Silver Keys

Chapter Three: Rising Fury

Axel rolled his wheelchair towards her and held her hand, trying to comfort her. She wasn't one to really cry, so seeing her stand there crying out and sobbing broke something in him. He didn't envision it to be like this. He didn't anticipate that she would have enemies this crafty. He hadn't prepared enough or in time to help out.

He glanced at her as he wrapped his hand around her arm. It was hot and sweaty, almost feverish. “Oh, god,” he muttered, realizing how much she was being affected physically and mentally. He needed to sort whatever he needed to do tomorrow and quickly start his mission to help her out and probably reveal what he had been doing to her so she would be at ease.

“You need to get some rest,” he said, in a soft tone. She glanced at him and in annoyance, turned around, yanked her hand away and shoved him back. He reeled back and his wheelchair tires hit the small stone on the ground twisted and wheeled sideways. He could feel his head swinging in waves as he saw the cold hard floor coming fast

Time seemed to slow as Axel fell to the ground, the jarring impact sent stings of pain through his body. He winced and groaned as his head slammed against the floor, he didn't expect it, in fact he had no clue what had just happened for a while. All he saw were several colours dancing around in his head, before the pain and shock eased and he could feel his head throbbing and his eyes a little blurry.

Marina stood frozen for a heartbeat, her hands hovering mid-air, unsure whether to reach out to help him or not. She watched as Axel tried to bring himself up to a sitting position, his face squeezing with discomfort, and groans spewing from his mouth. The chair had been his lifeline, and now, lying on the ground, he felt utterly helpless.

“Axel,” she whispered, a flicker of concern crossing her face, but all it was, was a flicker that quickly left her face. She stared at him with a cold gaze.

There was something about this moment that made her incapable of compassion or all the other things that.made her a better person, all she saw in her own face was hate. She had seen pain, known pain and understood pain and she only wanted to release it at the moment and anger and hatred seemed to be the only way it was a little easy for her.

“Get up,” she said, her voice turning mockingly light. “What’s the matter? Can’t even stand up on your own?” she shook her head in annoyance. “Come on, get up! Just do something for once in your life.” She shook her head, running her hand through her hair. “Can you see how pathetic you look, can you see how,” she sighed. “You look like a fuckin' loser… no you are a fuckin' loser.”

“Marina…” he started, but the words caught in his throat. He stretched his hand to her. “Help me up,” he stuttered at last.

“You need me to feed you, you need me to clothe you, you need me to shelter you. I protected you, I have done it all, now you can't even get up on your own. I suggest you lay there forever,” she said with a sigh.

He pushed himself but fell back to the ground, the weight of her words seemed to be adding to the force of gravity that was already clearly against him at the moment.

“Don’t struggle needlessly,” she taunted, her eyes narrowing as she stepped away. Instead of helping him, she turned her back, striding toward the table where a check lay waiting. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the check onto the floor beside him. It landed with a soft thud, the paper glimmering in the light.

Axel’s gaze fell on the check as he tried to push himself up. One million dollars. It was a fraction of the ten million that her family traditionally provided as startup capital for adult children. Despite Marina building her company into a billion-dollar enterprise over three years, it had been swallowed whole by her family's machinations. They had taken everything, transferring the company to her brother as if it were nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game.

“This is it,” she said, her voice devoid of emotion. “The last of it. One million to mark the end of whatever we had.”

“Marina, please,” Axel said, his heart racing as he finally managed to push himself onto his knees. “Just give me one more day. I can make things right. I—”

“Make things right?” she interrupted, shaking her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. “You think you can fix this? You think one more day will change anything? This isn’t just about you anymore, Axel. My name, my legacy, my father's legacy all of it has been dragged through the mud. Not anymore. I will accept my fate and that will be it.”

Axel shook his head, she didn't understand, but she can't understand now. If he showed her and it all ended in failure, he wouldn't be able to fix it, he needed to actually create something first. He was being pushed to the wall, and he could feel himself sweating and his hand getting slippery.

“Marina,” he said again, softer this time. “You cannot give up. Not like this, not without a fight. Come on, just trust me one more day. Please.”

“I’m sorry,” she replied. “I can't anymore, I am done,” she said. “I know when I have been defeated, and I have been defeated,” she sighed.

He realized she has indeed given up. All this would clear up tomorrow, he thought to himself. “So that’s it? You’re just going to walk away?”

“Yes,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s over.”

As she turned to leave, Axel watched her walk away, each step echoing in the emptiness of the room. He felt like he was sinking into a dark abyss, the weight of despair pulling him down deeper and deeper. He had already gone through rehabilitation, but now it felt like he was losing the most significant battle of his life.

Lying on the floor, Axel stared at the ceiling, feeling the tears prick at his eyes. How had it come to this? The woman he loved was leaving him, and he couldn’t even stand to stop her. It was a cruel twist of fate, and all he could do was lay there and watch her go.

Just then, he heard the door creak open. He thought it was Marina returning, perhaps to reconsider her decision. But instead, Victor, her brother, strolled in with a swagger that radiated arrogance.

“Look at this,” he jeered, surveying the room before his gaze landed on Axel. “What a sight. The mighty Axel, reduced to lying on the floor like a pathetic worm.” He laughed, the sound dripping with malice.

Marina froze at the threshold, her expression shifting from hope to dread. “Victor,” she said, her voice steadying as she confronted her brother. “What do you want?”

“I just came to see how the two losers were faring,” Victor said, stepping closer to Axel. “What’s wrong, Axel? Did your wife finally realize how useless you are? Did she find out that her broken little husband is nothing but a burden?”

Axel clenched his fists, feeling rage bubbling beneath the surface. “Get out, Victor,” he spat, his voice filled with defiance.

Victor leaned closer, a smirk playing on his lips. “Oh, but I’m just getting started. You see, I’ve come to claim what’s rightfully mine.”

“Claim what?” Marina demanded, stepping forward. “What do you mean?”

“I want custody of the house,” Victor stated nonchalantly, as if it were an ordinary request.

Marina’s face paled. “You can’t be serious! This is our home. It’s the only place Axel feels safe. You can’t take it away from us!”

Victor rolled his eyes, a cruel smile stretching across his face. “I don’t care about your sentimental attachments. This house belongs to me now, and I will make sure you and your crippled husband are out of here by the end of the week.”

“Victor, please,” Marina pleaded, desperation lacing her words as she reached out to grab his shirt, her grip tightening. “At least let us keep the house. It means everything to us!”

He pushed her away with ease, and she stumbled back, falling to her knees. The sight of her vulnerability angered Axel more than anything. To hell with the plan. This stops right here and right now. Sadness wasn't what he needed after all it was anger.

Victor held her by her cloth and drew her in. He raised his hand up and behan to bring it down on her cheeks when someone held his hand. He trembled with shock as Axel’s face glared at him with fury of a burning sulphur. “Get away from her,” he growled, his voice low and steady.

Marina blinked in shock, her eyes widening as she realized what was happening. Axel stood before her, defiance radiating from him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt strong.

Victor’s smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. “What? How are you standing,.your leg is broken. You are but a broken.man,” he said the words as his hands trembled.

“I may be broken,” Axel replied, his voice steady, “but if you dare attempt to touch my wife again, I will break every single bone in your body,” he said.

For a moment, silence enveloped the room, the tension palpable. Victor’s expression shifted from fear to fury as he took a step forward, his hand raised as if to strike.

But just as he aimed to slap Marina again, trying to prove a silly point. Axel’s hand shot out, intercepting Victor’s fist with surprising speed, and then he twisted it, rhere was a loud crack in the room and Victor yelled.

Marina gasped, her heart racing as she witnessed the sudden change. “Axel…?”

“Stay back!” he commanded, his gaze locked on Victor, unyielding.

Victor’s eyes was filled with pain. “You think you can protect her? You’re still weak, Axel. You always will be.”

“f**k!” Victor cursed as he held his hand and hurried outside. “This doesn't change anything.”

He left through the door and Axel turned to his wife. “Let me help you up, he stretched his hand towards her with a smile.”

“How…” was the only word she could utter as he felt his strong hand wrap around her and pulled her up. She stared into his face, realizing that the miracle she was expecting.had just happened. She was beyond confused, shocked and happy. “How?” She repeated again.