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

Chapter 23

Richard's POV.

I sat at my desk, my head pounding as I stared at the same damn numbers. Sales were down, Vitalé Wellness was eating into our market share, and nothing I did seemed to make a difference. Vitalé Wellness was eating away at my business faster than I could react. Nothing I did seemed to work. Every move we made, they were ten steps ahead. The stress was piling up, and I was starting to feel like I was drowning.

I massaged my temples, the familiar pulse of a headache building behind my eyes. I'd been here before-staring at the same problem, night after night.

Only this time, it felt like everything was falling apart. My company, my sanity...even my engagement.

I heard the door to my office creak open but didn't bother looking up.

"Still buried in work, huh?" Martin's voice cut through the silence. He walked in, hands in his pockets, studying me with that look he always gave when he knew I was in too deep.

I let out a sigh, rubbing my temples. "What does it look like?"

"You're killing yourself, man." He leaned against the doorframe. "What's going on? You've been glued to that desk for days. It's like you're not even living anymore."

I slammed the laptop shut, frustration boiling beneath my skin. "What choice do I have? Vitalé's ripping us apart, and nothing I do works."

Martin gave me that look-the one that said he could see through my crap. "Have you tried taking a break? You're burning yourself out, Richard."

"A break?" I let out a bitter laugh. "I can't afford a break, Martin. This is my life we're talking about."

"Susan's not helping either, is she?" Martin's voice was soft but knowing, cutting right to the core of what was really eating me up.

I didn't answer, my eyes fixed on the desk. I didn't want to tell him how Susan barely noticed when I came home, how she scrolled through her phone, saying something half-hearted like, 'It'll get better.' I didn't need better. I needed a partner, someone who got it. And Susan...she just wasn't that.

And if I told Martin that, he'd bring up Sarah. He'd remind me of how Sarah stood by me when things were tough, even though I never appreciated it.

That wasn't a conversation I wanted to have tonight.

it

could see right through me. That was the thing about best friends-they didn't need you to say it out loud. "Alright, fine. You don't want to

night. Come to my place. You need to step away before you lose it completely."

she scrolled through her

picture her disinterested expression, the same empty words about how "everything

and part of me wondered

I couldn't stay in the office all night. Maybe a break would do

grabbing my jacket.

grinned. "That's more like it. Trust me,

some bad TV,

little. But by the time morning came, everything hit me again. I had to

chest. I stepped

waiting for

not even giving me a

Martin's," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as

break? From what?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "From your oh-so-stressful life? Or were you out doing

the hell are you talking about?" I asked, feeling my patience slipping. "I told you.

You think I don't notice?" "Susan, I'm dealing with a lot right now," I said through gritted teeth, trying to stay calm. "Vitalé is crushing us. I'm trying

Or do I not matter?" she snapped, stepping closer. "You always have time for everything else but

is about!" I snapped back, my voice rising. "I'm trying to keep everything from falling

late. "I'm trying to keep this business from falling apart, Susan! What do you want me to do? Sit here

never do! You sit there with your useless platitudes, telling me 'it'll get better'

face twisted, and I saw the hurt flash in her eyes. "If you wanted someone

were out before I could stop them.

Silence. Fuck. Fuck.

shock and fury. "If Sarah was so great, why

my mouth to answer, but nothing came out. I didn't know why I was comparing them.

started, but she cut

grabbed her purse and headed