Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 11

Richard

pov.

Susan walked into the penthouse like she owned the place. Her heels made sharp clicks on the marble floor, echoing through the quiet room. She stopped in the middle of the living room, hands on her hips, eyes scanning every corner.

I stood back, leaning against the doorway, watching her take charge. She was like a force of nature, and I liked it. No hesitation. No second-guessing. Susan was strong, confident, and every bit the woman I had always wanted by my side. No pretense, no forced affection. Just her, raw and real. "This place needs a makeover," she declared, her eyes sweeping over the furniture. "It still smells like her."

I watched as she called for the servants. They came rushing in, looking nervous. Susan was already pointing out things she didn't like.

"Get rid of that sofa," she snapped. "And that painting-trash it. It's ugly."

She moved through the room like a storm, ordering everyone around. Something was exciting about how she took charge.

Sarah never did that. She was always too timid, too soft.

"Richard," Susan called, waving me over. "Can you believe she kept this old vase?" She pointed to a small, ceramic vase sitting on a shelf. "It's hideous."

I shrugged. "I never really noticed it."

"Well, I did," Susan sneered. "It's going in the trash." She looked at the servants. "What are you waiting for? Throw it out!"

The housekeeper, Mrs. Turner hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking to me for direction.

"Do as she says," I told her, keeping my voice firm.

Mrs. Turner nodded and quickly moved to remove the vase. Susan kept looking around, like a general surveying her territory.

"This place needs an overhaul," she muttered. "I mean, seriously, who decorated this place? It's so... bland."

I knew who she meant. Sarah. But I didn't say anything. Susan didn't need to hear the name to know who we were talking about.

turned to Mrs. Turner, who was still standing by the doorway, holding the vase. "By tonight, I want everything that belonged to her out of here. Understand?" Mrs. Turner nodded quickly.

arms, feeling a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, I was glad

was this... nagging feeling. Something I couldn't quite put my finger

what I wanted-a clean

Susan asked,

replied, forcing a smile.

my answer. "Well, someone has to. This place needs

her opinions. She

tiptoed around,

a painting hanging in the hallway. "And that," she said, pointing at it, "that ugly

glanced at the painting. It was some landscape Sarah had picked out.

hadn't looked at it that way before. To me, it was just another

donate it," Susan continued, "I don't care. Just get it out of

orders, moving quickly to remove the painting. I watched them work, feeling that

something I didn't want to name. I brushed it aside.

now, the woman who didn't hold back, the woman who made

make this place ours," she said, her voice

trying to match her enthusiasm. "Exactly. No

gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. "That's my man. Now, let's talk about redecorating. This place is going to look like it belongs to

she dove into her vision of the penthouse. She talked about tearing down walls, replacing furniture, and

I thought I needed. A partner who took charge, who

week later, the penthouse was

that Susan chose, and

was exactly how Susan wanted it. Susan was out for a spa day when Martin came by. I had barely closed the door behind him when he froze, his eyes wide as he took in the new decor. "Wow," he muttered, looking around. "This place... it doesn't look like

it off. "It's different, that's

sweeping over everything. "Different? More like... sterile. What happened to all the stuff that made this place feel lived-in?

"Right." He picked up

took a long sip, eyeing me over the rim. "So, Susan's been busy,

firm. "I like that she knows

slightly, looking down into his drink. "Sure, but