Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart
Chapter 39

Sarah's pov.

Richard was getting desperate. I could feel it in the way he kept showing up.

It was like every event, every networking dinner, and every conference somehow had him lurking in the background. Coincidence?

Yeah, right. The man was a master of accidentally being wherever I was.

I was at this gala for my company's expansion into Europe-big deal, lots of investors, very important faces.

I had on my favorite black dress, the one that made me feel like I owned the whole room, and for a while, I did.

Until, of course, Richard appeared like a bad plot twist.

I'd see him across the room, talking to someone important, his eyes constantly scanning until they landed on me.

Then, there it was: that small smile, like we shared some private joke. Newsflash, Richard: the joke's over, and it wasn't funny to begin with. "Sarah!" His voice cut through the mingling hum of the crowd. My heart did that stupid little leap thing it always does when I hear his voice. Annoying. I turned to face him, putting on my best "I couldn't care less" expression.

"Richard." I smiled politely, but my eyes were already searching for the exit.

"Fancy seeing you here," he said, with that stupid smirk that used to charm me and now just made my skin crawl.

"Is it though?" I said, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to be everywhere I go these days."

His smile faltered for a second, but he recovered quickly. "I just wanted to congratulate you. The expansion, it's... it's impressive."

"Thanks," I said, shifting slightly, hoping he'd get the hint that I didn't want to have this conversation. But of course, he didn't.

"You've really built something amazing, Sarah." His tone was softer now, almost... genuine? No, no way.

"Yeah, well, I had to pick up the pieces after you and Wesley, didn't I?" I said with a tight smile, turning my attention back to the crowd.

Maybe if I looked busy, he'd get the message.

"I know I messed up," Richard said, his voice a little lower, like he didn't want the whole room to hear. "But I didn't realize just how much until... now."

I almost laughed at that. Now? He didn't realize what he lost until now? Typical Richard. Only seeing value in something once it's out of reach.

"You didn't realize you'd lost a good thing until it wasn't in your back pocket anymore, is that what you're saying?" I asked, turning to face him fully now. "Because that's what it sounds like."

His eyes dropped to the floor, and for a moment, I could almost see the vulnerability there. But I wasn't about to fall for that. Not again.

"Sarah, I know I took you for granted. I got caught up in my father's business, the pressure, and... I thought securing the inheritance was all that mattered."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I lost sight of what was important."

"Yeah, Richard," I said, crossing my arms. "You did. But here's the thing-you lost me a long time ago. You didn't even realize it."

He looked up, his blue eyes meeting mine, and for the first time in a long while, he actually seemed... defeated?

But I wasn't buying into his sadness. Not when I'd spent so long rebuilding myself from the wreckage he left behind.

"I never wanted to hurt you, Sarah. I was just... trying to prove myself."

"Prove yourself to who?" I asked, genuinely curious now. "Your bitch? Because it sure wasn't to me. I didn't need some rich guy playing games with my heart to prove anything."

He opened his mouth to respond, but I wasn't done.

"You wanted to be Susan's golden boy, to inherit the empire. And that's fine, Richard, if that's what you wanted. But don't stand here now and act like you didn't know what you were doing. You knew. You just didn't care." He flinched at that, and part of me felt a little guilty for going in so hard. But he needed to hear it.

"I did care, Sarah," he said quietly. "I just didn't know how to show it. And by the time I figured it out, it was too late."

There was a beat of silence between us. I looked around the room, at all the people who didn't have a clue about the tension building in this tiny corner of the gala.

It felt like we were the only two people there, even though I could hear the chatter and clinking glasses all around us.

"So what do you want from me now, Richard?" I asked finally, my voice softer, but still guarded. "What's this really about?"

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "I want to make things right."

I laughed, and it wasn't even a pretty laugh. It was that kind of laugh that comes out when you're so done with everything that it's almost funny.

"Make things right? Richard, there's no 'making things right' here. What happened, happened. You made your choices. I made mine."

"I know," he said quickly. "I know I can't undo what I did, but... I don't want to lose you completely. Not again."

I sighed, looking away from him because suddenly, it was all too much. I'd moved on,

I'd built something for myself, and here he was, trying to drag me back into the past. And worse, part of me still... cared? God, I hated that.

"Richard," I started, choosing my words carefully, "I don't hate you. I did for a while, but I don't anymore. I've moved on, and I'm doing just fine without you. You need to move on too."

He took a step closer, his voice lowering. "What if I don't want to move on?"

I shot him a look. "You don't have a choice. That ship sailed. I'm not going back there."

His face fell, and for a second, I thought he might argue, but he didn't. He just nodded, like he finally understood.

"Okay," he said quietly. "I get it."

I exhaled, relieved that he wasn't going to push it further. But just as I was about to turn and walk away, he spoke again.

"But I'm not giving up on us."

I turned back, eyebrows raised. "Excuse me?"

"I'm not giving up," he repeated, his jaw set in that stubborn way he gets when he's determined about something. "I know I messed up, but I'm going to prove to you that I've changed."

I shook my head, half-amused, half-frustrated. "Richard, this isn't some rom-com where you show up with flowers and I just magically forgive everything."

He smirked. "No, but it's a start."

I rolled my eyes. "You're ridiculous."

"And yet, you still put up with me," he said, grinning now.

I threw my hands up. "Barely."

He took a step back, his smirk softening into something a little more real. "Look, I know I have a lot to make up for. But I'm not walking away from this. From you." "Good luck with that," I muttered, shaking my head as I finally turned and walked away, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

As I made my way through the crowd, I could feel his eyes on me, but I didn't look back. Not this time.

Because despite all the tension, despite the history between us, I wasn't about to let Richard Wright pull me back into his orbit. Not when I'd finally found my own way out.

But a small, annoying voice in the back of my head whispered that maybe, just maybe, this wasn't quite over yet.

I pushed that thought down and grabbed a champagne flute from a passing waiter, determined to focus on the night, on the success I'd earned, and not the man still trying to wedge his way back into my life.

As I sipped the champagne, Zoe appeared at my side, glancing over her shoulder toward Richard. "He still hasn't gotten the hint, huh?"

I sighed. "Apparently not."

Zoe smirked. "Want me to accidentally spill a drink on him?"

I laughed. "Tempting. But no. Let's save that for when he really deserves it."

She nodded, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just let me know. I'm always ready for a spill."

I grinned, shaking my head. Maybe Richard wasn't going to give up easily, but I wasn't about to let him ruin my night.

Not when I had champagne, a growing business, and Zoe on drink-spill standby.