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

Chapter 55

Sarah's

POV.

You know when Zoe handed me my coffee with a smirk? I instantly knew something was up.

Usually, she would just plop it on my desk without a word. But today? Oh no, she had that mischievous glint in her eyes that usually meant trouble. "Okay, what did you do?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.

Zoe feigned innocence, her hands raised. "Who, me? I just thought you might want a little extra sugar in your life today."

She gave me a wink and strutted off before I could say anything else.

I took a sip. Ugh. She'd put way too much sugar in it. But before I could complain, my phone buzzed. Another message. From Richard.

I hadn't replied to him since our blowout. In fact, I was trying my best not to think about him at all.

Easier said than done, though. My mind was a tangled mess, and no amount of sweet coffee was going to fix it.

"Hey," Zoe popped her head back in, leaning on the doorframe, "you look like a kicked puppy."

"Thanks for that," I muttered.

"You want to talk about it? Or do you want to sit there in silence, staring at your phone, hoping it'll give you answers?" Zoe raised her eyebrows.

I sighed. There was no escaping her, and maybe, just maybe, I did need

someone to talk to.

"Richard," I said simply, not bothering to explain the rest. She already knew enough about my chaotic love life.

"Ah, the infamous Richard," she said, walking in and sitting on the chair opposite me. "Okay, spill. What's he done this time?"

"He hasn't done anything... not recently anyway," I admitted.

"It's just-every time I think maybe things could be different, that maybe he's changed, something happens. And it all comes crashing down. Like, I want to trust him, Zoe, but I can't shake the past." Zoe crossed her arms, studying me for a moment. "Is it Richard you don't trust, or is it the fear of getting hurt again?"

than I expected. "I mean... it's

now, isn't he? You've said that

what if he's just pretending? What if this is all some game, and I end up exactly where I started-hurt

"what if you're running away because you're scared? Scared of being vulnerable, of

bit my lip, trying to process what she was saying. Was it really that? Was I just too afraid to let

Zoe added, "I mean, Sarah, look-if you think he's trash, cut him

time, don't run before you've given it a chance. Don't let fear make your choices for you."

protecting

a deep breath. Maybe she

Richard's POV

at his phone, waiting for the video call to connect. The spinning

the last thing I needed

man," I muttered under

the screen flickered, and Martin's face appeared, blurry at

his couch, looking like he'd just woken

asked, squinting

I hadn't shaved

this

time we talked, you were all high on that kiss, and now you look like you lost your wallet and your

huge argument. She thinks I haven't changed, and maybe she's right. Maybe I'm still that

hand. "Don't go digging your own grave just yet. You've put in the work, haven't you? You're not the same guy. But you gotta give her

holding onto the past, and I don't blame her. I was awful to her, Martins.

'I'm a bad guy' mode. You've changed, Richard. I know it. She'll know it too, eventually. But you gotta be patient." "Patient?" I huffed. "That's not exactly my

her forget the past. All you can do is be there, prove to

"And what if it's too late?

know you gave it everything. But until then, don't give up.

chair, mulling over his words. Maybe he

was going to take

Sarah's POV

wall. Zoe's words echoed

wasn't wrong, but what if protecting myself meant pushing Richard

shake the fear that he would hurt me again, that I was being naïve by even considering giving

bury myself in work to avoid thinking about it, my phone buzzed.

was Wesley. I sighed. I hadn't spoken to him in a while, not