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

Chapter 79

Sarah's

pov.

The evening started with a quiet, tense mood that I was determined to shake off. Richard had been distracted ever since his old associate, James, had shown up out of nowhere with some vague warning. I could see it in his eyes-a darkness, a worry that gnawed at him, even though he tried to hide it behind a calm face. I wanted to pull him out of it, just for a while. "Let's play a game," I blurted out, grinning and hoping he'd get into the spirit.

He looked up, confused. "A game?"

"Yes, a game. Something simple, fun." I grabbed a stack of cards from the living room drawer. "Come on, when was the last time we played anything? Besides, I'm feeling pretty competitive tonight." Richard's mouth quirked into a small smile. "You're challenging me to a game night?"

I leaned in, waggling my eyebrows. "Scared?"

He chuckled, finally giving in. "Alright, bring it on. What are we playing?"

Half an hour later, we were knee-deep in cards and dice, with the coffee table covered in snacks.

I could see his tension melting away, replaced by that playful side of him I loved. I held my breath, ready to roll for my turn, when I noticed him sneaking a look at my cards.

"Hey! No peeking!" I smacked his hand, laughing.

"I was just... assessing my opponent," he said, shrugging innocently.

I rolled my eyes. "Assess all you want. I'm still going to win."

We played round after round, laughing and tossing playful insults back and forth. It felt like we were two teenagers again, just enjoying each other's company, with no one else in the world.

often, I'd catch Richard glancing toward the door or out the window, as if expecting

look at me," I said softly, reaching across the table to take

our intertwined fingers and then back up at me. "Sorry," he muttered, shaking

know," I said, squeezing his hand. "But whatever it is, we'll handle it

small nod, and I could see a bit of the worry

hand back, smiling.

nights of laughter. Richard had relaxed completely by

like this. The tension from earlier was gone, replaced by the

I start making the victory speech?" I teased, stretching and trying

this one. I

a surge of affection.

next time," he shot back, his

seriousness.

brushing crumbs off my lap.

leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. "Thanks, Sarah. For distracting me." "Anytime," I murmured, feeling a flutter in

before heading back to bed, I couldn't sleep, and I found Richard tossing

had evened, I snuck up to work. Zoe had been such a darling, she had achieved

Madrid, and to be honest, I've missed Madrid. But my life is with Richard, I glanced at his sleeping face

and handsome in contrast to his

back? And why did

told me they had a fallout and nothing else. I finished up with the work with

***

next morning, I woke up earlier than usual, my mind still drifting back to last night. It was peaceful-just us, no stress, no

as I made my way to the kitchen, the memory of