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

tight, her makeup perfect. But all I saw was a

her hips. "You didn't even bother

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

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

not now?" she scoffed, throwing her handbag onto the bed. "That's all you ever say! You're

you even care about us anymore? Or are you

I stood up slowly,

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

about you showing off to people

about me at all!" she shot

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

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

know what's going on. It is Sarah you're

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

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

but she didn't back down. "Why not? Can't 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

thing about her, Susan. She wasn't

I took a deep breath,

was silence. Thick and heavy that a knife could slice

had just slapped her. Maybe, in a way, I

but still sharp. "So, that's it, then? You regret choosing me? You wish you

how to answer that. My mind was a mess. Did I regret

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

know,"

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

can just say that and everything will be fine? Well, guess what, Richard? You lost her.

door slammed behind her, leaving

said settled over me like a heavy blanket. I sank back down onto the bed,

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

Sarah. And now, I was losing

beside me, useless. I

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

I had lost the only good

***

the music loud, and

I sat in one of those private booths, the kind with

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

on the stage. A group of girls danced,