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

Richard

pov.

The call from the police came just after dawn, jarring me awake in the cold, uncomfortable chair next to Sarah's hospital bed.

I fumbled with my phone, heart pounding as I stepped into the hallway to answer.

"We've located Susan," the officer said. "She's in custody. We'd like you to come down to the station."

My grip tightened around the phone. The relief I felt was fleeting, quickly replaced by anger. "I'll be there," I said, my voice low.

Zoe appeared beside me as I hung up. She had been sitting with Sarah through the night, taking turns with Martins to ensure I wasn't alone.

Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but her concern for Sarah mirrored my own.

"Was that about Susan?" she asked.

I nodded. "They've got her. I'm heading to the station."

"I'm coming with you," she said firmly.

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Stay here. I need someone I trust to be with Sarah."

She hesitated, then sighed. "Fine. But keep me updated."

When I arrived at the police station, Martins was already there, leaning against a wall in the waiting area. He straightened when he saw me, his expression grim.

"This better be good," he muttered.

"Let's hope it gives us answers," I replied.

The officer led us to the interrogation room, where Susan sat handcuffed to the table. She looked nothing like the woman I remembered-the confident, polished ex who had once been a part of my life. Instead, she was disheveled, her hair tangled and her face pale. But her eyes still held that familiar glint of cunning, a reminder of why I had ended things with her in the first place.

"Richard," she said with a small, almost mocking smile as I entered. "Long time no see."

"Susan," I said coldly, taking the seat across from her. Martins stood beside me, his arms crossed.

The officer gestured for Susan to speak, and for a moment, she just sat there, staring at me. Then, she shrugged. "Well, I guess this is the part where I spill my guts, huh?"

"Start with why," I said, my voice hard. "Why did you do this? Why involve Isabella? Why target Sarah?"

Her smile faltered, and she leaned back in her chair, studying me. "You really don't get it, do you?" she said bitterly. "You think you can just toss people aside and move on without consequences?"

I frowned. "What are you talking about? We broke up a year ago. You were the one who couldn't let go."

the one who humiliated me," she shot back. "You moved on so quickly, parading your perfect little fiancée around

escape a psychiatric hospital. You gave

her voice low and venomous. "Because

jaw tightened, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "So you manipulated Isabella? Used her as a pawn in your sick

laughed, a bitter sound that grated on my nerves. "Isabella was easy to manipulate. She was already obsessed with you, convinced you were her

my voice shaking with barely

bed, your baby's future uncertain. And you're here, scrambling to put the pieces together. Tell me, Richard, how does it feel?" I stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. Martins placed a hand on my shoulder, grounding me before I

of the room. She didn't resist, but as she passed me,

while it lasts," she whispered. "It's only a matter of

didn't respond, refusing to give her

***

unconscious, her face pale against the hospital pillows. The sight

evident. "The good news is

she belongs, we can focus on Sarah and the baby." "Burying her isn't enough," I said, my voice low. "I want her held accountable for every single thing she's done.

gently. "But right now, you need to

a strange kind of relief mixed with fury. I knew this was far from over, but at least the immediate

sat by Sarah's bedside, her pale face and the sound of the machines hooked to her creating an ache in my chest that wouldn't

hand gently, scared that even the slightest pressure

a few days since the confrontation with Isabelle and the discovery of Susan's involvement. The doctors assured

came and went, checking her vitals, adjusting the machines, and offering me sympathetic smiles, but

close, taking turns keeping me company

touch with Sarah's business. Martins, on the other hand, was already in full lawyer mode, piecing together a case that would hold Susan accountable

the station to review the evidence. Martins came with me, his calm, analytical demeanor a stark

what they

pointing to a series of grainy security footage stills. One showed a woman in scrubs-clearly Susan in

to gain access and posed as a nurse. We're still

forward, staring at

detective nodded grimly. "That was Susan as well. We found that the access code to your penthouse hadn't been changed in years, and she likely still had it from when you two were together. She passed it to Isabella, who used it to get

me like a punch to the gut. I'd been so focused on protecting Sarah that I hadn't thought to

I muttered, running a

her, not you. You trusted someone who took advantage of it. That's not your

but didn't respond. Fault or not, the guilt was

so airtight that Susan wouldn't have a chance to wiggle out of it.

said one evening as we sat in the hospital cafeteria. Zoe had taken over my spot by Sarah's bedside, giving me a

even try to claim diminished responsibility, but we

by thoughts of Sarah-her pale face, the steady beep of the machines, the tiny movements I swore I saw when I stared at her long

I said, shaking myself out of it. "Confession. Strong

be. But this case is important. If we

know," I said quietly. "I just... I can't stop thinking about her, about what might

alive. The baby's alive.

and Sarah's condition remained unchanged. The doctors said her body was healing,