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

Chapter 83 Richard's pov.

I couldn't help but feel that gnawing feeling at the back of my mind, like I was constantly being watched.

Every step I took, every meeting I attended, I kept noticing these little things, small signs that didn't feel right. Employees looked away too quickly when I walked by, whispers that died down just as I entered the room, the way certain people held back in conversations.

And it wasn't just paranoia, was it? I'd found myself caught between James and Susan, with Sarah now looking atlike I was a stranger.

Those business deals-they'd all happened years ago, a lifetago, or so I'd thought. But seeing Sarah's hurt, that pain I'd caused just by hiding the truth, it all crushing back to me.

And I couldn't help wondering: if Susan and James had dragged Sarah into this, who else in my life might be working with them? In the beginning, I'd brushed it off. Told myself I was just stressed, that I was seeing patterns where there were none. But as the days went on, I started to notice things I couldn't ignore. Take Frank, for instance-one of my longest-serving managers. He'd been with the company through thick and thin, through all the ups and downs. Lately, though, he seemed... off. Always leaving meetings early, his phone buzzing constantly with "urgent" messages he never explained.

He used to be the one I trusted most, but now? Every the walked away from me, I wondered: was he hiding something? One evening, after a particularly tense day at the office, I sat alone in my study. Papers were scattered across my desk, a messy reminder of the day's work.

But my mind wasn't on business. It was on Frank, on the way he'd avoided my questions about the latest contract. How he'd dodged the specifics when I'd asked him about sof the delays.

I shook my head, telling myself I was being ridiculous. Frank had been loyal for years. Yet, the feeling wouldn't go away.

"Who else could it be?" I muttered to myself, running a hand through my hair. "Who else would even want to help them?" The question hung in the air. I could feel my mind racing, going through a mental list of every person I'd worked with, every business partner who might have a reason to turn against me. Then there was Carla-one of my newer hires. Smart, quick on her feet, and always the first to offer solutions.

She'd seemed like the perfect fit for the team. But lately, she'd been asking more questions than usual, poking into things that didn't concern her. "Just trying to understand the process," she'd say with a smile that seemed just a little too wide. I shook my head again, trying to clear my thoughts. This wasn't me. I wasn't the kind of man to doubt his own people.

Yet here I was, questioning everyone around me. I leaned back in my chair, staring up at the ceiling.

And then, almost as if on cue, my phone buzzed on the desk beside me. I picked it up, glancing at the screen.

Sarah.

I hesitated, feeling that familiar ache in my chest. I hadn't told her everything. Couldn't bring myself to admit just how deep this paranoia was going, how I'd started to see shadows in places where maybe there were none. I picked up, trying to keep my voice steady. "Hey." "Hi," she replied, her voice soft but tense. "Just... checking in. Thought I'd see how you're doing." I swallowed, trying to find the right words. "I'm... alright. Busy. Just working through sthings." She was quiet for a moment, and I could hear the unspoken words between us. "Are you sure?" she asked, finally.

The question hitharder than it should have. Was I sure? About anything? About anyone? "Yeah," I replied, the word sounding hollow even to my own ears. "Just dealing with some... challenges at work." She hesitated again, and I could almost hear her frowning on the other end of the line. "If there's something going on, Richard, you can tell me. You don't have to handle it alone." I wanted to tell her. Wanted to explain everything, to let her in on the mess my mind had become. But the words wouldn't come.

"I know," I said finally. "But it's just... work stuff. Nothing for you to worry about." The silence stretched between us, and I could feel the distance growing. "Alright," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "If you're sure." After she hung up, I sat there, phone still in my hand, feeling a strange mix of relief and regret. I'd kept her out of it, just like I wanted. But at what cost? The next day, I went to the office with a renewed determination. I needed answers, needed to know if my suspicions were real or if I was just driving myself mad. I called Frank into my office, watching him carefully as he entered. "Close the door," I said, trying to keep my tone casual.

He looked surprised but did as I asked. "Is something wrong, Richard?" I leaned back, folding my arms. "I just wanted to go over that new contract with you. The one you were working on last week." Frank hesitated, just for a split second, but I caught it. "Of course," he said, smiling in a way that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Is there something specific you're concerned about?" I shrugged, feigning indifference. "Just wanted to make sure everything's in order." As he explained the details, my mind kept wandering, focusing on every little gesture, every pause. Was he nervous? Was he hiding something? Or was I just seeing what I wanted to see? When he left, I felt no more at ease than before. If anything, I was more unsettled. I didn't know if I could trust my own judgment anymore.

Who else might be involved? Who else could be feeding information to Susan or James?

Then Carla's face flashed in my mind, and I felt a fresh wave of doubt.

Could she be part asking all of this? She'd been ve asking about sof the older files just last week, saying she wanted to "understand the history of the company."

And there was that intern, Greg, always lingering around the hallways. Was he spying ontoo? Reporting back to someone? It was like every face in the office had suddenly beca potential enemy. I spent the rest of the day in a haze, barely able to concentrate on anything. By the tI got home, I was exhausted, my mind spinning with questions I couldn't answer.

Sarah was waiting forin the living room, her eyes sharp as she watchedwalk in. "You look terrible," she said, a faint hint of concern in her voice.

I forced a smile. "Just a long day." She didn't look convinced. "Richard... I know something's going on. You're not yourself." I sighed, sinking into the armchair across from her. "I just don't know who I can trust anymore, Sarah. I feel like everyone's keeping something from me." Her expression softened, and she leaned forward, reaching for my hand. "Then lethelp you. We're in this together, remember?" I looked at her, feeling everything pressing down on me. She wanted to help, wanted to stand by me, but how could I let her in when I couldn't even trust my own instincts? "I don't know if I can," I admitted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. "I don't know if I can trust anyone." She squeezed my hand, her grip firm and steady. "Then trust me," she whispered. "I'm here, Richard. Whatever's going on, we'll figure it out together."

I looked into her eyes, seeing the quiet determination there, the m unwavering support. And for the first tin days, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe I wasn't alone in this after all.