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

Chapter 40

Sarah's

pov.

I sat there, staring at my phone for a good fifteen minutes. Just staring, no calls, no texts, just pure silence.

My mind was racing, bouncing between the two people I knew I had to call-Richard and Wesley.

This was going to be awkward, painful even, but it was necessary. I had spent days reflecting, mulling over everything.

I had forgiven them, sure. That part was done. But now I had to tell them what came next.

I picked up the phone and dialed Wesley first. Of course, he answered on the second ring.

"Sarah?" His voice had that hopeful edge to it, like maybe I was calling to give him another chance. Spoiler alert: I wasn't.

"Hi, Wesley," I said, keeping my tone neutral. "I wanted to talk. About everything."

There was a pause on his end, but I could hear him shifting, probably adjusting himself in whatever fancy leather chair he was sitting in. "Yeah, of course. I've been waiting to hear from you."

I let out a slow breath, gathering my thoughts. "I've had a lot of time to think, and I want you to know that I forgive you."

There it was. The words I'd been practicing in my head for days now, out in the open.

Wesley let out a breath, like he'd been holding it this whole time.

"Wow," he said softly. "I don't know what to say. I-thank you, Sarah. You don't know how much that means to me." "Don't get too excited," I said, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "There's more."

"Right," he said, his voice dropping a bit. "I figured."

"I've forgiven you, Wesley, but I can't go back to the way things were. I need space. You need to stay away from me." There was silence on the line, and for a second, I thought he might argue. But then I heard him sigh.

"I get it," he said, sounding surprisingly mature.

"I really do. I messed up, and I hurt you, and I can't take that back. If space is what you need, then... I'll give it to you."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Thank you. I hope you find whatever it is you're looking for, Wesley. But it's not with me."

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I get that now. I'm sorry, Sarah. Truly."

"I know you are," I said softly. "Goodbye, Wesley."

"Goodbye, Sarah."

the phone and stared at it for a

next one was going to be more difficult. Much

finger hovered over the

knew how this conversation would go. Richard wasn't Wesley. He wouldn't take

had to close this chapter for my own

pressed call, and after a few rings, he picked

His voice was steady, as if he'd been expecting this

took a deep breath.

he said cautiously. "What's

tension already building in my chest, but I pushed

happened. And I want you to know that I

a pause, and I could almost hear the wheels turning in his head. He wasn't sure where this was going,

to hear," he said

continued quickly, "I need space. I need you to stay away from

voice sharper now. "What do

focus on myself, on my business, and I can't

keep my voice calm. "But what I need right now is space. I need to move

he started, his voice lower now, "I've already lost you once. I'm not going to let it

of my nose. "Richard, this isn't about you

on my

same person I was back then.

I admitted, "but that doesn't change what I need

his mouth. "So that's it? You're

you away," I said, exasperated. "I'm asking

said, his

knowing this wasn't going the way I'd hoped. "Richard, I appreciate that you're trying, but this is what I need. Please

a long pause, and when he finally spoke, his voice was quieter. "Fine. I'll give you space. But I'm not giving up

asking you to wait for me, Richard. I'm asking

his voice firm. "I've lost too much

I just let the silence

"Goodbye, Richard."

moment, I thought maybe he wouldn't. But then, just before I could hang

a long

and now, it

of course, he

next few weeks were filled with little reminders that Richard wasn't

my office, small

win me over with gestures, but I wasn't buying