Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Chapter 27

Sarah's

pov.

I stood in the middle of the buzzing office trying to focus on the stack of paperwork in front of me, but my mind was miles away.

The past few weeks had been exhausting, with the press conference taking a toll on me.

We are about to reveal our latest products at the business event in two days' time. It was supposed to be the big reveal, something we had worked months on perfecting. But today, something went wrong-horribly wrong.

I glanced over at the clock. It was already past 10 a. m., and the day was just beginning. The formulator had screwed up. Again.

My hand trembled as I reached for the clipboard. Weeks of sleepless nights flashed before my eyes-this couldn't be happening, not now.

If this formula didn't work, we were finished. My throat tightened as I scanned the data, the numbers blurring.

A knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts. "Come in," I called, my voice sounding more tired than I intended.

"Sarah, there's an issue with the latest batch," Nina, one of my lead chemists, said as she stepped inside, holding a clipboard.

"What kind of issue?" I asked, already feeling my stomach tighten.

She sighed, looking as stressed as I felt. "It's the consistency. We thought we had it right, but the formula's separating. It won't hold."

I swore under my breath. This was supposed to be the final version, the one that went to production.

I'd invested too much into this-too much time, too much energy. I couldn't let it fail now. Not after everything.

"I'll come down to the lab," I said, grabbing my notebook. "We'll fix it."

As I walked toward the lab, I thought about how different my life was now. A few years ago, I would've let someone else handle this.

Back when I was Richard's wife, I didn't have the confidence to speak up, to be the one in charge.

Richard used to tell me I wasn't cut out for business. "You're better in the background," he'd say, barely looking at me.

But look at me now, standing in the middle of my own empire. I didn't need him then, and I certainly don't need him now.

off the memories of Richard and focused

been supportive throughout this entire journey, but I was still cautious, always wondering if his intentions were purely business-or something more. The way he looked at me these days, like he saw more than just a business partner... It

still carried those scars, and no amount of time or success could heal

lab, the lab was a mess. Tubes and beakers cluttered every surface, the faint scent of chemicals hanging in the

were huddled around

me see it," I said,

few hours troubleshooting, adjusting, and testing. By the time we had a workable solution, it was nearly

in my pocket, but I ignored it. Whatever it

think we've got it now," I said, standing up and stretching. The team looked relieved, and I knew they had been under just

"We're all in this

the team packed up for the day, I

but as soon as I stepped inside, I was met by Wesley, leaning casually against my

asked, holding out a

surprised. "You didn't have to bring me

to soften the edges of a hard day. "I know,

was

almost tanked, but we managed to save it in time." Wesley sat on the edge of my desk, too close for comfort, but

had been a great support

he looked at me, the way he lingered a little too long when he

softer now. "I've watched you handle all of this with so much strength. You've really built something amazing here." I smiled, but it felt forced. "I've had help," I

happen. You who pushed

see it. You're not the same woman

room. "I had to change," I said quietly. "I couldn't stay the way I

"I admire that

shaking. Wesley's eyes were on me, and I felt the weight of his gaze-too heavy, too

probably head home," I said, standing up and grabbing my

not moving away, his eyes still on me.

but a part of me froze. I wasn't ready.

tell you something," he said, his voice

together, it was just business. But

stared at him, not sure what to

finally breaking the silence. "More

my breath catch in my throat.

he said quickly, holding up

left you