All Chapters of The Wife He Tried to Forget: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Chapter 41: Room for Us“I couldn’t help it,” I admitted. “The lake... it’s beautiful.”He nodded, brushing a stray hair from my face. “I’m glad you like it.”We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, letting the silence fill the space between us with comfort.Eventually, hunger nudged us apart, and we moved to the kitchen. Travis took charge, preparing eggs and toast with an ease that showed he did this often, but he kept glancing at me with a shy smile, like he was happy I was there.As we ate, the conversation flowed easily — about trivial things at first, like what we wanted to do later, but then it turned deeper.“So,” Travis said, his tone lighter but sincere, “what do you want from this? From us?”I looked up, meeting his gaze. “I want to trust again. I want to feel safe. And I want to be with someone who sees me — really sees me.”He reached across the table and took my hand, his fingers warm and strong. “I want that too, Kourtney. More than anything.”A smile

Chapter 43: Slow Burn at the LakehouseHis jaw tightened. “Kourtney—”“Please don’t lie,” I whispered.For a moment, he said nothing.And then he exhaled sharply, stepping back and rubbing his hands through his hair.“I didn’t want to bring any of that into this weekend,” he said. “I just wanted us to have one moment where it was just us.”“That’s not an answer.”“I know.”He looked torn, like someone standing at the edge of a cliff — unsure whether to jump or retreat.“The LA files are part of a confidential project at FRGR,” he finally said. “I’ve been collecting evidence about internal corruption. Stuff that could bury the company’s image. Illegal payouts, offshore accounts... it’s massive.”My mouth went dry.“And I’m the one accused of stealing them?” I asked, trying to stay calm.“No,” he said quickly. “Not officially. Not yet. But Derek—he’s my friend and a board advisor—he saw something in the security logs that suggested the files were accessed remotely from a location tied t

Chapter 45: A Promise Carved in Shadows and Light"If this is all a dream," I whispered, "I don’t want to wake up."He lifted an eyebrow, amused by my sudden sweetness. “I thought you knew—I’m not just grumpy. I have a sweet bone too.”I giggled, feeling giddy. The rare moments when Travis showed this side were like secret treasures. I leaned in and kissed his cheek softly, savoring the closeness.But then, his gaze locked with mine, and before I knew it, his lips found mine. A slow, deliberate kiss that sent shivers down my spine. How many times had we kissed today? It felt endless, and somehow perfect.I melted into him, our lips moving in sync, my back pressed firmly against his chest. I didn’t even realize he was holding me up, supporting my weight with steady hands on my waist.His kisses trailed from my lips down to my jawline, then to my cheeks, each touch setting my skin aflame. Then—my breath hitched—his hand moved, sliding under my crop top.I was wearing nothing but nipple

Chapter 47: Tangled in the DarkA cold shiver ran down my spine.Travis saw the message instantly, his fingers tightening on the steering wheel. “They want to separate us. Don’t trust it.”I swallowed hard. “But if I don’t go... I’ll never know.”His gaze softened but grew fierce with protectiveness. “I don’t want to lose you. Not like this.”His voice cracked just slightly, and for a second, the walls he built around himself seemed to crumble.I leaned closer, my forehead resting against his. “Then I’m not going anywhere without you.”He exhaled, the tension easing from his body. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go.”The car’s interior warmed with that promise, and the weight of danger outside felt a little less suffocating.When we arrived at the second meeting place—a deserted rooftop overlooking the city—the night air was crisp and heavy with anticipation.“Stay close,” Travis murmured, wrapping an arm around my waist as we climbed the rusty fire escape.The city sprawled below

Chapter 49: Wet Skin and Whispered PromisesWhen we finally pulled apart, his forehead rested against mine, breaths mingling in the small space between us.“I never will,” he whispered, his voice thick with feeling.I closed my eyes, breathing him in, memorizing this moment — the way his scent filled the room, the way his heartbeat matched mine, the way his hands held me like I was the most precious thing in the world.For the first time in a long time, I felt completely, deeply safe.The night outside might still be filled with uncertainty and shadows, but here — wrapped in each other’s arms — we had found a light that nothing could dim.We slipped through the glass door, the cool evening air brushing against my skin as we stepped out. I hadn’t even gotten a proper tour of Travis’s lake house yet, and now I was being led somewhere completely unexpected. The smooth wooden deck beneath my feet was slightly damp from an earlier rain, and the scent of pine and fresh water mingled in the