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.

the doorway, holding the vase. "By tonight, I want everything that belonged to her out of here. Understand?"

hand, I was glad Susan

other, there was this... nagging feeling. Something I couldn't quite put my

off. This was what I wanted-a

with this?" Susan asked, turning to

forcing a smile. "I like that you

answer. "Well, someone has to. This place needs a woman's touch. A real

opinions.

who always tiptoed around, trying not to upset

the hallway. "And that," she said, pointing

the painting. It was some landscape Sarah had picked out. She

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

continued, "I

scrambled to follow her orders, moving quickly to remove the painting. I watched them work, feeling

flicker of something I didn't want to name. I brushed it aside. This was the new life I

woman who didn't hold back, the woman who

in close. "We're going to make this place ours," she said, her voice confident,

trying to match her enthusiasm. "Exactly. No

to look like it belongs to us, not... you know." We moved into the dining room, where Susan had already spread

into her vision of the penthouse. She

This was what I thought I needed. A partner who took charge, who didn't

week later, the penthouse was

that Susan chose, and the furniture was sleek, modern, and all brand

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

play it

over everything. "Different? More like... sterile. What happened to all the stuff that made this place feel lived-in? Where's-" "Sarah's gone," I cut in sharply. "And

look at me, eyebrows raised. "Right." He picked up a glass from the bar

over the rim.

it ours," I said, my voice firm. "I like that

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