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."

chuckled, shaking my head. But he wasn't wrong. Seeing her throw herself into

pieces of us, of everything I'd

his elbow. "She's really giving you another shot, isn't

more to myself than to him. "It's... a lot to take in. I

you gonna do to make sure you don't blow it this

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 sound different, you

what

she's lucky. You're lucky too. I mean, look at you two. Moving boxes and picking paint like you're teens just starting

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

eyes. "Thanks for the confidence boost. But honestly, I'm not planning on going back to who

mountain of boxes, I could hear Sarah moving around

paint onto the walls with

knack for getting lost in a project, even if it meant paint splatters on her clothes and a streak or two

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

it makes everything feel like it's in the right place. Like

he said, nodding approvingly. "It's

him on the shoulder. "Well, I couldn't have done it without a few good friends

Sarah's POV

soft blue paint across the wall, watching it dry

purpose I hadn't felt in ages. Our old bedroom, now painted and filled with a few of my favorite things, felt like mine again. Slowly, I was filling the space with pieces of who

myself lost in the process, imagining