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.

in, her heels clicking on the hardwood

was tight, her makeup perfect. But all I

on her hips. "You didn't even

embarrassing that was? People are

my temple. I didn't have the energy for this. Not tonight. "Susan,

handbag onto the bed. "That's all

about us anymore? Or are you just regretting

too close to home. I stood up slowly, trying to

do you want me to say, Susan? That I'm

I don't care about you showing off

about me

head! And don't think I don't notice when

my chest tighten. I didn't want to have this fight. Not now,

"I know what's going on.

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

face her, my

didn't understand this life-our life. She was weak, Richard. She-" "Stop!" I shouted, louder than I meant to. My voice echoed

don't know a damn thing about her, Susan. She

breath, my heart racing. "I should never have let her

silence. Thick and heavy that a knife could slice

just slapped her. Maybe, in a way, I

then? You regret choosing

swallowed hard. I didn't know how to answer that.

wish I was still with Sarah? The answer was clear, but saying it out loud felt like a final nail

know,"

crumpled, and for the first time, I saw real hurt there. "You're unbelievable," she spat, grabbing

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

slammed behind her, leaving me

I

Because deep down, I knew

Sarah. And now, I was

sat beside me, useless. I stared at it,

forgive me, that everything would go back to the way it

And maybe, just maybe, I had lost the

***

the music loud, and

and I sat in one of those private booths, the kind with leather seats that stick to

long sip of my whiskey, feeling the burn in my throat. I wasn't here to drink, but I needed something to take

group of girls danced, their bodies