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

Richard

pov

The living room buzzed with life-laughter, the clinking of glasses, and warm chatter filled the air.

Guests had arrived, carrying brightly wrapped gifts and wide smiles. It should have been a joyful day, a celebration of new life.

But all I could feel was unease twisting in my gut like a knot that wouldn't come undone.

Martins nudged me as I stood by the window, eyes darting to the security guards stationed discreetly outside.

"Hey, CIA," he joked, his tone light. "You might wanna dial it down before Sarah figures out you've turned the baby shower into a covert operation."

I managed a thin smile. "Just being cautious."

Martins chuckled. "Yeah, cautious is your middle name. You're so tense, you might scare the baby into coming early."

His humor didn't land. I couldn't shake the image of Sarah falling down those stairs from my mind-a thought that had no basis but still felt like an omen.

Isabelle was out there. I didn't know where, and that made her a threat.

"Where's Sarah?" Martins asked, looking around. "She's still getting ready?"

"Yeah," I said, glancing at my watch. She'd been upstairs for a while now.

Martins grinned. "She's probably wrestling with her dress or trying to figure out how to make her swollen feet fit into shoes. Women in the eighth month-they're in a league of their own."

I nodded absently, my unease growing. The clock seemed louder than the chatter around me, each tick dragging her absence out longer.

Finally, I couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm going to check on her," I muttered, leaving Martins to hold down the fort.

"Don't tell her I said anything about her feet," he called after me.

I climbed the stairs two at a time, my pulse quickening. As I reached the landing, Zoe stepped out of Sarah's room, her face pale.

"Richard," she said, her voice shaking. "She's not in there."

"What do you mean she's not in there?" My stomach dropped.

back, the room was empty. I thought maybe she went downstairs, but I checked, and she's not there either." Panic flared in my chest. "Did you check the bathroom?

her eyes wide. "Richard, she's

I pushed past her, calling Sarah's name as I opened doors and looked into every corner. The house felt too big,

voice echoed down

staircase sent

horror. My eyes followed hers to

the floor beneath her, its dark

I shouted, racing down

followed, her steps frantic. "Oh my God,

My hands trembled as I pressed my fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. It was faint, but it was there. Relief mingled with the raw terror flooding my

I barked at

her hands

I whispered, brushing her hair back from

for a brief moment, dazed and unfocused. Her lips parted, and she muttered something so faint I had to lean in to hear

fighting the tears threatening to blur my vision. "You're going to be okay, Sarah. Both

her voice shaky but

on Sarah, willing her to stay conscious,

down the stairs as Martins appeared,

know!" I snapped, my voice breaking.

beside me, his usual demeanor replaced with grim determination. "The ambulance is on

down her face as she ended

the bleeding," Martins said, shrugging off his jacket and pressing it gently

like hours. The chatter and music from the guests in the living room faded into a distant hum, replaced by the

they worked quickly, assessing Sarah's condition and loading her onto a stretcher. I stayed close, gripping her hand as they wheeled her out to the waiting ambulance. "I'm coming with her," I told one of the

need space to work," she replied

"We'll follow in my car," she said softly. "Let them

to be with Sarah and knowing Zoe was right. Finally, I nodded, watching helplessly as the ambulance doors closed and the

***

blur. Zoe was behind

the back with me, his hand on my shoulder, grounding me when all I felt

into a waiting area

of antiseptic filled the air, and the harsh fluorescent

blood, and

baby

to act quickly to

in good hands, Richard.