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

Chapter 114

Richard's POV

Sitting across from Isabelle in the dimly lit living room, her words lingered in the air like smoke. I don't want to lose you too.

I didn't know how to respond. It felt like she was pouring her heart out, but the timing was strange-too convenient, too calculated. I tried to brush it off.

"You're not losing anyone, Isabelle," I said, my tone careful. "You've been through a lot, I get it. But Sarah and I are here for you."

Her eyes glistened as she smiled, that same sweet, innocent smile that had started to make my stomach churn. "Thank you, Richard. That means more to me than you'll ever know." I nodded, standing awkwardly. "Well, uh... it's late. Maybe you should get some rest."

She stayed seated, her gaze holding mine a beat too long. "Goodnight, Richard," she said softly.

I turned and left, but the unease followed me upstairs.

***

The next morning, I found Isabelle already in the kitchen. She was humming to herself, flipping pancakes like we were in some sort of sitcom.

"Morning," she chirped, flashing me a smile.

"Morning," I muttered, grabbing a mug for coffee.

"Pancakes?" she offered, sliding a plate toward me before I could answer. "I made them just how you like-light on the syrup."

I stared at the plate. How did she know that? I hadn't even mentioned it to Sarah. "Uh, thanks," I said, forcing a smile.

She beamed, sitting across from me at the table. "I thought it might be nice to start the day with something cheerful. Things have been so tense lately."

I nodded, though I didn't say much. My thoughts kept drifting to Sarah, who hadn't come downstairs yet. She'd been sleeping more, her energy drained. I was starting to worry. "Sarah still sleeping?" Isabelle asked, as if reading my mind.

"Yeah," I said, sipping my coffee.

turned thoughtful. "She seems... distant. Is everything okay between

course," I said quickly, my

how hard it is when someone you love starts keeping secrets." Her words hit a nerve,

like she

room, curled up on the couch with a blanket. She looked exhausted, her

said gently, sitting beside

nodded but didn't

been so tired lately," I said. "Maybe you should take a break,

eyes narrowing. "Rest? What's your

please," I said,

just here, Richard," Sarah said, her voice rising. "She's in everything. She knows things about us-personal things. Don't

trying to keep my patience. "She's been through a

that what you call it? You don't even see it,

what?" I

Sarah said, her voice trembling. "She's crossing lines, and you're

"Sarah, you're reading too much into this.

defending her!" Sarah shouted, cutting

heaved as she stared at me, her eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place-hurt, frustration, maybe even fear. "Fine," she said finally, her voice cold.

up and walked away, leaving me

tension between Sarah and me. It was like a wall had gone up, and neither of us knew how to tear it down. Meanwhile, Isabelle's behavior only grew bolder. She started finding excuses to touch me-a light hand on my shoulder, brushing past me in the hallway. One evening, as I was sitting at my desk going through some paperwork,

asked,

up," I said, not

placing a cup of tea on the desk. "I thought you could use a

I said, though her presence was starting to feel

the papers on my desk. "Busy man," she said, her

hoping

moved closer, her hand brushing against mine as she reached for one of the papers. "What's this?" she asked, her voice light and

paper away, my tone

Richard. It's one of the things I admire about

to focus," I said, trying to keep