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

purely business-or something more. The way he looked at me these days, like he saw more than just a business partner...

and no amount of

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

were huddled around

I

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

in my pocket, but I ignored it. Whatever it was, it could wait. This

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

"We're

team packed up for the day, I

get some rest, but as soon as I stepped

day?" he asked, holding

surprised. "You didn't have to bring me

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

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

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

if I wanted to. He had been a great support to me since we

at me, the way he lingered a little too long when he didn't

all of this with so much strength. You've

made this happen. You who

his eyes searching mine. "You've changed, Sarah. I can see

"I had

that about

I felt the weight of his gaze-too heavy, too intimate. I shifted in

home," I said, standing up and grabbing my

moving away, his eyes

heart lurched at Wesley's words, but a part

meaning to tell you something," he said, his

just business. But over time... it's become more than

stared at him, not

Sarah," he said, finally breaking

my breath catch in my

said quickly, holding up

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