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

Chapter 140 Sarah pov.

By mid-morning, I'd had enough of Marina's relentless remarks. She had barely been awake for an hour and had already managed to critique my toast, my tea, and my posture at the breakfast table.

I needed an escape-or at least sgood advice.

I grabbed my phone and slipped into the guest room, locking the door behindfor smuch-needed privacy. Zoe answered on the first ring, her chipper tone cutting through my frustration like a breath of fresh air.

"Sarah! How's my favorite boss lady-slash-baby incubator?" I groaned. "I'm surviving. Barely." "Oh no, Marina's still there, isn't she?" Zoe asked, her voice laced with amusement.

"She's practically set up camp," I said, flopping onto the bed. "This morning, she toldI should replace my toast with oatmeal because it's better for my digestion. And yesterday, it was water. She counted how many sips I took, Zoe. Counted." Zoe burst into laughter, the kind that madelaugh too, even though I was still annoyed. "Wow. She sounds like the pregnancy police. Have you tried distracting her?" "Distracting her?" I asked, intrigued.

"Yeah! Give her something else to focus on. Like, throw srandom household project her way. Or, better yet, just start agreeing with her in the most tic way possible. She'll either back off or think you've lost your mind." I chuckled, the tension in my shoulders easing a bit. "That's... actually brilliant. Maybe I'll suggest she alphabetize the pantry or something." "Exactly!" Zoe said. "And if that doesn't work, callagain. I live for these updates." "You're a lifesaver, Zoe. I don't know what I'd do without you." "Just remember," she said, her tone softening, "you've got this. Don't let her get to you, okay? You're doing great, mama." Her words lingered in my mind long after we hung up. For the first tin days, I felt like I had a plan. Armed with Zoe's advice, I headed back to the kitchen with a renewed sense of purpose.

Marina was still there, sipping tea and scrolling on her phone like she owned the place. Richard had gone upstairs to take a call, leavingalone with her.

"Sarah," she began the moment I walked in, "I was just reading an article about how staying active during pregnancy can improve the baby's health. Have you considered starting a light yoga routine? Or maybe swimming? It's so important to stay fit." I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, but instead of snapping, I plastered on a smile. "That's a great suggestion, Marina. Maybe you can join me! I've been looking for a yoga buddy." She blinked, clearly not expecting that response. "Oh, well, I don't really do yoga..." "Really? That's a shame," I said, grabbing a glass of water. "You'd be great at it. All that flexibility, right?" Her lips pursed, and I fought back a grin.

"Anyway," I continued, keeping my tone light, "I've actually been talking to my doctor about staying active, and we've got a great plan in place. So no need to worry-I've got it under control." For once, she didn't have a comeback. I took my seat at the table, relishing the rare moment of peace.

By the tevening rolled around, I felt like I was finally finding my footing.

Marina's remarks hadn't stopped entirely-she'd still managed to slip in a comment about the "processed snacks" I'd bought during our grocery run-but they were starting to roll offin a way they hadn't before. As I stood in the kitchen preparing tea, Richard cup behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist.

"How's my favorite mom-to-be holding up?" he asked, pressing a kiss to my temple.

"I think I'm finally learning how to handle Marina," I said, smiling up at him.

"Oh?" he said, raising an eyebrow.

"I've been killing her with kindness," I said, laughing. "Every tshe offers advice, I either agree with her in the most over-the-top way or change the subject. It's actually kind of fun watching her try to keep up." Richard chuckled. "You're brilliant, you know that?" "I'm learning," I said, my smile fading slightly. "It's just... hard sometimes. She always has something to say, and it feels like no matter what I do, it's never enough." He turnedaround to face him, his expression serious now. "Sarah, you're doing an amazing job. Marina doesn't get to dictate how you feel or what you do. You're the one carrying this baby, and you're the one who knows what's best." His words washed overlike a balm, soothing the raw edges of my frustration.

"You're right," I said, my voice steadier now. "I'm not going to let her get to me. This is our journey, and I won't let anyone take that away from us." "That's my girl," he said, pullinginto a hug.

As I leaned into him, I realized something important: Marina's comments might not stop, but I didn't need them to.

What mattered was how I chose to respond-and I was choosing to put my energy where it belonged: into my baby, my husband, and myself.

For the first tin days, I felt truly in control. Marina might still try to push my buttons, butt wasn't going to let her win. I was stronger than that-and my baby deserved nothing less. The next morning, I was ready for whatever Marina had up her sleeve. Sure enough, she brought up the baby as soon as we sat down for breakfast.

"Sarah," she said, her tone dripping with faux concern, "I noticed youn didn't eat much dast night. You really should be eating more. Babies need nutrients, you know."

I took a sip of my tea before replying.

"You're absolutely right, Marina. I was just thinking about making a giant bowhof ice cream for breakfast. That's nutrient-dense, isn't it?" She stared at me, clearly unsure if I was joking. "I mean, it's got calcium, sugar for energy... Oh! And if I add sprinkles, that's a color variety, right? Very balanced." Richard, who had been quietly buttering his toast, nearly choked on his coffee trying to stifle a laugh. Marina's expression wavered between exasperation and bewilderment. "Well, I don't think ice cream is exactly-" "Oh, don't worry," I said, cutting her off with a sweet smile. "I'll check with my doctor first. They've been amazing at helpingnavigate everything." That seemed to finally shut her up, at least for the moment. As she focused on her own breakfast, I caught Richard's eye and winked.

I'd won this round.