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

Chapter 142 Sarah pov.

The next few days felt like a slow exhale, like when you finally get to take off a tight pair of shoes after a long day. It wasn't that I hated Marina-I just couldn't stand how overbearing she'd been. I had always known she could be a bit much, but having her around constantly made it hard to keep my patience.

Now, with her gone, I could finally breathe.

I was sitting at the kitchen table the morning after she left, sipping my coffee in peace. Richard was at the counter, fiddling with the coffee machine, his back turned to me.

It was a rare moment of calm, but I wasn't sure if I was ready to let go of all the tension that had built up in the past week.

"You okay?" Richard asked, glancing over his shoulder with a slight smirk. "You seem... quieter than usual." I shook my head, forcing a smile. "Just... tired, I guess. It's nice to have the house back to ourselves. No unsolicited advice on every little thing." I chuckled lightly, trying to lighten the mood. But deep down, I felt something else-relief, yes, but also a tiny bit of guilt. I shouldn't have let Marina get tothat much, but I couldn't help it.

Richard set his mug down and cover to the table, sitting next to me. His hand brushed mine gently, and for a moment, I felt the world settle.

"You know," he said, his voice low, "I think you handled her a lot better than I would've." He leaned in and kissed my forehead softly. "You've got so much strength, Sarah. I don't know how you do it." I smiled, but it was tinged with something bittersweet. "I didn't feel strong when she was here," I admitted.

"It felt like every tI made a choice, she had something to say about it. I just wanted to do things my way, but... I don't know, sometimes I second-guessed myself." Richard squeezed my hand. "You don't have to second-guess yourself with me. I know you're doing what's best for you and our baby." He paused, givinga long look. "And for what it's worth, I think you're doing an amazing job already." I closed my eyes for a second, letting his words sink in. I wanted to believe them. I needed to believe them. The truth was, this whole pregnancy thing was still so new to me, and I wasn't always sure I knew what I was doing. But with Richard by my side, I could at least feel like I wasn't completely alone in it.

"Thank you," I whispered, feeling a lump form in my throat. It wasn't just the pregnancy that madefeel emotional-it was the weight of everything I'd been carrying these past few weeks.

Later that day, I had a phone call with Zoe, and we spent a good half hour chatting about work and catching up on the gossip from the office.

It was a welcdistraction, especially after everything that had happened with Marina.

"So, how's everything going over there?" I asked Zoe as I paced back and forth in the living room, looking out the window at the soft rain falling outside. "You handling the office all right without me?" Zoe laughed on the other end. "Handling it? I'm practically running it! Everyone's on their toes, waiting for you to cback. But we're managing. No big disasters yet." I snorted. "Well, I'm glad you're keeping things under control. I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to manage both work and pregnancy at the stime." "Hey, you've got this," Zoe said. "And speaking of managing, how are things at home? You surviving without losing your mind?" "Yeah... yeah, I'm fine. She left this morning. It's just, you know, sometimes it's hard to deal with all the advice. Like, from family members, you know?" Zoe didn't miss a beat. "Ah, the infamous unsolicited advice. Yeah, I get that. From everyone, right? Like they think you don't know what you're doing just because you're pregnant. But listen, Sarah, you've always been strong-don't let anyone mess with your confidence, okay? You don't need to explain yourself to anyone." I smiled at her words, feeling a bit lighter. Zoe had a way of putting things into perspective. "Thanks, Zoe. I needed to hear that." "Anytime," she replied. "And hey, don't let anyone get under your skin. You're in charge of your own journey." I laughed softly. "Trust me, I'm doing my best to stay calm." Zoe's voice turned more serious. "Good for you. Just make sure you stick to them. And if she doesn't respect them, well... it's okay to be a little firm, you know? You've got the right to protect your peace." I smiled. "Thank you Zoe." "You're stronger than you think, Sarah," Zoe said firmly. "Just take a deep breath and trust yourself. You're doing the best you can. And that's all anyone can ask for." I felt a surge of gratitude for Zoe's words, and for her support throughout everything.

That evening, Richard and I decided to go for a walk. The rain had stopped, and the air felt cool and fresh It was a quiet moment between the two of us, one that didn't need to be filled with words. We walked side by side, our hands brushing occasionally, but mostly just enjoying the comfortable silence. Eventually, I spoke up.

"You know, Richard... I think I'm starting to feel like I'm actually figuring this out whole thing The pregnancy. The It's still a little overwhelming, but I'm not as scared of it as I was before." I looked up at him, feeling a little vulnerable. "I guess... I guess I was worried I wouldn't be good enough at it." He smiled down at me, his eyes full of warmth. "You're already doing better than you think. And you're doing it your way, which is the best way."

I paused for a moment, feeling a sense of peace wash over me. It was true. I didn't need to do everything by someone else's standards. As long E as Richard and I were in it together, I felt like I could handle anything. "I'm not perfect, but I don't have to be, do I?" I asked softly. Richard shook his head, his smile widening. "You're perfect the way you are, Sarah. And you're going to be an amazing mom. I have no doubt about that." We stood there for a few more moments, just taking in the quiet evening, letting everything fall away.