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."

on so quickly, parading your perfect little fiancée around while I was still trying to pick up the

mentally unstable woman escape a psychiatric hospital. You gave her access to their home. You put Sarah and her unborn

gaze flicked to him, then back to me. She leaned forward, her voice low and venomous. "Because I wanted you to feel what it's

you manipulated Isabella?

manipulate. She was already obsessed with you, convinced you were her dead fiance. All I had to do was give

my voice shaking

at you now. Your precious Sarah is lying in a hospital 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 could say

out of the room. She didn't resist, but as she passed me, she leaned in close enough for only me

only a matter of time before

respond, refusing to give her

***

Zoe and Martins. Sarah was still unconscious, her face pale against the

good news is we have enough to bury Susan

focus on Sarah and the baby." "Burying her isn't enough,"

Zoe said gently. "But right now, you need to

of Susan brought a strange kind of relief mixed with fury. I knew

of the machines hooked to

gently, scared that even the

and the discovery of Susan's involvement. The doctors assured me Sarah's condition was stable, but the word "coma" loomed over me like

and went, checking her vitals, adjusting the machines, and offering me sympathetic smiles, but none of

stayed close, taking turns keeping me company and managing things I

the other hand, was already in full lawyer mode, piecing together

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

laid out what

escape from the psychiatric hospital," he said, pointing to a series of grainy security footage stills. One showed a woman in scrubs-clearly Susan in disguise-leading Isabella out of the

fake ID to gain access and posed as a nurse. We're still working to identify

leaned forward, staring at the screen.

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

protecting Sarah that I

on me," I muttered, running a hand through my

not you.

but didn't respond. Fault or not, the

few weeks were a whirlwind of preparation. Martins took the lead, combing through every piece of evidence the police gathered and building a case so airtight that Susan

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

even try to claim diminished responsibility, but we have her confession on

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

out of it. "Confession. Strong weapon. Got

back in his chair. "Look, I get it. Your mind's with Sarah, and it should be. But this case is important. If

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

"She's alive. The

The doctors said her body was healing, but her mind hadn't yet