All Chapters of The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

177 Chapters

The Psychologist

POV: JAXONDr. Sandra Reeves arrived at exactly nine in the morning.She was in her late fifties, with kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses and a warm smile that didn't quite hide how carefully she was observing everything."Mr. Romano, Dr. Vale." She shook our hands. "Thank you for having me.""Of course," Isla said, gesturing to the living room. "Please, sit down."The twins were upstairs playing, giving us time to talk first.Dr. Sandra settled into the armchair, pulled out a notepad, and looked at us with that gentle, assessing gaze."I know this process can be stressful," she said. "But I'm here to understand your family dynamic. To see how the children are doing. My goal is to make the best recommendation for Rowan and Nova's wellbeing.""We understand," I said."Good. Let's start with some background. Dr. Vale, can you tell me about your decision to keep the children from Mr. Romano for three years?"Here we go.Isla straightened. "I was protecting them.""From what?""From a t

Fake Date Night

POV: ISLA"You want us to do what?" I stared at Catherine like she'd lost her mind."Go on a date," she repeated calmly. "In public. Somewhere nice. Be photographed together looking happy and stable.""Why?""Because Dante's lawyers are going to argue that your co-parenting arrangement is temporary and unstable. If the judge sees you as a committed couple or at least heading in that direction, it strengthens your case significantly."Jaxon leaned back in his chair. "So we're supposed to fake a relationship?""You're not faking. You live together. You're raising children together. I'm just suggesting you let the public see what I've already seen, two people who clearly care about each other working toward a common goal."I wanted to argue.But she had a point."Fine," I said. "One date. For appearances."Jaxon looked at me, something unreadable in his expression. "Okay. One date."Mia thought it was hilarious."Let me get this straight," she said over video call while I tried on my thi

The Real Date

POV: JAXONI spent three days planning this date.It had to be perfect.Not flashy or expensive, Isla didn't care about that. Something meaningful. Personal. Something that showed I'd been paying attention.So I found a lake.Private property, an hour outside the city. I rented it for the afternoon, no paparazzi, no interruptions, just us.I packed her favorite foods. Strawberries, cheese, fresh bread, that expensive dark chocolate she pretended not to love.And I brought my guitar.Learning to play had been therapy during the worst of my separation from Isla.After Vivian left, after the truth about Ashley came out, I'd been drowning. My therapist suggested finding a creative outlet.So I learned guitar.Spent hours practicing in my empty penthouse, teaching my fingers to create something beautiful instead of destroying everything I touched.I wasn't great. But I was decent enough.And I'd learned one song specifically for this moment.For her.Isla was nervous when I picked her up.

After their Kiss

POV: ISLAEverything changed after the lake.Not dramatically. Not all at once.But in small, significant ways that added up to something real.Jaxon kissed me goodnight now. Quick pecks on the lips when the twins weren't looking, longer ones when they were asleep.He found excuses to touch me, brushing hair off my shoulder, his hand on my lower back as we walked, fingers intertwining while we watched TV.We weren't officially together. Hadn't had that conversation yet.But we were…something.Something tentative and healing and terrifying.The twins noticed immediately."Mommy, why are you smiling so much?" Nova asked one morning at breakfast."Am I?""Yes! You're all smiley and happy.""I'm just in a good mood, sweetie."Rowan looked between me and Jaxon, suspicion clear on his little face."Are Mommy and Daddy boyfriend and girlfriend now?" he asked.I nearly choked on my coffee.Jaxon laughed, reaching over to ruffle Rowan's hair. "What makes you think that, buddy?""Because you lo

Confronting Vivian

POV: JAXONI left for New York at dawn.Isla wanted to come. Insisted, actually."I should be there," she said as I packed an overnight bag. "This is about me. My reputation.""Which is exactly why you're staying here," I said firmly. "I don't trust myself around Vivian. And I definitely don't trust myself if she says something cruel to you. I need you safe. With the twins.""Jaxon"I kissed her hard and desperate."Trust me," I said against her lips. "Let me protect you. Please."She searched my face, then nodded reluctantly."Okay. But if you end up in jail for assault, I'm not bailing you out.""Fair enough."The flight to New York felt endless.I used the time to strategize with Catherine via phone."Do we have any legal recourse?" I asked."Against the publication? No. But if Vivian is knowingly spreading false information that damages Isla's reputation, we could sue for defamation after the fact.""That takes too long. The damage will already be done.""I know. Your best option

The Corrected Story

POV: ISLAThe article published on a Wednesday morning.I woke up to seventeen missed calls and forty-three text messages.My stomach dropped.This was it. Vivian's lies plastered across the internet for everyone to see. My reputation destroyed. The custody case ruined.I grabbed my phone with shaking hands and pulled up the article."Romano's Secret Twins: The Scandal Untold"I braced myself.Then I started reading.The first few paragraphs were what I expected, Vivian's account of meeting Jaxon, their affair, the marriage. She talked about finding out Ashley wasn't his, the divorce, the scandal.Then came the section about me.And it wasn't what I expected at all."I need to be clear about something," Vivian's statement read. "Isla Winters was not the villain in this story. I was. I pursued Jaxon while he was married to her. I seduced him. I lied about my pregnancy. I manipulated the situation to my advantage. Isla did nothing wrong. She was protecting herself and her children from

Dante Escalates

POV: JAXONThe first sign was the cameras.Clifford, my head of security, called at six in the morning."We have movement on the perimeter. Three men, professional surveillance equipment. They've been there since midnight."I was out of bed instantly. "Dante's men?""Almost certainly. They're not trying to breach. Just watching and documenting.""Get rid of them.""Already on it. But Jaxon? If he's escalating to physical surveillance…""I know. It's going to get worse."I hung up and found Isla in the kitchen, making coffee.She took one look at my face. "What's wrong?"I told her.The color drained from her face. "He sent people here? To watch us?""My security team is handling it.""Handling it how? Jaxon, if there's a confrontation…""There won't be. They're just going to escort them off the property… Professionally."But my father didn't do anything professionally.By noon, the surveillance team was gone.But the damage was done.Isla was on edge, checking windows constantly, jump

Building the Case

POV: ISLAWe started that night.After the twins were asleep, Jaxon and I set up in his office. Two laptops, stacks of documents, coffee that would last us until dawn."Where do we start?" I asked.Jaxon pulled out a leather journal. It was old, worn, filled with notes in his handwriting."I've been keeping track," he said. "For years. Every illegal deal. Every bribe. Every threat. I didn't know what I'd ever do with it, but I documented everything."I stared at him. "You've been building a case against your own father?""Not consciously. But yeah. I guess part of me always knew it would come to this."He opened the journal.The first entry was dated fifteen years ago. Jaxon would have been seventeen.Father paid off Judge Morrison. $500K. Case dismissed."Damn" I whispered."It gets worse."He flipped through pages. Money laundering. Extortion. Blackmail. Assault. Even a suspected murder that was never investigated.Fifteen years of crimes, all documented in Jaxon's careful handwriti

The Twins' Birthday

POV: JAXONRowan and Nova turned four on a Tuesday.Despite everything, the custody battle, Dante's threats, the investigation we were building, we were determined to make it special.They deserved that much."What do you want for your birthday?" I'd asked them a week earlier."A party!" Nova said immediately."With cake!" Rowan added."And presents!""And Auntie Mia!"So that's what we gave them.The morning started with pancakes shaped like their ages.A wobbly "4" for each of them, covered in syrup and sprinkles."I'm FOUR!" Nova announced to everyone and no one. "I'm a big girl now!""Me too!" Rowan said, even though he was technically three minutes younger. "I'm four AND three minutes!"Isla laughed, caught my eye across the table.For a moment, we weren't two people building a case against a crime lord.We were just parents, celebrating our children's birthday.And I wanted to freeze that moment forever.Mia arrived at noon with a car full of presents."Auntie Mia!" The twins la

Vincent Returns

POV: ISLAVincent showed up three days after the twins' birthday.I was in the yard with Rowan and Nova when I heard the car.My first thought was panic, Dante's men again.Then I saw Vincent step out of a black SUV.Tall and polished. Looking handsome as always"Vincent?" I breathed.He smiled. "Hey, Isla."The twins stopped playing, looked at this stranger with suspicion."Who's that?" Nova asked."A friend. From work.""Why is he here?"Good question.Inside, I made coffee while Vincent settled into the living room.Jaxon appeared from his office, took one look at Vincent, and his entire body tensed."Reid," he said coolly."Romano." Vincent's tone was equally cold.The testosterone in the room was suffocating."What are you doing here?" I asked before they could start circling each other like territorial animals."Mia told me what was happening. The custody battle. Dante's harassment. I wanted to help.""Help how?"He pulled out a folder. "Legal resources. My company has retained

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