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

Richard

pov.

The morning of the trial felt heavy. I left the hospital earlier than usual, making sure Zoe would stay with Sarah.

Despite the overwhelming dread, there was a part of me that felt strangely numb, as if my emotions had run dry after weeks of worry and anger.

Martins met me outside the courthouse, impeccably dressed in his usual sharp suit. He clapped a hand on my shoulder, his touch grounding.

"Today's a big step forward," he said. "Remember, this trial is about getting justice, not reopening wounds. You're here to see Susan held accountable, not to punish yourself for her actions."

I nodded, though his words didn't settle the unease churning in my gut.

The courtroom was cold, and even though I'd prepared myself for this moment, seeing Susan seated across the room made my stomach twist.

She didn't look like someone riddled with guilt; she looked indifferent, like this was just another ordinary day.

The prosecution opened with a detailed timeline of events, recounting how Susan had manipulated Isabelle and infiltrated every aspect of my life to orchestrate her revenge.

It was clinical, precise, and damning.

But when Susan took the stand, she was composed, even defiant.

"I didn't want to hurt Richard," she began, her voice smooth and unwavering. "I loved him. I still do. But Sarah... she took him away from me. Twice."

unreadable, but I could see

took him away," the prosecutor interjected. "But the evidence shows that you were the side chick in their relationship the first time and Mr. Wright ended your relationship before he got back with Miss

smile. "He may not admit it, but Richard was

Susan, are you saying you orchestrated

caught off guard. "I...

state. You knew her late fiance resembled Mr. Wright, and you used that resemblance to convince her that Sarah was a threat. Isn't that correct?" Susan hesitated, her composure cracking for the first time. "I didn't convince her of

down. "Under your guidance. Under your manipulation. You planted those ideas and

as

her believe it! But only because she deserved the truth. Richard was mine, and Sarah

I'd thought her actions were rooted in bitterness, but it was deeper than

a warped sense of

the case against her. The prosecutor took over, asking Susan about her plan to infiltrate my home and her decision to involve Isabelle. She admitted to both but tried to deflect blame, insisting she hadn't intended for anyone to

the edge of the bench, my knuckles white. It took everything in me not to stand up and shout at

the session adjourned, Martins pulled me aside. "We're making progress," he said, his tone

work against her. But we can't let our guard down. The defense will likely try to

I asked,

have," he assured me. "But they'll

words over and over in my head, each one cutting

finally reached Sarah's room, the sight of her lying so still nearly broke me all over again. I sat down

she couldn't hear me. "She admitted everything. She's going to pay for

days leading up to the next court session were agonizing. I spent most of my time at the hospital, alternating between watching

support unwavering. Zoe kept me sane with her lighthearted banter, though

relentless in his pursuit of justice, diving into