All Chapters of The Wife He Forgot: Ashes to Empire: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

177 Chapters

Choosing

POV: ISLAThat night, after the twins were asleep, I found Vincent sitting on the porch.He hadn't left."I thought you were going back to Seattle," I said."I should. But I want to get an answer before I leave"I sat down beside him, already exhausted."The offer stands," he said quietly. "Come to California. Bring the twins. I'll protect you. Give you the stability you deserve. A new life without looking over your shoulder.""Vincent""I know you care about him. Maybe even love him. But Isla, you deserve more than this. More than hiding. More than danger. More than a man who spent years making you feel worthless.""He's changed.""So you keep saying. But has he? Really? Or are you so desperate for the family you always wanted that you're willing to overlook everything?"The words hit too close.“Can you give me a minute” I saidI went inside and found Jaxon in the kitchen.He was staring out the window, jaw tight, hands gripping the counter."How much did you hear?" I asked."Enough

The Morning After

POV: JAXONI woke up with Isla in my arms.For a moment, I thought I was dreaming.But no, her hair was spread across my chest, her breathing soft and steady, her bare skin warm against mine.This was real.Last night was real.She'd chosen me. She'd said she loved me. She'd let me hold her, touch her, show her everything I'd been too broken to express years ago.I tightened my arms around her, never wanting to let go."Good morning," she murmured, voice sleepy."Best morning of my life."She tilted her head up, smiled at me. "Really?""Really. Waking up with you? I've been dreaming about this for years.""You're such a sap.""Only for you."She kissed me, soft and slow."Last night was…" she started."Everything.""Yeah. Everything."We stayed like that for a while, just holding each other, neither of us ready to face the world outside this room.Then we heard it.Footsteps. Small, pattering footsteps.They were getting closer."Oh no," Isla breathed."They're coming."We scrambled a

The Trap

POV: ISLAI couldn't breathe.Mia. They had Mia.My best friend. The woman who'd been there through everything. Who'd helped me raise the twins. Who'd saved my life in every way that mattered.And now she was in danger because of me."This is my fault," I whispered."No." Jaxon gripped my shoulders. "This is Dante's fault. Not yours.""But if I hadn't…""Stop. We're not doing this. We're getting her back.""How?"He stared at his phone. "They want me to come alone.""No." The word came out sharp. "Absolutely not.""Isla""It's a trap. You know it's a trap. If you go alone, he'll kill you.""If I don't go, he'll kill Mia.""So we call the police. The FBI. We…""There's no time. Look at the message. It says 'come now.' If we wait for authorities… she's dead."He was right. I hated it, but he was right."Then I'm coming with you," I said."No. You need to stay with the twins.""Security can stay with the twins. Mia is MY best friend. I'm coming.""Isla""Don't argue with me, Jaxon. Don't

The Hospital

POV: ISLATime stopped in that waiting room.Or maybe it moved too fast. I couldn't tell anymore.Every second felt like an hour. Every minute like a lifetime.Jaxon had been in surgery for three hours.Three hours of sitting in this sterile room, covered in his blood, staring at those double doors and praying.Please. Please don't take him from me. Not now. Not when we finally found each other again.Mia sat beside me, holding my hand.She had a black eye and bruises on her wrists from the ropes, but she was alive.We were alive.Jaxon had to be alive too.He had to be.The twins arrived an hour into the surgery.Clifford brought them, face grim."Mommy!" They ran to me.I caught them, held them tight, trying not to fall apart."Where's Daddy?" Rowan asked immediately.I couldn't answer. Couldn't form words."Daddy got hurt," Mia said gently. "The doctors are fixing him. He's going to be okay.""Is Daddy okay?" Nova's voice was tiny. Scared.I pulled back, looked at their faces."I d

Code Blue

POV: ISLA"Code blue! Room 304!"The announcement crackled over the hospital intercom.Room 304.Jaxon's room.I was shoved aside as doctors and nurses rushed past me, a crash cart wheeling through the door."What's happening?" I screamed. "What's wrong with him?""Ma'am, you need to wait outside!""NO! That's…he's…"Strong hands pulled me back. A nurse, gentle but firm."Let them work. Please."Through the doorway, I could see them surrounding Jaxon's bed.Shouting medical terms I didn't understand.His body jerking as they did something, chest compressions?The heart monitor's steady beep had turned into one long, terrible tone.Flatline."No. No, no, no!"My legs gave out.The nurse caught me, guided me to a chair in the hallway.Mia appeared from somewhere, wrapped her arms around me."He's dying," I sobbed. "He's dying Mia""He's not dying. He's not. They're going to save him."But the commotion continued.Voices raised in urgency."Charge to 200!""Clear!"A thud."Still no puls

Recovery

POV: JAXONA week in the hospital felt like a lifetime.But it was also the best week of my life.Strange thing to say about recovery from a gunshot wound, but it was true.Because Isla was there. Every day. Every hour.She barely left my side.The twins visited daily. Rowan brought drawings he'd made in the hospital cafeteria, Nova read to me from her favorite books, stumbling over words but so proud when she got them right."Daddy, look! I drew you and Mommy getting married!" Rowan held up a crayon masterpiece.Two stick figures holding hands, hearts floating above them. A smaller stick figure on each side."It's perfect, buddy.""Can we put it on the wall?""Absolutely."Isla helped him tape it to the wall beside my bed. Soon, that wall was covered in drawings, get-well cards, reminders of why I'd fought so hard to survive.My family.The doctors were amazed by my recovery."You're healing faster than expected," Dr. Matthew said, reviewing my charts. "Whatever you're doing, keep do

Going Home

POV: ISLAThe safe house felt different when we returned.Not just safe anymore, but warm. Full of life.Home.The twins ran inside ahead of us, immediately showing Jaxon all the things they'd done while he was in the hospital."Look, Daddy! I made a fort!""I learned to tie my shoes!""We planted flowers in the garden!"He took it all in, smiling, present in a way I'd never seen before.This wasn't the cold, distant man I'd married years ago.This was a father. A partner. A man who'd fought his way back to us."Take it easy," I reminded him as he started to bend down to look at Rowan's drawing. "The doctor said no strenuous activity.""Looking at a drawing isn't strenuous.""You know what I mean."He straightened, kissed my forehead. "Yes, ma'am."The twins giggled. "Mommy's bossy!""She is," Jaxon agreed. "And I love it."Life slowly returned to normal.Or what passed for normal in our complicated world.Jaxon worked from home, taking it easy as the doctor ordered. Apex was thriving

Planning the Wedding

POV: ISLAPlanning a wedding the second time around felt surreal.The first time, it had been cold. Transactional. An obligation to fulfill.Jaxon's father had planned everything. I'd just shown up in a dress, married a man I didn't know and said vows I didn't mean.This time was different.This time, it was ours."Small," I said firmly as we sat with a wedding planner Mia recommended. "Intimate. Just the people we love.""How small?" the planner asked."Twenty people, maybe?" I looked at Jaxon. "Is that okay?""Perfect. I don't need a crowd. I just need you."The planner made notes. "Timeline?""Three months," Jaxon said."That's quite soon for…""We've waited long enough," he said, squeezing my hand. "Three months.""Three months it is."The twins were ecstatic about being in the wedding."I'm the flower girl!" Nova announced to anyone who would listen."And I'm the ring bearer!" Rowan added, puffing out his chest with pride.We took them shopping for their outfits.Nova picked a wh

Jaxon's Vow Practice

POV: JAXONThree weeks before the wedding, and I still hadn't finished my vows.I'd started over seventeen times.Seventeen attempts to put years of regret, years of growth, and a lifetime of love into words.Nothing felt right.Nothing felt like enough."You're overthinking it," Ethan said, watching me crumple another piece of paper.We were in my office. He'd come over to help with wedding planning, which apparently meant watching me have a breakdown over vows."I'm not overthinking. I'm trying to get it right.""You've been 'trying to get it right' for two weeks. At some point, you just have to commit.""This isn't some business deal, Ethan. These are my vows. To Isla. The woman I destroyed and somehow got a second chance with. They have to be perfect.""Perfect doesn't exist. Real does. Just say what's in your heart.""What's in my heart is years of 'I'm sorry' and 'I love you' and 'please don't leave me.' That's not enough."Ethan leaned back in his chair. "Why isn't it enough?"

The Rehearsal Dinner

POV: ISLAThe rehearsal dinner was small and intimate.Just the way we wanted it.A private room at a nice restaurant, nothing ostentatious, nothing that screamed "Romano wealth."Just family and close friends.Mia, Ethan, the twins, a few colleagues from Apex who'd become genuine friends, and Clifford, who'd become more than just security, he was family now too.The twins were dressed up, Nova in a pink dress, Rowan in a button-up shirt and tiny blazer."Do I have to wear this?" Rowan complained, tugging at his collar."Just for tonight," Jaxon said, adjusting the collar gently. "Tomorrow you get to wear your real suit.""The one that makes me look like James Bond?""Exactly like James Bond."Rowan perked up. "Okay then."Dinner was warm and full of laughter.Nothing like my first wedding festivities, which had been stiff and formal and filled with people I didn't know.This felt real.Mia sat beside me, squeezing my hand. "You ready for tomorrow?""I think so. Are you ready for your

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