His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Chapter 172

Dominic’s POV

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Moments after Eduardo left, a text popped up on my phone from Marco.

“Isabella, Luca and Mateo are having dinner at a nearby restaurant tonight. Perimeter secured.”

Seeing Luca’s name in the text made something dark stir in my chest. Because he was there. Beside her. Taking care of her. Helping with Mateo. Living the life I should have been living.

The memory of his words at the gallery replayed in my mind again and my jaw tightened.

I should have broken his nose that night.

It had taken everything in me not to.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Dominic?” Alessia stepped into the office, carrying a tablet in her hands. “I was just speaking with the event planner,” she said brightly.

My stomach twisted. The wedding was all she had been talking about ever since the engagement ceremony had ended. While it had brought a lot of light into her previously depressed life, each word out of her mouth about the wedding sounded like nails against the chalkboard to me.

“They want to confirm the floral arrangements for the wedding,” she said, and the words made my head throb.

“We can discuss that later.”

“But the date-”

“Later, Alessia.”

She paused, clearly annoyed. “You’ve been distracted lately.”

No shit.

“You’re never at the penthouse anymore,” she continued.

“I have work.”

“You’re always working.”

Good.

If I was working, I didn’t have to listen to wedding plans.

She crossed her arms. “This is supposed to be an exciting time.”

15:46 Thu, Apr 2

Chapter 172

I looked at her.

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For the first time, I realized how deeply irritated I felt just being in the same room as her. Because every conversation circled back to the same thing. Flowers. Venues. Guest lists.

A future I had never actually wanted.

“I have a meeting,” I said.

She sighed. “You always have a meeting.”

“Yes,” I answered simply. Earlier, I’d been forced to stay close to her because of her fragile state of mind. But the thought of planning the wedding seemed to have given her a new purpose in life..

Since she was now sure that we were going to get married, she wasn’t as bothered about being around me at all times like before. She nagged me a bit about it like she was doing now, but that was about it.

She watched me silently for a moment, and it looked like she was going to say something but decided against it at the last moment. Then turned and left.

The silence she left behind felt heavier than before.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, my mind drifting back to Milan again.

To Isabella. To Mateo. To the life they were building there without me.

I opened my eyes and reached for the phone again.

“Marco.”

“Yes.”

“Are they eating at the restaurant right now?”

“Yes.”

“Is Luca there with them?”

There was a brief pause. Then, “Yes.”

Of course.

I rubbed my hand across my jaw.

The thought of them sitting together somewhere in Milan like a happy little family made something inside

me snap.

“I’m coming to Milan,” I said.

Marco didn’t sound surprised. “I’ll arrange security.”

15:46 Thu, Apr 2

Chapter 172

“No need.”

“But-”

“I’ll handle it.”

The call ended.

I stared at the phone for a moment and made the call for the jet to be arranged.

I told myself the trip was about work.

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Russo Foundation had invested heavily in Isabella’s Renaissance Revival project. There were meetings I could attend. Updates I should review. Partnerships to oversee.

All perfectly legitimate reasons to be in Milan.

But even as the car drove towards the airport half an hour later, I knew the truth.

I wasn’t coming for the project.

I was coming for her.

For Mateo.

Because the thought of Luca standing beside them day after day was driving me slowly insane.

When I reached there, Marco met me at the airport and took me straight to the restaurant they were eating

“This is the second time they’ve come here,” he had told me.

I stood across the street watching the entrance, trying to convince myself this wasn’t ridiculous.

The door opened.

And then, there she was.

Isabella stepped onto the sidewalk, her face illuminating by the overhead lights.

She looked beautiful, effortlessly so.

My chest tightened painfully.

Three days. Three days without seeing her.

And somehow that felt like three years.

Mateo burst out behind her seconds later.

“Mama! Wait!”

15:46 Thu, Apr 2

Chapter 172

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She laughed. God, that laugh. It hit me straight in the chest.

Then Luca stepped outside, carrying two takeaway cups.

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He handed one to her casually. “You’ll love this,” he said, his voice easily carrying over in the otherwise quiet

street.

“How do you know?”

“Because I know you,” he replied, shooting her a wink that made me clench my jaw.

She chuckled but took the cup he offered.

The sight made something dark twist inside me.

It was small. Normal. Friendly. And I hated it. The ease between them. The comfort. The way he stood beside her like he belonged there.

My hands curled slightly at my sides.

I imagined crossing the street. Grabbing him by the collar. Reminding him exactly who she belonged to.

But before I could do that, Mateo suddenly looked towards the street.

His face lit up. “Dominic!”

Before I could react, he was already running towards me.

I dropped to my knees just in time for him to crash into my arms.

“Hey, kid,” I murmured, pulling him close.

God. I had missed him.

“What are you doing here?” he asked excitedly.

“Business.” Half true. I stood slowly, still holding his shoulders.

“Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” I asked even though I knew it was his vacation time now.

“It’s vacation!”

I smiled at his enthusiasm.

Then I looked up.

Isabella and Luca had crossed the street as well. She stopped a few steps away.

Her expression was calm. Guarded. Distant.

“Hello, Dominic,” she said, her tone full of measured politeness.

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Chapter 172

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Like I was a stranger, not someone she had known for years.

And somehow that hurt more than if she had screamed at me again.

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Thu, Apr 2