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

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...

carried those scars, and no amount of time or

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

and the team were huddled around the workstation,

I said, rolling

few hours troubleshooting, adjusting, and testing. By the time we

ignored it.

now," I said, standing up and stretching. The team looked relieved, 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 done without

shrugged it off. "We're

up for the day, I headed back

but as soon as I stepped inside, I was met

holding out

didn't

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

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

I said, sitting down 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

wanted to. He had been a great support

he looked at me, the way

you've been incredible," he said, his voice 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

you who made this happen. You who pushed through

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

in the room. "I had

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

took the cup of coffee, my hands shaking. Wesley's eyes were on me, and I felt the weight of his gaze-too heavy, too intimate. I shifted in

head home," I said, standing

away, his eyes still

Wesley's words, but a part

to tell you something," he said, his

working together, it was just business. But over time... it's become

at him, not

breaking the silence. "More than just

my breath catch in my

he said quickly,

been through a lot. I know your relationship with Richard left you with