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

Chapter 102 Sarah pov.

I wasn't sure what to expect when Richard suggested a hike. Hiking wasn't really my thing; I usually liked my exercise in a nice, controlled environment-like a gym or a quick run.

But seeing his excitement, I couldn't resist. There was something about Hawaii that madefeel open to anything, like there was no room for complaints or doubts here. So, I laced up my shoes, determined to give it a shot.

"Ready?" he asked, flashingthat grin that always made my heart skip a beat.

I rolled my eyes, pretending to be annoyed, but inside, I was as excited as he was. "Lead the way, mountain man." As we started up the trail, the forest around us was lush and alive, thick with towering trees and the scent of wet earth.

Birds chirped somewhere above us, and sunlight filtered through the leaves, making the path ahead look like something out of a storybook.

I glanced over at Richard, wondering if he felt the sthrill, that quiet amazement that made you want to just... be still and take it all in.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" he said, as if he could read my mind.

I nodded. "I've never seen anything like it. Everything feels... I don't know, like it's alive in a way I've never noticed before." "Yeah," he said, smiling down at me. "Nature's got a way of doing that." We walked in comfortable silence for a while, just soaking up the peace around us.

Every so often, I'd feel his hand brush against mine, and each time, it sent a small thrill up my spine. It felt good to be close to him like this, without a care in the world.

Eventually, we reached a small clearing, where we could see the ocean far below, a stretch of blue that seemed to go on forever. I leaned against a tree, catching my breath and taking in the view. "Remindsof home, in a way," he said, his voice quiet.

"Home?" I asked, curious.

"Yeah," he replied. "Well, not exactly like this, but Grandpa lived near the water, so it's kind of... comforting, I guess." I smiled, imagining a younger Richard, maybe running along the shore or watching the waves like he was now.

"I can imagine how you were when you were younger." I said, turning to face him.

We didn't grow up together, and it wasn't until middle school before our fathers becfriends and we knew each other.

He chuckled, looking a little embarrassed. "A bit of a troublemaker, to be honest. Always getting into things I shouldn't, driving my parents crazy." "Really?" I laughed, trying to picture it. "I can't imagine you being anything but this... calm, collected guy." "Oh, trust me," he said, smirking. "I had my wild phase." I leaned against him, feeling closer than ever. "Well, I guess it's good to know you've got a bit of a rebellious side," I teased, poking him playfully. "Might cin handy one day." He laughed, shaking his head. "And what about you? Were you always so... put together?" I hesitated, feeling a pang of insecurity rise up. I'd always tried to keep things together, but there were times when I felt like I was just... pretending.

"I don't know," I said quietly. "I guess I've always felt like I had to be. I've always wanted to feel... enough, you know?" He looked at me, his gaze softening. "Enough? Sarah, you are more than enough. More than anyone I've ever known." I felt my cheeks heat up, but I couldn't help smiling. "It's just... sometimes I feel like I'm always chasing something. Like I have to prove myself, to everyone. Even to myself." He nodded, understanding in his eyes. "You don't have to prove anything to me. I love you for exactly who you are." I looked away, feeling a little choked up. It was something I hadn't admitted to anyone before, not even myself. But here, in this place, with him, it felt safe to let down my guard, just for a moment. "Thank you," I whispered, feeling the words stick in my throat. "Sometimes I don't feel like I deserve you." He pulledinto a hug, holdingclose. "You deserve the world, Sarah. And if I have to spend the rest of my life showing you that, I will." I leaned into him, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "I don't know what I'd do without you," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.

"You'll never have to find out," he replied, kissing the top of my head. "I'm not going anywhere." *** After a while, we continued up the trail, our steps slower, our voices softer. It was as if we'd crossed an invisible line, one that brought us closer, and made everything between us feel stronger, more real.

I found myself telling him stories about my childhood, things I hadn't thought about in years-the tI got lost at the zoo and cried for an hour, the way I used to dream about being a ballerina even though I had two left feet.

He laughed, sharing his own stories-the the snuck out to see a midnight movie with his friends, the trouble he got into for stealing his dad's car keys when he was only fifteen.

"You were a little troublemaker," I teased, bumping him with my shoulder.

"Maybe," he admitted, grinning. "But I turned out alright, didn't I?" I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in ages. "Yeah, I guess you did." At the top of the trail, we stopped to take in the view. The entire island spread out below us, a patchwork of green and blue that took my breath away.

I turned to Richard, feeling a sudden urge to just... hold him, to pull him close and never let go. "Thank you," I said, my voice soft. "For everything." He looked at me, his eyes full of warmth. "You don't have to thank me, Sarah. I'm just glad we're here. Together." Without thinking, I leaned up and kissed him, pouring every feeling I had into that one moment.

He kissedback, his arms wrapping around me, holdingclose. It was like the world faded away, leaving just us, suspended in this perfect, beautiful moment. When we finally pulled apart, I felt a bit breathless, my heart pounding in my chest. I looked up at him, smiling, feeling a little silly but too happy to care. "You're amazing, you know that?" I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Right back at you." We started down the trail, still holding hands, both of us a little lost in our own thoughts.

I felt like I was floating, caught in the afterglow of that kiss, of everything we'd shared.

But just as I was about to say something, my foot slipped on a loose rock, and I felt a sharp pain shoot up my ankle.

"Ah!" I gasped, stumbling forward.

Richard caughtjust in time, his face filled with concern. "Sarah! Are you alright?" I winced, trying to put weight on my foot but feeling a dull throb of pain. "I... I think I twisted my ankle," I admitted, feeling embarrassed.

He helpedto a nearby rock, gently loweringdown. "Lettake a look," he said, his voice calm but serious.

I watched as he knelt down, carefully checking my ankle. I couldn't help there feeling a little silly here we were, having this beautiful day, and I had to go and ruin it by being clumsy. "It's not too bad," he said, glancing up at me. "But you're not walking on it, okay?" I sighed, feeling a mixture of relief and embarrassment. "I'm fine, Richard. Really."

He raised an eyebrow, givinga look that said hexing it "You're not not fine. And even if you were, I'm not letting you walk on it. End of discussion." I couldn't help but smile, touched by his insistence. "Alright, alright," I said, holding up my hands. "You win."

With a chuckle, he scoopedup, carryinglike it was the most natural thing in the world. Kwrapped my arms around his neck, feeling a warmth spread throughas I looked up at him. "Thank you," I whispered, feeling a bit shy. He smiled down at me, his eyes soft. "Anything for you, Sarah. Anything." As he carrieddown the trail, I felt a strange mix of embarrassment and gratitude.

Here I was, being carried like a damsel in distress, but at the stime, I'd never felt more loved, more taken care of.

It was as if every little insecurity, every fear, had melted away, leaving just the two of us, perfectly in sync.

When we finally reached the bottom, he gently setdown on a bench, his face full of concern. "How's the ankle?" I tested it, wincing a little but managing a small smile. "It's... okay. Thanks to you." He grinned, brushing a thumb over my cheek. "Anytime." As we sat there, watching the sun dip lower in the sky, I realized just how much I loved him.

It wasn't just the big, romantic gestures or the moments of excitement-it was this. The way he looked at me, the way he cared,