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.

he asked, his voice softer now.

out what she wanted before she came to you. I thought if I knew, maybe we

to be. But I can't

eyes, but I swallowed them back. "I know. I just... I didn't want to add to your burdens. You have

that's exactly why I need you to tell me everything. I can handle it if I know what we're up against." "But not like this. Not with you keeping secrets, trying to shield me from something I

and for a moment, I couldn't speak. All the fear, all the

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

met with James and then Susan, I felt my

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

felt relief. At least she'd come to me now, rather than letting these secrets fester. She'd risked herself,

searching for words that didn't come easily. "Sarah... thank you for telling me. I

relief. "I thought I could handle it on my own. I just didn't want you getting

"I understand. I know what it's like to want to protect someone, even if it means keeping them in the dark." Her eyes softened, and I could tell she understood.

couldn't hold them back any longer. "I need to tell you something, Sarah," I

but listening, and I found myself going back to those early years before my

raw, and it felt strange to share it out loud,

died, I joined some deals. I was young, I didn't know much about running a business, and all

took a breath, pushing through the memories. "That's when I met James. He seemed like someone I could trust, someone

her eyes never leaving mine. I could see the hurt in her gaze, but she wasn't angry, at

I admitted, rubbing a hand over my face, the shame

time, just the usual way of business. I thought

was darker than that, that there was more at stake than I'd realized. And by then, it was too late. I was already tied

I confirmed, my voice low. "And Susan. She was there, too. She knew the right people, and had all the right connections. I thought I could rely on

the words get stuck. "I thought she was on my side. Maybe, back then, she even

now?" Sarah's voice

hurt us, Sarah. And she's not