His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 169

Chapter 169

Isabella’s POV

Morning light filtered softly through the curtains when I opened my eyes.

For a moment, I didn’t move.

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Mateo was curled beside me, one small arm thrown across my waist, his breathing deep and even.

The quiet felt peaceful.

Last night’s storm, the shouting, the anger, the way Dominic had looked standing in the kitchen, still lingered somewhere in my chest, but it felt slightly distant now. Almost muted.

Mateo stirred beside me, blinking sleepily. “Mama?”

“Good morning.”

He pushed himself up immediately, his hair sticking up in every direction.

“How did your big event go?”

I smiled despite the heaviness inside me. “It went very well.”

His face lit up. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Did people like it?”

“They loved it.”

That seemed to satisfy him. He grinned. “Good. Because I didn’t want your big thing to go badly.”

I laughed softly. “Thank you for the vote of confidence.”

Then suddenly he sat up straighter. “I don’t have school today!”

“No, you don’t.”

“My vacation started!” he giggled and his excitement was contagious, making me smile wide.

“Can we go to the pool after breakfast?”

“Of course.”

“Yes!” he cheered, jumping out of bed immediately. “I’m going to brush my teeth!”

Before I could respond, he was already halfway out the door.

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Chapter 169

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I shook my head, laughing quietly. Some days, I wished I could have the freshness and enthusiasm of a little kid first thing in the morning. But, oh well.

Sighing to myself, I slipped out of bed and got dressed before heading downstairs.

For a brief moment, I glanced towards the kitchen expecting-

No.

Of course not.

Dominic wasn’t there.

A strange mix of relief and disappointment passed through me.

Relief because I didn’t know if I had the emotional energy for another confrontation this morning.

Disappointment because an extremely small part of me had hoped he might still be here.

I pushed the thought away.

Maria stood at the counter preparing breakfast. “Good morning, Isa,” she said warmly.

“Good morning.”

Caterina sat at the table with a cup of tea in her hands. “Did you sleep well?” she asked.

“Eventually.”

Her eyes studied my face carefully but she didn’t comment further.

“How are you feeling?” I asked instead, nodding towards her cup.

She raised it slightly. “Herbal tea.”

“That’s not an answer.”

She laughed lightly. “I’m following the diet. You see?” She pointed to a small bowl beside her. “I’m having fruit.”

“Good,” I said firmly..

Maria chuckled. “You sound like a doctor.”

“She needs supervision.”

“Hey,” Caterina protested mildly.

Maria slid a pan towards me. “Come, let me show you something.”

I stepped beside her as she demonstrated a small trick with the eggs she was cooking.

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Chapter 169

“You have to do it slowly like this,” she explained. “Otherwise they dry too quickly.”

“I see.”

Cooking with Maria always felt comforting. Normal. Simple.

For a few minutes, the conversation stayed light. Until Mateo came racing down the stairs.

“I’m ready!” he announced before greeting everyone, his hair still damp from washing his face..

We all sat down to eat.

Halfway through breakfast, I cleared my throat slightly. “So…”

Mateo looked up.

“How would you feel about going to Milan for your vacation this year?”

His eyes widened. “Milan?”

“Yes.”

“What would we do there?”

“Well,” I said carefully, “I’ll have to work sometimes.”

“Oh.”

“But you can come with me to meetings.”

“And then?”

“Then we can explore the city.”

That seemed to interest him again. “Like where?”

I smiled. “There’s a beautiful cathedral called the Duomo, like the one we have here in Florence.”

“The big one with the pointy roof?”

“Yes.”

“And there’s a castle – Castello Sforzesco.”

“A castle?!”

“Yes.”

“And a huge park behind it where you can ride bikes.”

“Really?”

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Chapter 169

“And there are amazing gelato shops everywhere.”

Now he was fully convinced. “That sounds amazing.”

Then, he looked at Caterina. “Nonna, are you coming too?”

Caterina smiled gently. “Oh sweetheart…”

He waited expectantly.

“I think I will stay here this time.”

“Why?”

“I’m still not fully healthy.”

He frowned. “But you could rest there.”

She chuckled softly. “Maybe later.”

He turned to me again. “What about Dominic?”

My chest tightened. “He’s very busy with work right now,” I said carefully.

Mateo’s face fell slightly. “Oh.”

Caterina reached over and squeezed his hand. “Dominic has many responsibilities right now.”

He nodded slowly. “Okay.”

Then suddenly he turned towards Maria. “Will you come with us?”

Maria blinked in surprise. “Well,” she said, “I can definitely come with you if your Mama agrees.”

I looked at her, startled. “You don’t have to.”

Maria smiled warmly. “I would love to.”

“You would?”

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“Yes,” she said, wiping her hands on a towel, “Besides, my son lives in Milano. It would be a good opportunity for me to meet him.”

I blinked. “I didn’t know that.”

“Yes,” she said. “I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“What’s his name?” Mateo asked.

“Marco.”

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Chapter 169

“Oh! Like the guard!”

Maria laughed. “Yes, but a different Marco.”

:..

She turned back to me. “And I can help with Mateo while you work.”

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“That would actually help a lot,” I replied. I’d been rather worried about finding a nanny I trusted enough to leave Mateo with in case I had to go to a meeting where I couldn’t take him along. Having Maria there would literally take half the burden off of my shoulders.

“And I can show you some local places.”

I smiled. “That sounds wonderful.” But then I glanced at Caterina. “What about you?”

“I’ll be perfectly fine here,” she said calmly. “And Maria deserves a vacation too.”

Maria shook her head slightly. “It’s not a vacation if I’m chasing Mateo around.”

Mateo grinned proudly. “I’m very fast.”

We all laughed.

“I really will be fine. There’s other staff here to take care of me,” Caterina said. “And I’m happy Maria gets to see her son. I’m sure she must have been missing him.”

Maria nodded quietly. “Thank you.”

I turned back to Caterina. “You’re always welcome to visit.”

“Perhaps in a month,” she said thoughtfully. “If I feel like traveling.”

“You’re welcome anytime.”

Mateo suddenly perked up again. “Will Luca come too?”

“Yes,” I said. “He will.”

Mateo cheered. “Great!”

Then he jumped out of his chair.

“I’m going to get my swimming clothes!”

He ran upstairs, already talking excitedly.

“Maria, we can go to the castle and the park and cat gelato and-”

Maria laughed and followed him, their voices fading up the staircase.

I sat back quietly. The house felt calm. Hopeful.

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Chapter 169

And yet bittersweet.

Because this wasn’t just a vacation.

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It was a departure. A new chapter. A life moving forward, away from the chaos that had defined the past few months.

Away from Dominic.

My chest tightened slightly at the thought.

But I pushed it away.

Milan was going to be a fresh start, and I would try my best to treat it as such, leaving the past behind.

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15:46 Thu, Apr 2