All Chapters of The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

177 Chapters

Breakfast

POV: JAXONI woke up at six, the way I always did.For a moment, I forgot where I was. Then it hit me, the safe house. Isla and the twins down the hall. My father hunting us.The weight of it all settled on my chest.I got up, splashed water on my face, and headed downstairs.The kitchen was quiet, filled with early morning light. I stood there for a moment, looking around at the space that felt both foreign and strangely right.Then I got to work.Cooking wasn't something I'd grown up doing. Romano men didn't cook, we had staff for that. But after Vivian left, after the divorce, after I'd fired half my household in a fit of rage and shame, I'd had to learn.YouTube tutorials. Trial and error. Burned pans and smoke alarms.I'd gotten decent at it eventually.Pancakes were the twins' favorite, I'd learned that from watching Isla's Instagram stories before she'd blocked me.I'd watched those videos dozens of times, memorizing every detail of the children.Now I had a chance to make them

The Rules

POV: ISLAWe needed boundaries.Living under the same roof, playing house, pretending to be a family, it was becoming too dangerous. Too easy to forget what he'd done. Too easy to slip into old patterns and get my heart broken all over again.So that afternoon after work, while the twins napped, I sat Jaxon down and laid out the rules."We need some rules," I said."Of course," he agreed immediately."No romantic gestures. No flowers, no gifts, no... anything like that.""Understood.""We're co-parenting. That's it. For the twins' sake, we're working together. Nothing more."He nodded. "Whatever you need, Isla. I'm just grateful you're giving me this chance."I searched his face for any sign of resentment, manipulation, the cold dismissal I remembered.There was nothing but sincerity.It unsettled me."Good," I said, standing. "Then we're clear.""Crystal clear."I started to leave."Isla?"I stopped, didn't turn around."Thank you," he said quietly. "I know this is hard for you. I kn

Dante's First Move

POV: JAXONThe call came at midnight.Clifford, my head of security, his voice tight: "We have a problem."I was out of bed instantly, phone pressed to my ear, moving to the hallway so I wouldn't wake anyone."Talk to me.""Your father's made his move. He's hired three separate PI firms to locate you. They're watching Dr. Vale's Seattle residence, her friend Mia's apartment, and Apex headquarters. He's got men on rotation. Round the clock surveillance."Ice flooded my veins."Any indication they know where we are?""Not yet. But he's thorough. It's only a matter of time."I gripped the phone harder. "How long do we have?""A week. Maybe two if we're lucky. He's putting pressure on your known associates, your properties. He'll find the safe house eventually.""Understood. Keep me updated."I ended the call and stood there in the dark hallway, pulse hammering.This was Dante Romano. My father. The man who'd taught me that family was power, that children were assets, that love was levera

The Cracks

POV: ISLALiving together was harder than I expected.Not because we fought, we didn't. Not because he was cruel, he wasn't. Not because the twins were struggling, they were thriving.It was hard because it felt too natural.Too right.Too much like the family I'd dreamed of years ago when I was stupid enough to believe in happy endings.Jaxon was attentive. Patient. Present.He woke up early to make breakfast without being asked. He noticed when I was stressed and took the twins outside so I could work in peace. He fixed the broken swing set in the yard, set up a tire swing, built a small sandbox.He was building a home for them.For us.And it terrified me.The twins adored him."Daddy, watch this!" Nova would call, doing a cartwheel in the grass."Daddy, can you help me with this puzzle?" Rowan would ask, face scrunched in concentration."Daddy, daddy, daddy."They said it so naturally now. Like he'd always been there.Like he'd never left.I watched him with them and felt somethin

Movie Night

POV: JAXON"Can we have movie night?" Nova asked at dinner. "a family movie night?"The words hit me square in the chest.A family movie night.Isla's eyes met mine across the table."Please?" Rowan added. "We never had movie nights before. Just me and Nova and Mommy. But now Daddy's here and we can all watch together!""I don't know if…" Isla started."Please, Mommy?"She looked at their hopeful faces and caved. "Okay. One movie. Then bed."They cheered.I tried not to read too much into it.Tried not to hope.They picked an animated film about a lost princess finding her way home. Appropriate, given everything.Isla set up the living room while I made popcorn. The twins bounced on the couch, arguing over who got which blanket."Everyone can share," Isla said, spreading a large throw over the couch.Nova immediately claimed the middle. "I want to sit between Mommy and Daddy!"Rowan climbed onto Isla's lap without being asked.Which left me on one end, Nova pressed against my side, an

The Nightmare

POV: ISLAI was back in the penthouse.The one I'd shared with Jaxon, the one I lived in as a shadow of myself, the hell disguised as marriage.I knew I was dreaming. Some part of my brain screamed at me to wake up, to get out, to run.But I couldn't move.I was frozen at the doorway, watching myself walk down the hallway. Twenty-two-year-old Isla, still hopeful, still stupid enough to believe love could fix everything.I'd forgotten my wallet. Came home early from grocery shopping.I heard the sounds before I reached the bedroom.No.Please, not again.I didn't want to see this. Didn't want to relive it.But the dream dragged me forward, merciless.The door opened.Vivian saw me first. Smirked. Didn't stop.Jaxon looked over. Made eye contact.His expression was blank. No guilt. No shame. Nothing.Like I was an inconvenience.Like I was nobody."Jaxon," I heard myself whisper.He didn't even stop. Just turned back to my sister like I wasn't there.Like I didn't matter.Like I never m

Cooking Together

POV: JAXONSaturday morning started with chaos.Nova woke up early, too early and decided to wake everyone else by jumping on Rowan's bed and singing a made-up song about breakfast at the top of her lungs.Rowan, naturally, retaliated by stealing her stuffed rabbit.Which led to screaming.Which led to Isla appearing in their doorway, hair messy from sleep, looking exhausted."It's seven in the morning," she said. "On a Saturday.""Sorry, Mommy," they chorused, not looking sorry at all.I stood behind her in the hallway, trying not to notice how beautiful she looked in her pajamas, an old t-shirt and sleep shorts, no makeup, completely unguarded.She caught me staring and raised an eyebrow."Coffee?" I offered."Please."Breakfast was pancakes again, the twins' favorite. Nova sat on my lap while she ate, getting syrup everywhere. Rowan told elaborate stories about his dreams involving dragons and pirates.Isla smiled into her coffee cup, watching them."What are we doing today?" Nova

Vincent Calls

POV: ISLAMy phone rang while I was folding laundry.The twins were outside with Jaxon, building a fort out of sticks and leaves. Their laughter drifted through the open window, punctuated by Jaxon's deeper voice making what sounded like monster noises.I smiled despite myself.Then I saw the caller ID.Vincent Reid.I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the answer button.I hadn't talked to Vincent in weeks. Not since I'd left in a panic, since Dante had sent that photo of his enforcer watching the twins.Vincent had called twice. Left voicemails asking if I was okay, if I needed anything.I hadn't called back.What was I supposed to say? Hey, I'm hiding in a safe house with my ex-husband because his mafia father wants to steal our children?The phone kept ringing.I answered."Vincent.""Isla." His voice was warm, concerned. "Thank God. I've been worried sick. Where are you? Are you okay?""I'm fine. I'm safe.""That's not an answer. You disappeared without a word. Mia said th

Almost

POV: JAXONThe next day, we were barely speaking.Isla avoided me at breakfast. Took the twins outside while I cleaned up. Made lunch while I worked in my office.We orbited around each other like strangers.It was worse than fighting.At least when we fought, there was passion. Heat. Something real beneath the anger.This cold silence felt like death.The twins noticed."Why is Mommy sad?" Nova asked me while we played blocks that afternoon."She's not sad, sweetheart. Just tired.""But she's not smiling.""Sometimes grown-ups have hard days.""Did you make her sad?"The question hit me like a punch."Maybe," I admitted. "But I'm trying to make it better."Nova considered this seriously. "You should say sorry. Mommy always makes us say sorry when we're mean.""You're right. I should.""And give her a hug. Hugs make everything better."If only it were that simple.That night, my lawyer emailed new documents for the custody case.Depositions from character witnesses. Financial disclosu

The Legal Battle Begins

POV: ISLAThe courthouse was intimidating.Cold marble floors. High ceilings. Security guards with expressionless faces.I gripped my purse tighter, trying to calm the anxiety churning in my stomach."You okay?" Jaxon asked quietly.We stood outside the courtroom, waiting to be called in. He looked sharp in a tailored navy suit, clean-shaven, every inch the successful businessman.I'd chosen a conservative dress, professional but warm. Approachable. The kind of outfit that said good mother without screaming trying too hard.Our lawyer, Catherine Morris, had coached us extensively.Present as a united front. Hold hands. Make eye contact. Show the judge that we're a family, stable and committed to the twins."I'm fine," I lied.Jaxon's hand found mine.I almost pulled away, old instinct, old hurt.But this was for the twins.So I let him hold my hand.His palm was warm. Solid.It felt... right.I hated that it felt right."We've got this," he said. "Catherine knows what she's doing.""A

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