His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 135

Chapter 135

Isabella’s POV

The kitchen looked like a disaster.

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Flour dusted the counters, streaked across Dominic’s black shirt, and somehow ended up in Mateo’s hair. The bowl sat between them like an opponent they were both determined to defeat.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Mateo announced very seriously.

Dominic narrowed his eyes at the whisk in his hand. “I’m following instructions.”

“You’re stirring too fast,” Mateo corrected. “Mama says slow circles. Not like you’re fighting it.”

I leaned against the counter, watching them, warmth spreading slowly through my chest.

“He’s right,” I said gently.

Dominic shot me a look. “Of course he is.”

Mateo beamed triumphantly. “See? Slow circles.”

Dominic adjusted immediately.

That was what undid me.

He adjusted.

Not defensively. Not with ego. Not with irritation.

But just because Mateo said so.

The sight of it felt almost unreal.

Five years ago, if someone had told me Dominic Russo would be standing in a sunlit kitchen, taking baking instructions from our little boy, I would have laughed in their face.

And yet here he was.

Flour on his cheek.

Listening.

Present.

Mateo cracked an egg with exaggerated focus. It slipped slightly and a bit of shell dropped in.

He froze.

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Chapter 135

Dominic didn’t scold him.

He gently fished the shell out and said, “That happens to the best of us.”

Mateo grinned.

I swallowed hard.

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This right here was everything I had built my life around when I left him. Stability, Kindness. Safety.

And Dominic fit into it with frightening ease.

Was it always meant to be like this? I wondered.

Had we lost years because we didn’t know how to stand still long enough to see each other properly?

“Mamma,” Mateo called, tugging at my sleeve. “Taste this.”

I leaned forward obediently and dipped my finger into the batter.

“Perfect.” I declared.

Dominic leaned in too. Our shoulders brushed. It was such a small contact, but it sent something steady through me.

We weren’t explosive.

We weren’t dramatic.

We were normal.

And I hadn’t realized how much I missed normal.

When the cake went into the oven, Mateo leaned against Dominic’s side without thinking. Dominic stiffened for half a second, like he didn’t trust himself to deserve it, then rested his hand gently on Mateo’s shoulder.

My throat tightened.

He didn’t try to correct him.

He didn’t pull away.

He simply stayed.

And something inside me whispered that this is what it should have been like all along.

Later, when we reached the back garden for Mateo’s party, it looked like something out of a storybook by the time the guests arrived.

Streamers swayed between trees. Rocket–shaped balloons floated above the tables. The grass glowed golden in the late afternoon light.

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Chapter 135

Murers ran arross the laven the second his friends arrived, shouting greetings, laughter bursting out of him like

contained

I annd dear the patio, watching him. my heart so full it almost hurt.

I had done this alone for years.

Decorated alone Planned alone. Cleaned up alone.

I never let myself feel the weight of it back then. I was too busy surviving.

standing here. I realized how much of myself I had poured into building this safe, joyful world for him.

And Dominic stood beside me.

Vor overshadowing it

Nor controlling it

Just present

As if he couldn’t believe he had been allowed into this moment.

And I realized something that shook me, that he wasn’t forcing his way into our family.

He was trying to earn his place in it.

“Maers” one of Mated’s inends shouted

Mako ran to greet them, nearly tripping over his own excitement.

Locis afved with a wide smile and a gift bag, Mateo threw himself into her arms.

I masend your

cm we that the laughed

Chiara wppened next, carrying a nearly wrapped box. “Director of Curation approves of this event.” she said

Loop last, holding a suspiciously large package. “This one required tools.”

bottite tamed an eyebrow “Should I be worried?

Pravy Tab reghand dryly. It was clear Dominic didn’t like him, and I could say the same for Luca now,

They were trying to be civil today for Mateo’s sake..

th his friends with a warmth that felt almost overwhelming.

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Caterina and Maria sat comfortably under the shade, laughing as children ran past their chairs. Even Vittoria, Salvatore and Alessia remained distant but civil, observing from the patio without commentary.

Mateo opened gifts with dramatic commentary.

“This is amazing!”

“Ohhh this one is heavy!”

“Dominic, look at this!”

Dominic crouched beside him, smiling in a way I hadn’t seen in years.

Then Mateo unwrapped Luca’s gift, a small telescope, and gasped.

“So I can look at rockets in space?”

“Stars,” Luca corrected.

“Same thing,” Mateo decided.

Chiara’s gift was a beautifully illustrated book about explorers. Lucia had brought a handmade sweater.

Then Dominic handed Mateo a box.

Mateo tore into it.

Inside was a model rocket kit, intricate, detailed, and perfect. We had discussed about this in detail before getting him this particular model.

Mateo froze for a second.

“You remembered,” he said softly.

Dominic nodded. “You mentioned it once.”

Mateo looked up at him with something like awe.

“Thank you, Dominic.”

My chest tightened unexpectedly.

Not Papa.

Not yet.

But something in Dominic’s expression told me he didn’t need the word right now.

He needed the trust.

And he was earning it

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Chapter 135

When it was finally time for cake, Mateo insisted all three of us carry it out together.

He stood between us, small hands gripping ours, leading us towards the table.

The candles flickered in the golden evening light.

Everyone sang loudly and off–key.

Maten closed his eyes before blowing them out.

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