The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 193

193 The Ex-Husband’s Gambit

193 The Ex-Husband’s Gambit

“It doesn’t feel real,” he said. “Six years together, and now we’re strangers.”

Ah, there it was. The real reason for his call.

“Loved,” I repeated bitterly. “Past tense.”

Alistair.

“So it’s done, then.” His voice was soft, almost wistful. “Just like that.”

His confidence unsettled me. Was I that transparent? True, the thought of actually following through on my threat made me uncomfortable. Gloria had been punished professionally and socially already. But Alistair didn’t need to know my doubts.

“The old me is gone,” I said simply. “I’m done letting people like Fiona get under my skin.”

“Don’t test me,” I warned. “I’m not the same woman who let you walk all over her.”

Cora burst into laughter. “God, Hazel, that was brilliant! The old you would have shrunk away or politely declined.”

He hung up before I could respond, leaving me staring at my phone in shocked anger. His parting words echoed in my mind, taunting me with their accuracy. Was my compassion still my greatest weakness? Had I not changed enough?

Back at my apartment, I kicked off my heels and checked my mailbox. Among the usual bills and advertisements was an official-looking envelope from the county court. I tore it open, heart racing as I scanned the document.

“What?” she stammered.

“She’s already lost everything, Hazel,” he said, his voice hardening. “Her reputation, her career, her friends. Sending her to prison would be cruel, even for you.”

“That’s not what I meant-”

I sipped my water calmly. “And I’ll make sure everyone knows how incredibly kind and

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are, Fiona.”

We finished our meal with lighter spirits, sharing stories and laughing until our sides hurt. By the time we parted ways, Charlotte heading to Cora’s guest suite for her stay, I felt genuinely happy for the first time in months.

The crisp evening air greeted me as I walked to my car. The encounter with Fiona had been unpleasant, but my reaction filled me with quiet pride. I had changed. The woman who would have been mortified by such a public confrontation now handled it with poise and even humor.

Fiona’s perfect features contorted with rage. She hadn’t expected me to call her bluff, especially not with such composure.

My finger hovered over the decline button, but curiosity won out. Why was he calling now, just hours after our divorce was finalized?

“With what?”

“The Hazel you knew died the day you abandoned her,” I snapped. “And may I remind you that your sister’s ‘mistakes’ were felonies that nearly bankrupted our company.”

I reached for my phone to text Cora but was interrupted by an incoming call. The

number was all too familiar.

He was quiet for a moment. “I don’t think you’ll do it,” he finally said.

I sank onto my couch, the paper trembling slightly in my hands. Six months after Alistair had destroyed our wedding for Ivy’s “dying wish,” three months after his desperate attempts to win me back once he discovered her cancer was faked, and one month after our rushed settlement-it was finally, legally over.

“Excuse me?”

“Maybe not,” he conceded. “But you’re still Hazel. Still fundamentally decent. That’s why I loved you.”

I bristled at his implication. “Even for me? What exactly are you suggesting?”

“Send Gloria to prison,” he clarified. “You don’t have it in you to be that ruthless. Not to

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193 The Ex-Husband’s Gambit

someone who’s already suffered enough.”

“I said we’ll happily accept your offer to pay for our dinner,” I replied sweetly. “How thoughtful of you to remember old classmates during difficult times.”

Silence stretched between us, thick with unspoken words and lingering resentment.

He sighed heavily. “I’ve apologized for that a thousand times. I was manipulated. You know that.”

Her face reddened to match her crimson lipstick. Without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed toward the exit, her designer dress swishing dramatically.

Fiona’s smug smile faltered at my unexpected acceptance of her “charity.” She’d clearly expected me to refuse her insulting offer with indignation.

The divorce was final.

“It doesn’t matter what you meant. We’re done, Alistair. The papers are signed. Move

on.”

“You know what I mean,” he said. “You’ve changed. The Hazel I knew would never use someone’s mistakes as leverage.”

I closed my eyes, steeling myself against the familiar timbre of his voice. “Yes, Alistair. It’s done. We’re officially divorced.”

I could almost hear him smiling through the phone. “You haven’t changed as much as you think, Hazel. You’ll never send Gloria to prison because your conscience won’t let you. And we both know it.”

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