Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Kabanata 141 - Kabanata 150

POV: JAXONThe plan was risky.Borderline insane.But it was the only way to catch Kira in the act."We need her to make a move," Agent Drew explained. "Force her hand before she's ready.""How?" I asked."We leak information. Make it look like you'll be vulnerable. Away from the children."Clifford pulled up a diagram on his laptop. "There's a charity gala next Saturday. High-profile. Public. You're already invited.""We decline those," Isla said."Exactly. Which is why you'll accept this one. Leak through channels we know Kira monitors that you'll both be attending. Without the children.""And the kids?""Will be in a secure FBI location. Off-site. With armed guards and Mia.""Mia?" Isla asked.Clifford shifted slightly. "She volunteered. Said the kids trust her. They'll be calmer with her there.""That's brave of her," I said."She's..." Clifford cleared his throat. "She's remarkable."Agent Drew and I exchanged a look. Not subtle."So we go to a gala," Isla said. "While our childr

POV: JAXONWe filmed the statement in our living room.Simple. Direct. Honest.No fancy production. No PR team. Just me, sitting in my home, speaking from the heart.The FBI helped distribute it. Social media. News outlets. Everywhere.Within hours, it was everywhere.I looked into the camera and spoke."My name is Jaxon Winters. Formerly Jaxon Romano.I was born into a legacy of violence and fear. My father, Dante Romano, ran a criminal organization for over thirty years. He hurt people. Destroyed lives. Built an empire on suffering.And for many years, I was part of it.I'm not proud of that. I carry the weight of what I did every single day. The people I threatened. The lives I helped destroy. I can't undo it. But I can refuse to continue it.Years ago, I made a choice. I chose love over power. Family over blood. Forgiveness over revenge.I testified against my father. Against the organization. Against everything I'd been raised to believe was important.It was the hardest thing I'

POV: NOVAI'm not scared of the Romano name.I'm mad about it.Really, really mad.Rowan has nightmares. He worries about being bad. He goes to therapy to talk about his feelings.But me? I just want to punch something.Or someone.Preferably the people who keep trying to hurt my family.It started at school.A boy named Tyler. Fifth grader. Big mouth.He found out about our family. Saw Daddy's video that went viral."Hey Nova," he said at recess. "Your grandpa was a criminal!"I ignored him. Walked away.Like Daddy taught me. "Use your words. Not your fists."But Tyler followed me."What's wrong? Scared to admit it? Your whole family is trash!"I stopped. Turned around."Take it back.""Why? It's true. Your grandpa hurt people. That makes you bad too.""I said take it back.""Make me."So I did.I punched him right in the nose.The principal called Mom and Dad.I sat in the office, not sorry at all.Tyler was crying. His nose was bleeding. His mom was yelling.But he deserved it."No

POV: ISLAThree months after the Kira incident.Things had stabilized.Security was still present but less intrusive. The kids were adjusting. The loyalist network was fragmenting.Life was almost... normal.Which meant it was time for our weekly date night.Dr. Mitchell's homework. Mandatory. No excuses.And honestly? I looked forward to it now.Mia came to babysit.With Clifford… Again."We're not a package deal," she protested when they both showed up at the door."Could've fooled me," I said, smiling."He just... happened to be stopping by. For security reasons.""At 6 PM on a Friday?""Security doesn't have office hours!"Clifford looked sheepish. "I can leave if…""Don't you dare," Jaxon said. "Stay. Help Mia with the kids.""We don't need help," Mia insisted.Right on cue, Grace screamed from upstairs. Asher started crying. The twins began arguing."Okay, maybe we need a little help," Mia admitted.Jaxon and I escaped to our favorite Italian restaurant.The same one from our fi

POV: ISLAFinally, the advance copies arrived.A box on our doorstep. Plain. Nondescript.But inside: our story."They're here," I called to Jaxon.He came running. We stood over the box like it might explode."Open it," he said."You open it.""No you open it""Together?""Fine"We opened it together.And there it was."ASHES TO EMPIRE: Breaking Free from a Legacy of Violence"By Jaxon and Isla Winters.We each took a copy.Held it. Felt the weight of it."We wrote a book," I whispered."We really did."The cover was beautiful. Simple. Powerful.Dark background. Our title in bold letters. A phoenix rising from ashes.Perfect.We sat on the couch and read it. Cover to cover.Every word we'd written. Every truth we'd exposed. Every moment of pain and healing.It was surreal seeing it in print.Some parts made me cry.Jaxon's childhood. The abuse. The manipulation.My escape. The twins. The years apart.Finding each other again. Choosing love. Fighting for us.Other parts made me laugh.