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

Chapter 109

Sarah pov. That morning, I woke up hoping Isabelle would be on her way. Maybe she'd slip out with a polite thank you and let us have our life back.

I knew it was a long shot, but I needed things to feel normal again, especially since Richard had completely dismissed my worries last night.

When I walked out to the living room, though, I stopped dead in my tracks. Isabelle was sitting at the kitchen table, chatting with Richard over breakfast like she'd lived here for years.

She didn't even seem like she was getting ready to leave.

"Good morning, Sarah!" Isabelle called, smiling like we were best friends.

I forced a smile back, grabbing my coffee mug and pouring myself a cup. I could feel a knot of irritation forming in my stomach. How long did she plan to stay?

"Sarah, you wouldn't believe what Isabelle's been dealing with," he said, shaking his head.

"She tried checking in at a budget motel nearby last night, but apparently, there was a break-in the night before. They warned her it wasn't safe, especially for a woman alone in the city. So she was thinking she might stay here another night." "Oh... really?" I said, trying to keep my voice neutral.

"And I was thinking of checking her in the best hotel, but she refused."

The story felt too convenient, too perfect. I didn't know if I was being paranoid, but every part of me felt on edge, like Isabelle was twisting things to her advantage.

But when I looked at Richard, I could see he was hooked.

go. But really, if it's too much,

her shoulder. "Nonsense, Isabelle, it's no trouble at all. You're welcome here until you feel safe and have

drop open. I was hoping Isabelle would be gone this morning, and now he was inviting her to stay indefinitely? I took a slow

you think she'd be more comfortable finding a temporary place?" I suggested, trying to keep my tone

was no big deal. "It's no trouble. Besides, she's been through enough. Let's just let her

glanced at Isabelle, who looked away, but not before I caught a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. She knew she'd won

more at home, always finding

it happened, the harder it became. "Hey, Sarah, did you know Richard used to go cliff diving?" she asked one afternoon, as if she were telling me something about my own boyfriend that

forcing a smile. "Yes,

it was nothing. "Oh,

closer made me feel like

could feel the tension between us growing, even if Richard didn't seem

washing dishes, scrubbing a plate harder than I needed to as I listened to Isabelle

to let the maids do it. I glanced over my shoulder, watching as they laughed together. I knew I should just let it go, but it was hard when she kept monopolizing his attention. After dinner, when Richard left to take a call, Isabelle and I were alone in the kitchen. She turned to me, her face

lucky to have someone like Richard," she said, her

know that, Isabelle. And I'd like to keep

an innocent smile. "Of course not. I'm just here for support.

feel an edge to them, like she was trying to

it off, I couldn't shake the feeling