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

Chapter 90 Sarah's Pov.

The air was tense as Richard and I sat across from each other, planning our next move. The betrayal had stung, and we were still reeling from it, but there was a spark of determination in Richard's eyes that hadn't been there before. It was like he'd woken up and remembered he had something-someone-worth fighting for.

"Sarah," he said quietly, "I think we need to confront James. There has to be something he's hiding, for sreason he's working with the network. If we can find it, maybe we can turn him." I nodded, but doubt clawed at me. I wasn't exactly keen on seeing James again after his threats. But if there was even a chance he'd fold under pressure, we needed to take it.

"How do we get to him?" I asked. "He's always so... guarded. I mean, we've tried before." Richard leaned forward, his voice low. "Martins did sdigging. James has been in a bad spot financially- nothing obvious, but his businesses are tied up in a lot of debt. If we can use that against him..." The pieces clicked. "We find his weakness, put pressure where it hurts." Richard nodded. "Exactly." The next morning, we set up the meeting. I couldn't help feeling that strange mixture of dread and anticipation.

James had tried to intimidatebefore, and now we were flipping the tables. But as much as I tried to focus on the plan, my mind kept drifting to Richard.

There was a strength in him I hadn't seen before-a fierceness that madefeel like, maybe we'd cout of this whole mess stronger.

When we finally stood in front of James in his sterile, dimly lit office, the tension was thick.

James's face twisted into a smirk the moment he saw us, but I could see a flicker of something else in his eyes-a hint of worry, maybe? "Well, what do we have here?" he drawled, leaning back in his chair, trying to look relaxed.

I didn't flinch, meeting his gaze head-on. "We know about your debts, James. The network must have you under quite a bit of pressure, or you wouldn't be playing their game." The smirk on his face faltered just slightly, but he covered it up with a laugh. "You think a few debts are enough to makeflip sides? You clearly don't know who you're dealing with." Richard stepped forward, his tone as cold as I'd ever heard it.

"No, James, I think we know exactly who we're dealing with. You've always been in this for yourself, haven't you? And now, they've got you under their thumb. How long do you think you can keep this up before they crush you?" For the first time, James's confidence wavered. His fingers drummed against the desk, and I could see the wheels turning in his mind.

He was considering it-considering the possibility of turning on his allies. It was a small crack, but it was something.

"You think you can just walk in here and make demands?" he shot back, his voice a bit too forced. "What, you think I'll betray them because of a few financial issues?" I leaned forward, feeling bolder than I ever had with him. "What about your family, James? The people you're trying to protect while you play these games? Do they know what kind of danger you're in?" James's face paled, and for a moment, the mask dropped. His hands clenched into fists on the desk. "Leave them out of this," he hissed.

"Then stop trying to ruin us," I shot back. "This doesn't have to end with everyone getting hurt. We all want out of this mess. You, me, Richard. We all stand to lose if this continues." There was silence as he looked between the two of us, weighing his options. I could see it-he was scared, desperate, and struggling to keep up the tough act.

The network had its claws in him, but he was just as trapped as we were. For a moment, I almost felt a pang of sympathy for him. Almost.

Finally, he spoke, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "They don't let people go," he said.

"You think you can just walk away from something like this? They don't care about the debts or the threats-they care about control. And once they have it, they don't let go." I felt a chill run through me, but I held his gaze. "So help us take them down. You're close to them-you know how they operate. If we work together, maybe we can find a way to end this, for all of us." James shook his head, looking almost defeated. "You don't know what you're asking. They don't play fair. If I cross them..." Richard stepped forward, his expression determined. "If we don't try, we're all done for. You said it yourself-they won't let anyone go. But if we stand together, we have a chance." James looked between us again, hesitating. I could see the conflict in his eyes. He wanted out just as badly as we did, but he was afraid-afraid of what the network might do to him, or maybe even what they might already know about our meeting here.

Finally, he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Alright," he said, m almost as if he was admitting defeat. "I give you what I know. But if this backfires..." "It won't," I said firmly, hoping I sounded more confident than I felt. "We'll be careful." He nodded, and for the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope.

As we left James's office, I felt rush Richard's hand brush against mine. I looked up at him, seeing that fire in his eyes again. He was willing to fight for us, and I felt a spark of strength I hadn't realized was there.

"That went better than I expected," he said, his tone surprisingly light.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "We actually have a chance now, don't we?"

Richard nodded, a small smile "Į Butive playing at his lips. "I think so. But we still have to be careful. If he even thinks of crossing us..." "We'll handle it," I said, surprising even myself with the steadiness in my voice.