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

Chapter 77

Sarah's pov.

Richard tried to brush it off, but I could see something had caught his attention. He kept glancing out the window, his smile tight, eyes a bit too serious.

My own stomach twisted a little. The dinner, the laughs - it had felt like we'd slipped into our own little world, but now, something about his unease tugged me back to reality. "Richard," I nudged, my voice softer, "what is it, really? You're worrying me."

He looked at me, then back at the window, like he was trying to figure out what to say. "It's just... There's a car out there. Been sitting there for a while now."

A prickle ran down my spine. I shifted in my seat, glancing out the window without trying to look too obvious.

Sure enough, there it was. An old sedan parked across the street, the lights dimmed, engine humming. Whoever was in there didn't seem to be in any hurry to leave. "Maybe they're just... lost?" I offered, trying to make it sound convincing, though I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.

"Maybe," Richard murmured, but his tone wasn't exactly comforting. "But it's late. And they've been parked there since... I don't know, since right before we sat down to eat."

My mind raced, pulling up every movie scene I'd ever watched about mysterious cars lurking in the shadows.

I wanted to shake off the feeling, to laugh at myself for being paranoid, but something about the way Richard was watching that car told me this wasn't just my imagination.

"Maybe... maybe it's a neighbor's friend or something," I said, my voice a little weaker than I wanted it to be. But even as I said it, I knew it didn't feel right. "Or maybe I'm just being dramatic." He gave me a faint smile, but I could see the worry etched in his eyes. "You're not. It's not just you."

He squeezed my hand, holding on tightly. "I'm probably overthinking it, but... just in case, let's keep the curtains drawn tonight."

thudding a little faster. I tried to keep my face calm, tried to focus on the warmth of his hand around mine, but the thought kept tugging at me - was that car just a coincidence? Or was

but it was hard to pretend everything was normal. I could hear the silence between us, like we were both listening for something we couldn't

a few more bites, I couldn't take it anymore. I set my fork down and stood up, peeking out the

and I felt Richard's

makes you feel better, I can call the securities or... I don't know, maybe ask the neighbors if they've

nodded, but something in my gut told me that calling someone wouldn't

feeling that this was connected somehow - to the guy with the camera, to the strange vibe I'd felt at the comedy club, to the laughter that had just a hint of nervousness beneath it. But I didn't want to drag Richard into my

him to think I

car, I couldn't help but wonder... who was out there? And

doing my best to muster a small smile. "Maybe it's nothing. Let's just... finish

see the lingering worry in

back to our seats, trying to pick up the conversation where we'd left off, but it was

"You know what? I've got an idea. Why don't we do something a bit different tonight? Change the mood. It's been

mischievous. "You'll see.

straight to the spot across the

Nothing. It was gone.

of relief and confusion swirling through me. Had it really

was being paranoid. But after that message on Richard's phone, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was

and he gave me a reassuring smile. "Looks like our mystery car finally took the hint," he said, slipping

intended. "I guess it's

mine a gentle squeeze, bringing me back to the present. "Hey, we're going out