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

Chapter 15

Richard pov.

Weeks passed, and it was the same thing every time Susan and I went out.

People always found a way to bring up Sarah, to compare them. It was grating on my nerves.

Why did they have to pick on Susan? It wasn't her fault that I didn't love Sarah. If anything, Sarah was the other woman. Susan was the one I'd loved from the start. I stood outside our bedroom door, listening to her muffled cries. We had just come back from another event, and it had happened again.

Someone had called her 'the other woman.' My hands balled into fists. Why couldn't they just let it go?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. Susan was on the bed, face buried in her hands, her shoulders shaking.

I walked over and sat beside her, reaching out to touch her back.

"Susan," I said softly.

She jerked away from my hand. "Don't," she snapped. Her voice was raw. "You just stood there, Richard. You just watched while they called me the other woman."

I felt a knot in my stomach. "I... I didn't know what to say," I muttered. "You know it's not true. They don't know our story."

She lifted her head, her eyes red and puffy. "But they keep saying it! Every single time!"

She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. "It's like... it's like I'm some kind of villain. And you... you just stand there."

I felt the sting of her words. "That's not fair," I said quietly. "You know it's not fair."

perfect wife. And you say

shouted. "Or... or at least tell them it's not true. Tell them that you love me, that you always

my chest. "I do tell them," I said, feeling helpless. "But it

streaming down her cheeks

you're hurting," I said, my

out a bitter laugh. "No, you just stand there, all calm and collected, while I get called names. I'm the one who has to listen to it.

I'm trying my best here," I said, my voice rising. "It's not easy for

says you shouldn't. Not easy is being looked at like you're

ran a hand through my hair. Susan would

it out. I'll talk to them if it happens again. I'll tell them

sniffled, turning away.

time," I insisted. "I'll make them see

she nodded, but I

time, if it happens again... you say

in my chest grow. "I promise," I said, but

was a promise I could

to do. I couldn't keep standing by while people

didn't deserve that. No, we didn't deserve that. So I

how I ended up sitting across from Martins

with a view of the whole city, where you

a sip of his drink, looking at me with that calm expression of his. "You wanted to talk. What's

deep breath, then said it. "I want to

almost choked on his drink. "Propose? Richard, that's-" He shook his head. "It's too soon. People are

people think!" I