Chapter 33

Sarah's

POV.

It had been a week. A whole week of avoiding both Wesley and Richard.

My phone buzzed nonstop with missed calls, messages, and voicemails, but I didn't bother responding.

I needed space-away from their drama, away from the constant back and forth between two men who seemed more interested in their rivalry than in me.

Stepping out of the cab, I pulled my bag tighter over my shoulder and walked toward my office building.

The fresh air of the morning helped clear my head a bit. I was determined to throw myself into work and forget about everything. Forget about how complicated life had become.

But of course, as if the universe wasn't already testing me enough, Richard was standing outside my office.

Great. Just perfect. Just what I needed this early morning.

I stopped in my tracks, my heart raced for a second. He was leaning against the wall, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, looking like he hadn't slept well.

His hair was slightly messy, but in that annoyingly attractive way, it always got when he was stressed.

I shook my head, trying to push that thought away. This is not the time.

"Sarah," Richard called out, pushing himself off the wall and walking toward me. His voice was soft, pleading almost.

I sighed. "Richard, what are you doing here?" I tried to keep my tone neutral, but I couldn't help the frustration from seeping through.

"We need to talk. Please, just hear me out," he said, standing directly in front of me, blocking my way.

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes. "I'm busy. I have work to do. So unless you plan on helping me meet my deadlines, I really don't have time for this."

He winced, like he wasn't expecting the cold reception. "Sarah, I... I messed up. I shouldn't have-"

Just as I was about to step around him, another voice chimed in from behind me.

"Oh, this should be good. This is what you do now, Richard?"

was. Wesley. Because, of course, why wouldn't he show up right when things were already spiraling into chaos? Wesley walked up casually, his ever-present smirk on his face. "Am I interrupting something? Or is this just another episode of

doesn't concern you, Wesley. Why are you

against the building. "Oh, I'm here for

about Sarah more than you ever

a short laugh. "Mistakes? You didn't make mistakes, Richard. You prioritized your company, your engagement to Susan, and everything else before her. She deserves

life into their own

to get between them. "Guys, stop it. This isn't helping

of them

"You swooped in when she was vulnerable, just so you could rub it

"Rub it in your face? Please, Richard. You're giving yourself too much credit. You're not that

why did

petty games. You don't care about her. She's just another piece in your rivalry with

"I may have had my reasons for getting involved at first. But I did fall for her, Richard. Unlike you, I wasn't too busy getting engaged to someone else to realize what I had." "Fell for her?" Richard scoffed. "Don't make me laugh. You think you can just swoop in and claim her after what

voice rising in frustration. "I'm not a prize to be won in your ridiculous competition! Both of you need to stop acting like this

to look at me, as if just now realizing I was standing there. Richard's expression softened,

Richard began, his voice low. "I'm not trying to 'claim'

I interrupted. "You had your chance,

fell. "It wasn't

laugh, feeling the anger

engaged to her. You acted like

didn't see

act like you're any better, Wesley. You only went after

I'll admit it. At first, yes, I wanted to mess with you. But then

looked me dead in the eye, and for the first time, his usual cocky demeanor dropped. "I actually fell

twist in

me, eyes wide in

his expression serious. "Yeah. I did. Unlike you, I

air

Wesley's words felt like they should mean something, but all they did was make me

pained. "Sarah, I made a mistake. I chose my career over you, and that's something I'll regret for the rest of my life. But Wesley... he's using you." Wesley's eyes flashed with something sharp. "Yeah, maybe I did at first. But that changed, Richard. Unlike you, I didn't have to marry her just to secure my inheritance." I

color, like all the blood had just left

been sucker-punched right in the stomach. The words hung in the

my voice shaking despite my effort to hold it together. There was no

his inheritance if he didn't marry you." For a second, the world tilted. I couldn't tell if I was more shocked or hurt. My mind tried to make sense of it,

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