Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart
Chapter 71

Richard's pov.

Trust Sarah to continue the restoration the next day, and I kinda feel bad, Susan really went all out turning the place into a showroom.

I watched as Sarah fiddled with the arrangement on the mantel, adjusting and readjusting the same candle as if the world depended on its exact placement.

"Are you decorating or trying to hypnotize it?" I asked, grinning as she shot me a look.

"Oh, please," she retorted. "Someone has to make this place look decent." She flashed me a smirk, daring me to say more.

"Decent? You wound me," I said, clutching a hand to my chest, mock-offended. She let out a laugh, and I couldn't help but join in.

We had fallen into this easy rhythm, something that felt as new as it was familiar. The little teasing moments reminded me of the better days, but there was also something fresh here-like a spark reignited.

As she turned her attention back to the living room, I could feel my heart pounding with the plan I'd set in motion for today.

This was a big step, and I hadn't exactly told her yet. But I figured, if I was going to make things right, I had to go all in, and I wanted her to know just how much she mattered to me.

"So, what do you say?" I started, keeping my tone casual.

"What do I say to what?" She arched an eyebrow, still adjusting the vase on the table.

"To us making things... official," I said, letting the words hang between us.

"Richard, we're already... official." Her face was curious, a little suspicious. "Is there something you're not telling me?"

I couldn't hide my grin. "Actually, yes. I wanted to make an announcement. A big one."

"An announcement?" She blinked, clearly not following.

"Yep." I gave a nod, feeling a bit of that old nervousness creeping in. "I might have invited a few reporters to the house today. Just a handful. They should be arriving any minute." Sarah froze, her hand still hovering over the vase. "You're... wait, you're serious?"

"Very. I thought it was time everyone knew I'm back with you. Finally." I let my words settle, watching her expression flicker through surprise, a touch of disbelief, then something softer.

"But, Richard..." She hesitated, looking up at me with a mixture of emotions. "Are you sure?"

"More than anything," I replied, stepping closer to take her hands in mine. "Look, I've done a lot of foolish things. This is my way of making things right, of being transparent. I want the world to know I'm yours, and I'm not afraid to say it." Before she could respond, the doorbell rang. She let out a soft laugh, shaking her head, maybe at the suddenness of it all, but there was a smile behind her eyes. "Alright, then. Let's do this."

We walked to the entryway together, and I gave her hand a gentle squeeze before I opened the door.

The reporters filed in, a small group as promised, cameras in hand, notebooks out. They looked eager-hungry, even. Well, we were about to give them a meal.

After a few brief introductions, they dove right into it, their curiosity palpable.

"Mr. Wright," one of them started, "you ended your engagement with Sarah quite publicly a year ago, only to be engaged to Ms. Susan shortly after. What's changed?"

I nodded, expecting this question to come up. I felt Sarah's hand tense in mine, and I gave her a reassuring smile.

"What's changed," I said slowly, meeting the reporter's eyes, "is that I've realized what a mistake I made back then. I was caught up in the wrong things, and I took for granted the one person who has always been there for me."

I glanced at Sarah, her face softening a bit as she looked back at me. "Being with Susan wasn't right. It took me some time, but I realized that Sarah was the one I wanted to be with."

Another reporter raised a hand, then just started talking without waiting. "Are you saying you're leaving Ms. Susan for Ms. Williams, your ex-wife?"

I held my head high, keeping my voice firm. "Yes. I made the choice to end things with Susan because my heart wasn't in it. Sarah is the one I want to be with. I should have known it sooner, but I'm here to make things right now." The reporter nodded, jotting something down, and another took their place, eyes flicking between us. "Ms. Williams, what do you think about all of this? Are you concerned, given how things happened before?"

I glanced at her, giving her hand a little squeeze. She took a breath, her voice calm and clear. "I wouldn't be standing here if I didn't believe in the man standing beside me," she said, and I could feel the trust in her tone. "We're both here because we believe in each other, in this second chance."

The next question caught us both off guard. "Mr. Wright, can you guarantee the public, and Sarah, that this won't end the same way as last time?"

The room fell quiet. I felt Sarah's hand tighten slightly in mine, and I took a moment, choosing my words carefully.

"I can't guarantee anything in life. But I can promise you all this: I've made a lot of mistakes. I know that. But I've learned from them. I'm not the same person I was a year ago. I'm standing here because I know exactly what I want. And I want Sarah. Forever."

There was a pause, then another reporter asked, "Is this an engagement announcement, Mr. Wright?"

The question hit home, and I smiled, feeling a renewed sense of certainty. "Yes, it is. I am here to tell everyone that I am re-engaging Sarah. We plan to start fresh, and I intend to spend my life making up for the mistakes I've made." As the reporters scribbled furiously, I reached into my pocket, pulling out a simple yet elegant ring I'd chosen, one that represented something new and true.

Turning to Sarah, I bent down on one knee, feeling the world around us fade.

"Sarah," I began, meeting her eyes, "will you marry me, again?"

Her hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide, then soft. Slowly, she nodded, her voice a shaky whisper as she said, "Yes. Yes, I will."

The room erupted in flashes, questions filling the space, but I hardly heard them. All I could see was Sarah, her face glowing, and the sense of rightness settling over me like nothing I'd ever felt.

As we walked the reporters to the door, one last question came from behind us. "Mr. Wright, any message for Ms. Susan?"

I glanced back, keeping my tone polite, firm. "Just that I hope she finds happiness. As for me, I already have."

The door shut, and silence settled back over the house. I looked at Sarah, who was looking back at me with a soft smile.

"You didn't have to go through all that," she murmured, but there was a spark in her eye.

"Oh, I did," I said, pulling her close. "I'll shout it from the rooftops if I have to."

She chuckled, shaking her head at me. "You always did love a bit of drama."

"Only if it's for you," I replied, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.