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.

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

one hand, I was glad Susan was taking the lead, clearing out the last bits of my

was this... nagging feeling. Something I couldn't quite

I shook it off. This was what I wanted-a clean slate, a

with this?" Susan asked,

smile.

smirked, satisfied with my answer. "Well, someone has to. This

never held back her opinions. She was

who always tiptoed around, trying

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

was some landscape Sarah had picked out. She said

me, it was just another piece of art on

or donate it," Susan continued, "I

remove the painting. I watched them work,

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

with Susan now, the woman who didn't hold back, the

make this place ours," she said, her voice confident, almost possessive. "No

trying to match her

talk about redecorating. This place is going to look like it belongs to us, not... you know." We moved into the dining room, where

the penthouse. She talked

needed. A partner

week later, the penthouse

that Susan chose,

clean. No more soft cushions or warm colors. It was all cold, sharp lines now. It 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

to play it off. "It's different,

like... sterile. What happened to all the stuff

picked up a glass from the

a long sip, eyeing me over

my voice firm. "I like that she knows what she

looking down into his drink. "Sure, but it's... fast, don't you think? You changed everything in