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?"

for a moment, heavier than I expected. "I mean... it's

he's also trying now, isn't he? You've said that much,"

this is all some game, and I end up exactly where

away because you're scared? Scared of being vulnerable, of opening up, of giving him

she was saying. Was it really that? Was

"I mean, Sarah, look-if

a part of you that thinks maybe, just maybe, he's being real this time, don't run before you've given it a chance. Don't let fear make your choices for you."

But don't confuse protecting yourself with

took a deep breath. Maybe she was right.

Richard's POV

video call to connect.

already spiraling, and the last

man," I muttered under

screen flickered, and Martin's face appeared, blurry at first but soon coming

was lounging on his couch, looking like he'd just

Martin asked, squinting at

said, running a hand through my hair. I hadn't shaved in days, and the exhaustion was

away again. And this

on that kiss, and

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

"Don't go digging your own grave just yet. You've put in

see it. She's holding onto the past, and I don't blame her. I was

'I'm a bad guy' mode.

you can't force her to trust you. You can't make her forget the past. All

if it's too late? What if she's

But until then, don't give up. The

words. Maybe he was

that was going to take more

Sarah's POV

Zoe's words echoed in

if protecting myself meant

me again, that

bury myself in work to avoid thinking about it, my phone buzzed. Another message, but not from Richard this

to him in a while,