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

Chapter 139 Richard pov.

Marina had always been the type to speak her mind, but over the past few days, her words had becmore than just opinions-they felt like subtle daggers aimed at Sarah. I watched Sarah carefully over breakfast that morning, noting the way her shoulders sagged every tMarina opened her mouth. It wasn't fair.

I waited until Sarah went upstairs to rest before I approached Marina. She was sitting in the living room, flipping through a magazine like she didn't have a care in the world. "Marina," I said, my voice steady but firm. "Can we talk for a moment?" She glanced up at me, raising a brow. "Of course, Richard. What's on your mind?" I sat down across from her, leaning forward with my hands clasped. "Look, I appreciate you coming to visit and all the advice you've been giving, but I think it's starting to overwhelm Sarah. She's doing her best, and I think it would help if you could give her a bit of space." Marina's expression didn't change much, but I saw the slight narrowing of her eyes. "Richard, I'm only trying to help. First-tmothers can be so naive. They don't always realize how much they need guidance." "I get that," I said, keeping my tone calm. "But Sarah isn't naive. She's cautious because she wants what's best for our baby. Your advice, while well-meaning, is starting to feel like criticism to her." Marina leaned back, crossing her arms. "If she can't handle a little feedback, how is she going to handle being a mother? Babies don't cwith instruction manuals." I bit back the urge to snap. Instead, I took a deep breath and tried again. "I'm not saying she can't handle it. I'm saying she doesn't need to feel judged every tshe makes a decision. We're her support system, Marina. That means encouraging her, not second-guessing her every move." For a moment, she didn't say anything, her gaze fixed onas if she were trying to decide whether to argue or concede. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I'll try to back off. But I still think she's overreacting to a lot of things." "She's not overreacting," I said firmly. "She's pregnant, Marina. This is a sensitive tfor her, and we need to respect that." She held up her hands in mock surrender. "Alright, Richard. I'll keep my thoughts to myself." I nodded, relieved but cautious. Marina's version of "keeping her thoughts to herself" often involved finding sneakier ways to share them.

I had hoped Marina's promise to ease off would stick, but by lunchtime, it was clear she couldn't help herself. We were sitting at the table, enjoying a simple salad Sarah had prepared. Marina took a bite, then tilted her head in that way she always did when she was about to say something she knew would rub someone the wrong way. "This is lovely, Sarah," she said, her tone almost too sweet. "But you know, you should be eating more protein. A salad like this isn't exactly... substantial." Sarah froze for half a second before forcing a polite smile. "Thank you, Marina. I've been trying to balance my meals." "Oh, I'm sure you have," Marina replied with a knowing smile. "It's just that when Charlotte was pregnant, her doctor recommended a much higher protein intake. But, of course, every pregnancy is different." I could see Sarah's grip tighten on her fork. I opened my mouth to step in, but Sarah gavea quick look that said, *Let it go.* The rest of the meal was filled with similar comments. Marina couldn't outright argue with Sarah, but she made her disapproval clear through veiled suggestions and comparisons.

By the twe finished eating, Sarah looked like she was ready to scream.

As I helped clear the table, I leaned in and whispered, "Are you okay?" She nodded tightly. "I'm fine. Let's just get through the day." But I knew she wasn't fine.

That evening, after Marina retreated to her guest room for the night, I found Sarah in the kitchen, leaning against the counter with a cup of tea in her hands. She looked exhausted. "Hey," I said softly, stepping up beside her. "Rough day?" She let out a humorless laugh. "You could say that." I touched her arm gently. "I know Marina's been... a lot. I tried talking to her, but you know how she is." "She doesn't listen," Sarah muttered, her voice low. "She acts like I'm clueless, like I'm already failing." "You're not failing," I said firmly. "You're doing an amazing job, Sarah. Don't let her make you think otherwise." She gavea small smile, but I could see the tension still in her shoulders. That's when it hit me-she needed a break.

"Why don't we get out of here tomorrow?" I suggested. "Just the two of us. I'll plan something relaxing. No Marina, no stress, just us." Her eyes lit up slightly. "Really? What about Marina?" "She'll be fine here for a few hours," I said. "Besides, I think we both deserve a little escape." Sarah hesitated, but then she nodded. "Okay. That sounds nice."

The next day, I put my plan into action. I took Sarah to a quiet little ΟΥ café she loved, followed by a walk along the riverbank. For the first tin days, she looked like she could breathe again. As we sat on a bench overlooking the water, she leaned her head on my shoulder and sighed. "Thank you for this, Richard. I needed it."

I wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. "You don't have to thank me. This is what we're supposed to E: do-take care of each other." She smiled up at me, and for a moment, all the stress and tension melted away. It was just us, together, facing whatever cour way.

That evening, when we returned home, Marina was waiting with her usual chatter, but Sarah seemed calmer, more grounded.

And as I watched her handle Marina's comments with quiet grace, I realized just how strong she was. She didn't need to fight every battle-she just needed to know I had her back. I vowed then to keep giving her moments like this, moments where she could feel supported and loved, no matter what chaos cour way.