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."

me," she shot back. "You moved on so quickly, parading your perfect little fiancée

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

me. She leaned forward, her voice low and venomous. "Because I wanted you to feel

manipulated Isabella? Used her as

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

voice

it worked, didn't it? Look 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 or do something I'd regret. "You've just confessed

officer nodded, stepping forward to escort Susan out of the room. She didn't resist, but as she passed me, she leaned in close enough

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

to give her the

***

Sarah was still unconscious, her face pale against the hospital

is we have enough to

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.

right now, you need to

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

face and the sound of the machines hooked to her

her hand gently, scared that even the slightest pressure

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

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

close, taking turns

full lawyer mode,

called back to the station to review the evidence. Martins came with

out what they had

Susan was the one who orchestrated Isabella's 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

as a nurse. We're still

as I leaned forward, staring at the screen. "And the security

to your penthouse hadn't been changed in years, and she likely still had it from when you two were together. She passed

to the gut. I'd been so focused on protecting Sarah that I hadn't thought to check something as basic as changing the

I muttered, running a hand through my

said sharply. "This is on her, not you. You trusted someone who took advantage of

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

whirlwind of preparation. Martins took the lead, combing through every piece of evidence the police gathered and building a case so airtight that Susan wouldn't

guilty," he said one evening as we sat in the hospital cafeteria. Zoe had taken over my spot by Sarah's bedside, giving me a rare moment to step

diminished responsibility, but we have her confession on record.

was elsewhere. Every waking moment was consumed by thoughts of Sarah-her pale face, the steady beep of the machines, the tiny movements I swore I saw when I stared at

myself out of it. "Confession.

be. But this case is important. If we win, Susan gets what she deserves, and Sarah gets the justice

know," I said quietly. "I just... I can't stop thinking

interrupted. "She's alive. The baby's alive. That's what matters

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