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 while I was still trying to pick up

you putting lives at risk. You helped a mentally unstable woman escape a psychiatric hospital.

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

"So you manipulated Isabella? Used her as a pawn in your

you were her dead fiance. All I had to do was give her a little push. Feed her delusions. Make her believe Sarah was the

voice shaking with

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

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

only a matter

refusing to

***

the hospital, I relayed everything to Zoe and Martins. Sarah was still unconscious, her face pale against the hospital pillows. The sight of her

is we have enough

And once Isabella's back in the psychiatric hospital where she belongs, we can focus on Sarah and the baby." "Burying her isn't enough," I said, my

will," Zoe said gently. "But right now, you need to focus on Sarah.

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

pale face and the sound of the machines hooked to her creating an ache in my chest

hand gently, scared that even

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

offering me sympathetic smiles, but none of it lessened the

were my lifelines. They stayed close, taking turns keeping me company

already in full lawyer mode,

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

out what they had

a series of grainy security footage stills. One showed a woman in scrubs-clearly Susan in disguise-leading Isabella

used a fake ID to gain access and posed as a nurse. We're still working to identify how she acquired the

clenched as I leaned forward, staring at

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

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

running a hand through

you. You trusted someone

didn't respond. Fault or not, the guilt

next 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 wouldn't have a chance to wiggle out of it. He spent hours

in the hospital cafeteria. Zoe had taken over my spot by

to claim diminished responsibility, but we have her confession

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 her long enough. "Richard,

I said, shaking myself out of it.

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

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

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

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