Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart
Chapter 48

Sarah's

pov.

I told myself over and over again, "We're just friends." That's what I had to believe.

But the truth was, every time I saw Richard, my heart did this annoying little flip, and I hated it.

We weren't supposed to be here-on the edge of something more. Not again.

It had started small, of course. Casual meetups, business dinners, nothing that screamed romantic.

But every time we sat across from each other, laughing about the most random things, I couldn't ignore that spark.

The way his eyes softened when I spoke. Or how he'd occasionally touch my hand, as if testing the waters.

I brushed it off. After everything we'd been through, there was no way I could trust him again. No way I could let myself feel that way. Right?

"Sarah, you're overthinking again," Emma had told me the other day on Facetime, her usual no-nonsense attitude shining through.

"Just enjoy it for what it is. You don't need to have all the answers right now."

But that was the thing. I did need answers. Because the longer this went on, the blurrier the line between friendship and... whatever this was, became. One night, after yet another business dinner where we somehow ended up talking about everything but work, Richard walked me to my car. It had become a habit at this point, something he did without thinking.

"Thanks for tonight," I said, fumbling with my keys. I was trying so hard to sound casual, like my heart wasn't racing just standing there next to him. "Anytime," he replied with that smile-that smile that used to make me melt. It still did, apparently, because I felt my face heat up.

There was a moment of silence, the kind that's supposed to feel comfortable but just felt loaded instead.

I cleared my throat, trying to break the tension. "Well, I guess I'll see you next week? We've got that meeting with the investors."

"Yeah, definitely," he said, but he didn't move. He was standing there, looking at me like he was waiting for something. And it made me nervous.

I turned to unlock the car door, needing an excuse to look away. But before I could reach the handle, Richard spoke again, his voice softer this time.

"You know, Sarah... I'm really glad we're here. I mean, that we're... talking like this again."

He shouldn't have said that. I paused, my hand hovering over the door. There it was-that shift, that emotional shit I had been avoiding.

I didn't want to go there. Not tonight. Not ever.

"I am too," I said cautiously, turning back to him. "But Richard-"

"I know," he cut in, raising his hands in defense, "I know. Just friends. I get it."

His words said one thing, but the way he was looking at me said something completely different.

It was like he was searching my face for permission, for some kind of signal that I was open to more.

I wasn't. Or, at least, I was trying not to be.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "It's not that simple."

"I know it's not," he replied. His voice was calm, but there was something in it-an undercurrent of frustration maybe? Or hope. I couldn't quite tell. "Richard..." I started, but he interrupted me, stepping closer.

"You don't have to say anything," he said quietly. "I just...I need you to know that I'm still here. I know I messed up. And I know you've got every reason not to trust me. But I've changed, Sarah. I swear."

I looked at him, really looked at him, for the first time in what felt like forever. He did seem different. More open, more vulnerable. But could I believe that?

Before I could stop myself, I whispered, "Have you?"

His gaze softened. "Yeah. I have."

And just like that, the space between us seemed to shrink. My heart was racing again, but this time it wasn't because of nerves.

It was something else. Something I hadn't let myself feel in a long time.

I swallowed hard, trying to push it all down, but it was too late. We were too close now, and the way he was looking at me... it was like he was waiting for a sign.

"Sarah, I-" Richard started, but before he could finish, something shifted in the air.

I don't know how it happened. Maybe it was the way his voice softened, or the look in his eyes, or the fact that I was just so damn tired of fighting it.

But there he was, standing in front of me, his hand warm against my skin, his eyes searching mine for any sign that I might let him in.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

And then, before I could stop it, his lips were on mine.

It was tentative-so light, so careful, like he was afraid I might push him away.

It wasn't like that cold, indifferent peck on our wedding day.

Back then, his lips barely touched mine, it was a brief, emotionless contact.

This time, it was different. He stayed, as if he was waiting for me to decide what would happen next.

I should have pulled away. I should have told him that this wasn't going to happen, that we weren't that kind of couple anymore, that we couldn't be. But I didn't. Instead, I kissed him back.

It was gentle, hesitant-like we were both testing the waters, unsure of where this moment was going to lead.

My mind was screaming at me to stop, to pull away and remind him of all the reasons we shouldn't be doing this. But my heart?

My heart was telling me something else.

I felt his hand slide to the back of my neck, pulling me closer, and I let out a soft sigh against his lips.

For a moment, it was like everything else faded away-the past, the hurt, the pain. All that existed was this-this kiss that shouldn't have happened but felt too right to stop. When we finally pulled apart, I was breathless. My heart raced in my chest, and I stared at him, wide-eyed and confused.

"I-" I started, but the words got caught in my throat.

Richard looked just as stunned as I felt, his hand still resting on the back of my neck.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, but this time, it didn't feel like an apology. It felt like something else-something I wasn't ready to face yet.

I stepped back, putting some distance between us, trying to catch my breath. My mind was racing, my emotions tangled in a way that made no sense.

"We...we can't," I stammered, my voice shaky. "This can't happen."

"But-"

"Richard," I said, more firmly this time. "I can't do this. Not yet."

He looked at me, his eyes filled with that same hope, that same vulnerability. "I'm not asking for anything right now. I just...I want you to know I miss you and love you."

I stared at him for a long moment, my mind racing. I didn't know what to say.

Part of me wanted to believe him, to believe that things could be different this time.

But the other part? The part that had been hurt, that had been let down so many times before? That part wasn't ready.

"I need time," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't just... jump back into this."

Richard nodded, his expression softening. "I understand. I'll wait. For as long as it takes."

I didn't say anything. I couldn't. Instead, I just nodded, turning away and finally unlocking my car door.

As I slid into the driver's seat, I glanced back at him one last time. He was standing there, watching me, but he didn't say a word.

As I drove home that night, my mind was a mess. What had just happened? And what did it mean?

I didn't have answers. All I knew was that the kiss had stirred something in me-something I wasn't sure I was ready to face.

I had told myself I was over him. That I had moved on.