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

lost until now? Typical Richard. Only seeing value in something once

lost a good thing until it wasn't in your back pocket anymore, is that what you're saying?" I

a moment, I could almost see the vulnerability there. But I wasn't

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

his neck. "I

crossing my arms. "You did. But here's the thing-you lost me a long time ago. You didn't even

and for the first time

I'd spent so long rebuilding myself from the wreckage he left

wanted to hurt you, Sarah. I was just... trying to prove

to me. I didn't

his mouth to

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.

Sarah," he said quietly. "I just didn't know how to show it. And by the time I figured it out, it was

silence between us. I looked around the room, at all the people who didn't have a clue about the tension building in this tiny corner

even though I could hear the chatter and clinking glasses all

from me now, Richard?" I asked finally, my voice softer,

"I

pretty laugh. It was that kind of laugh that comes

there's no 'making things right' here.

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

away from him because suddenly, it was all too

for myself, and here he was, trying to drag me back into the past. And worse, part of me

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 I'm doing just fine without you. You need to move

step closer, his voice lowering. "What if I don't

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

a second, I thought he might argue, but he didn't. He

said quietly. "I get

he wasn't going to push it further. But just

not giving up on

back, eyebrows

gets when he's determined about something. "I know I messed up, but I'm going to prove to you