His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Isabella’s POV

Even though it was supposed to be an off day from work, Dominic had left early in the morning, much before any of us had

woken up.

After a late breakfast, Caterina had baked some cookies and Mateo had helped a bit while I’d watched the twe, some semblance of normal in my otherwise chaotic head. Later, the three of us spent some time in the pool, followed by a hearty

lunch.

It was much later in the evening when I was in the garden, watching Caterina explain about various flowers to Mateo in the distance that Alessia found me.

I was sitting on the edge of the low stone bench near the hedges, my phone resting face–down beside me, the sky overhead slowly darkening into shades of violet and grey. It was one of those evenings that felt suspended, almost too quiet to be peaceful, too still to be comfortable.

“You look better today,” Alessia said, making me look up.

She stood a few feet away, posture relaxed, hands loosely clasped in front of her very visible baby bump. There was nothing aggressive in her presence. Nothing overtly wrong. And yet my shoulders tightened all the same.

“Thank you,” I said. “I’ve been feeling better lately.”

“That’s good,” she replied, stepping closer. “May I?”

She gestured to the bench.

“Of course.”

She sat, smoothening her skirt with careful precision. For a moment, neither of us spoke. Somewhere behind us, the faint sound of water from the fountain carried through the garden.

“I wanted to check on you,” Alessia said finally. “After everything.”

“I appreciate that,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

She was a little too late in her checking in, but I didn’t say that. I did not particularly like her, and I still wasn’t sure what to do with the whole her claiming to be pregnant with Dominic’s child until I had more information. But she wasn’t being particularly hostile, so I figured having a civil conversation with her won’t hurt.

She turned her head slightly, studying my face. “You’re handling it well.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “I don’t know if well is the right word.”

She smiled faintly. “Surviving, then.”

That felt closer to the truth.

Silence stretched again. Alessia was good at that, letting quiet do the work for her.

“Dominic’s been very busy,” she said casually.

“Yes,” I agreed. “Work’s been intense lately.”

She hummed softly. “More than usual.”

goy Things on waily

The way dhe ata te svart ke the data befene

I hate gently on the “You and a fate w

the wood her head. The you learned not to underestimate how long certain

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the waxed hand requery, “Complications Comerquences”

The words work weder my skin. Of coune, there were. I knew it was why Dominic had been so busy. But I didn’t know the text of it. He wouldn’t tell me. Maybe if I played dumb, Alevia would tell me?

As much as it dang me to admit, the was more involved in his work than I’d ever been. She definitely knew more than I did I knew she was prchubky wernally tjoding dout that, but in that moment, I didn’t care. All I cared about was getting some

answers

thonge everything from that night was handled,” I said carefully.

Oh Newa and whtly. I’m sure it was

I studied her profile, the smooth calm of her expression, the way she chose her words with surgical care. Did she not know either, or was she simply pretending not to? Maybe Dominic had told her not to tell me anything?

“You don’t sound very sure, I tried again, hoping she would slip and say something more.

She turned towards me then, her gaze steady. “Dominic is very thorough.”

That wasn’t reamurance.

That was deflection.

“I suppose he has to be,” I said.

“Yes,” she agreed. “Especially when there are people involved.”

“What kind of people?” I asked.

She smiled faintly. “The kind who don’t disappear just because we want them to.”

My heart gave a slow, heavy thud.

I forced my voice to stay light. “You’re being very vague.”

She laughed quietly. “Am I?”

“Yes.”

comes from spending time around men like Dominic,” she said. “You learn to speak around things instead of

Chapter 105

I stared ahead, the garden suddenly feeling too open, too exposed. “You make it sound like he’s been dealing with more than just meetings.”

Alessia hesitated.

Not long.

Just enough.

“He’s been under a lot of pressure,” she said. “Traveling. Visiting places that aren’t exactly pleasant.”

“Where?” I asked.

She shrugged. “Hospitals, for instance.”

The word landed like a stone dropped into still water.

Hospitals.

I turned to her sharply. “Hospitals?”

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