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.

I kept it short. "I'm

moment, like he 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

to my place. You need to step away before you lose it completely." I hesitated,

scrolled through her phone

expression, the same

got it, and part of

I couldn't stay in the office all

grabbing my jacket.

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

of drinks, some bad TV, and a

little. But by the time morning came, everything hit

that familiar knot in my chest. I stepped inside, bracing myself for whatever mood Susan

in the hallway, arms crossed like she'd been waiting for me. Her eyes were

last night?" she snapped, not even giving me a second to catch

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

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

feeling my patience slipping. "I

eyes flashing with anger. "It's always Martin. Or work. Or something else. You think I don't notice?" "Susan, I'm dealing with a lot right now," I said

snapped, stepping closer. "You always have time for everything

my voice rising. "I'm trying to keep everything

this business from falling apart, Susan! What do you want me to do? Sit here and pretend everything's fine?"

there with your useless platitudes, telling me 'it'll

the hurt flash in her eyes. "If

were out before I could stop

Silence. Fuck. Fuck.

fury. "If Sarah was so great, why did you divorce her? Why

came out. I didn't know why I was comparing them. I didn't even

started, but she cut me

She grabbed her purse and headed toward the door. "I can't do this right