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

Chapter 46

Richard's

pov.

As I watched Sarah walk out the door that night, the same knot formed in my chest-the one that had been there since the day I realized just how badly I had messed up with her. She left without looking back, and I stood there in my apartment, feeling every mistake I'd made hanging between us like a fog.

But this time, it was different. For the first time in years, I felt like we were making progress.

Real progress. Sarah had come to me, not because she needed something, but because she cared enough to confront me. That had to mean something, right?

I sighed, sinking into the couch and rubbing my face with both hands. What was I doing?

Was I really going to keep chasing after something that might never happen? Sarah had made it clear-so clear-that we were just friends.

But every time we talked, every time we sat across from each other at those coffee shops, I could see it in her eyes. Something was shifting.

Not that I deserved it. I knew that much. The years I spent ignoring her, pretending she didn't matter, were burned into both of us.

I used to tell myself that I never loved her. Susan was the one for me, oh! How wrong had I been. I? Now, all I felt was regret.

That night, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Sarah-her face, the way she had looked at me earlier when she said she didn't need my help. She was right. She didn't need me. But I needed her.

The next morning, I couldn't focus on anything. I had meetings lined up and calls to make, but my mind was stuck on that last conversation.

Mind you, my company is running perfectly fine back in the States, and thank God for working on computers.

I could be and oversee things in my company without being there physically. Until Sarah-hopefully-became mine. This is my home.

The conversation kept replaying in my head, trying to figure out if there was something more I could have said-something that would've made her stay longer, talk more, anything to keep that door open.

I needed to do more. Something bigger. Something that would show her, really show her, that I wasn't the same man who walked away from our marriage that year ago.

the idea hit

***

week later, I found myself pacing outside Sarah's office. My nerves were on edge, but

from inside, calm and professional,

business, and it made me even

the door opened, and she stepped out, pausing when she

"What are you doing

breath, holding up the paperwork in my hand. "I wanted

an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "What's

her the papers, watching as her eyes skimmed over them. When she looked back up at me, her

this real?" she asked, her voice quieter

"It's real. I

and for the first time in a long time, I saw her

was worth the nerves I'd

you do that?" she finally

my voice steady. "And

me for what felt like forever, her eyes searching mine for

I had an ulterior motive, or if I was just trying to worm my way back into her life. But

about supporting you, about being there for you in a way I never

could see the conflict in her eyes, the way she was fighting with

reach out, tell her that she didn't have to decide anything right now, but I knew

papers in her

have to say anything," I told

voice soft now. "I'm not used

been so absent, so wrapped up in my own issues back then, that the idea of actually helping her had never crossed my mind. Now, though,

know," I admitted. "But I'm trying to make up for that,

me, her expression softening just a little. "You're not who I expected you

a good sign. At least she was seeing me for