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.

said, his voice a little lower, like he didn't want the whole room to hear. "But I didn't realize just how much until...

until

good thing until it wasn't in your back pocket anymore, is that what you're saying?" I asked, turning to face him fully now. "Because

dropped to the floor, and for a moment, I could almost see the vulnerability there. But I wasn't about to fall for that. Not

I took you for granted. I got caught up in my father's business, the pressure, and... I thought securing the inheritance was all that

the back of his neck. "I lost sight of what was

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

looked up, his blue eyes meeting mine, and for the first time

Not when I'd spent so long rebuilding

never wanted to hurt you, Sarah. I was just... trying

yourself to who?" I asked, genuinely curious now. "Your bitch? Because it sure wasn't to me. I didn't need some rich guy playing games with

his mouth to respond, but I wasn't

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

didn't know how to show it. And by the time I figured it out, it was too

at all the people who didn't have a clue about the tension building in this tiny corner

like we were the only two people there, even though I could hear the

you want from me now, Richard?" I asked finally,

his jaw tightening. "I want to make

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

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

I did,

from him because suddenly, it was all too much. I'd

drag me back into the past. And worse, part of me still... cared? God, I

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

took a step closer, his voice lowering. "What if

a choice. That ship sailed. I'm

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

said quietly. "I get

he wasn't going to push it further. But just as I was about to turn and walk away,

giving

back, eyebrows raised. "Excuse

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