Rise Of The Wasted Shadow Wife

Chapter 11

Chapter 11.

Two days after the kiss, Laura sat in a dark room with headphones in her ears. Axel's voice recording played back. This time, it wasn't just about yelling at employees but the internal meeting sessions where he indirectly harassed, humiliated, and manipulated his subordinates.

"Don't use emotions in the boardroom. You were hired to think, not feel. If you can't stand it, get a job at a clothing boutique or a kindergarten."

The sound of male colleagues' laughter followed. The silence that ensued was louder than an explosion.

Laura stared at the blank screen. In the reflection of the table glass, she no longer saw herself. She saw Alessia the 28 year-old girl who had stood up nervously when Axel first complimented her and then, slowly, formed an unhealthy dependency.

Now everything has changed.

The rain fell slowly, like a secret that the sky shyly revealed. Inside the warm, dimly lit apartment, Laura sat on the edge of Galen's bed. The boy was fast asleep, but his breathing was still heavy, and his body felt hot to the touch.

She had just given Galen fever medicine. On the bedside table lay a small stuffed lion, Galen's favorite toy since he was a toddler. There was a small stain on the doll's ear, an old bloodstain from when Galen fell and bled on his chin. The small wound was now dried up and just a mark. But to Laura, it was more than a memory.

It was a reminder that she was a mother. Before she was a lawyer. Before she was "Laura Smith." Before this revenge plan was meticulously crafted.

Before she was anything but Alessia. A woman broken under the pressure of a man named Axel Anthony. And now, that same man was making her heart beat again, albeit faintly, albeit painfully.

Laura walked quietly into the living room, picked up a cold cup of tea, and sat down on the sofa. The city lights from the window reflected off her puffy eyes. She was tired. Not just from work. But because her heart was starting to waver.

"He laughed with you too, Alessia... before he made you cry."

Axel, that night, sat in his reading room. A philosophy book was open on his lap, but his eyes weren't reading. He was thinking about Laura. About how she spoke, moved, thought. About the way she listened, unhurriedly, as if she knew more than she said.

Axel, that night, sat in his reading room. A philosophy book was open on his lap, but his eyes weren't reading. He was thinking about Laura-about how she spoke, moved, and thought, about the way she listened, unhurriedly, as if she knew more than she said.

"I want her by my side," Axel muttered. "Not just as a lawyer, but as the center of all this."

For the first time in his life, Axel wanted something not to conquer, but to defend. And it scared him because he knew that when he wanted something, the world tended to take it away.

Two days later, Axel came to Laura's office to hand over documents for a big project. Laura wasn't there. He waited for a moment, then his eyes fell on something on the wooden table.

A small photograph. A boy, about five years old, smiling at the camera with a small ball in his hand. Axel stared at the photo for a long time too long.

Something was bothering him.

Two days later, Axel came to Laura's office to hand over a big project document. Laura was not there. He waited for a moment, then his eyes fell on something on the wooden table.

A small photograph. A little boy. About five years old. Smiling at the camera, with a small ball in hand. Axel stared at the photo for a long time. Too long.

There was something disturbing.

Not just the smile, but the shape of her face, her eyes, and the structure of her jaw. Somehow, he felt he had seen those eyes before.

Axel shifted, turning his head towards the shelf, as if to get away from the photo. But his heart kept saying, "I think I've seen it before."

When Laura returned, she saw Axel standing with his hands behind his back.

"What's wrong with you?" she asked flatly, trying to remain calm.

Axel turned around, smiling slightly. "Is he your son?"

Laura held her breath. "Yes."

"Her father?"

Silence. Two seconds. Three seconds.

"I'd rather not talk about it."

Axel nodded. But in his mind, a question began to form: "Is it possible...?"

Later that night, Laura told Nadine about the incident.

"She saw Galen's picture."

Nadine immediately stiffened. "Did he get suspicious?"

"I don't know. But... he asked about his father."

"And you said?"

"Nothing."

Nadine massaged her temples. "Lau... you know what the risk is if she finds out Galen is her son, right?"

"I know."

"And you know he's not just a man who hurt you once. He's a threat. He has power. He can take you to court and take Galen—"

Laura stood up abruptly, her voice trembling slightly. "I know!"

Silence.

Laura walked to the window. "But... if he really changes, Nadine? What if he... could be a good father?"

"Laura... he destroyed you," Nadine insisted. "He made you form a new identity. He made you run away, broken, raising a child alone."

"I know..." Laura's voice was almost drowned out. "But she's now... different. At least, I want to believe she's different."

Nadine stood up, standing tall in front of her. "He hasn't changed. He's just good at pretending, just like the old days when he made you believe you were the only one he cared about."

Laura closed her eyes. "But if I pretend too, am I any better than him?"

There was a long silence. Then Nadine sat back down, her voice softer.

"The difference between you and her is that you have a heart."

The gala party was like a stage play, with expensive costumes and unscripted roles. Laura arrived in a simple but elegant black dress. Axel greeted her at the entrance of the ballroom with a smile that seemed to be embroidered with pride and something deeper.

Amidst a crowd of entrepreneurs, international partners, and financial reporters, Axel stepped up to the podium and took the microphone.

Laura knew he would say something about a big project. But she wasn't prepared to hear his name.

"There is someone who in a short period of time has changed the way I see the world, and the way I lead this company.

Someone who will be an important part of the Anthony Group's future... and my own."

"Laura Smith."

The spotlight shines on her. The camera was pointed at her face. All eyes looked on.

Laura stood up slowly. Her steps were firm. But inside her chest, two versions of herself clawed at each other.

Alessia, who wanted to scream and shout: "It's all fake. He's my enemy."

Laura, who wanted to believe that people could change, that love could grow even from the rubble of hatred.

And in the middle of the spotlight, Axel touched her back lightly. A small touch, but full of meaning.

"Thank you... for not leaving," he whispered softly, just enough for Laura to hear.

Laura smiled and stood up.

This was the path to full revenge.