The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 50

50 The Cracks in Their Facade

Heft the auction ball teebig fikk I was floating. The weight of my mother’s jade hracelet on my word proanded ise a physical reminder that not everything could be

Stolen from C

from the Sebestian sinclair’s gesture had done more than just return my

hericort–it had restored a piece of any digruts

Earth to Hazel” Vera snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Where did you just go

“Sorry I said, Winking back to reality I think I’m in shock

“Well, get unshocked You need to find Sinclair and thank him properly? Vera scanned the thuning crowd. A man doesn’t spend three hundred million without expecting at

least a thank–you

clutched my purse tighter. “The secretary said he had urgent business.

“Teen hind out what that business is.” Vera pushed me gently toward the exit. “Go. I’ll Take a cab home. You have a mysterious billionaire to track down.

With a deep breath, I nodded and headed for the lobby. The event staff were beginning to clean up, and most guests had already departed. I approached the reception desk WTH & Young woman was organizing papers.

a

“Excuse me. I said. “Did you happen to see Sebastian Sinclair leave?”

She looked up, recognition flashing in her eyes. “Miss Shaw! Mr. Sinclair left about

teen minutes ago. His car came around to the private exit

My niet sank “Thank you”

Eturned away, disappointment settling over me. What had I expected? That he’d wan for mu? That we’ll have some dramatic encounter in the moonlight?

Added to take a moment to collect my thoughts before leaving. The main corridors ese crowded with departing guests sofwandered down a quieter hallway, uerding space to process everything that had happened

The soft sound of angry whispers pulled me from my thoughts. I slowed my pace.

tecomizing the voices immediately–Ivy and Alistair

“Yo regret marrying me don’t you? Ivy’s voice was tight with accusation. “I saw how

you looked at her!!

“That’s not truc, Alistan replied, his voice weary Tm just bred, Ivy It’s been a long

Sight

“It’s always a long night when she’s around!” Ivy’s voice rose. “Do you think I don’t notice? The way your eyes follow her? The way you compare everything I do to her?

I should have walked away. I knew I should have. But my feet refused to move.

“That’s ridiculous Alistair said. “I made my choice.”

“And you regret it every single day,” Ivy hissed. “Don’t deny it! If I weren’t sick, you’d

leave me in a heartbeat.

There was a long pause. Too long.

“That’s not fair,” Alistair finally said, but his voice lacked conviction.

I leaned against the wall, my heart hammering. I shouldn’t be hearing this. I didn’t want to hear this. Yet I couldn’t make myself leave.

“You think I don’t know she still has your heart?” Ivy’s voice cracked. “Even after

everything I’ve done for you?”

“Everything you’ve done?” Alistair sounded genuinely confused.

“I was there for you when you were sick! I was the one who nursed you back to health!”

My blood froze. That was a lie. A complete, bald–faced lie. I was the one who had spent years donating blood for Alistair’s transfusions. I was the one who had stayed by his hospital bed night after night, watching his pale face as doctors pumped my blood into

his veins.

Ivy Alistair’s voice was careful now. “That’s not how I remember it

Of course it is Ivy Insisted. “I was always there for you–not Hazel! She was too busy

with her career

atwds

d–pressed a land to my mouth to keep from screaming Bow dare she? How dare she

teal even thy sacrifices

Stop rewriting history” Alistair said firmly. “Hazel was there. You know she was

“So you are defending her Ivy’s voice rose to a shriek

*T’m not defending anyone! I’m just stating facts!

“Facts? The fact is you married me, Alistair! ME Not hert So why can’t you just let her

go?

A heavy silence followed

“I have let her go,” Alistair finally said, his voice hollow.

“Then why did watching Sinclair give her that bracelet bother you so much?” Ivy demanded. “Why did you look like someone had punched you in the gut?”

“Because I was surprised! Everyone was surprised!”

“No,” Ivy’s voice was suddenly cold. “Everyone else was surprised. You were jealous.

I heard movement, like someone pacing.

“This conversation is pointless.” Alistair sighed. “Can we please just go home?”

“Fine” Ivy spat. “Take me home and pretend everything is fine. That’s what you’re good

at, isn’t it? Pretending!”

There was a sudden, strange sound–a wet, choking gasp.

“Ivy?” Alistair’s voice changed instantly from irritation to alarm. “Ivy, what’s wrong?”

Another choking sound, followed by a thud.

“Oh God! Ivy!” Alistair shouted. “Help! Somebody help!”

instinctively stepped back from the wall just as the door burst open, Alistair rushed ont, carrying lvy in his arms. Her face was ghostly white, blood staining her lips and the front of her pale dress. They collided directly into me, Alistair nearly losing his balance.

Caves me his wide with panic mine with shock

Hazes he gasped, recognition and desperation fighting on his face

Boy’s eyes fluttered open, focusing on me with hatred even as blood bubbled from her

mouth.

Look in the scene with strange detachment. My stepsister the woman who had stolen my fiancé, my wedding, and now tried to steal even my sacrifices, was hemorrhaging in the arms of the man who had abandoned me for her

I should have felt something–satisfaction, perhaps, or pity. But all I felt was a cold,

clear calm

“Do you need me to call an ambulance?” I asked, my voice steadier than I expected.

Alistair gaped at me, clearly thrown by my composure. “She’s bleeding internally- please, call 911!”

I pulled out my phone, never breaking eye contact with him as I dialed. “Yes, we need an ambulance at the Rosemont Auction House. A woman is hemorrhaging, possibly

internal bleeding

Ivy made a strangled sound, her eyes never leaving my face as blood continued to

trickle from her mouth.

“They’re on their way” I said, sliding my phone back into my purse. “They advised to lay her flat and elevate her feet.”

Alistair looked around frantically, then carefully lowered Ivy to the floor. Her thin fingers clutched at his shirt, leaving bloody prints.

‘Don’t leave me, she whispered, her eyes darting between him and me

Tm right here, he assured her, but his gaze kept returning to me, questions swirling

In his eyes.

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify