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

Chapter 143 Richard pov The hum of the kettle filled the kitchen as I leaned against the counter, waiting for it to boil. It had been a peaceful morning-no sharp comments, no awkward silences-just Sarah andenjoying the calm. But as my phone buzzed on the counter, the nflashing on the screen made my stomach twist: Marina.

I hesitated for a second before picking up. "Hey, Marina," I said, trying to sound casual.

"Richard, hi! I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time," she chirped. Her voice was overly sweet, the kind of tone people use when they're about to dive into something uncomfortable. "No, it's fine. What's up?" I replied, keeping my voice even.

"I just wanted to check in after I left. You know, make sure there's no hard feelings. I feel like things got... tense while I was there." I gripped the counter, reminding myself to stay calm. "It's been fine. We're good." She sighed, a tic sort of sigh that made my eye twitch. "Look, I know Sarah can be a bit... sensitive. I honestly didn't mean to upset her. I was just trying to help." Help? My jaw tightened. I ran a hand through my hair, forcing myself not to snap.

"Marina, you made a lot of comments that probably didn't cacross the way you intended. Maybe it's best we all take a step back and let things settle." There was a pause, just long enough to makethink she might actually take it on board. But then she spoke again, her voice softer but no less condescending.

"I just didn't expect her to take things so personally. It's not like I was attacking her, Richard. You know that, right?" I pressed my fingers to my temple, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Marina, I think we just need to move on. Sarah and I are figuring things out together, and that's what matters." Her laugh was light but carried an edge. "Of course, of course. Well, I won't keep you. Just wanted to clear the air." "Appreciate that," I said, though the words felt hollow.

As soon as I hung up, I exhaled deeply, shaking my head. Clearing the air, my ass. It felt more like she was trying to justify herself, not actually make amends.

That evening, Sarah sat on the couch, her legs tucked under her as she stared blankly at the TV. The siplaying in the background didn't seem to hold her attention.

I could see the faint crease in her forehead, the way her fingers tapped lightly against her mug. She was in her head, and I hated seeing her like that.

Sliding onto the couch beside her, I nudged her gently. "Penny for your thoughts?" She gavea small smile but didn't look at me. "Just... thinking." "About?" I prompted, keeping my tone light.

Her shoulders lifted in a half-shrug. "Marina, I guess. Sof the things she said." I frowned, setting my mug on the coffee table. "What about them?" "It's silly," she said quickly, shaking her head.

"It's not silly if it's bothering you," I countered.

She sighed, finally turning to face me. "She just madefeel like... like I'm not ready for this. Like I don't know what I'm doing. And maybe she's right." I reached for her hand, wrapping mine around it. "Sarah, she's not right. Not even close." She didn't pull away, but her eyes flicked down to her lap. "What if I mess up? What if I'm not as good at this as everyone thinks I'll be?" I let her words hang in the air for a moment, wanting to respond carefully. "You know what I think? I think you're already doing great. And you're not supposed to have all the answers right now. That's part of the process." She looked at me, her eyes shiny with unshed tears. "You really think so?" "I know so," I said firmly. "You're learning as you go, and that's all anyone can do. Marina's opinions? They don't matter. What matters is you, me, and this baby." She let out a small laugh, though it was tinged with emotion. "It's just hard to brush off, you know? She said so much, and I keep replaying it in my head." I nodded. "I get that. But you don't have to carry her words around. Letdo that for you, okay?" Sarah tilted her head, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You can't carry everything for me, Richard." "Maybe not," I admitted. "But I can try." The next morning, as we sat at the kitchen table with our coffee and tea, I decided we needed to do something. Anything to shake off the negativity Marina had left behind.

"How about we get out of here today?" I suggested, breaking the comfortable silence.

Sarah looked up from her mug, raising an eyebrow. "Out of here? Where?" "Doesn't matter," I said with a shrug. "Somewhere peaceful. A drive, maybe? Or a walk by the lake? Just... something to clear our heads." She tilted her head, considering it. "You think it'll help?" "I do," I said honestly. "We've had enough of other people's opinions for a while. Let's just do something for us." A small smile spread across her face, and she nodded. "Okay. A lake sounds nice."

By late morning, we were walking along the lakeside trail, the crisp air filling our lungs. The water sparkled under the sunlight, and the only sounds were the rustle of leaves and the occasional bird call. "This was a good idea," Sarah said, her voice lighter than it had been in days. "Of course it was," I teased, bumping her shoulder gently.

She laughed, a genuine laugh that madefeel like we were finally getting back to ourselves.

We found a bench near the edge of the lake and sat down, watching the water ripple in the breeze.

"Can I tell you something?" she asked, her tone quieter now.

"Always," I said, leaning back against the bench.

She hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. "I think I let Marina get tobecause...because part ofbelieved her. Like, what if I'm not good enough at this? What if I make mistakes?"

I turned to face her fully, my hand resting on her knee. "Sarah, you're going to make mistakes. We both are. That's just part of being human. But you're not doing this alone. We're in it together, every step of the way." She looked at me, her eyes searching mine. "You really believe that?" "More than anything," I said. "And if Marina-or anyone else-tries to make you feel otherwise, they'll have to answer to me." She laughed softly, her hand covering mine. "You're a good man, Richard." "And you're an amazing woman," I said, leaning in to kiss her temple. "Don't let anyone make you forget that."

We sat there watching the sunlight ΟΜ dance on the water, I felt a sense of peace settle over us. This was what mattered-not Marina's words, not anyone else's opinions. Just us, figuring it out together.