All Chapters of The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Chapter 151 - Chapter 160

177 Chapters

Backlash

POV: JAXONThe book released on a Tuesday.By Wednesday, it was a New York Times bestseller.By Thursday, the backlash began.It started with think pieces."How Dare He Profit From His Family's Crimes?""Jaxon Romano: Redemption or Blood Money?""The Ethics of Publishing a Criminal's Story"Some of it was fair criticism. I had been part of that world. I had hurt people.But some of it was cruel.Vicious.Attacking not just me, but Isla. The kids. Our entire family.The worst was an article in a major online publication."Teaching Your Children Evil: The Romano Kids and the Cycle of Violence"It argued that our children, innocent nine-year-olds and a four-year-old were "destined to repeat their grandfather's sins."That we were "raising the next generation of criminals."That "blood will tell."It was baseless, disgusting and just cruel.But it was out there.I wanted to sue.Called our lawyer immediately."This is libel. They're attacking children. Nine-year-olds!""I know. And I'm so

The Meeting

POV: ISLAOur lawyer thought we were insane."You want to meet with Romano victims? Privately? Without legal protection?""Yes.""That's a terrible idea. They could record you. Use your words against you. Sue you.""Let them. We need to do this.""Why?""Because it's right. Because hiding behind lawyers and PR teams isn't healing anyone. Because these people deserve to be heard."She sighed. "Fine. But I'm arranging a mediator. And you're signing waivers. And if anyone gets violent…""There will be security," Clifford interjected. He'd insisted on being there. "Discreet. But present."We arranged the meeting through a victims' advocacy group.About fifteen people agreed to come. Families of people who'd been hurt, killed, or destroyed by Dante's organization.The meeting was in a neutral location. Community center. Private room.Jaxon and I arrived early. Nervous. Terrified."We don't have to do this," he said."Yes, we do.""What if they hate us? What if this makes it worse?""Then a

Six Months Later

POV: ISLASix months after the book release and vandalism.Life had found a rhythm again.Not the same rhythm as before. But a new one. Better, in some ways.The initial backlash had died down.The news cycle moved on. Other scandals. Other controversies.We still got occasional hate mail. Angry tweets. But less frequent. Less intense.And balanced by something unexpected: gratitude.Messages came daily from abuse survivors. People who'd left toxic families. People finding hope in our story."Your book saved my life. I was ready to give up. Now I'm fighting back.""I left my abusive husband after reading your story. Thank you for showing me it's possible.""I'm a recovering addict who grew up in a crime family. Your book made me feel less alone."These messages made everything worth it.The twins were doing better.Still in therapy. Still processing. But healing.Rowan had started piano lessons six months ago. Turned out he was talented. Really talented.His teacher, Mrs. Pauline, gus

The Rival

POV: JAXONThe tech industry moved fast.New companies. New innovations. New competition.But this was different.Zenith Corp appeared seemingly overnight. Aggressive. Well-funded. Ruthless.And they were targeting Apex directly.Isla first mentioned it over breakfast."There's a new competitor. Zenith. They're poaching our employees.""How many?""Three this month. All key engineers. They're offering double salary.""That's aggressive.""That's war."She wasn't wrong.Over the next few weeks, Zenith's attacks escalated.They undercut Apex's prices. Spread rumors about Apex's stability. Filed frivolous lawsuits."They're trying to destroy us," Isla said during one of her stress calls."Can they?""Maybe. If they keep hemorrhaging our talent and undercutting our revenue. We're strong, but we're not invincible.""Who's behind it?""Some kid. Adrian Cross. Thirty-two. Brilliant programmer. Harvard dropout. Came out of nowhere with billions in funding.""Billions from where?""No one know

The Confrontation

POV: ISLAJaxon told me everything.The ledger. The connection. Adrian's parents.Another ghost from Dante's past. Another victim seeking revenge."What do we do?" I asked."We tell him we know. We apologize. We try to reach him.""And if he doesn't want to be reached?""Then at least we tried."I disagreed with the approach."You should go Jaxon," I argued. "It's your father's crime. His legacy and your apology to make.""But he's targeting Apex. You should be there.""So CEO to CEO then? I think I can handle this.""Isla""I need to do this. Alone. If we both show up, it looks defensive. Desperate. One-on-one is better."He didn't like it. But he agreed.I arranged a meeting with Adrian.Sent a direct email. Simple and clear."I know who you are. I know what happened to your parents. We need to talk. - Isla Winters"He responded within an hour."Tomorrow. 2 PM. Café Noir on 5th. Come alone."The café was neutral.I arrived early. Ordered coffee and waited.Adrian showed up exactly a

The Attack

POV: JAXONThe exposé dropped on a Wednesday morning.Major tech publication. Front page. Devastating."Apex Technologies: Built on Blood Money?"The subheading was worse: "How Isla Winters Knowingly Built Her Empire on Romano Crime Family Wealth"I read the entire article. Every brutal word.It claimed Apex used Romano family resources to fund its early growth. That Isla knew. That she benefited from criminal enterprise.And here's the thing: part of it wasn't false.I had used family money. Twelve years ago. When I first started investing in tech companies. Before Isla was involved. Before everything changed.But the article twisted it. Made it sound like Apex was currently funded by criminal enterprises. That Isla knowingly, actively built her company on dirty money.It was a lie. But it was close enough to the truth to be believable.My phone rang. Isla."Have you seen it?""Yes. I'm so sorry""It's Adrian. Has to be. The timing. The specific details. Only someone with access to o

Face to Face

POV: JAXONZenith headquarters was in a gleaming tower in Midtown.State of the art. Expensive. Everything my old life represented.I walked in at 4 AM. Building was mostly empty. Just security and the obsessive workaholics.Adrian would be here. I knew it. Men like him, like I used to be lived at the office."I'm here to see Adrian Cross," I told the front desk security."Do you have an appointment?""No. But tell him Jaxon Winters is here. He'll see me."The guard looked skeptical but called up.A minute later: "Mr. Cross says to send you up. Forty-second floor."The elevator ride felt eternal.Forty-two floors to prepare what I'd say. To figure out how to fix this.The doors opened. Adrian's assistant, young, exhausted, clearly pulled an all-nighter, stood waiting."Mr. Winters. Mr. Cross is expecting you."She led me through the office. Glass walls. Open concept. Expensive art.Everything designed to intimidate.Adrian's office was at the end. Corner office. Floor-to-ceiling windo

Adrian's Choice

POV: ISLAThree days passed.No word from Adrian.The exposé continued to circulate. The damage was done.Apex's stock stabilized at a thirty percent loss. The board was in crisis mode. Employees were nervous.And we heard nothing."What if it didn't work?" I asked Jaxon one night."Then we deal with it. Like always.""I'm tired of 'dealing with it.' I want this to be over.""Me too."Then, on the third day, my phone rang.Unknown number."Hello?""Mrs. Winters. It's Adrian Cross."My heart stopped. "Adrian.""I want to meet with your family. In your house.""Why?""Because I need to see. I need to understand. Please."The vulnerability in his voice was new. Different."When?""Tonight. If possible."I looked at Jaxon. He nodded."Okay. Seven PM."I told the kids we were having a guest."Who?" Nova asked."A friend of Daddy's. Mr. Cross.""The one who's been mean to you?" Rowan asked.Smart kid. He'd overheard more than we'd thought."Yes. But he's trying to be better. So we're going

Adrian's Therapy

POV: JAXONAdrian started therapy the following week.Dr. Mitchell took him on immediately."He's carrying profound trauma," she told us after his first session. "But he's motivated. That's half the battle.""Will he be okay?" Isla asked."Eventually. It'll take time. But I think he can heal."The partnership between Zenith and Apex was announced two weeks later.The tech world was shocked."Former Rivals Now Allies?""Unprecedented Partnership Between Zenith and Apex""Adrian Cross and Isla Winters: From Enemies to Partners"The media couldn't figure it out. Speculation ran wild.But those who knew the full story understood.This was about breaking cycles. Choosing healing over revenge.Adrian came to family dinner every Sunday.It started as an invitation. Became a tradition.The kids loved him. "Uncle Adrian!"He'd arrive with gifts. Books for Rowan. Soccer equipment for Nova. Dinosaurs for Asher. Art supplies for Grace."You're spoiling them," Isla said."I'm making up for lost ti

The Anonymous Threat

POV: ISLAThe letters kept coming.One every few days. Like clockwork.Always hand-delivered. Always evading security somehow.Always the same message: variations of "you'll pay," "your children will suffer," "Dante's legacy lives." Blah blah blahWe reported it to everyone. Police. FBI. Clifford's entire security team.But whoever was doing this was a ghost.No fingerprints. No DNA. No pattern to when they were delivered.The kids didn't know.We intercepted the letters before they could see them.But the tension was affecting them anyway."Why are there so many security guards now?" Rowan asked."Just being extra careful.""About what?""Nothing specific. Just... careful."He didn't believe me. But he didn't push.I barely slept.Every noise was a threat. Every shadow was danger.Jaxon was the same. We'd pass each other at 3 AM. Both checking locks. Both checking kids."We can't live like this," I said one night."I know.""So what do we do?""We catch whoever's doing this.""How? T

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