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

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 was

no amount of time or success could

lab was a mess. Tubes and beakers cluttered every surface, the

were huddled around the workstation, staring at the

see it," I said, rolling up my

and testing. By the time we

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

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

shrugged it off. "We're all in this

for the

some rest, but as soon as I stepped inside, I was met by

asked, holding out a

surprised. "You didn't have

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

cup and sipped, the warmth spreading through me. It was a kind gesture, but part

in my chair. "It's been a rough one. The formula almost tanked, but we managed to save it in time." Wesley sat on the edge of my desk, too close for comfort, but I didn't say

if I wanted to. He had been a great support to me since we started working together,

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

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

who made this happen. You who pushed

his eyes searching mine. "You've changed, Sarah. I can see it. You're not

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

gaze intense. "I admire that

cup of coffee, my hands shaking. Wesley's eyes were on me, and I felt the weight of

head home," I said, standing

not moving away, his eyes still on me. "Sarah, wait. Before you

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

something," he said, his voice hesitant

business. But

stared at him, not sure what to

he said, finally breaking the silence. "More than just

felt my breath catch in

hear me out," he said

relationship with Richard left you with scars. But I'm