The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 195

195 An Unexpected Acceptance

“You know,” I said as we drove toward the university, “when you picked me up this morning, I wasn’t expecting quite so much excitement before we even left my building.”

My mind reeled. “They know who I am? How is that possible?”

“Yes, Alistair,” I continued, feeling strangely liberated. “I did lie about dating Sebastian, specifically to make you angry. We’re just friends. Does that satisfy your ego?”

We stopped at a quaint café where Sebastian ordered coffee and pastries. As we ate, our conversation flowed naturally to lighter topics-my latest designs, his recent business trip, a book we’d both read.

I kept walking, my spine straight, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing me

react.

I looked up at him, truly seeing the man who had become such an important part of my life. “Yes,” I answered. “I’d like that very much.”

Once we were safely inside Sebastian’s sleek black car, I let out a shaky breath. “I am so sorry about that,” I said, smoothing my dress nervously. “I didn’t mean to drag you into my messy divorce drama.”

The abrupt change of subject gave me mental whiplash, but I appreciated the chance to process everything. “Breakfast sounds perfect,” I managed.

Alistair’s face reddened. “You think I’m bluffing?” He fumbled with his phone, scrolling frantically through it.

I exchanged a glance with Sebastian, whose expression remained impassive but whose eyes held quiet strength. The onlookers shifted uncomfortably as Alistair continued searching his phone.

The lobby fell silent. All eyes were on me, waiting for my response to Alistair’s outrageous claim. My heart hammered in my chest. I took a deep breath and faced my ex-fiancé directly.

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Alistair’s eyes narrowed. “Friends? Is that what you’re calling it now?” He turned to Sebastian. “You do realize she’s using you as a placeholder until I come back to her, right?”

“So they know everything? About my father? The divorce?” My voice caught slightly. “Go ahead,” I challenged, crossing my arms. “Play it.”

We pulled away from my building, leaving the scene of Alistair’s outburst behind. The city lights blurred past us as we drove in comfortable silence for a few blocks.

The way he said it-with fondness rather than accusation-made my heart skip a beat. This man had just witnessed one of the most humiliating moments of my life and still wanted to spend the day with me.

Sebastian’s hand remained steady on my back as we stepped through the doors, leaving Alistair’s poisonous words behind us.

My cheeks burned with embarrassment. “You don’t need to address that. His opinion doesn’t matter to me.”

“Because of your family?” I asked.

“Thank you,” I said softly. “For staying, for defending me, for everything.”

“If my family cared about social status the way Alistair implied,” Sebastian continued as if I hadn’t spoken, “they would never have allowed me to get close to you in the first place.”

Sebastian’s smile was warm enough to melt my lingering doubts. “Then shall we?”

“You don’t need to say anything.” Sebastian glanced at me, his eyes warm. “Are you hungry? We have time for breakfast before the university event.”

“Yes.” His answer was straightforward. “And not one of them cares about those details. They care about who you are as a person.”

“Will you need a ride home later?” Sebastian asked as we approached the entrance.

Alistair’s head snapped up. “You want the truth? Fine. Hazel told me you two weren’t sleeping together. She admitted she lied about your relationship just to make me

jealous.”

“Or perhaps it never existed,” Sebastian suggested, his voice carrying across the lobby. “Lying seems to be a habit of yours.”

I sat back, completely stunned. Sebastian’s powerful family—the Sinclairs, whose name opened doors across the country—had investigated me and still approved of my presence in Sebastian’s life. Alistair’s cruel words about my unworthiness seemed pathetically small now.

I thought about Alistair’s accusations, about the Sinclair family’s apparent approval of me, about all Sebastian had done for me since we reconnected. In that moment, I made

a decision.

Sebastian’s eyes remained on the road, but his expression softened. “My family has known about you for a long time, Hazel. They’ve approved of our… friendship from the beginning”

I stared at him, processing his words. “What are you saying?”

Alistair’s smug expression faltered. “You want everyone to hear your drunken

confession about sleeping with Sinclair?”

“Technical difficulties?” I asked sweetly after a full minute had passed.

Sebastian’s hand gently touched the small of my back. “Let’s go, Hazel. We have an

event to attend.”

Sebastian stepped forward, his presence steady beside me. “As entertaining as this public spectacle might be for you, Everett, it ends now.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.

“Always,” he replied simply.

“I do, actually.” I stared at my hands. “I shouldn’t have lied about us dating, even to annoy Alistair. It wasn’t fair to you.”

“You think the Sinclair family would ever accept someone like you?” Alistair shouted after us. “Your father is in prison for fraud! You’re a divorced nobody from the wrong

side of town!”

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195 An Unexpected Acceptance

He nodded. “If you’re not comfortable being seen with me in public photos, I understand. We can enter separately.”

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