Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

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?"

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 'Richard Begs for Forgiveness'?"

clenched. "This doesn't concern you, Wesley. Why are you

as he leaned against the building. "Oh, I'm here for Sarah. You know, the woman you took

Richard's voice rose, his frustration clear. "I cared about Sarah more than you ever will. I just made

Richard. You prioritized your company, your engagement to Susan, and everything else before her. She deserves better than being

were turning my life into

hands up, trying to get between them. "Guys, stop

them

in when she was vulnerable, just so you

Richard. You're giving yourself too much credit. You're not that important

darkened, and he stepped closer. "Then why did you cozy

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

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

not a prize to be won in your ridiculous competition! Both of you need to stop acting like this is about

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

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

I interrupted. "You had your chance, Richard. And

face fell. "It

out a sharp laugh, feeling

seemed like it. You got engaged to her. You

You didn't see

"Don't act like you're any better, Wesley. You only

hands in mock surrender. "Okay, fine. I'll admit it. At first, yes, I wanted to mess with you. But then I

dead in the eye, and for the first time, his usual cocky demeanor

feeling a cold knot twist in my chest. Well.

then turned to me, eyes wide in disbelief. "You...

I did. Unlike you, I didn't need some twisted motivation to realize how amazing she

moment, there was silence. The air between the three of

like they should mean something,

looked at me, his face 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

draining of color, like all the

sucker-punched right in the stomach. The words hung in the air, making everything else fade into the

I stammered, my voice shaking despite my effort to hold it together. There was no way I'd heard him correctly.

But it's true. Richard only married you because his grandfather said he wouldn't get 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, but the pieces refused to