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

Chapter 78

Richard's

pov

The morning started off as one of those rare, lazy days. I'd woken up with Sarah curled up beside me, her hair fanning across the pillow in wild waves.

The sun peeked through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. Everything seemed perfect. Calm. Until I tried to sneak out of bed.

"Where do you think you're going?" Her voice was muffled, half-asleep, but she caught me.

"Thought I'd get us coffee." I grinned, still only halfway off the bed.

She lifted her head, one eye open and suspicious. "Don't think I didn't notice you were avoiding the dishes last night. You don't get coffee privileges till you do them." I held up my hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Dishes first, coffee later."

On my way to the kitchen, I passed by the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate. Everything looked normal-guards in their usual spots, the gates secured.

Just another day, right? But I still felt an odd twinge, like there was something I was missing.

I shook it off and got to work on the sink full of dishes. I'd just started rinsing when Sarah appeared, looking far too smug.

"Oh, did the big CEO forget how to scrub a plate?" She teased, taking a mug down from the cabinet.

"Hey, I know my way around a sponge, thank you very much."

She leaned against the counter, watching me fumble with the sponge. "Right. Looks like you're scrubbing a priceless piece of art."

I scoffed, spraying water everywhere, just to watch her jump back. "See? Totally a pro."

We laughed, and I felt a pang of something warm. This was the side of Sarah I loved most-the easygoing, playful banter that reminded me of why we worked so well together.

Finally, after wrestling the last plate into submission, I dried my hands, feeling pretty pleased with myself. "Coffee now?"

She handed me the mug she'd already filled, rolling her eyes. "You're lucky I love you."

Our lazy morning drifted into the afternoon. Sarah decided she wanted to bake something.

Watching her try to figure out where anything in my kitchen was stored became a whole other form of entertainment. "Do you know where the measuring cups are?" she asked, spinning in place as if they might appear out of thin air.

the counter. "I might. But I'm

tossing a kitchen towel at me. "Big help

I have

me, exasperated. "Of course,

to work, and we ended up with flour everywhere, including on my suit pants, which was the least appropriate baking outfit I could have chosen. But, honestly, I didn't mind. If every day could look like this-messy, lighthearted, full of her

***

to go out. It had been a while since we'd done anything outside the estate, and Sarah was itching

we'd go, but I figured we could figure it out along

I called out as we headed toward the front

and down, an eyebrow raised. "Oh, so you're not

flour off my

laughing about her latest kitchen escapade, when something caught my eye through the window near the

same car from yesterday. Parked in exactly the same

paused, a frown settling over my

asked,

It was here

look.

though I didn't fully believe it. I knew most of the people who

it off, though I could feel my guard rising.

out. But I couldn't help but glance over my

finally got into the car and drove off, the strange vehicle was nowhere in sight. I

something about it gnawed at me. It was like a shadow

where you want to go?" I asked her as I drove, trying to lighten the mood. "You're the navigator for the

the answer might appear in the air around us. "How about that little Italian

tried my best to shake off the lingering thoughts about the

family. But I couldn't quite rid myself of the feeling that it was something

main road. The aroma of garlic and herbs greeted us as we entered, and I finally

were seated, Sarah glanced at me, her eyes bright with

a chuckle. "Can't get anything past you,

take my hand. "Hey, I

squeezing her hand.

in the moment. We talked about everything and nothing, making silly bets

point, Sarah looked around, eyes sparkling with mischief. "So, how much do you want to bet I can charm the

"Are you really going