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

Chapter 25

Richard's POV

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the city lights outside the window. The penthouse was too quiet, too cold.

Susan had left hours ago, angry at me for not going to her stupid party. I couldn't focus on her anymore.

All I could think about was Sarah.

I don't know when it started, this gnawing feeling in my gut.

Maybe it was when I saw her in the news a few weeks ago, sitting next to Wesley. Smiling. Confidence. Happy.

And that's what twisted me up inside. Happy. Without me.

I shook my head, trying to push it away, but the thoughts kept coming back.

I thought being with Susan was the right thing. I thought she would fit into my life better, that she wouldn't ask for too much. But now, sitting here alone, it hit me like a slap in the face.

I had made the biggest mistake of my life.

I sighed and reached for my phone on the nightstand. My thumb hovered over Sarah's name in the contacts.

I hadn't deleted it yet, even after the divorce. Maybe I didn't think of it much. Maybe I hadn't cared.

I hit the call button. My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt my mouth go dry as the phone rang once, twice. Then, a robotic voice cut through. 'The number you have dialed is no longer in service.'

Gone. Just like that.

I slammed the phone down, my hand shaking. "Damn it, Sarah."

Well. What was I thinking? Of course, it only made sense that she changed her sim. New life. New contacts.

How had I missed it? Why didn't I see it earlier? Well, I was either blind or pretended not to notice.

Everyone liked her more than Susan. And when they saw me with Susan, it felt as if they were pitying me-including my best friend.

Martin's words still echoed in my ear. 'Maybe they're right, Richard! You think hundreds of people are all wrong? You think it's just rumors?'

I ruffled my hair in frustration. Were they right? Was I wrong?

I was still sitting there, lost in my thoughts when I heard the door to the bedroom swing open.

heels clicking on

makeup perfect. But all I saw was

hands on her hips. "You didn't even bother

how embarrassing that was? People

have the energy for this. Not

not now?" she scoffed, throwing her handbag onto the

you even care about us anymore?

too close to home. I stood up

me to say, Susan? That I'm sorry for not going to

don't care about you showing off to people

about me at all!"

don't think I don't notice when you look at me like-like you're wishing I was

away, feeling my chest tighten. I didn't want to have this

going on. It is Sarah

it in your eyes every time you're off in your little world. I bet you regret letting her go, huh?

I spun around to face her, my voice

you see? She was never good enough for you! She didn't understand this life-our life. She was weak, Richard. She-" "Stop!" I shouted, louder than I meant to. My voice echoed through

thing about her, Susan. She wasn't weak.

I took a deep breath, my heart

silence. Thick and heavy that a knife could

had just slapped her. Maybe, in a way,

it, then? You regret choosing me? You

hard. I didn't know how to answer that. My mind was

was still with Sarah? The answer was clear, but saying it out loud felt like

don't know," I

the first time, I saw real hurt there. "You're unbelievable," she spat, grabbing her bag

say that and everything will be fine? Well, guess what, Richard? You lost her. And now you're

her, leaving me alone

I sank back

couldn't. Because

Sarah. And now, I was losing

sat beside me, useless. I

everything would go back to the way it was. But

was gone. And maybe, just maybe, I had lost the only good

***

and the

the kind with leather seats that stick to your skin after a

whiskey, feeling the burn in my throat.

group of girls danced, their bodies moving in