Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart

Sarah's

pov.

I stared at the list of investors on my screen, scrolling through the names, the firms, and the potential for expansion. Europe.

It was finally happening. Months of strategy meetings, long nights, and that little voice of self-doubt constantly whispering.

"Can you really do this?"-all of it was leading to this moment. And for once, the voice had nothing on me.

I was doing it. I was expanding my company into Europe, and no one was going to stop me. Not even me.

As I adjusted the strap of my watch, I glanced at the time. Another hour until my meeting.

I felt the familiar pulse of excitement and nerves-a cocktail I'd come to savor. My phone buzzed, and I glanced down at the screen. Richard. Again.

I shook my head, letting out a short, sharp breath through my nose. He just didn't get it. It's been weeks since I told him-no, ordered him to leave me alone.

I guess the man had always been persistent, but this was just... irritating. I pressed ignore, and his name vanished from the screen.

"I don't have time for this," I muttered to myself, refocusing on my work. Europe. France, Germany, Spain.

I had it all mapped out in front of me. Contracts, deals, all of it. My team had been incredible, working tirelessly to help bring this vision to life.

Zoe was indispensable, as usual, handling every chaotic moment with her ever-present clipboard and calm demeanor.

The door opened slightly, and as if on cue, Zoe's head popped in, clipboard in hand. "Sarah, the meeting room is ready. Do you need anything before we start?"

"Just a miracle," I replied dryly, though I couldn't hide the smirk tugging at my lips.

Zoe gave me one of her rare smiles. "We've survived worse. Remember the time the PowerPoint crashed mid-pitch?"

I groaned at the memory. "Don't remind me. I still have nightmares about that."

"Miracles aside, everything's set. You'll be fine," she assured me, and then added, "And no, I didn't let Richard and Wesley in. Wesley left but Richard is still lurking downstairs again." I raised an eyebrow. "Lurking? Like a stray dog?"

She nodded with exaggerated seriousness. "More like a very persistent pigeon."

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "Persistent pigeon, that's about right."

Zoe gave me a wink and disappeared down the hall, leaving me to gather my thoughts.

I took a deep breath, centering myself. The fact that they kept showing up-sending texts, emails, flowers-wasn't my problem anymore.

They were like one of those recurring spam calls you block, only to have them pop up with a slightly different number. Maybe I needed a "Block Richard and Wesley" app for my brain.

I stood and smoothed down my blouse, feeling the responsibility settle on my shoulders, but this time, it didn't feel heavy.

It felt... right. This was my company, my vision, my work. And I was going to make it happen. No man, no past, no lingering guilt was going to get in my way.

As I walked into the conference room, my team greeted me with smiles and the energy of a group that knew they were on the verge of something big.

We were expanding into Europe, and every single person in that room had helped make it happen.

The meeting flew by, filled with talk of logistics, market entry strategies, and potential risks.

I barely noticed the time. By the end, I could feel the buzz in the room, the excitement rippling through the air. This was happening.

When the meeting ended, I lingered, watching my team file out. Zoe stayed behind, flipping through her clipboard.

She didn't say anything, just waited, sensing that I had something on my mind.

I leaned back against the table, crossing my arms. "Zoe, you've known me a long time, right?"

"Going on a year now," she replied without looking up.

"And in that time, have you ever known me to let a man derail my focus?"

Zoe raised an eyebrow. "You mean aside from the whole Richard and Wesley saga?"

"Okay, fine. Yes, aside from that."

"Not really, no," she said, shrugging. "You're a force of nature. They were... an anomaly."

"An anomaly," I repeated, liking the way it sounded. "Well, I'm done with anomalies."

Zoe smiled faintly. "I believe you."

"You don't sound like you believe me."

"I do, I just... I know how feelings work, Sarah. They're messy, unpredictable. You're focused now, but don't beat yourself up if old feelings bubble up."

"Just handle them like you handle everything else-with grace and maybe a little sarcasm."

"Grace and sarcasm," I said with a chuckle. "Good advice."

Zoe glanced at her watch. "You have about thirty minutes before your next meeting. Anything else you need from me?"

"Just a tranquilizer for Richard."

Zoe smirked. "I'll see what I can do."

Once she left, I sank into my chair and allowed myself a moment to breathe. This was what I wanted.

Not the drama, not the emotional weight of dealing with Richard's endless apologies or Wesley's opportunism.

I wanted this-the thrill of growth, the satisfaction of knowing I was building something entirely my own.

I clicked my email open to double-check some numbers for a proposal. Another message from Richard was sitting in my inbox, the subject line ominously reading, "Please, Sarah." I hovered over the delete button but hesitated.

What could he possibly have to say now? Another plea for forgiveness? Another explanation I didn't ask for?

The temptation to read it gnawed at me, but I shut my laptop instead. Whatever he had to say, it didn't matter. Not right now.

Right now, I was focused on my company. Europe. Investors. The future. I had made it this far without Richard's help, and I sure as hell wasn't about to let him worm his way back into my life. Still, I couldn't help but glance at my phone again. It was as if Richard's texts were tiny landmines scattered across my path, waiting to trip me up.

But I wasn't about to let that happen. Not anymore.

After all, I'd forgiven him, hadn't I? I'd forgiven both him and Wesley. That didn't mean I had to let them back into my life.

Forgiveness wasn't an invitation for them to walk all over me again. It was a way for me to let go of the past and take control of my future. A future that, frankly, didn't involve either of them. But then there was that pesky little part of me that wondered... what if? What if Richard really had changed?

What if all his groveling, all his persistence, meant something more than just guilt? I pushed the thought away. I didn't need to know the answer.

I wasn't that woman anymore-the one waiting for a man to validate her worth.

I was Sarah. CEO. Businesswoman. Boss. And I had an empire to build.

That night, as I sat in my office, the city lights twinkling through the window, I realized just how far I'd come.

From the brokenhearted woman who had spent too many nights crying over Richard, to the woman who was now on the verge of expanding her company into an entirely new continent. I had built this. Me. Not Richard, not Wesley. Me.

And maybe, just maybe, that was all the validation I needed.

With a final glance at my phone, I silenced it for the night. Whatever Richard had to say, it could wait.

Europe couldn't.