His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Dominic’s POV

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My phone rang just as I was stepping out of a meeting. I almost ignored it. But the name flashing on the screen made me

pause.

It was my mother calling.

A faint crease formed between my brows as I answered.

“Mama.”

“Dominic Russo,” she said, her tone making me wince. It was sharp, controlled, and already annoyed.

I exhaled quietly. “What happened?”

“What happened?” she repeated. “I’ll tell you what happened. I am standing at the airport in Milano, and my son has not even bothered to come pick me up.”

I stilled. “What? You’re where?”

“Don’t pretend to be surprised,” she snapped. “Come and get me. And don’t take too long.”

The line went dead. I stared at my phone for a second.

Then, I almost laughed.

Of course. Of course, she would do this.

I ran a hand through my hair, already turning towards the exit.

Isa.

She must have told her.

And somehow, the thought didn’t irritate me. If anything, it settled something in me. At least she wouldn’t be alone now.

By the time I reached the airport, I already knew what I was walking into. Though it didn’t stop it.

“Dominic!”

I barely had time to turn before her hand reached out and grabbed my ear. Hard.

“Ma-”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she demanded, twisting it just enough to make her point very clear.

“I was going to-”

“You were going to what?” she cut in sharply. “Wait until the baby was born? Or maybe until the child started school?”

I sighed, trying to gently pry her hand away. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?” she pressed. “Did you think you could hide something this big from me again?”

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Chapter 198

Agam. That word landed heavier than the rest.

“I didn’t mean to keep it from you,” I said, more quietly now.

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She released my ear finally, though her glare didn’t soften. “You didn’t mean to,” she repeated, unimpressed. “You did.”

I rubbed my ear, exhaling under my breath. “I’m sorry,” I said.

And I meant it, not just for this, but for everything else, too.

Her expression shifted slightly, the anger not gone but tempered. “You should be,” she muttered.

A pause. Then, her eyes softened just a fraction.

“How is she?” she asked.

I knew who she meant.

“She’s good,” I said. “The baby too.”

Something warm flickered in her gaze at that. “Good,” she said quietly.

And just like that, the tension eased.

I picked up her bag before she could protest, guiding her towards the exit.

“You didn’t have to come all the way here,” I said as we walked.

She scoffed. “My daughter-in-law is pregnant,” she said. “Of course I had to come.”

The word didn’t go unnoticed. Daughter-in-law. Present tense. Not past. Not ex.

I didn’t correct her, because I didn’t want to. Even though we weren’t married anymore, hell, we weren’t even a couple at this point, but it still felt good listening to my mother talk as if we were.

The drive to Isa’s apartment was filled with my mother talking about food, about rest, about how Isa shouldn’t be lifting anything heavy, and about recipes she was already planning to make.

I let her as I sent Isa a quick text informing her of our arrival. No surprise, or forced visits anymore,

This whole thing felt normal, comfortable even. Something I hadn’t had in a long time.

By the time we reached Isa’s place, I felt something in my chest loosen just slightly.

I rang the bell. And a moment later, the door opened.

Isa stood there.

For a second, she looked surprised to see me.

Then, her eyes shifted to my mother, and everything changed.

“Caterina!”

“Oh, Cara!”

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Chapter 198

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They closed the distance instantly, pulling each other into a warm embrace that felt genuine. Real. There was no hesitation, or awkwardness, just pure, unadulterated joy and affection.

“I should have come sooner,” Caterina said, pulling back just enough to look at Isa. “Let me see you. Are you eating properly? You look thinner.”

Isa laughed softly. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“You better be,” Caterina said, though there was no real bite to it.

“Nonna!” Mateo came running then, practically launching himself into her arms.

“Oh, mio Dio,” she laughed, hugging him tightly. “Look at you! You’ve grown!”

“And I’m going to be a big brother!” he announced proudly.

“Yes, you are,” she said, pressing a kiss to his head.

And then, his attention shifted. “Dominic!” He ran to me next, wrapping his arms around my waist.

I stilled for a second before placing a hand on his back. “Hey,” I said quietly.

J

“I missed you,” he said.

Something tightened in my chest. “I missed you too,” I admitted softly, and I meant that more than I expected.

When I looked up, Isa was watching us, something soft in her expression, something almost peaceful. And for a moment, everything felt right. Not perfect. Not fixed. But right.

Inside, the atmosphere became warmer, lighter and alive. The kind you see in a home well lived in.

My mother was already moving towards the kitchen.

“I’ll make something,” she said. “You shouldn’t be eating anything heavy at this stage.”

“Caterina,” Isa laughed, following her. “Dinner is already ready. And Maria has taken care of everything,” Isa added gently.

As if on cue, Maria appeared, smiling warmly. “Welcome, Signora.”

“Thank you,” Caterina replied, still scanning everything like she was assessing it all. “But I’ll still make something tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Isa said.

“Let me show you your room,” Maria added.

Mateo grabbed Caterina’s hand immediately. “I’ll show you!”

“Alright, alright,” she laughed, letting him lead her away.

And just like that, they disappeared down the hallway leaving Isa and me alone in the calm quiet afterwards.

Isa was standing a few feet away, looking at me with a small smile on her lips.

“Well,” she said lightly. “That was unexpected.”

I huffed a quiet breath. “You told her.”

Chapter 198

She didn’t even try to deny it. “I thought she deserved to know,” she said.

“She did.” I admitted. “She twisted my ear,” I added.

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Her eyes widened slightly before she laughed, actually laughed. “I wish I had seen that.”

The sound of it did something to me, something steady, something I hadn’t felt in a while.

I shook my head. “You wouldn’t have helped.”

“Probably not,” she said, still smiling.

“You look better,” I said before I could stop myself.

Her smile softened slightly. “I feel better,” she admitted.

Another pause. But this one wasn’t uncomfortable. It wasn’t filled with tension or things unsaid. It just was, existing easily in the space between us.

And standing there, in that quiet, warm space, with laughter still lingering in the air and voices echoing faintly from down the hall, I realized something.

This is what I wanted.

Not the chaos, not the constant pressure, not the balancing act between worlds that refused to coexist.

But this—a home that felt alive, a woman who looked at me like that, a child who ran to me without hesitation and a future that didn’t feel like a battlefield.

My gaze stayed on her a second longer than necessary.

And silently, I made myself a promise,

I would build this. For her. For them. For us. No matter what it took.

Because this wasn’t something I was willing to lose again.

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