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CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT: ACTION.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2025-02-27 08:48:27
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE: THE MOOD IS RUINED.
AVERY’S POV:Their expressions showed boredom. I could see the silent judgment in their eyes. I averted my eyes immediately.Baron extended his hand to help me up. “Training’s over for now, Avery. You did well today.” I accepted his hand, rising with a limping gait.With my battered body, I made my way back into the house. As I reached the driveway, I was met by the joyful cry of Sea, who had just returned from school. “Avery!” she called, her eyes lighting up as she rushed toward me. Without hesitation, I scooped her into my arms, a warm smile softening my features as I welcomed her home. I couldn’t help but apologize for my disheveled appearance—sweaty, and likely reeking of the hard work I’d put in.“It’s okay, Avery,” she giggled, wrapping her arms around me. “You always smell nice, even when you’re covered in sweat.” Her innocence and acceptance always had a way of melting away the hard edges of my day.My stomach rumbled loudly reminding me that I’d barely eaten, just a bite of
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-02-27THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY: THE OTHER SIDE OF ME.
AXEL’S POV:We'd watched from the balcony as Avery trained. I could hardly believe it was her first time undergoing intensive training. From the way she moved, so tactically, she handled every drill with a focus that belied her inexperience. Ryan even managed a small, approving nod while I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the sight. Just as she finished, returning to the house, Sea also came back from school. I wanted to go spend time with Sea, but as I walked to her room, leaving the balcony, the faint strains of a song nearly lulled me to sleep. I paused at the door and peered inside, only to see Avery and Sea together. Avery was singing—her voice was gentle and unrestrained, blending seamlessly with Sea’s joy. It looked normal instead of being an odd scene, almost as if Avery had become Sea’s biological mother rather than someone I had a deal with. I found it both heartwarming and disconcerting because we all know she was acting. I let them be, knowing that these moments of conn
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY-ONE: CROSSING THE BRIDGE.
AXEL’S POV:Avery’s body kept brushing against mine. It wasn’t deliberate, I knew that much, but I still noticed every single time it happened. Like when she reached past me to grab something from the counter, the warmth of her arm grazing mine. Or when she bent down to pick up a spoon and stood too fast, bumping straight into my chest. She’d gasped, startled, and I’d felt the soft press of her back against me before she quickly stepped away. It wasn’t just me. Sea, being the little menace she was, decided to start a flour fight while we were cooking. One handful in Avery’s direction, then one at me, until all three of us were caught in a mess of white dust and laughter. Avery had fought back, smearing flour on Sea’s cheeks, and Sea had squealed, darting between us like a tiny whirlwind. At some point, I’d lost track of how it happened, but I ended up on the floor with Avery sprawled on top of me, and Sea collapsed onto her back, giggling. It didn’t feel awkward. It didn’t feel
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-01THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO: THE SURPRISE.
AVERY'S POV:I lay on my bed, staring at the cracks in the ceiling, trying to make sense of it all. My throat still ached from Axel’s grip, the phantom sensation lingering like a cruel reminder. But the pain wasn’t just physical. It was in the way he’d looked at me—as if I had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. I had taken this too far. Letting myself get comfortable in a world that wasn’t mine. I should have known better than to call Sea my daughter, even as a joke. Even as something that felt natural in the moment. But it wasn’t natural. None of this was. The flour fight, the laughter, the warmth of sitting at the dinner table like a family—it had all been an illusion. And I had let myself sink into it too easily. Like a fool. Axel wasn’t the kind of man who softened, and I had been stupid to forget that. I’d let his presence seep into my thoughts, let the accidental brushes of his touch unsettle me. And for what? A fleeting warmth that was never meant for me? For
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-02THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE: OVERPROTECTIVE.
AXEL’S POV: Sea would one day ask for my already dying heart, and I wouldn't hesitate to give it to her. First, she asked for a baby brother or sister while we cooked yesterday. And today, just as I settled into my home office to review the documents from my lawyers concerning the Grayson empire—my gift to Avery—Sea walked in with her usual sunshine. After wrapping her little arms around me in greeting, she made her requests. “Daddy, let’s have a family day today. I want to spend time with you and Avery. Also… I don’t like being far from Avery. I need to be close to her,” she said, pouting slightly. “Could you get her to move closer to us? Maybe into the empty room next to ours?” It was impossible to deny her. So here I was, already dressed and heading out to meet them by the car. The shock on Avery’s face when she spotted me was satisfying. No one had expected me to tag along, and I kept our security detail minimal—Devon, Baron, and five others. I didn’t want Sea to feel o
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-04THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR: QUICKER THAN EXPECTED.
AVERY'S POV:I couldn’t keep still. Every nerve in my body vibrated, adrenaline pulsing under my skin. My heart pounded so loudly it practically echoed in the back of the limousine. I kept telling myself to calm down, but that was impossible. This was it. All night, I’d gone over the documents Axel left for me. I read every word. Every clause. Every line that spelled out the downfall of my enemies especially Chase. And by morning, my decision was easy. Now, dressed in the designer outfit Axel had picked out, with diamonds on my wrist and revenge in my heart, I knew exactly how today would end—no matter what the headlines said. Because the headlines... God, the headlines were a joke. "Grayson Empire Bounces Back!""Astrid Grayson Saves Husband from Ruin!""Power Couple of the Year!" I nearly rolled my eyes. We pulled up to Grayson Empire’s headquarters. The press swarmed the front entrance. Cameras flashed nonstop. Reporters barked out questions as if Chase was some war he
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-04THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE: POWER LOOKS GOOD ON HER.
AXEL'S POV:The more I tried to run from this little, 4-foot-8-inch woman, the more she dragged me in. Trapped me. Like gravity itself had shifted and Avery was now the center of it all. I've sat at tables with men who built empires and women who could make nations bend. But none of them ever made me pause. None of them ever made me watch the way Avery did. Tonight, power looked good on her. Too good. The way she stood behind that podium, shoulders square, chin tilted slightly upward as if daring the room to challenge her—God, it was magnetic. The chandeliers above across the room couldn’t outshine her. Arms folded across my chest, I observed her every move with rapt attention. She exuded power—elegant yet unyielding—and it was as if the entire room had shrunk in comparison to her presence.A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. I already knew she was going to turn this room inside out. And when she greeted Chase with, “Hello, ex-husband,”—just like that, I knew the game w
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-04THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX: CUTTING TIES.
AVERY’S POV: As I stepped away from the murmuring crowd, the soft click of my sunglasses slipping into place was like a switch, switching off voices and opinions that threatened to consume me. The opulent room, with its lavish furnishings and subtle scent of old money, seemed to fade into the background as my mind began to reel. The question that had been bothering me finally boiled to the surface: why was Axel, the puppeteer, pulling the strings with such leniency? Oh my god, it was like he was setting me up or something! Axel had always been a master manipulator, but this was on a whole different level. He had basically handed me the keys to Grayson, a company he had funneled millions into. It was just... too easy. Axel wasn't exactly known for his altruism. He was enjoying this particular drama. There had to be a catch, right? But what if I had just been paranoid? What if he had really wanted to keep to his words. Ugh, my head had spun just thinking about it. I felt like a pawn
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-04
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THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-EIGHT: FOUND THE GHOST.
AVERY’S POV:"His base would be in Miami. That’s our territory," Axel muttered, scrolling furiously through search results. "He has to be somewhere we already have dominance and power. So why the hell am I finding it difficult to trace him?""Maybe try your own homes," I said, biting into the cracker the hostess handed me. “The biggest and most discreet ones. You know, the kind no one ever talks about but everyone knows not to touch.”He stilled, glanced at me, then nodded slowly. “You’re right. He’s smart enough to hide in plain sight.”As he resumed his search, I finally allowed myself to chew. The snacks weren’t much, but they beat the dry, tasteless scraps I’d been surviving on at Orion. This was the first thing resembling real food I'd had in days."Serena," Axel called suddenly, not even lifting his eyes from the screen."Yes, Mr. Blackwood?" the flight attendant responded immediately, turning like she’d been waiting."Contact the tech team. Tell them I want the real-time locati
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-SEVEN: THE NEW BLACKWOOD.
AVERY’S POV:We never noticed how much Orion had changed the nights we snuck out. The darkness cloaked everything, and in our desperation, we didn’t pay attention or question anything.But daylight doesn’t lie.It wasn’t until we came back down the slope—mud caking our boots, sunlight breaking through the trees—that we saw the truth. Burnt farmlands. Caved-in homes. Charred wooden posts where old lanterns used to hang. The trail had looked enchanted once. Now, it looked like a forgotten battlefield.The two men who guided us stopped near a cluster of boulders, gave a respectful nod, and wordlessly turned back. They didn’t look back once. Axel and I kept walking. And walking. It was torturous, but eventually, we came to a little town that looked almost deserted.Axel hurriedly found a payphone and made a phone call which my brain couldn't register due to how hungry and tired I was. My legs throbbed and my stomach kept reminding me how long it had been since that quick meal back in Or
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED &FORTY-SIX: NOT THE SAME.
AXEL’S POVIf I was still sane, it was only because my mind had already survived worse. That was the only explanation I had for not snapping the second we stepped foot back in the village.They saw us before we saw them.A shrill scream pierced the air, followed by the unmistakable hiss of metal drawn from sheaths. Blades flashed in the fading light. Men ran toward us with their swords raised, eyes wide with terror—not rage."Stay back!" someone yelled. "Don’t come any closer!""You shouldn't be here!" another man cried, backing away with trembling hands. "We buried you! You’re not real! You’re ghosts—vengeful spirits!"I tensed, stepping in front of Avery instinctively.Akira raised both hands, her voice strong but calm. "Peace! Peace, it's us!" she called out. "It's truly us. We've returned."The group hesitated, their weapons still raised, eyes darting between us like they were waiting for us to vanish in smoke. A woman dropped her bowl of water. It shattered on the ground."How is
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-FIVE: IT'S TIME.
AVERY’S POV:“What?” Axel blinked. “That has to be a joke.”Akira gave him a look. “When have you ever known me to joke?”“But—seven years?”She nodded. “It started counting differently once our spirits left the House of Judgment. One day in this temple equals one year in the human world.”I stared at her, trying to process. “So... when I was yelling at you two to wake up, that was normal time. But once we began the process—”“Time shifted,” she said. “You experienced four normal days and seven spiritual days. In the human world, it’s been over seven years.”Axel let out a breath. “So technically, I’m fifty-two now? Avery’s thirty-one? And Sea—” He paused. “She’d be thirteen.”“Not quite,” Akira replied calmly. “You didn’t age. None of us did. We still look, feel, and are the same age as when we first entered. But the world we’re going back to… it moved on.”I looked at my hands, then at Axel’s face. He hadn’t changed. Neither had I.“But everyone we left behind…” I whispered. “They c
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-FOUR: THE KICK THAT GAVE HOPE.
AVERY’S POV:Apparently, I might not get everything back.But I have Axel. I have Akira. And for now, that was enough.Nothing’s been the same since I woke up seven days ago. Not even the way the air feels in my lungs. It’s lighter—but heavier, somehow. Akira had waited until the second morning to tell me.“There’s no heartbeat,” she said.Just like that.Axel looked just as stunned as I felt. His grip on my hand didn’t loosen, though. If anything, he held tighter.Later that night, while I stared up at the cracked ceiling, unable to stop the tears from creeping into my ears, he pulled me against him and said, “I’d rather let a child I’ve never met go than lose you. We’ll make another one, Avery. Don’t be too sad.”He’s been like that ever since.Solid. Ridiculous. Unshakable.When my sadness slips in, he trains with me. When I get too quiet, he cracks a joke—sometimes awful enough to make me roll my eyes, but it works.What surprised us both was how different we were. I took time to
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-THREE:NEVER BEEN HAPPIER TO SEE THE MOON.
AXEL’S POV:"You can’t mention any of this to anyone," Akira stated. "The last time we tried to be inclusive, half of us were wiped out, and the rest were exploited. Once this is over, we’d prefer to be left in peace. Our existence must remain a secret. We have so much to rebuild. Our land… it was ripped in two."That was my doing. I meaning the ripping the land into two part.And I swore, right then, to rebuild it for them. Every stone, every torn root, every inch of earth that had felt the weight of destruction—I would give it back.I understood her fear. People destroy what they don’t understand. And this place—this divine, terrifying place—was a miracle the outside world would dissect like a corpse. They wouldn’t see wonder; they’d see something to own. Something to use."I’ll respect your wish," I said quietly."Thank you."But my curiosity wasn’t done with me yet. "Tell me about this place. How was it founded? Who rules here—do you have a president? Prime minister? Or is this mo
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-TWO: SECRETS OF THE DIVINE.
AXEL’S POV:An invisible force surged through me like a pressure wave, ripping the air out of my lungs. Before I could blink, I was flung backward—lifted off my feet like a ragdoll and hurled through the air. The floor caught me with a punishing thud, pain ricocheting up my spine as the breath whooshed from my chest.I groaned, sprawled across the cold earth, my limbs momentarily useless.“Axel, quit it!” the woman snapped. “You’ve done enough already to piss off everyone. Just sit and wait.”I sat up slowly, dust clinging to my skin and frustration burning in my gut.“Do you think you care more about her than I do?”I didn’t reply. I didn’t have to.Because she didn’t love Avery as much as I did to care. So I thought. I didn’t need to hear it from her mouth to know I’d been screwing up left and right. Every time I acted on impulse, people paid the price. The burden of my mistakes stared back at me, and I reflected on the catastrophic consequences of my errors. If only I had been mo
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY-ONE: THE IMPOSSIBLE.
AXEL’S POV:I came back like I was clawing my way through layers of nothingness. Everything was silent—then not. It was like drowning in an ocean without water, suffocating on something I couldn’t see until I burst through some invisible surface and inhaled like I hadn’t breathed in centuries.My eyes shot open.Bright. Too bright.I blinked, once—twice. The light didn’t burn. I could see. Both eyes. Clear, like someone had lifted a veil from the world.The realization slammed into me harder than the bullet had: I was alive.No. No, that wasn’t possible.I tried to move and found myself tightly bound from neck to ankles. The rough texture of cloth wrapped around every inch of me—like a preserved relic, like something meant to stay buried.I’d been dead.The memory returned like lightning. The sound of gunshots. The searing heat in my chest. Blood. So much of it. And then the dark."Avery," I rasped, voice hoarse like it hadn’t been used in weeks—or ever.Her eyes widened like she’d se
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED & FORTY: AN ANSWER.
AVERY’S POV: Swallowing hard and exhaling, my body felt like brittle glass. “If anyone should be punished... it should be me. Yes, it should. I—” I staggered, stammering, my chest tightening as guilt tore through me. “I brought all this... on them. I cursed. I lashed out. I lost control. Take my life, just bring them back. Please—please!”My hands shook as I looked down at the blood still clinging to my skin. “The child... the child was innocent,” I mentioned, then screamed, “Do you hear me?! They didn’t do anything! This baby has never done a single wicked thing in their entire life! What about Akira that lived a pure life? And Axel—he didn’t even know about the baby! He never got to know!”I choked on my own sob, clenching my fists. “Oman!" I shouted, lifting my head. “Kore! Where are you?! If I am yours—if I carry even a drop of your blood—then show up! Do something! Show me mercy! Please! I’m not begging as a warrior or a vessel. I’m begging as your child. I’m just a daughter ask
