All Chapters of The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

177 Chapters

Marriage Counseling

POV: JAXONDr. Mitchell's office felt different this time.Not the safe space it had been during the trial. Not the healing sanctuary we'd needed after the kidnapping.This time, it felt like a confessional.Or maybe an intervention."Thank you for coming in," Dr. Mitchell said, settling into her chair. "I know you've both been busy.""We're always busy," Isla said. A little defensive.Dr. Mitchell noted it. I could tell."How are things at home?""Good," we both said automatically."Are they?"Silence."Jaxon?" Dr. Mitchell prompted. "Honestly?"I took a breath. "We're... managing. The kids are good. The house is good. We're functioning.""But?""But we're not connecting. Not really. We're just... existing side by side."Isla shifted beside me. Uncomfortable."Isla, do you agree with that assessment?""I don't know. We're just busy. Four kids. My job. Life.""Busyness can be a shield," Dr. Mitchell said gently. "A way to avoid dealing with underlying issues.""We don't have issues,"

First Date Night Attempt

POV: ISLA"You're sure you're okay with this?" I asked Mia for the third time."Isla, I've babysat your kids a million times. Go. Have fun. Reconnect with your husband."She practically pushed us out the door.Jaxon had made reservations at a nice Italian restaurant. The kind of place we used to go before life got so complicated.We drove in silence.Awkward silence.When had that happened? When had being alone together become uncomfortable?The restaurant was beautiful. Romantic. Low lighting. Soft music.We sat across from each other.Looked at our menus."The pasta looks good," Jaxon said."Yeah."More silence.This was painful.The waiter came. Took our order and left.We were alone again. And I had no idea what to say."So," Jaxon started. "How's work?""We're not supposed to talk about work. Or kids. Dr. Mitchell said.""Right. Sorry."More silence.Damn, this was terrible."When did we get so bad at this?" I finally asked."At what?""At being us. Just talking. Being together."

Nova's Rebellion

POV: JAXONThe call came during snack time."Mr. Winters? This is Mrs. Patterson, Nova's teacher. We need you to come in for a parent-teacher conference. Today if possible."My stomach dropped. "Is Nova okay?""She's fine. Physically. But we need to discuss her behavior.""What kind of behavior?""I'd prefer to discuss it in person. Can you come in at 2 PM?"I looked at Grace and Asher, currently making a disaster of graham crackers."I'll be there."I called Mia to watch the little ones."Everything okay?" she asked."Nova's in trouble at school. I have to go in.""Want me to come with?""No, I've got it. Thanks though."She showed up fifteen minutes later. Grace immediately ran to her."Aunt Mia! Aunt Mia!"Mia scooped her up. "Hey, munchkin! Ready to have some fun with Aunt Mia while Daddy handles some boring grown-up stuff?"I grabbed my jacket. "There's snacks in the pantry. Asher needs to stay out of the bathroom""I know the drill. Go. Handle Nova."Mrs. Patterson's classroom w

The Lawsuit Escalates

POV: ISLAVictoria Montez filed for an injunction.To stop our new product launch. The one we'd been working on for two years. The one worth five hundred million dollars."She can't do this," I said to our legal team."She can and she did. The hearing is in three days."Three days to prepare a defense. Three days to save our company.I didn't sleep that night. Or the next. Or the next.Just worked. Reviewed documents. Prepared arguments. Built our case.The media was having a field day."Tech Queens Battle It Out!""Apex vs. TechCore: The Billion Dollar Showdown!""Dr. Isla Winters: Genius or Thief?"That last headline made me want to scream.At home, I was a disaster.Snapped at Grace when she spilled juice. Yelled at Asher for being too loud. Told the twins to just figure out their homework themselves.Jaxon tried to help."Isla, you need to sleep""I can't sleep! The hearing is tomorrow!""You'll do better if you're rested""Don't tell me what I need! You don't understand the press

Rowan Finds the Box

POV: ROWANDad didn't come home last night.Mom said he was staying at Aunt Mia's. That they needed space. That everything was fine.But I'm nine. Not stupid.Everything wasn't fine.Mom had been crying. She tried to hide it, but I saw her eyes all red and puffy.Dad had looked really sad when he left.And Nova told me they'd been fighting. Shouting. About work and being weak and other stuff I didn't really understand.So no. Everything wasn't fine.That night, Mom worked late. Again.Some babysitter I didn't know put us to bed."Where's Dad?" I asked her."He'll be back soon, honey.""Where's Mom?""At work. She said she'd be home by ten."It was only seven. Three more hours.After the babysitter thought we were asleep, I got up.I wasn't tired. And I was worried.About Mom. About Dad. About why everything felt wrong lately.I went to find Nova's old toys. The ones Mom said were in the attic.Maybe if I found them, Nova would be happier. Less angry.The attic was dusty and dark.I us

The Conversation

POV: JAXONIsla's call came at 7 AM."You need to come home. Now.""What's wrong? Are the kids…""They're fine. Physically. But Rowan found the box. He knows. And Nova heard everything. They both know."My stomach dropped. "I'm on my way."I was there in fifteen minutes.The twins were sitting at the kitchen table.The box between them. Newspapers spread out. Photos of Dante. Court documents.Everything I'd tried to protect them from.They looked up when I walked in. Scared. Confused. Waiting."Hey guys," I said quietly, sitting down across from them."Is it true?" Nova asked. "Everything in these papers?"I looked at Isla. She nodded. Time for the truth."Yes. It's true."Nova's eyes filled with tears. "Your daddy was a bad man?""He was. Very bad.""And you were bad too?"The question gutted me. But I couldn't lie."I was. For a while. Before you were born.""What did you do?" Rowan asked. Voice shaking.I took a breath. How did I explain this to nine-year-olds?"My father… your gra

Apex Victory

POV: ISLAThe courtroom was packed.Media. Investors. Board members. Everyone waiting for the judge's ruling.Victoria Montez sat across the aisle, looking confident. Too confident.She thought she'd won. Thought she'd destroyed me.She was wrong."After reviewing all evidence and testimony," the judge began, "I find that the plaintiff's claims are without merit."My heart soared."The code in question was developed independently by Apex Technologies, with clear documentation and timestamps predating the plaintiff's claims. Furthermore, evidence suggests the plaintiff filed this lawsuit in bad faith, as a deliberate attempt to sabotage a competitor."Victoria's face went white."I rule in favor of the defendant, Apex Technologies. Additionally, I'm awarding damages in the amount of five million dollars for legal fees and reputational harm."The gavel came down.We won.The legal team celebrated. Champagne in the office. Congratulations all around.The board called. "Excellent work, Dr

The Message From Eastern Europe

POV: JAXONI called Clifford at 6 AM.Didn't care that it was early. Didn't care about anything except that message."I need you to trace a number. Now.""Send it over." He saidI forwarded the screenshot. "How fast can you trace it?""Depends on how sophisticated the sender is. Give me a few hours.""I don't have a few hours. My family is being threatened.""Jaxon. Breathe. I'll make it priority one. I'll call you as soon as I have something."I also called Agent Drew.My former FBI contact. The one who'd helped us through the trial."Winters," he answered. "It's been a while.""I need your help. Someone sent a threatening message about my children.""Send me the details."I did. Heard him typing on the other end."Given your history, we'll take this seriously. But Jaxon, without a direct threat…""That IS a direct threat! They mentioned my children by name!""They mentioned them. But they didn't threaten harm. Legally, that's a distinction.""So what, I'm supposed to wait until they

Attempted Normal Life

POV: ISLAWe tried to maintain normalcy.Key word: tried.School drop-offs. Family dinners. Bedtime routines.All the normal things. With security guards watching. Cameras monitoring. Constant vigilance.Not exactly normal.Asher started preschool.Big milestone. My baby was growing up.I took the morning off to take him to his first day."Mama, come!" he said, pulling me toward his classroom.His teacher was sweet. Young. Enthusiastic. "He's going to love it here.""I hope so."I watched him join the other kids. Playing. Laughing. Being a childUnaware that someone might be watching and waiting.I scanned the parking lot as I left. The security guard stationed nearby nodded at me.This was our life now. Beautiful moments shadowed by constant fear.Grace was talking more.Full sentences and conversations."Mama, where Dada?""Daddy's at home with your brother and sisters.""I go home?""Soon, baby. After we run some errands.""No errands! Home!"Her favorite phrase lately. Everything

The Stranger

POV: JAXONI was at a coffee shop.Rare moment alone. Isla had the kids. I'd escaped for an hour to work on my memoir.Needed the quiet. The space to think.I was three chapters in when he sat down across from me."Jaxon Romano," he said. Slight European accent.I looked up. Didn't recognize him.Fifties. Well-dressed. Gray at the temples. Cold eyes."It's Winters now," I said carefully. "And you are?""Viktor Romano. Your cousin… Distant cousin. We met once. You were maybe seven. I was in my twenties."Romano. The name sent ice through my veins."I don't remember you.""No reason you would. I left the family when you were young. Moved to Prague. Went legitimate. Built a real business.""What do you want?""To warn you."He didn't wait for permission. Just started talking."There's a faction. Romano loyalists. People who still believe in Dante's vision. His legacy.""Dante's dead. His legacy died with him.""Did it? Or did it just go underground?"I set down my coffee. "Get to the poi

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