Alle Kapitel von The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Kapitel 171 – Kapitel 177

POV: ISLAAsher came home with a school project."Family History Tree," the assignment read. "Interview family members. Research your ancestry. Present to the class."My stomach dropped. Not this againHe was eleven. Old enough to know some things. But this would require deeper digging."Need help with this, buddy?" I asked carefully."Yeah! I want to do a really good job. Can you tell me about our family? Like, going back generations?"Jaxon and I exchanged a look.Time for the conversation we'd been dreading.We sat him down that evening. All three of us at the kitchen table.After the discussion, Asher looked between us. "So Grandpa Dante was bad. And Daddy helped him but then stopped him. And now we're good.""Essentially, yes.""Okay. Cool."That was it. No tears. No identity crisis. No anger.Just facts. Processed. Filed away."Asher, don't you have questions? Feelings about this?" I asked."Not really. Grandpa Dante was bad a long time ago. But he's dead now. And Dad's good now

POV: NOVAWhile Rowan was dealing with graffiti at Juilliard, I had my own crisis.College decision time.And I was stuck.UCLA offered me a full soccer scholarship.Full ride. Division I team. Beautiful campus. Perfect weather.My dream school. My dream sport.I should have been ecstatic.But then the letter arrived from Morrison & Associates.A prestigious law firm. One of the biggest in New York."Dear Ms. Winters,We've been following your academic career and your family's story with great interest. We would like to offer you an unprecedented opportunity: a summer internship position, typically reserved for law school students, available to you immediately upon high school graduation.We believe your unique perspective on justice and family legacy would be invaluable to our criminal law division.This internship could lead to sponsored law school education and eventual partnership track.Please consider this carefully."I read it three times.An internship, at eighteen. Before eve

POV: JAXONAsher had always been different from his siblings.While Rowan found solace in music and Nova in sports, Asher found it in building things.Taking things apart. Putting them back together. Understanding how they worked.At twelve years old, he was already more technically skilled than most adults.He'd been working on something in the garage for months.Secret project. Wouldn't tell us what it was."You'll see when it's done," he'd say.Fair enough. We gave him space.Then he entered a youth robotics competition.National level. Kids from all over the country competing."What are you building?" I asked."A communication device.""For what?""You'll see at the competition."Always cryptic, this kid.The competition was in Boston.We drove up as a family. Well, most of us. Rowan was at Juilliard, but he promised to watch the livestream.The venue was massive. Convention center. Hundreds of kids. Thousands of spectators.Asher's project was in the assistive technology category

POV: ISLAFive years passed like a heartbeat.One moment, Rowan was leaving for Juilliard. The next, he was twenty-one. A junior. Thriving.Time moved differently once the kids grew up.Faster. More precious. Bittersweet.We were sitting on the back porch when Jaxon's phone rang.Rowan. Video call."Hey, buddy," Jaxon answered. "What's up?"Rowan's face filled the screen. Excited. Nervous."I need to tell you guys something.""Okay?""I met someone."My heart did a little flip.Rowan. Our serious, quiet Rowan. Dating."Her name is Sarah. She's a violinist. Second year at Juilliard. We've been... seeing each other for a few months.""A few months?" I asked. "And you're just telling us now?""I wanted to make sure it was real first. That it wasn't just... you know. A thing.""And?""It's real, Mom. Really real. I think... I think she might be the one."Jaxon and I exchanged a look.Our baby. Talking about "the one.""Tell us about her," I said.He lit up. Actually lit up."She's incredi