His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Isabella’s POV

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It had been almost afternoon by the time I’d woken up and Donnic had force fed me some fruits.

I’d busied myself with making some work calls after that where Chiara had, as usual, been her supportive self and told me to take all the time I needed to fully recover from my supposed ill health. Luca had been kind and protective as well, even offering to come see me. But I had politely declined. I didn’t think I was in the right state of mind to socialize much.

Then, I’d spent some time with Mateo, cheering for him while he played in the pool and then later completed a jigsaw puzzle with him. Being around Mateo had always made me feel grounded, and today was no different.

Him being much too well behaved had helped a lot, too. Though I had a feeling that was more Dominic’s doing. He had probably given Mateo instructions to be on his best behaviour before leaving to go handle work with the promise to return soon. Honestly, I didn’t mind all the care and attention Mateo was showering on me, making sure I was hydrated and wasn’t exerting myself too much. It made me feel almost normal. Almost.

By the time evening rolled around, Dominic was back and the three of us were in the kitchen.

The house felt different that evening, fuller somehow, louder with Mateo’s chatter as he sat at the island, swinging his legs while Dominic pretended not to watch him too closely. I was slicing vegetables I didn’t really need to slice, just to give my hands something to do as I helped Maria cook.

The door opened then, making me pause and look up.

“Mamma!” Mateo shouted.

He was off the stool and halfway across the room before anyone could stop him.

Caterina barely had time to set her bag down before Mateo launched himself at her, arms wrapping around her waist with all the enthusiasm of a child who loved without reservation.

“Nonna!” he said breathlessly. “You came! You’re here!”

She laughed, the sound rich and warm, bending to scoop him up like he weighed nothing at all. “How could I not?” she said, kissing his hair. “I missed you.”

Mateo pulled back just enough to look at her seriously. “My mamma hasn’t been feeling well today,” he announced solemnly. “But she’ll be good in a few days. I was very good too, so she could rest.”

My throat tightened at his words.

Caterina’s gaze lifted to me instantly.

Concern crossed her face as she set Mateo down. She walked towards me without hesitation, her hands warm as they came up to cup my cheeks.

“My poor girl,” she murmured, pulling me into a hug.

I stiffened for half a second, then let myself lean into it. Her embrace was steady, grounding in a way I hadn’t expected

When she pulled back, her eyes were wet.

“Thank you,” she whispered so softly I almost missed it. “For yesterday”

My breath caught.

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20:20 Tue, Feb 3 0

Chapter 101

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“For saving my son,” she added, her voice trembling. “I already lost my husband not long ago. I don’t know what I would have done if I had lost Dominic too.”

The words sat heavy in my chest.

I gave her a thin smile, one that felt wrong on my face. I didn’t know how to respond to gratitude for taking a life. I didn’t know if I ever would.

Dominic cleared his throat loudly.

“I’m standing right here,” he said mildly. “In case anyone’s interested.”

Caterina laughed through her tears and turned to him, pulling him into a fierce embrace. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you standing at all,” she said, pressing her forehead to his. Alive. Fine.”

Mateo tilted his head. “Why are you crying, Nonna?”

She brushed her cheek with her thumb. “These are happy tears, she said. “Sometimes happiness spills out that way.”

Dinner followed, warm and noisy and strangely gentle. Caterina illed the space with stories from Sicily, Mateo chimed in whenever he could, Dominic relaxed just enough to feel real.

I stayed quiet.

When Caterina mentioned Dominic’s birthday, my head snapped up.

“Oh,” I said softly.

I had almost forgotten.

It hit me with unexpected guilt.

“Soon,” Caterina said with a smile. “We should have a party.”

Dominic shook his head. “Not a big one. Things are a bit compliated right now.”

“A small gathering then,” Caterina conceded.

Mateo perked up. “We can make a cake! Like we always do on mine!”

Dominic smiled at him, something soft and startled passing through his eyes. “I’d like that.”

His phone rang then.

The sound cut clean through the warmth.

Dominic glanced at the screen, his expression hardening instantly. “I’ll be there soon,” he said into the phone.

He stood. “I have to go. Some things to take care of.”

My stomach twisted.

“Okay,” I said quietly.

He leaned down, pressing a brief kiss to my temple before leavi

The rest of the evening blurred.

Caterina stayed up late, Mateo eventually fell asleep on the cou, his head heavy against my side. When I carried him

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Chapter 101

upstairs, the house felt too quiet again.

Dominic didn’t come back.

Hours passed. Midnight came and went.

I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, wondering how much trouble my actions had caused him.

At some point, I realized something else.

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Alessia wasn’t home either. She hadn’t been all evening. Some time after we had moved here, she had stopped joining us for meals, preferring to have her food in her own room. I hadn’t paid much attention to her or talked to her much save for the few times I ran into her seeing as we lived in the same house.

But I was pretty sure that if she had been home, she would’ve joined us for dinner now that Caterina was here, or at least come down to greet her.

None of the sort had happened, though, which made it obvious she hadn’t been home.

And I’d been listening for Dominic to come back so I knew no one had entered the house after Dominic had left.

I again wondered how much of a mess my actions had made that even Alessia, who was pregnant and had greatly reduced her workload because of that hadn’t been home tonight either.

The thought settled cold and heavy in my chest.

Nothing about this felt finished. Not even close.

I would have to ask Dominic about it when he came back home, was the last thought I had before I drifted into a restless sleep.

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20:20 Tue, Feb 30