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?"

said, swirling my coffee absentmindedly. "I guess I just...

to that voice," she said gently, giving me a look of sympathy. "Sometimes people don't change. You've already seen what he's capable of. Do you really want to go

ache in my chest. Emma was right. I couldn't risk getting hurt

a tight bun, I knew what had to happen. I had to end it.

Richard was already there, sitting at his desk, staring blankly at his

me for a second, but I pushed it down. This wasn't the time

he said, looking up when

even though I knew I wouldn't be able to focus on anything

deep breath, bracing myself.

his chest. "I've been thinking about what you said the other day. About Susan." I kept my eyes on the computer screen,

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

Richard. I really do. But it's not just about Susan. It's everything. Our past,

might cry. "I know I messed up, Sarah. I know I hurt you. But I'm not that guy anymore. I'm

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

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

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

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

him. "I just... I

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

trying to keep the tears from falling. "I have to protect myself, Richard. I can't go

a mixture of shock and heartbreak. "I never wanted to hurt you," he said softly. "I thought... I thought we were

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

but my mind made up. I didn't look back, didn't give him a chance to say anything else. I couldn't handle