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.

shook off the memories of Richard and focused on the problem at

had 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...

scars, and no amount of time

a mess. Tubes and beakers cluttered every surface, the

were huddled around the workstation, staring

I said, rolling up

testing. By the time we had a workable

feel my phone buzzing in my pocket, but I ignored it. Whatever it was, it could wait. This was more

relieved, and I knew they had been under just as

shrugged it off. "We're

the day, I headed back

rest, but as soon as

holding out

didn't have to bring

soften the edges of a hard day. "I know, but you look like you could use

took the cup and sipped, the warmth spreading through me. It was a kind gesture, but part of me couldn't help but feel...

managed to save it in time." Wesley sat

great support to me since we started working together, always there when I

he looked at me, the way he lingered

so much strength. You've really built something amazing here." I smiled, but it felt

who made this happen. You who pushed

paused, his eyes searching mine. "You've changed, Sarah. I can see it. You're not the same woman you

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

that

me, and I felt the weight of his gaze-too heavy, too intimate. I shifted in my seat, my stomach

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

stood too, not moving away, his eyes still on

heart lurched at Wesley's words, but a part of me froze. I wasn't ready. Not after

he

together, it was just business. But over time...

him, not sure what to

you, Sarah," he said, finally breaking the silence. "More than

felt my breath catch in my throat.

me out," he said quickly, holding up

lot. I know your relationship with Richard left you with scars. But I'm not him. I don't want