Chapter 143

Robert's POV

I sat in my apartment, staring at the two phones on the table before me-one my own, the other a secondary line Howard had entrusted me to manage. Howard had asked me to handle his communications with Sarah.and I had agreed, thoughit wasn't exactly easy for me.

I noticed a series of messages Sarah had sent to Howard's secondary number:

"I'm pretty amazing, aren't I?"

"Philip gave me funding and complete control over my work."

"I contacted marketing companies myself, found manufacturers myself,arranged shipping myself."

"I handled everything on my own."

I immediately took screenshots and forwarded them to Howard. His response came quickly: "She's still the same Sarah."

Another message followed: "She never changes, always seeking approval and validation."

I could almost picture Howard's dismissive expression. He added, "Just respond casually, don't let her get too comfortable."

Reading these words, I felt an inexplicable sting in my chest. Sarah, my ex-wife,pregnant yet still having to handle everything herself. I remembered how she looked when she was pregnant with Max-her swollen feet,stretch marks, and frequent bouts of morning sickness. Back then, I could

provide her with the best of everything.

Instead of immediately responding through Howard's phone, I picked up my own and sent Sarah a message:

"Sarah,how have you been doing lately?"

After sending it, I waited for a response, but nothing happened.One minute passed, then five, then ten... She hadn't even viewed my message.

I felt a sharp pain in my heart, like being pricked by a needle. I had tried to convince myself that she hadn't replied to my previous messages because pregnancy had made her too tired and she'd fallen asleep. But now, I clearly understood the truth-she simply didn't want to waste time on me.

Just then, Howard's secondary phone received new messages from Sarah:

"What do you think? Don't you think I'm a capable career woman now?"

"Perfectly managing everything even while pregnant."

"Compared to Annie..."

"Who letsothers handle everything for her."

"Tsk tsk."

Again, I forwarded screenshots to Howard, who quickly replied: "She dares to compare herself to Annie? What a joke. Annie works hard and graciously accepts support-that's true intelligence. Sarah is just boasting about doing what she's supposed to do."

Howard's tone was full ofdisdain: "She doesn't understand anything."

Reading these messages, I suddenly felt sorry for Sarah. This woman who once only knew how to enjoy the luxurious Upper East Side lifestyle was now pregnant and handling everything alone.

My instinct was to help her, but then I remembered my current situation-my family business had collapsed, and I had almost nothing left. What could I possibly do for her?

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to maintain distance and responded through Howard's phone with a simple:

"Is that so?"

Almost immediately, Sarah replied:

"Yes,exactly."

"I'm a woman too, and I know women in this world are strong, not as fragile as people think."

"You don't need to protect her so much."

I stared at these words, contemplating how to respond. Sarah obviously wanted Howard's approval and was trying to elevate herself in his eyes by belittling Annie. It was typical behavior, but in this moment, I couldn't blame her.

I sent Howard a message: "She's implying Annie is too dependent on you."

Howard replied: "Typical Sarah, always trying to elevateherself by putting others down. Let her talk, continue the conversation."

After a period of silence, I finally responded as Howard:

"But isn't making money so my woman can live well exacty the point?"

After sending this message, I put down the phone,remembering the first time I met Sarah at a charity gala. I had fallen for her at first sight,actively pursuing her, willing to do anything to win her love. Although Sarah eventually agreed to be with me, her attitude toward me was always cool, never showing the enthusiasm she now displayed toward Howard.

I couldn't describe how I felt now, only that years of effort seemed completely wasted. The realization made me feel suffocated.

Howard's secondary phone chimed again. Sarah had replied: "But I'm more capable than she is. If you were with me, you'd have fewer problems.

I forwarded this message to Howard, who immediately responded: "She really thinks she's that charming, doesn't she? Tell her I don't like being a third party."

Looking at these instructions, I finally responded to Sarah: "But I don't like third parties."

Almost instantly, I regretted my response. I couldn't understand why the love I desperately fought for was never reciprocated, while Howard, who had no interest in Sarah, effortlessly attracted her admiration.

Sarah quickly replied: "I'm not a third party. I'm just brave enough to pursue love."

I forwarded this response to Howard, who briefly answered: "Don't reply to her anymore."

But Sarah wasn't about to stop. A few minutes later,two more messages arrived:

"Do you really like Annie that much?"

"I don't see what's so special about her."

Following Howard's instructions, I put the phone down, deciding not to respond further. This conversation had gone far enough. I couldn't continue this charade, couldn't risk further antagonizing Sarah and increasing her hostility toward Annie. After all, our son Max was with Sarah, and I couldn't afford tolose contact with him.

I could only think about how I once had everything this city could offer-wealth, status, family. Now. I had almost nothing. All I could do was try to protect those I still cared about, even if they might no longer care about me.

My gaze drifted to the window, where the New York skyline stretched across the horizon. The same buildings I once viewed from my penthouse office now loomed like distant monuments to a life I no longer had. The setting sun cast long shadows across my sparsely furnished apartment-a painful reminder of how far I had fallen.

I remembered the days when Sarah would greet me at the door of our Upper East Side mansion, Max running behind her. Those memories now felt like they belonged to someone else entirely. The weight of my failures pressed down on me, making it difficult to breathe.

The phone on the table-my own-remained silent. No missed calls, no unread messages. The contrast with Howard's secondary phone, constantly lighting up with Sarah's desperate attempts to gain his attention,was stark and painful.

I poured myself a glass of whiskey-not the expensive brand I once favored, but a cheaper alternative that burned just the same going down.The irony wasn't lost on me. Sarah had left me when our family fortune collapsed, and now she was pursuing a man who had everything I once

possessed.

The truth was painfully clear: she had never loved me for who I was,only for what I could provide. And yet, knowing this did nothing to ease the ache in my chest. Some part of me still cared about her, still worried about her pregnancy and her well-being.

I picked up Howard's phone one last time, scrolling through Sarah's messages. Her desperation for his approval was evident in every word.I wondered if she had ever sought my approval with such eagerness, if she had ever truly wanted my attention rather than just my money.