The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 14

14 The Wedding Speech That Broke Hell Loose

I stood frozen as Ivy grabbed the microphone, her bony fingers clutching it with surprising strength for someone supposedly on death’s door. The wedding reception hall fell silent, all eyes turning to my stepsister in her stolen white dress–my dress.

“I want to thank everyone for coming today,” Ivy began, her voice trembling with practiced emotion. “Especially my dear sister, Hazel.”

She pointed to where I stood at the edge of the dance floor. Spotlights swung in my direction, blinding me momentarily. I squinted against the harsh light, feeling two hundred pairs of eyes boring into me.

“Not many sisters would do what Hazel has done for me,” Ivy continued, dabbing at the corner of her eye with a lace handkerchief. “When the doctors told me I only had months to live, my greatest regret was never experiencing true love.”

The crowd collectively sighed. Several women dabbed their eyes. I glanced at Mr. Sinclair beside me, his expression unreadable.

“And then,” Ivy’s voice broke dramatically, “my sister’s fiancé–my new husband, Alistair–offered me this most precious gift. But it wouldn’t have been possible without Hazel’s blessing.”

I stifled a laugh. Blessing? I’d found out about their engagement from a text message.

“Hazel selflessly stepped aside so I could experience marriage before I die. She gave up her own wedding, her own happiness, for me.” Ivy pressed a hand to her heart. “I’ll forever be grateful.”

The guests erupted in applause, murmuring about my supposed selflessness. My father and Tanya beamed proudly from the head table, as if they’d raised a saint.

“Sister,” Ivy called out, her voice honey–sweet with poison underneath, “would you come up here? I have a question to ask you.”

The crowd parted, creating a path to the stage. Every instinct screamed for me to run, but that would only confirm the narrative they’d crafted–poor, heartbroken Hazel, too emotional to face reality.

I walked slowly to the stage, feeling Mr. Sinclair’s eyes on my back. Something about his presence gave me strength.

Onstage, Ivy enveloped me in a hug that looked loving to anyone who couldn’t see her nails digging into my shoulder.

“My dear sister,” she said into the microphone, “I have to know. Do you hate me for marrying Alistair?”

The room went deathly quiet. This was her coup de grâce–forcing me to either lie and bless

18:26 –

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14 The Wedding Speech That Broke Hell Loose

their union or look like a jealous, bitter woman by telling the truth.

She thrust the microphone toward me, her eyes gleaming with victory.

I took it calmly, a smile spreading across my face. Not the trembling smile of a victim, but the cold, sharp smile of someone with nothing left to lose.

“Actually, Ivy,” I said, my voice ringing clear throughout the hall, “I should be thanking you.”

Confusion flickered across her face.

“You didn’t take my man,” I continued. “You took my trouble. And saved me from making the biggest mistake of my life.”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Alistair’s face flushed crimson.

“A bitch deserves a dog,” I added sweetly. “May they last forever.”

For three heartbeats, the room was completely silent. Then someone in the back whistled. Another person clapped. Several guests broke into nervous laughter.

My father shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Hazel!” he roared, storming toward the stage.

I stood my ground as he climbed the steps, his face purple with rage.

“How dare you embarrass us like this?” he hissed, grabbing my arm.

“Let go of me,” I warned.

Instead, his hand cracked across my face. The slap echoed throughout the silent hall.

My cheek burned, but I refused to cry. “Again, Dad? Just like when Mom caught you cheating with Tanya?”

His eyes widened with shock that I’d mention his dirty secret publicly.

“Yes, everyone,” l’announced, turning back to the stunned audience. “My father slapped my mother the same way when she discovered his affair with my stepmother. She died three months later of a broken heart.”

“Shut your mouth!” he growled, raising his hand again.

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