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."

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

him define you anymore." I leaned back in my

far you've come. A year ago, you wouldn't have been able

that will change your company's future. You're building

a way of putting things into perspective. "You're

"Besides, this deal is

of confidence, but there was

success was tied to my past, like

said. "Now go celebrate. Have a glass of champagne

myself staring

come a long way. My business was thriving, and I was standing on

of me wondered if I'd ever be able to fully separate

big part of both for so long, 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

that I'd reached this point, I had to wonder-how much of my drive was fueled by the need

now that I was free, what was driving me? Could I really keep moving forward without

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

him forever. We had history, sure, but I couldn't let that dictate

answered the call with

said, his voice smooth as always.

I said flatly, not in the

serious," he continued. "It's

it is," I said, not quite sure what he was getting at. "Is

a pause, and I could hear him shifting, probably trying to figure out how to phrase whatever he was about

finally. "Maybe grab

rolled my eyes. "Catch

"I mean, we haven't really talked in a while. And I figured, you know, now that you've forgiven me..." "Richard," I interrupted, "I forgave you, yes.

was another long pause. I could almost feel his frustration through

slowly. "I do. But I

think we can

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