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."

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

risk. You helped a mentally unstable woman escape a psychiatric hospital. You gave her access to

and venomous. "Because I wanted you to feel what it's

tightened, anger bubbling beneath the surface. "So you manipulated

my nerves. "Isabella was easy to manipulate. She was already obsessed with you, convinced you were

my voice shaking

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

escort Susan out of the room. She didn't resist, but as

only a matter of time before it

to

***

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

room, his frustration evident. "The good news is we have enough to bury Susan in court,"

"Burying her isn't enough," I said, my voice low. "I want her held accountable for

right now, you need to focus on Sarah. She needs

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

Sarah's bedside, her pale face and the sound of the machines hooked to her

her hand gently, scared that even the

involvement. The doctors

and offering me sympathetic smiles,

lifelines. They stayed close, taking turns keeping me company and

kept in touch with Sarah's business. Martins, on the other hand, was already in full lawyer mode, piecing together a case

I was called back to the station to review the evidence. Martins came

laid out what they had uncovered

was the one who orchestrated Isabella's escape from the psychiatric hospital," he said, pointing to a series of

posed as a nurse. We're still working to identify how she acquired the uniform and

forward, staring at the

years, and she likely still had it from when you two were together. She passed it to

so focused on protecting Sarah that I hadn't thought to check something as

muttered, running a hand through my

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

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

so airtight that Susan wouldn't have a chance to wiggle out of it. He spent hours on the phone, coordinating with the prosecution and

not guilty," he said one evening as we sat in the hospital cafeteria. Zoe had taken over my spot by Sarah's

responsibility, but we have her confession on record. That's our

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

of it.

mind's with Sarah, and it should be. But this case is important. If we win,

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

The baby's alive. That's what

turned into weeks, and Sarah's condition remained unchanged. The doctors said her body was healing, but her mind hadn't yet caught