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

Chapter 128 Richard pov.

Sarah was buzzing with excitement as we arrived at the construction site. The sounds of drills and saws filled the air, and workers scurried around, doing their jobs as if they'd been doing it for years.

It was a familiar scene, one I'd seen many times over the years, but today, it felt a little different. Sarah was here, walking besidewith a clipboard in hand, ready to dive into the details of the project.

She was talking a mile a minute, her eyes bright and full of energy. I could see how much she loved this part of the job-walking the sites, talking to the workers, making sure everything was running smoothly. She was in her element. "This project is going so well," she said, her voice full of pride. "The foundation is solid, and the walls are going up just as planned. I think we might even finish ahead of schedule!" I watched her, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. She had always been passionate about the business, but there was something about the way she was talking today.

It was like she couldn't switch off. She was working as if she didn't have a baby growing inside her.

I understood that she wanted everything to go well, but I couldn't help but feel a little concerned.

I could see her checking her watch, glancing at the workers, making mental notes, and I knew she wasn't really taking a break. I had seen her like this before-pushing herself past the point of exhaustion, too proud to stop. "Sarah, maybe we should take a breather," I suggested, trying to keep my voice light. "You've been on your feet all day." She didn't even look at me, too focused on the construction. "I'm fine, Richard. Just givea minute. I want to check on the measurements again." I knew that tone. She was in "work mode" and nothing was going to stop her. But I could see the way she was rubbing her lower back, a small wince crossing her face when she bent down to talk to one of the foremen. "Alright," I said, stepping a little closer to her. "But I think you're pushing it. If you're not careful, you'll burn out before the week's over. Maybe Zoe can take over for the rest of the afternoon?" She shota look, the kind she usually gave when I was overprotective. "I can handle it, Richard. It's just a couple of hours. I'm not going to let this project fall behind." I opened my mouth to argue, but I saw the way her shoulders were tense, the way she kept pushing herself further. It wasn't the first tI'd seen her do this, and I knew it wouldn't be the last. But it didn't make it any easier to watch. "Fine," I said reluctantly. "But I'm keeping an eye on you. Don't makecall for a break myself." She laughed, but I saw the strain in her smile. "You're impossible." We spent the next hour going through the project together, and I kept my distance a little, letting her do her thing.

But I noticed her slowing down, just a little, as the day wore on. I didn't say anything more. I could see that she needed to feel in control, and I wasn't going to take that from her.

But I also knew that I had to keep an eye on her. She was doing everything she could to make sure the business was running smoothly-and it wasn't just the company that needed her. I needed her too.

Later that afternoon, after Sarah had finally agreed to head back to the hotel and rest, I found myself alone with Zoe.

She'd been running around all day, organizing things, making sure everything was set up for the next day's meetings. But now, as the sun began to set, we sat on the hotel terrace, both of us enjoying the quiet for the first tin hours. I took a sip of my drink, watching the city as the lights flickered on. "You know," I said, leaning back in my chair, "it's kind of crazy to think about how much you're doing here. It's like you're running the whole show while Sarah gets all the credit." Zoe chuckled, clearly not used to receiving compliments. "I'm just doing what I can," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "Sarah's been amazing, and I'm just trying to keep things moving while she's... adjusting." I raised an eyebrow. "Adjusting? You mean... adjusting to becoming a mom? Or adjusting to you running things?" Zoe smirked, but there was a softness to her expression. "A little bit of both, I think. She's used to being in charge, but she's not really been able to focus on that lately. It's hard for her. She wants to be everywhere, doing everything." "Sounds familiar," I said, my voice a little quieter. "She's been working so hard lately. I'm worried she's pushing herself too much." Zoe nodded. "I know. I've seen it too. She's always been this way-driven, focused. But now, with everything changing, she's trying to find a new balance. It's not easy." I sighed. "I just want her to take it easy, you know? I keep reminding her to slow down, but she doesn't listen. She's stubborn." Zoe smiled at that, a knowing smile. "She's always been like that. But you're right. She needs help finding that balance. You're doing a good job, though. I can see it. You're making sure she doesn't fall apart, even when she doesn't know she needs it." I appreciated her words, even if I wasn't sure I deserved the praise. "Thanks. I just... I'm worried. It's not easy, and I can't do it all for her. But I'm trying." "You're doing your best. And that's enough," Zoe said, her voice gentle. "She's lucky to have you." I gave her a small smile, then paused for a moment before changing the subject. "So, what about you? Are you sure you're not missing Martins?" Zoe rolled her eyes, but I could see the smile tugging at her lips. "Don't even start with me. I'm fine. I have work to do, and I'm focusing on that. No tfor distractions." "I don't know, Zoe," I teased, "sounds like someone's been talking about him a little too much." Her face flushed, but she didn't deny it. "I miss his company, okay? He's fun. He makes things lighter." I laughed, raising my glass in mock salute. "If you say so." She gavean exasperated look but couldn't hold back a laugh. "I'm just saying, he's... he's easy to be around. And I miss that." I grinned. "You are a little bit in love with him, aren't you?" Zoe's eyes widened in surprise. "What?! No! I'm not in love with him. I just think he's... fun to be around. That's all." I leaned back, raising my hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll let you off the hook."

She smirked at me, but we both knew the truth. The teasing didn't stop, but I could see the affection in her eyes. She'd been missing something in her life, and it wasn't just the work. It was the company of someone she It ΝΟ enjoyed being around. Later that evening, I decided to give Martins a call. I hadn't heard from him in a while, and I knew he had to be dealing with a mountain of work. He answered after a few rings, and I could hear the sigh in his voice before he even spoke. "Richard," he said, "man, you wouldn't believe the mess I've been dealing with. It's like the whole firm decided to implode while I was gone." I couldn't help but chuckle. "Yeah, I figured you'd be buried in paperwork by now. How's it going?"

"Oh, you know. Just drowning in emails and meetings," Martins replied. "But seriously, it's so Boring here without Zoe. No one to argue with. It's like a ghost town without her." I laughed. "Ah, I see. So, you're tellingyou actually miss Zoe's 'charming' company?"

There was a pause on the other end, and I could almost hear Martins' NOV smile through the phone. "Maybe" | de" he admitted, though his tone was light. "I don't know. She's just fun. But don't tell her that." I raised an eyebrow. "Too late, my friend. I think Zoe already knows." Martins groaned. "Yeah, well, I guess I'll have to make up for it when she comes here again. I'm definitely confessing my feelings the next tI see her." I laughed harder, shaking my head. "Martins, you're hopeless." "Well, you know me," he said, chuckling. "What can I say? I'm a romantic at heart." "Right, right. I'm sure she'll be thrilled."