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.

I messed up," Richard said, his voice a little lower, like he didn't

at that. Now? He didn't realize what he lost until now? Typical Richard.

good thing until it wasn't in your back pocket anymore, is that what

the floor, and for a moment, I could almost see the vulnerability there. But I

took you for granted. I got caught up in my father's business, the pressure, and...

back of his neck. "I

arms. "You did. But here's the thing-you lost

eyes meeting mine, and for the first time in a long while, he actually seemed...

Not when I'd spent so long rebuilding myself from the wreckage he left

never wanted to hurt you, Sarah. I was

to me. I

mouth to respond, but

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 know how to show it. And by the time I figured it out, it was

people who didn't

there, even though

do you want from me now, Richard?" I asked finally, my voice softer, but still guarded. "What's this

hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I want to make things

it wasn't even a pretty laugh. It was that kind of laugh that

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

"I know I can't undo what I did, but... I don't

sighed, looking away from him because suddenly, it was all too

drag me back into the past. And worse, part

I did for a while, but I don't anymore. I've moved on,

voice lowering. "What if

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

second, I thought he might

quietly. "I get

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

not giving up

turned back, eyebrows raised.

repeated, his jaw set in that stubborn way he gets when he's determined about something. "I know I messed up, but I'm