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

Chapter 70

Richard's

pov.

The house felt different, brighter maybe, even with all the dust and spray paint cans scattered around.

I leaned back, watching Sarah go from corner to corner, eyeing each wall with a level of focus that honestly made me smile. It was like watching her unlock some creative part of herself I hadn't seen in years. "Okay, I think I'll leave you two to the heavy lifting," she said with a small grin, dusting off her hands. "I've got some painting to finish upstairs."

I caught her arm, meeting her eyes. "Don't strain yourself up there. Call if you need anything moved."

She just rolled her eyes. "I'll be fine. You two have got this."

With that, she left us, disappearing up the stairs and leaving me and Martins to face the chaos of unpacked boxes and mismatched furniture in the living room.

Martins gave a low whistle. "She's serious about making this place hers, isn't she?"

I nodded, folding my arms. "Yeah, and... I'm grateful for it." The words slipped out, maybe a little more vulnerable than I intended.

I glanced at Martins, and he raised an eyebrow, smirking. "What? It's true."

"No, no, I get it," he said, still grinning. "Look at you, all grateful and reformed."

my head. But he wasn't wrong. Seeing her throw herself into making this place her own again made

us, of everything I'd let

elbow. "She's really giving you another shot,

she is," I murmured, more to myself than to him. "It's... a lot to

he said, kicking back on the couch. "So, what are you

a deep breath. "Good question." I paused, then shrugged. "Honestly? I'm just taking it one day at a time. Trying to listen more, not just assume I know everything." Martins gave me a thoughtful look. "You really

a little, rubbing the back of my neck. "Guess that's what happens when you've got everything to lose. Makes you

man, she's lucky. You're lucky too. I mean, look at you two. Moving boxes and picking paint like you're teens just starting out." "Yeah," I said, feeling that warmth in my chest again. "Feels like a

his expression softening. "Well, here's to the new

honestly, I'm not planning on

Martins and I tackled the mountain of boxes, I could hear

her tiptoes, carefully rolling paint onto the walls with that determined

had a knack for getting lost in a project, even if it meant paint splatters on her

before Martins had shifted most of the boxes, giving me a knowing look.

just... it makes everything feel like it's in the right place. Like I'm not just living in some shell

he said, nodding approvingly. "It's good

shoulder. "Well, I couldn't have done it without a few good friends kicking my

Sarah's POV

another layer of soft blue paint across the wall, watching

filled with a few of my favorite things, felt like mine again. Slowly, I was filling the space with pieces of who I was

to the next, I found myself lost in the process, imagining how