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

Chapters 54

SARAH

POV.

The day started with a burnt piece of toast. That's how you know things are about to go downhill.

First, you burn your breakfast, then you burn your bridges. I stared at the blackened slice, smoke curling lazily toward the ceiling, and sighed.

"Figures," I muttered, tossing the toast into the trash. "Can't even make breakfast without things falling apart.

It wasn't just the toast, though. It was everything. My life has felt like a pile of burnt toast lately, and today, I was finally going to scrape it off my plate for good.

Richard had to go. There was no point dragging this mess out any longer. I was done being the fool.

The last few days had been a blur of confusion and hurt. After everything Wesley had said and Susan's cryptic messages about Richard being the same liar he'd always been, I just couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking back into a fire. Every time I tried to convince myself that Richard had changed, that we could somehow make it work, the old wounds started to throb.

Memories of him leaving, choosing Susan, all came flooding back, leaving me paralyzed with fear.

Emma, my best friend and my occasional moral compass, had seen me spiraling. We'd met up for a video call the day after my blowout with Richard.

The way I'd confronted him, accusing him of being in contact with Susan... It was a disaster. His face had looked so hurt, like I'd stabbed him in the chest. I hated it. But I couldn't help it.

"Sarah," Emma had said, her voice calm but firm, "you can't keep doing this to yourself. If you don't trust him, if you really believe he hasn't changed, then why are you holding on?"

guess I just... I want to believe him. But everything's

sympathy. "Sometimes people don't change. You've already

getting hurt again. Richard had broken me

into a tight bun, I

office, Richard was already there, sitting

Guilt tugged at me

when he

even though I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on anything today. "Sarah," he said after a moment, his

breath, bracing myself.

against it as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I've been thinking about what you said the other day. About Susan." I kept my eyes on the computer screen, not wanting to look at

know what she's been telling you, but I swear, Sarah, I'm not talking to her. I haven't spoken to her

finally looked up at him, my heart heavy. "I want to believe you, Richard. I really do. But it's not just

up, Sarah. I know I hurt

shook my head, feeling the tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I thought maybe you'd changed. I thought maybe we could start over. But every

sides, his shoulders slumping

the words, but I pushed through. "I can't keep pretending that things are different. You left me for her once, and I don't know if I can trust that you won't do it again." "Sarah, please," he said, stepping closer, his voice desperate. "I love you. I want to fix this. I'm not going anywhere this time, I

myself believe him. Not after everything. But I couldn't ignore what Wesley, Susan

away from him. "I just... I don't think I can

him let out a shaky breath. "So that's it? After everything we've been through, you're

trying to keep the tears from falling. "I have

and heartbreak. "I never wanted to hurt you," he said softly.

above a whisper. "But I can't keep living in fear of what might

heart heavy but my mind made up. I didn't look