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

Chapter 84

Sarah's

POV.

Sitting alone in the dim light of the kitchen, I read through the records, every line on the page feeling like a heavy stone added to my chest.

The file from Jason was spread out in front of me, the pieces of Richard's past deals slowly fitting together into a picture I was beginning to understand... but didn't want to.

I hadn't told Richard, not yet. Part of me wanted to protect him, to take the burden off his shoulders.

The other part, though... the part of me that couldn't quite let go of what he'd hidden, that part wanted to know the truth for myself. And the truth wasn't pretty.

Flipping through the stack of papers, I recognized the names, dates, and even a few locations.

Richard had told me bits and pieces before-about "some deals," a network of people he'd worked with when he was still new in business.

But he hadn't told me how deep he'd been involved, and he certainly hadn't told me he'd worked with people whose reputations still lingered like dark shadows over certain industries. "Why didn't he just tell me all of it?" I muttered to myself, tracing my fingers over his name on one of the contracts.

I wanted to believe he'd kept it from me to protect me, to keep me safe from whatever this network was still capable of.

But another part of me wondered if he simply hadn't wanted me to know the full story because of cause, he hated me then.

I closed the folder, leaning back in the chair, my head spinning. "What am I supposed to do with this?" I whispered, as if asking the quiet room itself for answers.

every name listed, made

there, still powerful-and

door startled me out of my thoughts. I stuffed the papers back into the envelope and stood, smoothing down my shirt, trying to look calm as I went to open it. Richard stood there, looking worn and tired. "Sarah, hey," he said, stepping inside. "I thought I'd catch you

We've been sleeping separaaately, each one

nodded, trying to keep my voice

walked over to the table, glancing down at the envelope I'd just closed up. My heart raced as his gaze lingered on it, but

like everything's piling up, you know?" He ran a hand through his

I can't trust anyone around me right now. Even people I've known for years-people I thought I could rely on. Lately, it's like they're all watching me,

couldn't fully trust. I wanted to reach out and

gentle squeeze.

"I know. I just... I'm sorry for dragging

didn't drag me," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'm here

our own thoughts. I wanted to ask him if he'd ever regretted those deals if he'd known just how dangerous these people were back then. But I was afraid of what he might say. He did say he left when he realized what they

to the floor. "Maybe I should have told you more about those deals. About the people I worked

hard, my heart pounding.

up, his expression pained. "I thought I could keep it buried, that it wouldn't come back to haunt us. I didn't want to worry you, or make you feel like

to keep the bitterness out of my voice. "Now we're both tangled up in

I thought I was doing the right thing, but..." He trailed

"Is there anything else you haven't told me? Anything at all?" He looked up, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something in his

He'd

secrets I'd gathered without

I any better than him? But I couldn't bring myself to hand it over.

smile, hoping he wouldn't see through it. "Thanks for being honest