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.

his voice a little lower, like he didn't want the whole room to

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

it wasn't in your back pocket anymore, is that

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

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

sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I lost sight of what

did. But here's the thing-you lost me a long time

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

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

Sarah. I was just...

who?" I asked, genuinely curious now. "Your bitch? Because it sure wasn't to me. I didn't need

opened his mouth to

what you

said quietly. "I just didn't know how to show it. And

at all the people who didn't

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

me now, Richard?" I asked

his jaw tightening. "I want to

a pretty laugh. It was that kind of laugh that

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

undo what I did, but... I

away from him because suddenly, it was all too

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

did for a while, but I don't anymore. I've moved on, and I'm doing just fine without you. You need to move

a step closer, his voice lowering. "What if I don't want to move

"You don't have a choice.

I thought he might

quietly. "I get

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

not giving up

back, eyebrows raised. "Excuse

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