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CHAPTER TWELVE: MAYBE THERE’S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
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2024-12-15 21:03:53Related chapters
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE KNOCK.
AXEL’S POV:I was fuming. My pulse thundered as I stood in the center of the room, glaring at the team that had failed me. "How can you all lose one tiny woman?" I roared, my voice reverberating through the stone walls. Avery was gone. She’d slipped through the cracks of my fortress—my fortress, built to be impenetrable. Now it felt like a mockery, a hollow shell of what it was supposed to be.Ryan stood beside me, maddeningly calm, his hands buried in his pockets. His silence only stoked the fire burning in my chest. They said they'd been combing through every inch of the surrounding area all night, and not one man could give me an answer that made sense. How had she slipped past them? Past me?Brady, head of my security patrol, finally worked up the courage and stepped forward. His massive frame shrank under my gaze, his hands shaking as he began, "It... it appears there was a tiny exit in the dilapidated—" his anxiety got the better of him, and his words poured out in a jumbled, in
Last Updated : 2024-12-17THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FOURTEEN: MY ANGEL.
AXEL’S POV:Before the door opened, Ryan moved with practiced precision, shrugging off his suit jacket and draping it over Brady’s lifeless body to hide the blood. Without needing instruction, the four guards standing nearby followed suit, layering their jackets to cover the crimson-stained mess. The room now looked less like a crime scene and more like a chaotic office momentarily interrupted.The sharp tapping of little feet echoed on the wooden floor, a cheerful rhythm that clashed with the tension in the room. "Uncle Ryan!" Sea’s bright voice called out as she rushed in, her small frame being enveloped by Ryan’s massive body.Sea looked darling in her white gown, which featured a flowing, floor-length skirt that twirled around her legs every move. A sweet bow tie belt cinched at her waist, adding a touch of playfulness to her overall look. Her host, a beautiful, skin-toned hue, complemented her complexion perfectly. On her feet, she wore comfortable flat shoes. Finally, a black ja
Last Updated : 2024-12-18THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE INFORMANT.
AXEL’S POV:Sea clung to me as Ryan trailed behind us, heading outside.The patio was drenched in golden sunlight, making the pool glisten. The air smelled faintly of freshly cut grass and chlorine, cool. Sea wriggled in my arms until I had no choice but to set her down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she stepped back, her face scrunched up in a frown. She crossed her tiny arms over her stomach, her Barbie doll dangling awkwardly from one hand. “Why did I think any differently?” she muttered. “They always leave.” The words struck me. My daughter rarely displayed such frustration, especially over people leaving. She barely batted an eye when her nannies quit one after another, declaring her “too much to handle.” But now, there was a new disappointing tone to her words that made me freeze. “Sea,” I started, but before I could say another word, she turned sharply on her heel, walking away with as much purpose as her little legs could muster. Sea marched past Ryan without
Last Updated : 2024-12-18THE 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 : 2024-11-02THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWO: A BROKEN HOMECOMING.
AVERY'S POV:I felt an overwhelming urge to storm into the house, to confront Chase and demand answers for this chaos. But my feet barely took a step before I was abruptly halted. The sudden loss of momentum left me reeling, like a door slammed shut in my face. This was my house. I should be treated with reverence and respect as Mrs. Grayson. Not being handled as a nobody – invisible, insignificant, and utterly powerless.The guard shoved me into a room, dark and suffocating, as if it was meant to close around me like a vice. The rough edges of the doorframe scraped against my arms, but I didn’t flinch. I barely felt it. I could only stand there, swallowing down bile, my heart beating out some useless plea that this was all a nightmare.But it wasn’t. Chase had left me rotting in that prison, only to serve me divorce papers on the day of my release. As if that wasn’t enough, the invitation to his wedding—his wedding to my own sister—had been tucked right beside them like a sick joke.
Last Updated : 2024-11-02THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER THREE: WITHERED PETALS.
AXEL’S POV:Business was good—no, it was flawless. My name alone struck fear wherever it was spoken, and respect was a currency I never ran short of. In every boardroom, back alley, and underground circuit, I was Axel Blackwood: a god among men, ruthless and unyielding. Just the way I liked it.But there was still an itch I couldn’t scratch. The kind that sank deep, an ache gnawing at my insides every time I closed my eyes. Revenge. I’d returned to finish what had started years ago, blood debts left unpaid. I was patient, though. I’d learned to savor it—blood, sweat, and tears from everyone who’d ever dared to cross me.Yet, today, the taste of satisfaction had dulled. I’d spent most of my day distracted, my focus slipping. Sea, my six-year-old daughter, had seemed out of sorts, her usual bright chatter dimmed. She’d stood in the doorway of my office, pouting in that way only she could.“Daddy, you’re always working,” she said, her voice tiny and cracked. “I need someone who can actua
Last Updated : 2024-11-02THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FOUR: THE COPPER EYES.
AVERY'S POV:His voice cut through me, sharp and cold, and I didn’t need a second reminder to obey. As Katie, the maid who introduced herself in a low, calm tone, led me down a quiet, lavish hallway, my mind was fixated on one thing: his left eye. The one I could see.Axel Blackwood’s left eye was a smoldering, molten copper—alive with an inner fire that seemed to light up the very air around him. The iris, polished like burnished penny, radiated an intense warmth and depth that made the gaze hypnotic, magnetic. Flecks of gold glinted within that coppery storm, as if shards of sunlight had taken residence there, restless and burning. The cream-toned skin around his eye only served to make its color more striking, like the contrast of fire against pale ember. And his lash, thick and dark, framed his eye like brushstrokes on a masterpiece, accentuating the dangerous gleam within them.As he’d looked at me, his eys had held a glint of mischief, laced with something far darker—command, au
Last Updated : 2024-11-02THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FIVE: EAGLE'S EYES.
AXEL’S POV:I leaned back in my office chair, rubbing the part of my chest that still ached like a damn knife wound. No one knew the truth I was harboring along with a dozen other secrets: I was dying. Slowly, and it felt as brutal as anything I’d ever inflicted on my enemies. The doctors broke it to me two months ago—an inexplicable hole in my heart, they said. "Six months left, if you're lucky." Nature, or fate, or karma—whatever it was—finally decided to catch up.It was right after I’d taken care of a bastard and his entire family who’d tried sabotaging one of my shipments. I didn’t feel a damn thing as I strangled him, then ordered my men to take out every breathing thing in his house. There’s no other way to be clear: you cross me, you die. He knew the stakes when he made his choice. Still, something about him and his family felt… strange.But there was no time for questions now, especially with the ticking clock in my chest. It’s what pushed me to find Sea someone to leave her
Last Updated : 2024-11-06
Latest chapter
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE INFORMANT.
AXEL’S POV:Sea clung to me as Ryan trailed behind us, heading outside.The patio was drenched in golden sunlight, making the pool glisten. The air smelled faintly of freshly cut grass and chlorine, cool. Sea wriggled in my arms until I had no choice but to set her down. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she stepped back, her face scrunched up in a frown. She crossed her tiny arms over her stomach, her Barbie doll dangling awkwardly from one hand. “Why did I think any differently?” she muttered. “They always leave.” The words struck me. My daughter rarely displayed such frustration, especially over people leaving. She barely batted an eye when her nannies quit one after another, declaring her “too much to handle.” But now, there was a new disappointing tone to her words that made me freeze. “Sea,” I started, but before I could say another word, she turned sharply on her heel, walking away with as much purpose as her little legs could muster. Sea marched past Ryan without
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER FOURTEEN: MY ANGEL.
AXEL’S POV:Before the door opened, Ryan moved with practiced precision, shrugging off his suit jacket and draping it over Brady’s lifeless body to hide the blood. Without needing instruction, the four guards standing nearby followed suit, layering their jackets to cover the crimson-stained mess. The room now looked less like a crime scene and more like a chaotic office momentarily interrupted.The sharp tapping of little feet echoed on the wooden floor, a cheerful rhythm that clashed with the tension in the room. "Uncle Ryan!" Sea’s bright voice called out as she rushed in, her small frame being enveloped by Ryan’s massive body.Sea looked darling in her white gown, which featured a flowing, floor-length skirt that twirled around her legs every move. A sweet bow tie belt cinched at her waist, adding a touch of playfulness to her overall look. Her host, a beautiful, skin-toned hue, complemented her complexion perfectly. On her feet, she wore comfortable flat shoes. Finally, a black ja
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE KNOCK.
AXEL’S POV:I was fuming. My pulse thundered as I stood in the center of the room, glaring at the team that had failed me. "How can you all lose one tiny woman?" I roared, my voice reverberating through the stone walls. Avery was gone. She’d slipped through the cracks of my fortress—my fortress, built to be impenetrable. Now it felt like a mockery, a hollow shell of what it was supposed to be.Ryan stood beside me, maddeningly calm, his hands buried in his pockets. His silence only stoked the fire burning in my chest. They said they'd been combing through every inch of the surrounding area all night, and not one man could give me an answer that made sense. How had she slipped past them? Past me?Brady, head of my security patrol, finally worked up the courage and stepped forward. His massive frame shrank under my gaze, his hands shaking as he began, "It... it appears there was a tiny exit in the dilapidated—" his anxiety got the better of him, and his words poured out in a jumbled, in
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TWELVE: MAYBE THERE’S LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL.
AVERY’S POV:"Avery..." my mother called out. I gnored her and continued."When I was helping you with contracts, bringing in clients, and doing everything you asked, you always had a new task for me. I'm in trouble again, and you're turning your back on me. Please, I need you until the police figure out what's going on." I blurted out, my emotions boiling over.My mother's face crumpled, and she dissolved into sobs. Seeing her like that shattered me. I loved her so much, and knowing I'd caused her pain was unbearable. The weight of my regret crushed me. I shouldn't have spoken those words; they'd tumbled out before I could stop them."Mum, I’m..." I tried to apologize, but she wouldn't let me get the words out."Shut up, Avery!" Her face twisted with rage as she stormed back toward me. The slap landed before I even registered her movement. My cheek stung, the sound echoing in the room. "How dare you!" she spat, her voice venomous and low. "You think you can manipulate me with guilt
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER ELEVEN: THE STING.
AVERY’S POV:"Mum, I was kidnapped by a stranger," I began, my eyes scanning every shadowy corner, my gaze darting back and forth to ensure we were truly alone. "I barely managed to escape. Please, we need to call the police. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m so scared," I begged, my voice shaking as I clung to the last shred of hope I had. Their reaction caught me off guard. I had braced myself for concern, for sympathetic hands reaching for phones to call for help, for warm arms enveloping me in comfort. But instead, they stood frozen, their faces impassive, their eyes unyielding. My mother's icy blue eyes bore into me with a look so detached it hurt more than my bruises. "What nonsense are you talking about?" she asked, her voice clipped and dripping with disbelief. "Mum, I’m not joking." I took a shaky step back, my voice cracking as I narrated the entire incident. My disheveled appearance, the bruises and cuts on my skin, and my bloodshot eyes should have been enough
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER TEN: IN THE FIELD.
AVERY'S POV:“Avery Grayson,” I whispered, gripping the receiver so tightly my knuckles ached. It was the last name my ID bore. It should give them a heads-up on finding me. “I was taken to a house… a big estate. There were guards—armed guards. I escaped through the woods, but I don’t know where I am now. Please, they’ll find me if I don’t get away.” The dispatcher’s tone shifted, becoming sharper. “Avery, can you see any street signs or landmarks? Anything that might help us locate you?” I looked around frantically, the faint glow of a nearby store sign catching my eye. “There’s… there’s a gas station down the road. I think it says ‘Jefferson Fuel.’” “Good. That’s a start. Stay there if you can. Officers are being dispatched to your location now.” “No!” I blurted out, panic taking over every nerve. “I can’t stay here. What if they find me first? I can’t be taken back to him. I won’t survive.” “Okay, Avery,” the dispatcher said calmly, “do you know the address of where you’r
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER NINE: NOWHERE.
AVERY'S POV: I bolted from the thicket, leaving the gruesome scene behind me. My pulse thundered in my ears as my bare feet slapped against the damp, cold earth. The maze loomed, suffocating in its enormity, its hedges closing in like walls of an unending prison. I didn’t care about getting lost anymore—I just needed to keep moving. I didn’t think about Axel, bloodied and monstrous, or the guards, or even the possibility of being caught. Survival had taken over, and every breath burned as I pushed my body past exhaustion. The jagged edges of branches snagged at my arms and legs as I tore through the maze, leaving faint trails of blood on the leaves. My dress now shredded and caked with dirt, mostly torn. My feet stung with every step, the soft soles of my shoes long gone, leaving my skin exposed to the rough ground. A sharp stone tore through the arch of my foot, and I bit back a scream, my teeth sinking into my lip until I tasted copper. I couldn’t stop. If I stopped, I was as good
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER EIGHT: FACE-TO-FACE WITH DIABLO.
AVERY'S POV:The idea hit me like a spark, and suddenly, every cell in my body felt electrified. Could this be my chance? Instead of relaxing into this twisted arrangement, I’d rather be smart and run while I still could. I had no plans to settle into this deceitful life, to play the submissive wife. I had to get out.With my heart pounding, I bolted downstairs, keeping my steps light and quick. Every glance over my shoulder felt like Axel’s eyes might appear in the shadows, tracking my every move. But I didn’t stop. I reached a side door that led outside, and without hesitation, I slipped through, barely closing it behind me before breaking into a run.The night air was sharp and cool, but I barely felt it as I sprinted, following a path that led away from the house. The grounds were enormous, more like an estate than a simple backyard, with sprawling gardens and dense hedges lining the pathways. I thought I could see the edge, some glimpse of freedom, but as I rounded a corner, I st
THE WIFE YOU LEFT CHAPTER SEVEN: SPRINT.
AVERY'S POV:Sea's small voice, full of vulnerability, tugged at memories I hadn’t let myself touch in years. Hearing her admit she was afraid of the dark was like looking in a mirror back to my own childhood. I remembered lying in bed, hiding under covers, watching shadows stretch across the walls, and waiting for the sound of my father’s footsteps. He’d read me a story every night, staying until I drifted off. If he left even a second too soon, I’d call out for him, sure that the monsters would sneak in the moment he was gone.I glanced down at Sea, curled up tightly, hugging her teddy bear. Her eyes peeked over its fuzzy head, watching me warily, not trusting but not sending me away either. Slowly, I stepped closer to her bed and lowered myself down, one hand gently resting on her back. Her shoulders were stiff, defensive, but she didn’t pull away.My eyes locked onto the phone nestled next to her pillow, and I knew I had to act. I paused for a moment, collecting my thoughts.“Woul
