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 vase. "By tonight, I want everything that belonged to her out of

was glad Susan was taking the lead, clearing out the last bits of

other, there was this... nagging feeling.

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

okay with this?" Susan asked,

smile. "I like that

has to. This place needs a

opinions. She was blunt,

Sarah, who always tiptoed around, trying not to upset

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

It was some landscape Sarah had picked out. She said it reminded her of

that way before. To me,

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

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

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

didn't hold back, the woman

going to make this place ours," she said, her voice confident,

to match her enthusiasm. "Exactly. No more

on the cheek. "That's my man. Now, let's talk about redecorating. This place is going to look like it belongs to us, not... you know." We moved

her vision of the penthouse. She talked about tearing down

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

later, the

in bold colors that Susan chose, and the furniture was sleek, modern, and

day when Martin came by. I had barely closed the

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

What happened to all the stuff that

raised. "Right." He picked up a glass from the bar

took a long sip, eyeing me over

voice firm.

but it's... fast,