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

Chapter 88

Sarah's

pov.

I walked into the living room, my heart pounding in my chest, the words I'd been holding back now feeling too big to keep inside.

Richard was sitting on the couch, looking tired, as if everything was pressing down on him, too. Part of me wanted to keep silent, to shield him just a little longer, but I couldn't. Not anymore. "Richard," I began, trying to keep my voice steady. He looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly at my tone. "We need to talk."

He sighed, leaning back, his face showing that wary look I'd come to recognize. "What's going on, Sarah?"

I took a deep breath, every part of me tensing. "There's something I haven't told you... about James. And Susan."

I could see his expression shift, the lines on his face tightening. He didn't say anything, so I continued, words spilling out faster than I'd intended.

"James has been reaching out to me. He's in town. I met with him a few days ago, trying to figure out what he wanted, why he was coming back now."

I gauge his reaction before continuing, "He said some things about you, about your past. I didn't want to believe it at first, but he hinted that... there's more to this. That some people are watching you, wanting something from you." Richard's gaze darkened, but he kept his voice calm. "And you thought meeting him alone was a good idea?"

I felt my face heat up. "I had to know, Richard. I didn't want you to get pulled into it if it wasn't serious."

"And Susan?" he asked, his tone sharper now.

"She came to me too," I admitted, barely able to meet his eyes. "She's involved, somehow. She's furious that you left her, that you came back to me, and now she wants revenge."

"She threatened to expose everything from your past if you don't... comply. I think she's connected to this network that James mentioned."

I saw the anger flicker in his eyes, but more than that, there was something else-hurt, maybe, or disbelief.

her?" he asked, his voice softer now.

she wanted before she came to you. I thought if I knew, maybe we could handle

supposed to be. But I can't help if I don't know. Do you understand how dangerous

tears sting my eyes, but I swallowed them back. "I know. I just... I didn't want to add to your

but intense. "Sarah, that's exactly why I need you to tell me everything. I can handle it if I know what we're

I couldn't speak. All the fear, all the guilt, bubbled up inside

he reached for my hand. "We'll figure this out, but only

telling me she'd met with James and

me felt a pang of betrayal; she'd gone behind my back, taken things into her own hands, and

she'd come to me now, rather than letting these secrets fester. She'd risked herself, all to

that didn't come easily. "Sarah... thank you for

of regret and relief. "I thought I could handle it on my

weak smile on my face. "I understand. I know what it's like to want to protect someone, even if it means keeping them in the

to the surface, with Sarah staring at me, I couldn't hold them back any longer. "I need to tell you something, Sarah," I began, feeling it settle on my shoulders. "Something

me, a bit wary but listening, and I found myself going back

strange to share it

young, I didn't know much about running a business, and all these vultures circled, pretending to

James. He seemed like someone I could trust, someone who had my back.

see the

deals," I admitted, rubbing a hand over my face, the shame of

business. I thought I could show Dad I could handle business, then Dad

stake than I'd realized. And by then, it was too late. I was

too. She knew the right people, and had

she was on my side. Maybe,

Sarah's voice was

"Now, she wants control. She wants to hurt us, Sarah. And she's not afraid to use whatever