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

Chapter 60

Richard's

POV

Driving home after game night, I couldn't get the image of Sarah laughing out of my mind.

It had been a long time since I'd seen her like that-her guard down, her smile easy, eyes bright with genuine joy.

I caught myself smiling, too, the kind that didn't feel forced, or worse, plastered on to meet someone's expectations.

I pulled into my driveway, turned off the car, and just sat there in the dark for a while, my thoughts drifting back to the night.

Sarah had invited me into a part of her life I'd hardly ever seen, and I realized it had been her friends-her laughter-that had helped pull down the invisible walls between us, even if just for a few hours. How had I missed this side of her before?

Walking inside, I left the lights off and dropped onto the couch, the silence of the house settling around me.

I closed my eyes, replaying the way Sarah had thrown herself into that charades game without a second thought, belting out that song off-key, shaking her head like some rockstar at a sold-out concert. She'd never been one to hold back, not in her heart or in her actions.

"Who knew Mr. Serious could actually be a lot of fun?"

Her words rang in my ears, bringing a small chuckle out of me. If I was being honest, I'd always had a hard time loosening up.

Somewhere along the way, I'd gotten so wrapped up in ambition, in making every right move, that I'd forgotten how to let go, how to just enjoy myself.

The past few years hadn't helped either, but seeing Sarah's surprise at my "fun" side made me realize how little she'd ever seen it.

She'd probably felt alone in our marriage more often than I'd realized. And as much as it stung to think about that, it was finally clear to me.

second chance, though. A chance to show her a part of me I hadn't

I found myself knocking on Sarah's door again, only this

sure if she'd be home, but when she opened the door, her face

her arms playfully.

I said, holding up a small bag from the bakery

you're forgiven." She opened the door wider and waved me in.

do I," I admitted, stepping inside. "But

small kitchen table, the soft light making everything feel warmer, closer. As we ate, I noticed her watching me

crumb off her lip,

to find the right words. "Honestly? I just... I had fun the other night," I finally said, looking down at my coffee.

I wasn't always around, Sarah," I continued, not even bothering to sugarcoat it. "And even when I was, I don't think I really

slowly, her expression

forgot what actually mattered." I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt and regret.

respond right away, and the silence stretched between us. Finally,

she began softly, "you know, I spent a long time thinking I'd never hear those

blamed myself. Thought maybe I wasn't interesting enough,

a way I hadn't expected. "Sarah, you were never the problem. I was... I was too wrapped up in my own world to see what I had right

said, "we can try to make this work. I know I already said that

later, I met her at the park, where a small fair had popped up. It was

whole scene felt surreal like I'd walked into a memory

face lit up, and for a moment, I felt like I was seeing the woman I'd

times," I

to game, laughing as we each missed our

time I looked over at Sarah, and saw her smiling up

looked up at the Ferris wheel, the lights glowing against the