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?"

absentmindedly. "I guess I just... I want to believe him. But everything's telling me

to listen 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

hurt again. Richard had broken me once, and I wasn't sure I'd survive if he

front of the mirror, pulling my hair into a tight bun, I knew what had

office, Richard was already there, sitting at his desk,

at me for a

looking up when he saw me walk

I knew I wouldn't be able to

breath, bracing myself. "Yeah. We need

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

Sarah, I'm not talking to her. I haven't spoken to her in months. Whatever she's trying

really do. But it's not just about Susan. It's everything. Our past, what you did, how you left... I can't get it out of my

and for a moment, I thought he might cry. "I know I messed up, Sarah. I know I hurt you. But I'm not that

over. But every time I let myself get close to you again,

his shoulders slumping in defeat. "So... what are

once, and I don't know

Not after everything. But I couldn't ignore what Wesley,

"I just... I don't think I can

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

to keep the tears from falling. "I have to

mixture of shock and heartbreak. "I never wanted to hurt you," he said

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

with that, I walked out of the office, my heart heavy but my mind made up. I