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?"

I just...

it's time to listen to that voice," she said gently, giving me a look of sympathy. "Sometimes people don't change. You've already seen

that familiar ache in my chest. Emma was right. I couldn't risk getting hurt again. Richard had broken me once, and I wasn't sure I'd survive

I stood in front of the mirror, pulling my hair into a

the office, Richard was already there, sitting at

slept in days. Guilt tugged at me for a second, but I pushed it down. This wasn't

he said, looking up when he saw me

his gaze. I sat down at my desk, pretending to go through my emails, even though I knew I wouldn't be

breath, bracing myself.

to my desk, leaning 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

don't know what she's been telling you, but I swear, Sarah, I'm not talking to her. I haven't spoken to her in months. Whatever she's trying to do, it's just... it's not

"I want to believe you, Richard. I really do. But it's not just about Susan. It's everything. Our past, what you did, how you left... I can't get

cry. "I know I messed up, Sarah. I

the tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "I thought maybe you'd changed. I thought maybe we could start over. But every time I let myself get close to you again, I remember how much it hurt when you left. How much

sides, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "So...

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

couldn't let myself believe him. Not after everything. But I couldn't ignore

"I just... I don't

a shaky breath. "So that's it? After everything

from falling. "I have to protect myself, Richard. I can't go through that

staring at me, his face a mixture of shock and heartbreak. "I never wanted to hurt you," he said softly. "I thought... I thought

barely above a whisper. "But I can't keep

mind made up. I didn't look back, didn't give him a chance to say