The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 110

110 A Shared Past, A New Beginning

Hazel’s POV

The night breeze ruffled my hair as I leaned against the balcony rail. Sebastian stood beside me, his presence solid and comforting. Our conversation about his academic genius had opened up something between us a deeper understanding

“Penny for your thoughts?” Sebastian asked his voice gentle in the darkness.

I smiled without looking at him. Just thinking about the past.”

“Regrets?”

The question hung in the air. Did I regret the years with Alistair? The blood donations? The blind devotion?

“Not regrets exactly,” I said carefully, “More like wondering.”

“About?

I turned to face him. “What if we had met properly at university? If our paths had crossed directly instead of just… orbiting each other

Sebastian’s eyes held mine. “What do you think would have happened?”

“Nothing” admitted with a small laugh. “I was so stupidly devoted to Alistair. Even before we started dating, he was the center of my world.

The memory of that young, naive girl made me cringe inwardly. How desperately I had wanted to be needed, to be important to someone.

“After his diagnosis. “My voice trailed off. “I thought it was fate, you know? That I was the perfect blood match. That I was meant to save him.

sebastian remained silent, listening

Every three months, like clockwork. I’d donate. The nurses knew me by name I shook my head: “I was so proud of being his lifeline.

That’s not something to be ashamed of. Sebastian said quietly “Loyalty is admirable

“Blind loyalty isn’)” I countered “I built my entire identity around being his savior His

Shared Pad A Now this ning

perfect match

The moon cast Sebastian’s lace in silver night as he considered my words

Speaking of perfect matches, I said, changing the subject. Tell me more about the river incident remember you as a much younger boy.

Sebastian smiled. I was twelve, actually. Just small for my age

“Twelve?” I stared at him in surprise. But you seemed so… little?

“Late bloomer, he said with a shrug. “I didn’t hit my growth spurt until fifteen

I tried to reconcile the image of the drowning child with the imposing man beside the

“My grandfather was furious about the river, Sebastian continued. “Said I was too spoiled, too sheltered. After that incident, he sent me to military training over school breaks

“Military training? As a child? I couldn’t keep the shock from my voice

Sebastian’s laugh held no bitterness. “Not official military-a special program for the children of important families. Designed to build character and ‘instill discipline”

“That sounds awful.”

“It was the making of me,” he said simply. “I was a spoiled brat before that. Thought the

world revolved around me.”

I tried to picture Sebastian as a spoiled child. It seemed impossible

“How long did that last? The training?”

“Three years he replied. “Every school break. Summer, winter, spring. While other

kids were playing video games, I was running obstacle courses and learning survival

skills

wonder be carried himself with such quiet strength.

“Did you hate your grandfather for it?” I asked

Sebastian considered the question. “At first, absolutely. By the end, I was grateful.

We fell into comfortable silence, both lost in memories

“You know what’s hiring? Sebastian said after a moment When you pulled me from The river I thought you were older than me

Really?

“You seemed so confident so in charge” His eyes crinkled with amusement Talmost called you big sister the next day at the hospital.”

The unage made me laugh. “That would have been something”

I was terrified of water for months after he admitted. Could barely take a bath without panicking

This vulnerability, freely shared, touched me deeply “And now?

“Captain of the university swim team,” he said with a grin. “Best way to overcome fear is to face it.

I shook my head, smiling. “Of course you were

The night air had grown cooler. Sebastian noticed my slight shiver and moved closer his body heat a welcome barrier against the chill.

“Is this okay?” he asked, his voice low.

I nodded, surprised by how comfortable I felt in his presence

“It’s strange.” I said after a moment. “To think our lives have been intersecting all these

years.”

“Strange in a bad way?”

“No” I said thoughtfully. “More like… reassuring. Like there’s some pattern to all the

chaos

Sebastian’s shoulder brushed against mine. “My grandfather believed that significant people appear in our lives for a reason. Not always immediately clear, but significant

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