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."

forward slightly, his expression unreadable, but I

prosecutor interjected. "But the evidence shows that you were the side chick in their relationship the first

into a bitter smile. "He may not admit it,

calm but firm. "Ms. Susan, are you saying you orchestrated this entire ordeal because

caught off guard. "I...

then," Martins continued, unrelenting. "You knew Isabella had a fragile mental state. You knew her late fiance resembled Mr. Wright, and you used that resemblance to convince her that Sarah was a threat.

didn't back down. "Under your guidance. Under your manipulation. You planted those ideas and used Isabelle as a pawn to execute your plan. Isn't that the truth, Ms.

courtroom fell silent as

she snapped, her voice rising. "Yes, I made her believe it! But only because she deserved the

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

was obsession, a warped sense of

his expression hardening. I could see the anger simmering beneath his professional exterior, but he stayed focused, knowing this was the moment we needed to solidify 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 get hurt. "She fell down the stairs," Susan said, her tone almost dismissive. "That wasn't my

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

me aside. "We're making progress," he said, his

But we can't let our guard down.

that even possible?" I asked,

he assured me. "But they'll try. We

the hospital that evening, I replayed Susan's words over

lying so still nearly broke me all over again. I sat down beside

she couldn't hear me. "She admitted everything. She's going to pay for what she did, Sarah. I promise you

next court session were agonizing. I spent most of my time at the hospital,

unwavering. Zoe kept me sane with her lighthearted banter, though I could see

pursuit of justice, diving into