His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Dominic’s POV

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I found Alessia by the cast staircase, going through documents with one of the lieutenants. She dismissed the man quickly, smoothing down her blouse before turning towards me.

“Dominic,” she greeted, soft and composed. “Is everything alright?”

“Did you talk to Isabella today?” I asked, straight to the point.

For a moment, just a fraction, something flickered in her eyes. Then she smiled, gentle and concerned.

“Yes,” she said. “Maria mentioned she seemed a little out of sorts. Said you helped her upstairs last night since she was so drunk, and I worried. I only went to check on her. She seemed tired, that’s all.”

She looked genuinely troubled.

Of course she would check. Of course she would worry. Alessia always had this steady kindness about her. She was reliable. Predictable. The one who remained when everything else fell apart.

Based on what Isa had been saying last night, she was jealous, I could see how it might happen. Alessia and I spent long hours working. She was always in my orbit. And Isabella, well, jealousy made people see ghosts.

Still, hearing her last night, the pain in her voice, it rattled me more than I liked. I didn’t realise how deeply she felt about this until she spoke about it like that last night.

“She’s upset,” I said quietly.

Alessia’s face softened. “She doesn’t understand your world, Dom. Not like I do. You can’t blame her for feeling threatened. Whatever she said, I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

A short pause, almost too short.

“You should go talk to her,” she added with a kind smile. “Make sure she knows she’s safe. Some women just need reassurance more than others.”

It wasn’t said cruelly. It was just matter-of-fact. Reasonable.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll talk to her.”

“Go,” she encouraged. “I’ll handle things here.”

I nodded before turning away.

When I reached outside, the sun was warm on the garden stones. Mateo’s laughter floated across the grass as Maria chased bubbles with him. The scene hurt in a way I couldn’t name, too quiet, and too peaceful, like I was on the outside looking in.

And then I saw her.

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Chapter 60

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Isabella sat on the bench, knees pulled close, slowly eating a cup of fruit. The sunlight wrapped around her hair like it had been waiting for her.

For a second, just a heartbeat, I let myself remember what it felt like to come home to that sight. To believe someone like her might actually be mine.

Then I forced myself forward.

“Hey,” I said.

She startled slightly, spine stiffening. “Oh. You’re here.”

Just a fact. Neutral. Cold.

Mateo spotted me and sprinted over, colliding with my leg. “Dom! Dom look! Maria taught me to blow bubbles with TWO hands!”

I picked him up automatically, squeezing him close. “Two hands? That’s impressive.”

He nodded so enthusiastically it made me laugh, and Christ, it felt good. His joy felt good. Felt right.

But Isa wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“Mateo,” I said, setting him down gently, “why don’t you go show Maria again? I need to talk to your Mamma for a moment.”

He nodded and ran off.

Silence settled between us like fog.

“I know you said you need space,” I began. “But we need to talk about-”

“No,” she said immediately, without looking at me. “We really don’t.”

“Isa, just listen—”

“I said no, Dominic.”

She stood to leave, fruit cup abandoned on the bench.

“I want to explain about Alessia,” I pushed, stepping in her path.

“Don’t,” she cut in sharply, voice low and trembling. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Why not?” I asked before I could stop myself. “You threw all of it at me while drunk and now won’t even hear

me sober-”

She scoffed, looking away. “Yes, because apparently I can only talk when I’m drunk, right? That’s what you

said.”

I blinked. “No. I meant-”

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Chapter 60

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“You meant what, Dominic?” She looked at me then, eyes sharp and wounded. “That I’m irresponsible? That because I’m a mother now, I shouldn’t have a drink? Shouldn’t go out? Shouldn’t have a life? Should never be anything other than Mateo’s mother-”

“What? No.” I ran a hand through my hair. “That’s not what I-”

She held up a hand. “I don’t want your explanation. I don’t want your reassurance. I don’t want to be one more responsibility you have to manage.”

She turned. And I heard myself snap before I could think.

“You can unload every feeling you have when you’re drunk but you can’t say one damn thing sober?”

Her breath hitched and every cell in my body knew I’d fucked up.

“That’s not what I meant,” I said instantly.

“But it’s what you said.”

Fuck.

“Isa, stop twisting my words-”

“Oh, I’m twisting them?” she whispered. “You know what? Fine. I’ll stop.”

The calmness in her tone scared me more than the anger.

“I already told you I need space, anyway,” she said. “I’d like to leave, now”

She stepped past me, shoulders rigid, pulse visible at her throat.

“Isa,” I called softly.

She stopped, but didn’t turn.

I swallowed. Hard.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

A beat of silence.

Then, she said, “But you did, anyway.”

And she walked away.

I stood there long after she was gone, trying to breathe around the weight in my chest.

I wanted to tell her that there was nothing romantic happening between me and Alessia. That we only work together. We’re friends, that’s all.

But she wasn’t ready to hear a word of it.

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Maria glanced over from where she was holding Mateo’s hand as he reached for bubbles. Her expression softened. She didn’t speak. Didn’t need to.

I had seen that look before.

My mother wore it the day Isabella left.

Inside the house, I found myself in the kitchen without remembering deciding to go there. My hands braced against the counter, breath shaking.

Why did every attempt to get closer end with us further apart?

Why did every step forward feel like the floor vanished beneath us?

Why did it feel like I was losing her all over again?

I heard Mateo’s laughter from down the hall. The sound reached something in me that hurt, like a bruise pressed too hard.

I wanted to be the man they could trust.

I wanted to be worthy of them.

But all I had ever been was the weapon that destroyed them.

I finally pushed away from the counter and headed to my office, jaw tight. If I lingered, I’d break. And if I broke now, I wasn’t sure I’d know how to put myself back together.

Before I reached the door, I heard footsteps behind me.

Mateo’s voice echoed, “Mama! I want to show you more bubbles!”

Isa’s laugh followed, soft but tired.

I didn’t turn around.

Not because I didn’t want to.

But because I knew if I looked at them right then, I wouldn’t be able to walk away.

And I had already taken enough from her.

If space was what she wanted for now, then that was what I’d give her.

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