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

Chapter 41

Sarah's pov.

Sitting in my office, I stared at the email that just came through. "Congratulations, Sarah Williams. The deal has been approved. Looking forward to working with you."

It was official-my company had just landed the biggest deal of its career, a partnership that would launch us into a whole new level of success.

I sat back in my chair, letting the weight of it all settle in. This was the moment I'd been working toward for a year now.

The validation that every late night and stressful meeting had been worth it. I should have been over the moon.

And I was-at least, on the surface. But why did I feel like something was missing?

Before I could dwell on it too much, my phone buzzed. It was Emma.

"Hey, superstar!" Her voice was bright and cheerful. "Just heard the news. How does it feel to be on top of the world?"

I laughed, but it came out a little forced. "It feels... surreal. I mean, I knew we had a good chance, but seeing it in writing makes it real, you know?" "That's because it is real," Emma said firmly. "You've earned this, Sarah. You've worked your butt off to get here."

"Yeah, I guess so," I said, still staring at the email."It just feels... weird. Like, I should be celebrating, but something's holding me back."

There was a pause on Emma's end. I could practically hear her wheels turning, trying to figure me out, as usual.

"Alright," she said slowly, "spill. What's really going on? Is it Richard again?"

I sighed. Emma knew me too well. "I don't know," I admitted. "Maybe? I mean, I've been telling myself I'm over it, that I've moved on, but..." "But you haven't," she finished for me.

"Exactly," I said, rubbing my temples. "And I hate that. I hate that he's still in my head, even after everything. I'm finally where I want to be professionally, but emotionally, I feel like I'm stuck." Emma let out a soft laugh. "Sarah, you're not a robot. You don't just flip a switch and turn off years of feelings. You're human. It's okay to feel conflicted, even when you're killing it in business." I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my desk. "Yeah, but I don't want to feel conflicted. I want to feel like I've truly moved on. Like this deal, this success is enough to close that chapter for good."

"Look," Emma said, her tone softening, "you've been through a lot. Richard put you through the wringer, and it's not going to magically disappear just because you landed a huge deal." "But you're doing the right thing. You're focusing on your future, not your past."

"I know," I said, nodding. "It's just hard sometimes. I feel like every time I make progress, something pulls me back."

name pop up somewhere, or I'll get a stupid reminder of our past, and it throws me

anymore." I leaned back in my chair, staring out the

year ago, you wouldn't have been able to take a step like this, professionally

that will change your company's future.

putting things into perspective. "You're right," I said. "I

right, you do," she said with a laugh. "Besides, this deal is just

there was still a part of me that couldn't shake the

why did it feel like this success was tied to my past, like I couldn't fully enjoy it because I hadn't let go of Richard? "Thanks, Emma," I said. "I

said. "Now go celebrate. Have a glass of champagne or something. You

we hung up, I found myself staring at the city

was right-I had come a long way. My business was thriving, and I was standing on my

of me wondered if I'd ever be

and now that I was moving forward without him, I couldn't help but reflect on how much of my success was tied to him-both the good and the bad. He had pushed me, in a way. His betrayal had lit a fire under me, driven me to prove to myself that

to wonder-how much of

that I was free, what was driving me? Could I really

if on cue, my phone buzzed again. I glanced at the screen and, of

it, but I knew I couldn't keep avoiding him forever. We had history, sure, but I couldn't let

call with

he said, his voice smooth as always. "I

I said flatly, not

continued. "It's a big

what he

shifting, probably trying to figure out how to phrase whatever he

he said finally. "Maybe

rolled my eyes. "Catch

mean, we haven't really talked in a while. And I figured, you know, now that you've

pause. I could almost

said slowly. "I do. But I

"You think we can just go back

"That's not what I mean. I just... I don't know, Sarah. I miss