บททั้งหมดของ His forgotten wife, his greatest regret: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Chapter 1: The Broken Vow

Iridessa’s POVThe ballroom of the Wilder estate was suffocating, filled with the scent of expensive cologne and the sharp sting of champagne, but I stayed tucked into a shadowed corner behind a marble pillar so I wouldn't have to face anyone. My phone buzzed in my clutch for the tenth time tonight, and when I stole a glance at the screen, another photo appeared from an unknown number, showing Slade leaning close to Malani at a jewelry boutique earlier today. They looked perfect together in the grainy shot, just as they did now, standing in the center of the room under the crystal chandelier while guests whispered about how the CEO of Wilder Tech had finally found his match."They really do look like a power couple, don't they?" a woman in a silk dress murmured to her friend just inches from me, and the other woman nodded while sipping her drink, adding, "It's a shame about that girl he's actually married to, the one who tricked the grandmother into the match, because you can clear

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Chapter 2: The Final Straw

Iridessa’s POVI stood in the center of the bedroom for a long time after the door slammed, staring at the indentation on the pillow where Slade’s head had rested just an hour ago, and the silence of the room felt like it was crushing my chest. I eventually walked over to the vanity mirror and looked at my reflection, but the woman looking back had sunken eyes and a pale, tired face that didn't belong to the vibrant girl who had graduated top of her linguistics and tech classes three years ago. I reached into the back of the walk-in closet and pulled out the battered canvas duffel bag I had brought with me on the day I moved in, and I began throwing in my old cotton shirts and the few books I actually owned, leaving the silk gowns and the diamond necklaces Slade’s grandmother had gifted me untouched on their hangers. My hands were shaking as I zipped the bag, because even though I had spent years trying to make this house a home, I was leaving with exactly what I started with, plus

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Chapter 3: The Empty Throne

Iridessa’s POVThe hospital room was deathly quiet, the only sound being the rhythmic hum of a heart monitor and the soft rustle of expensive suit fabric as my older brother, Cassian, paced the length of the private suite. I watched him from the bed, feeling the throbbing ache in my cheek where Slade had struck me, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the cold, dead weight in my stomach when I thought about those three years of wasted effort. Cassian finally stopped and looked at me, his face a mask of barely controlled fury that usually made world-class CEOs tremble, and he reached out to gently touch the bruising on my jaw with a hand that was shaking from rage."I told you three years ago that these people were beneath you, Iridessa, but you insisted on playing the martyr because you thought you owed that girl your life," Cassian said, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous register as he pulled a tablet from his pocket and tapped a few icons. "The divorce papers have a

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Chapter 4: The Price of Freedom

Iridessa’s POVI walked through the lobby of Wilder Tech, this was where I had spent sleepless day and night writing proposals for a man who would pick another woman over me. I had spent three years fixing every bug and securing every firewall in this building, but today the air felt different, and I didn't feel the usual urge to step in and save them from the chaos I had created. When the elevator doors opened, the first thing I saw was Malani sitting on the edge of Slade’s desk with her arms wrapped around his neck, whispering something into his ear while he stared at a blank computer monitor with a look of pure desperation."Iridessa, you’re finally here, I’ve been trying to call you since yesterday because the entire system has crashed and the board is threatening to fire me if I don't get it back up in the next hour," Slade said, pushing Malani aside and standing up so quickly his chair nearly tipped over. He started to walk toward me, his eyes landing on the faint yellowing br

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Chapter 5: The Silent Shadow

Iridessa’s POVThe glass walls of my office in Geneva looked out over the lake, but I barely glanced at the view as I finished reviewing the final audit for the Wilder Tech acquisition, because for five years I had worked toward this specific moment with a focus that left no room for sentiment. I had discovered the pregnancy only weeks after arriving in Switzerland, and while the shock of having twins nearly broke me at first, Ares and Aurora became the reason I rebuilt myself into someone who could never be stepped on again. Cassian walked into the room without knocking, his footsteps heavy on the plush carpet as he dropped a leather-bound folder onto my desk and leaned against the edge of the mahogany surface."The jet is fueled and ready, and the legal team in the city says the Wilders have already arrived at the neutral boardroom, though they still think they’re meeting a male executive from the Sterling Group," Cassian said, his eyes scanning my face for any sign of hesitation,

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Chapter 6: The Face In The Photo

Slade's POVThe boardroom door clicked shut behind Iridessa. For several seconds, nobody moved, nobody spoke.The silence she left behind was heavier than any argument.I stood at the head of the conference table, staring at the door through which she had disappeared, while the foreclosure papers trembled slightly in my hands.Iridessa Sterling, not Iridessa Wilder.Not the quiet woman who used to wait for me at dinner."Sterling." The name echoed through my skull like a gunshot.One of the most powerful families in Europe.A family whose influence stretched across governments, corporations, and financial institutions.A family I had spent years trying to compete against. And somehow, I had been married to one."What a manipulative little snake."My mother's sharp voice shattered the silence. Penelope slammed both palms onto the table and rose to her feet."I knew there was something wrong with that girl from the beginning. She lied about who she was. She deceived all of us."Maya no

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Chapter 7: The Children Of Geneva

Iridessa's POVThe moment the private jet touched down in Geneva, I felt the tension slowly beginning to leave my body.The foreclosure meeting had gone exactly as planned. The Wilders were officially finished. Their empire was collapsing exactly the way Cassian and I had designed it to collapse over the last five years.Yet despite that victory, I found myself replaying the expression on Slade's face when he saw the photo on my phone.The look haunted me more than I wanted to admit.I pushed the thought away and looked out the car window. The Sterling Estate eventually came into view.Nestled along the shores of Lake Geneva, the estate looked more like a private kingdom than a home. For five years, this place has been my sanctuary. More importantly, It was home to the only two people in the world who mattered.The moment the front doors opened, a loud voice echoed in the room."Mom!"A tiny body collided with my legs, and I laughed despite myself as Aurora wrapped both arms around

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Chapter 8: The Past

Slade's POVThe Wilder mansion had never felt this quiet before. For most of my life, the house had been filled with noise.Now it seemed like a graveyard.I stood in the grand foyer, staring at the half-empty room while movers carried furniture toward waiting trucks outside. The crystal chandelier still hung overhead, but everything beneath it was disappearing piece by piece.Twenty-four hours. That was all Iridessa had given us. Twenty-four hours to vacate the estate.Five years ago, I would've laughed at anyone who suggested the Wilder family could lose everything.Today, strangers were carrying my mother's favorite antique cabinets out the front door."Be careful with that!"My mother's shrill voice echoed from the second floor."Do you know how much that vase costs?"The mover ignored her. For the first time in her life, money couldn't solve her problems.I should have been focused on the foreclosure, the company, the house, and the mountain of debt.Instead, my mind kept driftin

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Chapter 9: The Unwelcome Visitor

Iridessa's POVThe Sterling Group headquarters occupied the top forty floors of one of the tallest buildings in Geneva.Every inch of the structure reflected the influence of the Sterling family. Five years ago, walking through these halls would have intimidated me.Now they simply felt familiar.I stood in my office overlooking the lake, reviewing a proposal from the Asian division while three separate screens displayed market projections for the next quarter. My assistant, Elise, stepped inside carrying a tablet.Her expression was unusual, and I noticed it immediately."What is it?" I asked.She cleared her throat and responded in a low tone. "There's a visitor downstairs requesting a meeting.""I have appointments all afternoon." I said with a frown."He says it's important.""Then he can send an email." I answered without looking up. Elise took a deep breath before responding. "I suggested that, but he refused." That finally got my attention, and I set the document down and tu

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Chapter 10: What She Needs

Slade's POVCassian and Iridessa's words echoed in my head long after I stepped out of Sterling Group Headquarters.I stopped at the bottom of the wide marble staircase and stared across the city skyline.They were right. Every logical part of me knew they were right.I had lost the right to demand answers. Lost the right to know where she lived. Lost the right to know who she spent her days with.But there was one problem. I couldn't stop thinking about her, and I refuse to give up so easily.Not when a child is involved. Not when I was losing my mind. I ran a hand through my hair before heading toward my car, which was outside the premises.The ride back to my temporary home took nearly thirty minutes. Thirty miserable minutes I spent replaying every second of my conversation with Iridessa.The worst part wasn't her anger. It wasn't even the fact that she refused to forgive me.The worst part was that she genuinely didn't seem affected by me anymore. It was as if the woman who once

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