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

Chapter 94 Richard's pov.

I couldn't breathe. Not because I was scared-though I was-but because everything felt like it was crashing down all at once.

The phone call cin the middle of the morning when everything should've been calm. But that was never how it worked anymore, was it? The network had found its way into my life, into everything I cared about, and now they were making their move.

"Mr. Wright," the voice on the other end of the line was cold, too cold for comfort. "We have information that suggests your business dealings aren't as clean as you claim." I barely heard the rest of the words. My mind was already racing, already trying to figure out who had leaked what. What had they found? What were they planning to do with it? I ended the call quickly, staring at the phone screen. My thoughts were a blur, but one thing stood out clearly: they were targeting me. My business.

My reputation. It felt like everything I had built was suddenly crumbling, and I couldn't stop it.

I didn't have tto think about that now, though. I had to act fast. I threw on a jacket and headed out to the office. I needed to find out what was going on before it spiraled any further.

The moment I stepped inside, I was hit with chaos. My assistant was on the phone, her voice frantic. I could hear her trying to calm someone down, but it was useless. Everyone in the office was on edge. "What's happening?" I asked, trying to stay calm as I walked into my office.

"Sir, we've got a problem," Marta said, barely looking up. "There's a scandal brewing. Someone's digging into your past, and they've got something-something big." I ran a hand through my hair. This wasn't just a random leak. This was coordinated, and deliberate. They were out to destroy me.

I opened my laptop and went straight to the news sites. There it was, front and center. My face. My company's name. And the headline was like a punch to the gut. "Richard Winters Linked to Shady Deals: A Look at the Businessman's Dark Past" I couldn't even focus on the article. My mind was racing too fast. They were using everything against me. My father's death. My grandfather's death.

The shady deals I'd been forced into when I was younger. Everything was suddenly on display, twisted into something it wasn't.

I slammed the laptop shut, my chest tightening. "How could they..." I muttered to myself. But it didn't matter how. They had. And now, I had to fix it.

I paced around the room, trying to gather my thoughts. This was bad. Really bad. The network was trying to break me, to makelose everything.

But they didn't know me. Not really. They thought I was the sscared kid who'd stepped into my father's shoes years ago. They didn't know what I'd become.

I know I had made many mistakes while growing in the business, and I made amendments by leaving the network while I realized that things were off.

But using it againstwas more than I could take. At any moment, the media could storm in and cause more harm.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself as I grabbed the office phone. This was my company, my reputation, and I wasn't about to let anyone turn it into their circus.

"Get Security on the line," I snapped to Marta, who was still on her own call. She glanced at me, worry etched all over her face, but she nodded and quickly patchedthrough. The head of Security answered, "Mr. Wright?" "Listen carefully," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "No one from the press gets in. Not a single reporter, cameraman, anyone even remotely connected to the media. You understand?" "Understood, sir. We'll hold them back." "Good. Make sure your team's clear on that. We're not letting this blow up more than it already has." I hung up and nodded at Marta. "Call in the publicists. I need them here now." "They're already on their way, Mr. Wright," she replied, though her voice was tight with nerves.

In minutes, my publicists were in my office, breathless and on edge. They glanced at one another, then at me, their faces asking the questions they didn't dare speak. I cut through the silence. "Here's what we need to do. The media will be outside soon, hungry for a statement," I began, rubbing a hand over my jaw.

"We're not going to run from this story. But we need a strong, smart response. Something that convinces people this is nothing but a smear campaign." One of the senior publicists, Lisa, leaned forward. "We could address the claims head-on, and make it clear that you've always been transparent. Highlight your commitment to honesty." "Good," I said, nodding. "Make sure the narrative's clear: I've worked hard to build this business honestly, and anything in my past has been resolved professionally. We'll push back on any rumors that makeout to be... well, anything less." The team set to work, murmuring ideas back and forth, and debating word choices and strategies. I could feel my heart beating fast, like it was waiting for something to go wrong. But right now, there wasn't tto feel anything but focus. Suddenly, my phone buzzed, breaking through the tense air of the room. I glanced down, not recognizing the number at first. Then I realized-it was Martins.

Out of all the calls I'd ignored that day, his and Sarah were the ones I couldn't afford to miss. I raised a finger to signal silence and stepped into the hallway, answering the call.

"Martins," I said, trying to sound steady. "I am sure you heard the news already." "Richard," Martins' voice was tense, almost too quiet. "I'm not calling just as your friend-this is lawyer-to-client serious." I took a breath. "Go on. What are they planning?" There was a pause, and I could almost hear him choosing his words carefully. "The network's found a way to target your reputation. They're bringing up everything from your past business deals, Richard. Things you might not even remember or even care about, but it's enough to paint a dirty picture." I felt a chill creep up my spine. "Yeah...I know. They're digging up deals I did years ago. Things that were... settled." "They're twisting it," he said, his voice low. "They're claiming these deals were corrupt from the start. And they've planted stories with the media to back it up." I gripped the phone tighter. "So they're trying to makelook like I've been crooked all along." "Exactly. They want you to look like someone who can't be trusted." He paused. "They're banking on this ruining you for good, Richard." I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "How did they get their hands on all this? These are deals from years back. What's in it for them to drag it up now?" "Power," Martins replied without hesitation. "They want you on the defensive. They think if they make you look guilty, they can control you."

I gritted my teeth, feeling the familiar mix of anger and frustration swirlin my chest. "Well, they've ubated me. They don't know what I'm capable of."

Martins' voice softened slightly. "I know you're strong, Richard. But om they're relentless. This isn't just about fighting back. We need to handle this carefully-any misstep, and they'll use it against you." I ran a hand through my hair, trying to absorb everything. "Then what do we do? What's our next step?"

"For now," Martins replied, "make your publicists go out there with something solid. Get ahead of the e story as much as you can. And whatever you do, stay calm. Don't give them any reason to say you're rattled." I nodded, even though he couldn't see me. "Already doing that. Thanks, Martins. I know you're risking a lot to help me." "It's what friends do, Richard. We'll get through this." He paused, his voice taking on a reassuring tone. "And remember, you're not alone in this fight." When I hung up, I took a deep breath, steadying myself. There was still so much to deal with, so many loose ends to tie up.

But first, I need to get to my girl. Sarah.