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."

him, I'll see his name pop up somewhere, or I'll

"You're going to get reminders, Sarah. That's part of life. But the fact that you're noticing them and still moving forward? That's growth. You're not letting him define you anymore." I leaned back in my chair, staring out the window.

year ago, you wouldn't have

that will change your company's

had a way of putting things into perspective. "You're right," I said. "I just need to stop being

a laugh. "Besides, this deal is just the beginning.

words gave me a boost of confidence, but there was still a part of me that

something big-no question. But why did it feel like this success was tied to my past, like I couldn't fully enjoy it because I hadn't let

Have a glass of champagne or

I found myself staring at the

a long way. My business was thriving, and I was

if I'd ever be able

was tied to him-both

I had to wonder-how much of my drive was fueled by the

driving me? Could

I glanced at the

him forever.

call

smooth as always. "I heard about

said flatly, not in the

he continued. "It's a big

what

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

said finally. "Maybe grab coffee or something. Catch

rolled my eyes.

sounding almost sheepish. "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. But that doesn't mean I want to get coffee and chat

I could almost feel his frustration through the

get that," he said slowly. "I do. But I just thought,

think we can just go back to

I mean.