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

Chapter 39

Sarah's pov.

Richard was getting desperate. I could feel it in the way he kept showing up.

It was like every event, every networking dinner, and every conference somehow had him lurking in the background. Coincidence?

Yeah, right. The man was a master of accidentally being wherever I was.

I was at this gala for my company's expansion into Europe-big deal, lots of investors, very important faces.

I had on my favorite black dress, the one that made me feel like I owned the whole room, and for a while, I did.

Until, of course, Richard appeared like a bad plot twist.

I'd see him across the room, talking to someone important, his eyes constantly scanning until they landed on me.

Then, there it was: that small smile, like we shared some private joke. Newsflash, Richard: the joke's over, and it wasn't funny to begin with. "Sarah!" His voice cut through the mingling hum of the crowd. My heart did that stupid little leap thing it always does when I hear his voice. Annoying. I turned to face him, putting on my best "I couldn't care less" expression.

"Richard." I smiled politely, but my eyes were already searching for the exit.

"Fancy seeing you here," he said, with that stupid smirk that used to charm me and now just made my skin crawl.

"Is it though?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to be everywhere I go these days."

His smile faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly. "I just wanted to congratulate you. The expansion, it's... it's impressive."

"Thanks," I said, shifting slightly, hoping he'd get the hint that I didn't want to have this conversation. But of course, he didn't.

"You've really built something amazing, Sarah." His tone was softer now, almost... genuine? No, no way.

"Yeah, well, I had to pick up the pieces after you and Wesley, didn't I?" I said with a tight smile, turning my attention back to the crowd.

Maybe if I looked busy, he'd get the message.

Richard said, his voice a little lower, like he didn't want the whole room to hear. "But I didn't

Now? He didn't realize what he lost until now? Typical Richard. Only seeing value in something once it's

until it wasn't in your back pocket anymore, is that what you're saying?" I asked, turning to face

almost see the vulnerability there. But I wasn't

up in my father's business, the pressure, and... I thought securing the inheritance was

back of his neck. "I lost sight of

But here's the thing-you lost me a long time ago. You didn't

for the first time in

buying into his sadness. Not when I'd spent so long rebuilding myself

you, Sarah. I was just...

now. "Your bitch? Because it sure wasn't to me. I didn't need some rich

his mouth to respond,

to inherit the empire. And that's fine, Richard, if that's what you wanted. But don't stand here now and act like you didn't know what you were doing. You knew. You just didn't care." He flinched at that, and part of me felt a little guilty for going in

show it. And by the time I figured

silence between us. I looked around the room, at all the people who didn't have a clue about the

people there, even though I could

what do you want from me now, Richard?" I asked finally, my voice softer, but still

jaw tightening. "I

was that kind of laugh that comes out when you're so done with everything that

Richard, there's no 'making things right' here. What happened, happened. You made

can't undo what I did, but... I don't want to

suddenly, it

trying to drag me back into the

started, choosing my words carefully, "I don't hate you. I did for a while, but I don't anymore. I've moved on, and

closer, his voice lowering. "What

look. "You don't have a choice. That ship sailed. I'm not going back

thought he might argue, but he didn't. He just nodded,

quietly.

going to push it further. But just as I was about to

not giving up on

eyebrows raised. "Excuse

not giving up," he repeated, his jaw set in that stubborn way he gets when he's determined about something. "I know I