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.

his voice softer now. "After everything she's done, after what

before she came to you. I thought if I knew, maybe

up, running a hand through his hair. "Together, Sarah. That's what we're supposed to be. But

my eyes, but I swallowed them back. "I know. I just...

voice low but intense. "Sarah, that's exactly why I need you to tell me everything. I can handle it

words hit me hard, and for a moment, I couldn't speak. All the fear, all the guilt, bubbled up inside me. "I'm

my hand. "We'll figure this out, but only if we're honest with each other. You and me, Sarah. No

telling me she'd met with James and then Susan,

everything. Part of me felt a pang of betrayal; she'd gone behind my back, taken things

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

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

mix of regret and relief. "I thought I could handle

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

Sarah staring at me, I couldn't hold

wary but listening, and I found myself going back to those

share it out

young, I didn't know much about running a business, and all these

I met James. He seemed like someone I could trust, someone

see the hurt

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

time, just the usual way of business. I thought

I got deeper, I started to see that it 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 in

too. She knew the right

thought she was on my

now?" Sarah's voice

"Now, she wants control. She wants to hurt us, Sarah. And she's not afraid to use whatever I told her back then