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?"

swirling my coffee absentmindedly. "I guess I just... I want to

gently, giving me a look of sympathy. "Sometimes people don't change. You've already

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

a tight bun, I

I arrived at the office, Richard was already there, sitting at his desk, staring blankly at

tired, worn out, like he hadn't slept in days. Guilt tugged at me for

said, looking up when he saw

his gaze. I sat down at my desk, pretending to go through my emails, even though I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on anything today. "Sarah," he said after a moment,

deep breath, bracing myself. "Yeah.

walked over 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 on the computer

talking to her. I haven't

him, my heart heavy. "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...

messed up, Sarah. I

we could start over. But every time I let myself

hands dropped to his sides, his shoulders slumping

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

I couldn't ignore

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

heard him let out a shaky breath. "So that's it? After everything

bit my lip, trying to keep the tears from falling. "I have

mixture of shock and heartbreak. "I never wanted to

too," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't keep living in fear of what might happen. I have to let you

the office, my heart heavy but my mind made up. I didn't look back, didn't give him a chance to say