The Billionaire's Dangerous Redemption (by Claire Winters) novel Chapter 53

53 A Stepmother’s Fury

Sebastian’s penate number glowed on my screen like a beacon of hope. I couldn’t stop staring at it, wondering what this meant Important people don’t give out their personal contact information unless they want you to use it.

For once everything seemed to be turning around. I had my mother’s bracelet back Sebastian Sinclair himself had taken an interest in me, and tomorrow we would have dinner together

But where? Touldn’t invite someone like Sebastian to just any restaurant. He probably dined at Micheln–starred establishments regularly. My apartment was out of the question too – Too intimate, too soon.

I called Vera in a mild panic

“What’s wrong? she answered immediately. “You sound breathless

“I need a favor. I said, twisting a strand of hair nervously “Sebastian Sinclair agreed to have dinner with the tomorrow I need somewhere impressive but private.

Vera’s squeal nearly shattered my eardrum. “Sebastian Sinclair? THE Sebastian Sinclair? The one who bought your bracelet?”

“Yes I confirmed, unable to keep the smile from my voice: “And I have no idea where

to take him

Say Do more? Vera declared. “My family just renovated the private dining room at The Celestial. Fl book it for you tomorrow night. No one will disturb you

Steel flooded through me. The Celestial was one of the most exclusive restaurants in

the city, and Vera’s family owned it. You’re a lifesaver. I owe you.

plaks, daring I want all the details afterward, she demanded before hanging in

kly texted Sebastian the restaurant information, feeling a flutter when he responded alpost immediately with a simple “Perfect Looking forward to it

Those four words should have made the smile like a teenager, but they did

an T

A returned to my sketches with renewed energy. For the fird Fine in shonths Elett genuinely hopeful about something. The bracelet armed his est caught the light remanding so of my mother’s strength Im getting stronger Mom

whispered. “T

The pence of moment shattered when my office door burst open slamming against the wall with such force that the framed designs trembled

Tanya

snya Turner my stepmother stood in the doorway her face contorted with rad Her perfectly manicured nails dug into her designer handbag, knuckles white with

Tension

“You conniving little bitch,” she spat, stalking toward me

set down my pencil with deliberate calm, refusing to match her hysteria. “Good morning to you too. Tanya.”

“Don’t play innocent with me.” She loomed over my desk. “First you try to deny your dying sister a simple wedding request, and now you’re throwing yourself at Sebastian Sinclar?

So news had traveled fast. I wasn’t surprised.

I’m not throwing myself at anyone, I replied coolly. “And I don’t recall inviting you Into my office

Tanya’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Your father built this company. This is as much

car space as yours.

Cerection

hours of work

my father and I built this company My designs, my talent, my endlesK

gestured around us

around us. “None of which involved you

1

Her sostris flared “You ungrateful child. After everything we’ve done for you

is

aldez help the barter laugh that escaped me. Everything you’ve done for me? Like whn Destroying any parents marriage? Making me feel unwelcome my own home? Stealing my face for your precious daughter

“Ivy is dreing” rana shrieked “And your selfish behavior is making her worse! She had

thier klas ght after

ght after wanna shout our shameters display at the action.

another seetha & les

Aly fingers instinctively touched my mother’s bracelet. “How comentent that her health derenonites whenever something good happens for me.

Tanya gasped. “You think she’s faking The doctors-

think Ivy has always gotten what she wanted through roanipulation. I cut in “And You’ve enabled her every step of the way

“Sebastian Sincian is only using you fanya hissed, changing tactics. “Men like bam don’t seriously pursue women like you.

Each word was designed to cut deep, to reinforce the insecurities she’d been planting for years. But this time, they bounced off my newly fortified armor

Women like me? Lechoed, standing up slowly. “You mean women who earn their own success instead of leeching off others? Women who don’t use illness as a weapon?”

Tanya’s face flushed an ugly shade of red. “You’ve always been jealous of Ivy.”

“Jealous?” I repeated incredulously. “Of what? Her backstabbing nature? Her willingness to take someone else’s fiancé? Or perhaps her terminal diagnosis that miraculously stretches on for months past the doctors‘ predictions?”

“How dare you” Tanya’s voice rose to a shriek. “Ivy could die any day!”

“She’s been dying any day‘ for six months,” I replied evenly. “Long enough to steal my wedding, my fiance, and attempt to steal my company shares.

I knew I was being cruel, but years of bottled resentment were finally spilling over. My stepmother had never shown me an ounce of kindness; she didn’t deserve my

compassion now

Sebastian Sinclair will see through you. Tanya sneered, her voice dropping to a

venomous whisper Just like Alistair did.”

Miscair didn’t see through the corrected her “He was manipulated by you and y into believing her last wish was worth destroving our six–year relationship

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