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.

her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She looked

dress was tight, her makeup perfect. But all I

hands on her hips. "You

was? People are asking

I didn't have the

her handbag onto the bed. "That's all you ever say! You're distant, you're

about us anymore? Or are

close to home. I stood up slowly, trying

say, Susan? That

continued. "That I don't care about you showing

you should say you care about me at

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

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

"I know what's going on. It is

world. I bet you regret

around to face her, my voice low. "Don't. Talk. About.

enough for you! She didn't understand this life-our life. She was weak, Richard. She-" "Stop!" I shouted, louder than I

Susan. She wasn't weak. She was

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

Thick and heavy that a knife could slice

like I had just slapped her. Maybe, in a

it, then? You regret choosing me? You wish you

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

The answer was clear, but saying it out loud felt like a final nail in the coffin of this life

know," I

saw real hurt there. "You're unbelievable," she spat, grabbing her bag and

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

her, leaving

had said settled over me like a heavy blanket. I sank back

didn't chase after her. I couldn't. Because deep down,

now, I was losing

I

maybe Sarah would somehow call, that she'd forgive me, that everything would go back to the way it was.

gone. And maybe, just maybe, I had lost the

***

and the air

booths, the kind with leather seats that stick

the burn in my throat. I wasn't

danced, their bodies moving in sync with the beat. He smirked, his eyes