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 on

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

those scars, and no amount of time or success

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

around the workstation, staring at the

me see it," I said, rolling

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

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

and I knew they had been under just as much pressure as I had. "Thanks, Sarah," Nina said, giving me a tired smile. "I don't know what we would've

shrugged it off. "We're

up for the day,

home and get some rest, but as soon as I stepped inside, I was met by Wesley,

holding

surprised. "You didn't have to bring me

smiled, that easy, charming smile of his that always seemed to soften the edges of a hard day. "I know, but you

through me. It was a kind gesture, but part of me couldn't help but feel...

sitting down in my chair. "It's been a rough one. The formula almost tanked, but we managed to save it in time."

had been a great support to me since we started working together, always

at me, the way he lingered

said, his voice softer now. "I've watched you handle all of this with so much strength. You've really built

made this happen. You who pushed

I can see it. You're not the same woman

tension rise in the room. "I had to change," I said quietly.

nodded, his gaze intense. "I admire that about you. I... I

me, and I felt the weight of his gaze-too heavy, too

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

too, not moving away, his eyes still

a part of me froze. I wasn't

been meaning to tell you something," he said, his voice

we first started working together, it was just business. But over time...

at him, not sure what

said, finally breaking the silence. "More

felt my breath catch in my throat.

me out," he said quickly, holding up a

know you've been through a lot. I know your relationship with Richard left you with scars. But I'm