shit," he breathed before tossing me his keys. I didn’t wait for a thank-you. I jumped into the rickety car and pe
Last Updated : 2025-03-30THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIX: HEADLESS.
AVERY’S POV: Gunfire erupted, loud and sudden, tearing through the air. The crack of bullets sent my heart slamming against my ribs as I instinctively ducked, pressing Sea tightly against my chest. Chaos exploded around me. Men shouted, scrambling for cover, their weapons drawn, but they weren’t quick enough. Whoever was shooting had the upper hand, and the sound of bodies dropping confirmed it. What was happening? I prayed that whosoever was attacking was on my side and not another bad story. I used the distraction to turn as I made my way back to the filthy shack where the other children were trapped. My heart pounded and the kids flinched at the noise, their eyes wide with terror. "Come on," I urged. "We’re getting out of here." Most of them hesitated, too frightened to move. I scanned the room, looking for any who seemed braver and stronger. One boy, probably around ten, had a defiant glint in his eyes. "You," I said, crouching beside him. "I need your help. Get the o
Last Updated : 2025-03-30THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SEVEN: QUEEN BLACKWOOD.
AXEL’S POV:Three days. Three goddamn days, and I still had no answers. Every lead had turned into dust. Every search ended in a dead end. My men scoured the city, tearing through every underground contact, every filthy hole where criminals lurked, yet nothing. My wife and daughter were missing. And I was losing my fucking mind. The rage inside me simmered at a constant boil, threatening to spill over and consume everything in its path. The men around me had felt the brunt of it—broken noses, bruised ribs, everyone cowering with fear whenever I entered the room. I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t eating. I barely breathed without wanting to kill someone. Then Ryan walked in, his face pale but determined. "Boss. We have a location. This one’s solid." I didn’t waste time. "Move." Within seconds, we were in motion. The convoy tore through the streets like a bullet, my men locked and loaded. My fingers twitched against my thigh, my body vibrating with barely restrained violence.
Last Updated : 2025-03-30THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & EIGHT: QUEEN MOVE.
AXEL’S POV:The dungeon was cold, damp, and reeking of iron and sweat. Chains clanked softly as the second-in-command of the syndicate shifted in his restraints, his swollen eyes darting between me and the tools laid out on the metal tray beside him. He had already been through an hour of pain, but he was stubborn—too stubborn. I rolled my shoulders, exhaling. "You can make this easier on yourself," I said, my voice calm, almost conversational. "Tell me who you're working for, and I’ll consider making your death painless." The man, bruised and bloodied, spit on the floor, his split lip curling into something that might have been a smirk if he weren’t already half-dead. "I ain't saying shit." I sighed, dragging a chair forward and sitting down. "Wrong answer." I was about to switch tactics—maybe something more creative, something that would make him regret every breath he was taking—when the heavy iron door creaked open. The air shifted. My men tensed. Avery walked in. She
Last Updated : 2025-03-30THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & NINE: BLACKOUT.
AVERY’S POV:Sea shut down, and it broke my heart. I couldn’t shake the image of Sea’s frightened eyes. It broke my heart. She wouldn’t let anyone near her except Axel and me. Every sudden noise made her flinch, every bang sent her retreating into herself as if it were a gunshot. I put everything on hold—my volunteer work, my training—just to be around her, to help her feel safe. I called her brave and told her she was beautiful. I read her stories about strong, fearless heroines, hoping the words would seep into her bones and remind her that she was more than her fear. I filled our world with light, with warmth, with anything that might bring her back to herself. Axel was there, too. He was patient, gentle, and present in a way that both surprised and reassured me. Cedric checked on her regularly. But for some reason, Axel kept Ryan away from her. Sea asked about him often, her little face confused by his absence, but Axel refused to let them see each other. I tried to talk to
Last Updated : 2025-04-01THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TEN: RUN LIKE A GIRL.
AVERY'S POV:The words slammed into me like a punch to the ribs. My breathing slowed, my heart pounded so violently I could hear it in my ears. My eyes darted frantically across the pages, absorbing lines I couldn’t comprehend, but somehow understood too well.The truth was staring at me, undeniable. I couldn't stay.No.No, no, no…My fingers tightened around the edges of the papers, crumpling them in my grip. My chest ached.Axel had betrayed me. Betrayed us.I felt my knees weaken, my body barely keeping itself upright. This wasn’t just a mistake. This wasn’t something we could come back from.I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out of here. Now. But—Sea. I couldn’t leave her. Not like this. Not after everything she’d been through. But I couldn’t stay. Panic climbed up my throat, squeezing the breath out of me. My mind screamed at me to move, to run, to escape before Axel came back.My world tilted. The thought of Axel, the man I had grown to love despite all his darknes
Last Updated : 2025-04-01THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & ELEVEN: MY HEART HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT.
AXEL’S POV:If Avery hadn’t been there when Sea nearly slipped away, I don’t know if I would have survived it. She was our light in these endless, bruising nights—my guiding star. Every time I thought of the hell that threatened to consume me, I saw her smile, heard her gentle words, and remembered that fate, in its twisted irony, had made her not only my partner but also my cure.I couldn’t keep the secrets from her any longer. If she was to stay in my world, it had to be by her own choice. I craved her pure love, free of deception—something real and untainted.Tonight, I stood among my men, going over every weak spot in our defenses. The estate had to be impenetrable. I wouldn’t risk Avery or Sea. But then—just as I was finalizing orders—the lights cut out.For a split second, I felt as if the very ground had vanished beneath me. I immediately grabbed my phone and contacted Baron, who now controlled the estate’s security. I had already stripped Ryan of his responsibilities in that
Last Updated : 2025-04-03THE 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 : 2024-11-02
Latest chapter
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & ELEVEN: MY HEART HAS BEEN RIPPED OUT.
AXEL’S POV:If Avery hadn’t been there when Sea nearly slipped away, I don’t know if I would have survived it. She was our light in these endless, bruising nights—my guiding star. Every time I thought of the hell that threatened to consume me, I saw her smile, heard her gentle words, and remembered that fate, in its twisted irony, had made her not only my partner but also my cure.I couldn’t keep the secrets from her any longer. If she was to stay in my world, it had to be by her own choice. I craved her pure love, free of deception—something real and untainted.Tonight, I stood among my men, going over every weak spot in our defenses. The estate had to be impenetrable. I wouldn’t risk Avery or Sea. But then—just as I was finalizing orders—the lights cut out.For a split second, I felt as if the very ground had vanished beneath me. I immediately grabbed my phone and contacted Baron, who now controlled the estate’s security. I had already stripped Ryan of his responsibilities in that
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & TEN: RUN LIKE A GIRL.
AVERY'S POV:The words slammed into me like a punch to the ribs. My breathing slowed, my heart pounded so violently I could hear it in my ears. My eyes darted frantically across the pages, absorbing lines I couldn’t comprehend, but somehow understood too well.The truth was staring at me, undeniable. I couldn't stay.No.No, no, no…My fingers tightened around the edges of the papers, crumpling them in my grip. My chest ached.Axel had betrayed me. Betrayed us.I felt my knees weaken, my body barely keeping itself upright. This wasn’t just a mistake. This wasn’t something we could come back from.I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out of here. Now. But—Sea. I couldn’t leave her. Not like this. Not after everything she’d been through. But I couldn’t stay. Panic climbed up my throat, squeezing the breath out of me. My mind screamed at me to move, to run, to escape before Axel came back.My world tilted. The thought of Axel, the man I had grown to love despite all his darknes
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & NINE: BLACKOUT.
AVERY’S POV:Sea shut down, and it broke my heart. I couldn’t shake the image of Sea’s frightened eyes. It broke my heart. She wouldn’t let anyone near her except Axel and me. Every sudden noise made her flinch, every bang sent her retreating into herself as if it were a gunshot. I put everything on hold—my volunteer work, my training—just to be around her, to help her feel safe. I called her brave and told her she was beautiful. I read her stories about strong, fearless heroines, hoping the words would seep into her bones and remind her that she was more than her fear. I filled our world with light, with warmth, with anything that might bring her back to herself. Axel was there, too. He was patient, gentle, and present in a way that both surprised and reassured me. Cedric checked on her regularly. But for some reason, Axel kept Ryan away from her. Sea asked about him often, her little face confused by his absence, but Axel refused to let them see each other. I tried to talk to
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & EIGHT: QUEEN MOVE.
AXEL’S POV:The dungeon was cold, damp, and reeking of iron and sweat. Chains clanked softly as the second-in-command of the syndicate shifted in his restraints, his swollen eyes darting between me and the tools laid out on the metal tray beside him. He had already been through an hour of pain, but he was stubborn—too stubborn. I rolled my shoulders, exhaling. "You can make this easier on yourself," I said, my voice calm, almost conversational. "Tell me who you're working for, and I’ll consider making your death painless." The man, bruised and bloodied, spit on the floor, his split lip curling into something that might have been a smirk if he weren’t already half-dead. "I ain't saying shit." I sighed, dragging a chair forward and sitting down. "Wrong answer." I was about to switch tactics—maybe something more creative, something that would make him regret every breath he was taking—when the heavy iron door creaked open. The air shifted. My men tensed. Avery walked in. She
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SEVEN: QUEEN BLACKWOOD.
AXEL’S POV:Three days. Three goddamn days, and I still had no answers. Every lead had turned into dust. Every search ended in a dead end. My men scoured the city, tearing through every underground contact, every filthy hole where criminals lurked, yet nothing. My wife and daughter were missing. And I was losing my fucking mind. The rage inside me simmered at a constant boil, threatening to spill over and consume everything in its path. The men around me had felt the brunt of it—broken noses, bruised ribs, everyone cowering with fear whenever I entered the room. I wasn’t sleeping. I wasn’t eating. I barely breathed without wanting to kill someone. Then Ryan walked in, his face pale but determined. "Boss. We have a location. This one’s solid." I didn’t waste time. "Move." Within seconds, we were in motion. The convoy tore through the streets like a bullet, my men locked and loaded. My fingers twitched against my thigh, my body vibrating with barely restrained violence.
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & SIX: HEADLESS.
AVERY’S POV: Gunfire erupted, loud and sudden, tearing through the air. The crack of bullets sent my heart slamming against my ribs as I instinctively ducked, pressing Sea tightly against my chest. Chaos exploded around me. Men shouted, scrambling for cover, their weapons drawn, but they weren’t quick enough. Whoever was shooting had the upper hand, and the sound of bodies dropping confirmed it. What was happening? I prayed that whosoever was attacking was on my side and not another bad story. I used the distraction to turn as I made my way back to the filthy shack where the other children were trapped. My heart pounded and the kids flinched at the noise, their eyes wide with terror. "Come on," I urged. "We’re getting out of here." Most of them hesitated, too frightened to move. I scanned the room, looking for any who seemed braver and stronger. One boy, probably around ten, had a defiant glint in his eyes. "You," I said, crouching beside him. "I need your help. Get the o
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FIVE: HUNT GAME.
AVERY'S POV:The car I was driving would be too recognizable, I thought. Too flashy. It would get me caught before I even got close to Sea. My heartbeat thundered in my chest as I veered off the main road, spotting a rundown gas station where a teenager was refueling an old, dented sedan. Perfect. I pulled up beside him, stepping out before he could process what was happening. His eyes widened as I approached in a hurry. "Hey, kid," I said, tossing my keys at him. He fumbled, catching them with confusion. "Wha—?" "Trade me," I cut in, already pulling a wad of cash from my pocket and shoving it into his hoodie. "I need your car." His jaw dropped. "You serious?" I didn’t have time for this. "Do I look like I’m joking? Take the cash, take the car, and get the hell out of here." He gawked at the machine behind me, then at the crumpled bills in his hands. "Holy shit," he breathed before tossing me his keys. I didn’t wait for a thank-you. I jumped into the rickety car and pe
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FOUR: SEARCHING.
AXEL’S POV:The moment I pulled up to the estate, the atmosphere showed that I was ready to end the world for Avery and Sea. The training field was crawling with my men—an army of ghosts and reapers, men who only knew war, waiting for my command. Snipers had taken their positions on the rooftops, their rifles gleaming under the floodlights. Hackers sat behind screens at the far end of the yard, eyes locked onto lines of encrypted codes as they tracked signals, scoured CCTV footage, and intercepted communications. Hitmen were assembling in clusters, loading magazines, sharpening knives, and awaiting orders. The air itself felt heavy, laced with the smell of gunpowder and sweat. The scent of impending violence. As I stepped out of the car, every man on the field turned, their movements synchronized like a well-oiled machine. One by one, they bowed, showing respect. I ignored them, my gaze fixed on Devon, who stood at the far end, a phone pressed to his ear, his other hand clenched
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & THREE: DEMANDS.
AVERY’S POV:It was surprising how a good woman was all I needed to feel human again. To feel emotions beyond rage, beyond vengeance. When Avery confessed that she loved me, I was speechless. Not because I didn’t feel the same, but because I didn’t know how to contain the excitement surging through me. I wanted my response to be backed by action—something solid, something undeniable. I had it all planned out for when she came back home with my angel. But for now, business came first. I sat in my office, surrounded by men in pressed suits, their eyes filled with greed as we discussed investments. The relaunch of my nightclub was on the table, along with other ventures that would serve as cover for the money I intended to launder. After Harrington’s stunt, I needed new allies and new shields, and investing in these businesses was just another move before the real game began. The conversation droned on, figures and projections thrown around, but I wasn’t truly listening. My mind wa
