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

Chapter 117

Richard

pov.

The house was too quiet. The kind of quiet that made you second-guess your decisions.

Sarah had left again in a whirlwind of anger yesterday, and even though I understood why, I still felt like I'd been blindsided.

She'd accused Isabelle of... what? Stalking? Manipulating? It sounded ridiculous when I thought about it.

Still, I couldn't shake the memory of Sarah's face before she stormed out. She'd looked hurt. Betrayed. And maybe, deep down, I knew I had something to do with that.

Her message about not finding her grounded me from following her, but of course, I knew where she slept, the hotel, and the room and I paid extra security to look after her. I sighed and pushed my coffee mug aside. The sun streamed through the kitchen window, casting long shadows on the table.

Isabelle walked in, humming softly. She looked like she didn't have a care in the world.

"Good morning," she said with a cheerful smile, heading straight for the kettle.

I forced a nod, trying to act normal. But Sarah's words lingered in the back of my mind.

"You and Sarah okay?" Isabelle asked.

"Yeah," I lied. "Just... a rough night."

Isabelle tilted her head, her brows knitting together in concern. "I hate to think I'm the reason for any of that."

Her voice was sweet, almost too sweet, and I felt a pang of guilt. Sarah thought Isabelle was up to something, but here she was, acting kind and understanding. Was Sarah overreacting?

"It's not your fault," I said quickly. "Sarah just gets worked up sometimes."

She gave me a small smile, but there was something in her eyes I couldn't quite place.

Later that morning, I was in my office, staring at the pile of work I was supposed to finish. My thoughts kept drifting back to Isabelle.

Sarah's accusations were still fresh, but they didn't line up with the woman I'd gotten to know. Isabelle was kind, and always ready to help.

I thought about the little things. The way she always seemed to know exactly what I needed, even before I said it.

How she'd bring me coffee in the exact way I liked it. How she'd laugh at my jokes a little too easily.

Was I imagining it?

"Knock, knock," a familiar voice called out, snapping me back to the present.

I looked up to see Martins leaning against the doorframe, a grin on his face. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I laughed, relieved to see him. "No ghosts, just work. What brings you here?"

Martins strolled in, plopping down in the chair across from me. "Figured you could use a break. Heard things have been tense at home."

I groaned, leaning back in my chair. "That obvious, huh?"

Sarah's never been good at hiding her feelings." He smirked.

Martins was my best friend, but I wasn't sure how to

I

an eyebrow. "The houseguest? What

to something. She's convinced Isabelle's trying

low. "That's heavy.

Sarah's overreacting," I said, though my voice lacked conviction. "Isabelle's been nothing but polite. She's had a tough life, and we're just

elbows on his knees. "You sure about that? Sometimes, the polite ones are

on, you're not seriously buying into this,

just saying, if Sarah's feeling this strongly, maybe there's something you're

"Like what?"

help her? Fine. But why not get her an apartment somewhere? That way, Sarah feels more comfortable, and Isabelle still gets

leaning back with a satisfied grin. "Trust me, you don't want this thing blowing up any more

plan. Get Isabelle a place of her own. That would fix everything, wouldn't

up on the couch with a book. She looked so at home, like she belonged here. "Richard!" she said brightly when she saw

sitting down across from

her book, her expression softening. "You seem stressed. Is there anything I

what Sarah had been talking about. Isabelle's constant attention, her way of making me feel like

good,"

tilted her head, studying me. "Are you

fine," I repeated, standing up. "Actually, I wanted to talk

Her smile faltered. "Oh?"

for you to find a place of your own," I

cry. "A place of my own? Are

everyone if you had your own space. I can help you find an hotel, then an apartment, cover the rent if you need it-" "I don't understand," she interrupted,

that," I said, feeling like I was on thin ice. "It's just... Sarah and I need some time to work things out, and having you here makes things more

her eyes filling with tears. "I thought we were friends,

it anymore. "This isn't about that. It's about what's

expect her reaction to hit me so hard. She had looked so shaken like I had betrayed her in the

was for the best-for Sarah,

of her footsteps on the stairs. I thought she'd slam the door, pack her things, do something. But

to send a chill down

I called out, my

No response.

dread coiling in my stomach. When I reached the landing, I saw her crumpled on

as I patted her cheek gently. "Isabelle, wake

reached for my phone, fumbling to dial emergency services, but then she stirred, her voice weak.

"I'm here. Are you

hand brushing weakly against my arm. "I...

I echoed in

open. "It happens sometimes... when

"You should've

didn't think..." She paused, taking a shaky breath. "I

up, leaning her back against the wall. She looked

checked out," I said firmly.

sleeve. "No... I'm fine. I just need