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

her makeup perfect. But

her hips. "You didn't even bother

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

didn't have the energy for this. Not

now?" she scoffed, throwing her handbag onto the

even care about us anymore? Or are you just regretting

close to home. I stood up slowly,

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

about you showing off to people who

about me at

always lost in your head! And don't think I don't notice when you look at me like-like you're wishing I was

didn't want to

what's going on. It is Sarah

your little world. I bet you regret letting her go,

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

She was never good enough for you! She didn't understand this life-our life. She was weak, Richard. She-" "Stop!" I shouted, louder

about her, Susan. She wasn't weak. She was everything.

breath, my heart racing. "I should

that a knife could

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

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

know how to answer that.

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

know," I whispered.

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

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

door slammed behind her, leaving

settled over me like a heavy blanket. I

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

Sarah. And now, I was losing everything

me, useless. I

somehow call, that she'd forgive me, that everything would go back to the way

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

***

dim, the music loud, and the

private booths, the kind with

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

on the stage. A group of girls danced, their bodies moving in sync with the