All Chapters of The Forsaken Wife's Empire: Chapter 1 - Chapter 6

(Patricia's POV)The kitchen was hot, the smell of boiling stew clinging stubbornly to my skin. I stirred the pot slowly, sweat slipping down my temple, the wooden spoon heavy in my hand. Suddenly, cheerful voices drifted in from the garden. Voices I knew too well… voices that reminded me of the pain I carried. My hands froze on the spoon. I didn’t want to look, but out of habit, I glanced through the window. And there they were. A man and a woman, running through the garden with their little boy. “Try to catch me, Dada!” the boy shouted, staggering as he ran a few unsteady steps. “I see you, little rascal!” the man laughed, jogging after him with easy amusement. The woman giggled behind him. “Catch me if you can, Honey!” The man scooped the boy into his arms, spinning him in the air, the boy’s laughter spilling into the warm evening. Then he gently caught the woman when she tried to run past him, holding her close, his smile wide and proud. Their laughter echoed thr

(Patricia's POV)“What… what did you just say?” Mason’s voice shook with confusion. “I want a divorce,” I repeated, my throat tight. The room went still. No one moved. Their faces froze... shock, anger, disbelief moving across them like shadows. Mason’s eyes widened, as if those were the last words he ever thought he would hear from me. “You?” Elizabeth was the first to snap, pointing her finger at me. “How dare you? Asking for a divorce from my son? Who do you think you are?” Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air. My chest ached, my heart pounded, but I gripped my dress tightly, forcing myself to stay calm. “Do you even know what you’re saying? Useless woman… always whining, always failing. And now you think you can leave my son?” Gilbert barked, his voice booming. “I’m sure she doesn’t mean it,” Lucy said, folding her arms. “She’s just throwing another tantrum. As always. You know how dramatic she is.” Mason blinked, finally getting hold of himself. He hurried to me

(Patricia's POV) The car stopped in front of a huge and luxurious mansion. It was three times bigger than the house I once shared with Mason. Everything shouted old money and prestige. “Are you ready, ma’am?” James asked from the passenger seat, his voice warm and soft. Ready? I was nowhere near ready. My life had changed in a few hours. We’d driven straight from the hospital to the late Mr. Smith’s house... the house I apparently owned now. Mr. Smith had left everything to me. Everything. How could I ever be ready? I didn’t tell James that. I simply nodded. He climbed out and hurried to open the back door for me. As soon as I stepped down, heads bowed. People in different uniforms stood in line before the mansion, and a red carpet ran from where I stood to the front door. The whole place was decorated with flowers, as if a lost princess had returned. My heart melted. I never thought I’d have a place like this. Not in this life. I never guessed fate had such plans for me. This w