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.

to her?" he asked, his voice softer now. "After everything she's

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

to be.

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

locked on mine, his voice low but intense. "Sarah, that's exactly why I need you to tell me everything. I can handle it if I know what we're up against." "But

speak. All the fear, all the guilt, bubbled up

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

started speaking, telling me she'd met with

her face as she told me everything. Part of me felt a pang of betrayal; she'd gone

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

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

me, her eyes a mix of regret and relief. "I thought I could handle it on my own. I just

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 that's when

surface, with Sarah staring at me, I couldn't hold them back any longer. "I need to tell you

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

and it felt strange to share it out loud, but I knew it was

I joined some deals. I was young, I didn't know much

pushing through the memories. "That's when I met James. He seemed like someone I could trust, someone who had my back. And I... I

leaving mine. I could see the hurt in her gaze, but she wasn't angry,

hand over my face, the shame of it washing over me all over

I thought were normal at the time, just the usual way of business. I thought

started to see that it was darker than that, that there was more at stake than I'd realized. And by

low. "And Susan. She was there, too. She knew the

she was on

now?" Sarah's voice

to hurt us, Sarah. And she's not afraid to use whatever I told her