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.

on the

dress was tight, her makeup perfect. But

she snapped, hands on her hips. "You didn't even

you know how embarrassing that was? People are asking if we're even

have the energy for this.

her handbag onto the bed. "That's all

"Do you even care about us anymore? Or are you

home. I stood up slowly, trying to

me to say, Susan? That I'm

about you

me at all!" she shot back, her

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

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

done. "I know what's going on. It is

in your little world. I bet you regret letting

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

life. She was weak, Richard.

Susan. She

my throat. I took a deep breath, my heart racing. "I should never

was silence. Thick and heavy that a

stared at me like I had just slapped her. Maybe, in a way,

voice was quieter now, but still sharp. "So, that's it, then?

I didn't know how to answer that. My

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

don't know," I

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

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

behind her,

heavy blanket. I sank back down onto the bed, running my hands through my

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

lost Sarah. And now, I

me, useless. I stared at it, hoping for a

everything

just maybe, I had lost the only good

***

lights were dim, the music loud, and the air thick with cigarette

sat in one of those private booths, the kind with

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

his eyes fixed on the stage. A group of girls danced, their bodies moving in sync with the beat. He smirked, his eyes