His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 202

Chapter 202

Chapter 202

Isabella’s POV

Sleep didn’t come easily that night, even after Dominic left, even after the house had quieted down.

The fear lingered, low, steady, refusing to loosen its grip.

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I sat at the edge of my bed for a long time, staring at nothing, my fingers absently tracing the edge of the blanket as my thoughts ran in circles I couldn’t stop.

She knew the places we visited. She was at the park. That thought refused to leave me.

It sat there, heavy and constant.

“Isa,” Caterina’s voice, soft but firm, pulled me back.

I looked up.

She stood at the doorway, watching me carefully, not intruding. But not letting me retreat either.

“I made tea,” she said simply. “Come.”

I exhaled slowly, nodding. I didn’t argue, didn’t even want to. Anything felt better than being left alone with my thoughts right then.

She didn’t talk at first, didn’t ask questions as we both took a seat on the sofa. She handed me a cup and sat across from me on the sofa, her presence steady, and grounding.

I took a sip, the warmth spreading through me slowly.

“You’re thinking too much,” she said finally.

I let out a small, tired laugh. “That’s not new.”

“No,” she agreed. “But this time, it’s not helping you.”

I didn’t respond. Because she wasn’t wrong.

“Alessia shouldn’t have done that,” Caterina continued, her tone shifting just slightly. “Coming to your office. Going to the park.”

Something in my chest tightened again. “I don’t like it,” I admitted quietly.

“I know.” A pause. “But you’re safe here,” she said firmly.

I looked at her. I wanted to believe that. I really did. And maybe, a part of me did. Because she was here. Because I wasn’t alone.

“Come,” she said, standing. “Dinner is ready. And if you don’t eat, I will personally sit here and force you to.”

That pulled a small smile out of me.

“I believe you would.”

1/6

3:40 pm P ppp.

Chapter 202

“Oh, absolutely.”

The dining table was already set when we walked in.

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Mateo was in his seat, swinging his legs, while Luca leaned back casually in his chair, scrolling through his phone.

He looked up when he saw me. “There she is,” he said. “We were about to send a search party.”

“I was right here,” I said, taking my seat.

“Emotionally missing,” he corrected.

I rolled my eyes. “Very funny.”

“It is,” he said, grinning.

Mateo leaned towards me immediately. “Nonna made pasta again,” he whispered like it was a secret.

“I can hear you,” Caterina called from the kitchen.

He giggled. “I know.”

Luca laughed softly. “You’re raising a menace,” he said to me.

“I wonder where he gets it from,” I replied.

“Definitely not from you,” he said dryly.

“Excuse me?”

“You’re too controlled,” he added. “Too serious.”

Caterina walked in just then, placing a dish on the table. “She was not always like that,” she said knowingly.

I narrowed my eyes at her. While Caterina hadn’t been very involved in our life when Dominic and I had just gotten married years ago, she had still seen me enough to know I was once a bubbly girl with stars in her eyes and dreams of having a caring, loving husband. “Don’t start.”

‘Oh, I will absolutely start,” she replied. “She used to be dramatic.”

“Caterina,”

“Very dramatic.”

Luca perked up. “Now this I need to hear.”

“No, you don’t.”

Mateo clapped his hands. “Yes, we do!”

Traitors. All of them.

Caterina smiled sweetly. “She once refused to speak to Dominic for three days because he didn’t bring her favorite dessert.”

“That was justified,” I defended.

2/6

3:40 pm P P P P

Chapter 202

“You were nineteen,” she shot back.

“Still justified,” I said with a shrug.

Luca laughed. “I like this version of you better.”

I pointed at him. “Careful. I can go back to being serious very quickly.”

“Please don’t,” he said. “I just got used to this one.”

The table filled with laughter.

And for a moment, just a moment everything felt okay.

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The food was good. The company was better. And the heaviness that had been sitting on my chest all evening had eased. Not completely. But enough.

The next morning started quietly, normally. I got ready for work, still feeling the faint aftereffects of yesterday, but not as suffocating. It was manageable.

Things at work went smoothly till lunch and then everything changed.

Because when I stepped into my office-

“Surprise!”

I froze.

Mateo stood in the middle of the room, grinning widely. Behind him stood Caterina. And Luca.

I blinked. “What-?”

‘We kidnapped him,” Luca said casually.

‘I agreed to this,” Caterina added.

‘I can see that,” I said, still trying to process.

Mateo ran towards me. “Can we go out?” he asked excitedly.

I looked at Luca.

He shrugged. “Your schedule is clear.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You cleared my schedule?”

“Of course,” he said. “You’re welcome.”

I turned to Caterina. “You agreed to go out for lunch?”

She lifted her chin slightly. “There are exceptions.”

I stared at her. “You refuse to eat outside ninety percent of the time.”

“This is the ten percent.”

3/6

Chapter 202

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Luca leaned in. “She argued with herself for twenty minutes.”

“I did not.”

“You did.”

“I was considering.”

“Very loudly,” he added.

Mateo giggled again.

I shook my head, smiling despite myself as I noticed how well Luca and Caterina got along even though it has been only a few days since they met.

“Alright,” I said. “Where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” Luca said.

The restaurant he took us to was different. Warm. Lively. Full of energy.

“What is this place?” I asked as we sat down.

“Italian fusion,” Luca said. “They specialize in regional variations.”

“That sounds complicated,” I said.

“It is,” he replied. “But it’s worth it.”

Caterina looked mildly skeptical. “We’ll see.”

Mateo leaned towards her. “If it’s bad, we can go home and eat pasta.”

She smiled. “Exactly.”

I laughed.

God, I needed this.

The menus came, conversations flowed, and for a while everything felt light again. We placed our orders before I realised 1 had to go to the washroom.

“I’ll be back,” I said, standing. “Restroom.”

“Don’t get lost,” Luca said.

I rolled my eyes playfully. “I won’t.”

The hallway was quieter. I walked towards the restroom, my mind still half on the table, on the laughter when I saw her.

Or thought I did.

A woman stood at the far end of the corridor with dark hair, similar posture. Something about her felt familiar.

My steps slowed.

4/6

3:40 pm P PPP.

Chapter 202

Alessia?

My heart picked up slightly. What would she be doing here?

I took a step forward. Then another. Then the woman turned.

And I realised it wasn’t her. Not even close.

I exhaled softly, almost laughing at myself.

“Get a grip,” I muttered under my breath.

I was overthinking. Again. Of course I was.

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But what could she even do here? I wasn’t alone. Mateo wasn’t alone. I wasn’t helpless. Then why was I worrying so much even if she happened to be in the same place as us?