His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 214

14:53 Tue, Jun 30

Chapter 213

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I dropped into the chair in my office and sighed. “Well, apparently growing a human being is exhausting

“So I’ve heard.”

He sat across from me, watching me carefully now. “How are things otherwise?”

I knew what he actually meant.

How are things with Dominic? How anxious are you today? How close are you to losing your mind?

I leaned back slightly.

“Fine,” I said honestly. “Mostly.”

“Mostly?”

I twisted the ring on my finger absentmindedly. “I have my appointment this evening.”

His expression softened slightly. “The gynecologist one?”

I nodded. “And Dominic already informed me last night that he’s coming with me whether I like it or not.

He shook his head. “He’s a stubborn one.”

“Unfortunately so.”

But the truth was, a part of me was relieved. Even after everything, even with all the complications between us, I still wanted him there. Wanted him beside me during these moments.

And maybe that made me weak.

Or maybe it just made me human.

Luca crossed one ankle over his knee. “And what about Alessia? Is that still an issue?”

I sighed quietly. I’d told Luca about her earlier and how she made me feel. “She’s still making me anxious.”

His expression hardened immediately. “She came back to Milan again.”

It was not a question. News traveled quickly around me apparently.

I nodded all the same.

Luca muttered something under his breath in Italian that definitely wasn’t polite. “I can talk to her for you.”

I blinked. “What?”

“She clearly doesn’t understand boundaries,” he said flatly. “Maybe someone should explain them.”

Despite myself, warmth bloomed in my chest.

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Chapter 213

Because it was sweet. Ridiculous. Probably unhelpful. But sweet.

I shook my head quickly. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Isa-”

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“I mean it,” I interrupted gently. “The last thing I need is you getting dragged into Dominic’s complicate mess even more than you already are.”

Luca looked unconvinced. “I don’t trust her.”

The simple honesty in his voice tightened something in my chest.

Because neither did I, not even a little.

“I know,” I said quietly.

And God, I was tired of feeling like I constantly had to justify that fear to people. Tired of explaining inst I couldn’t fully prove. Tired of feeling irrational when every part of me screamed otherwise.

Luca studied me for another moment before sighing.

“Fine,” he muttered. “But if she ever upsets you enough to cry again, I reserve the right to become violent

I snorted softly. “Very reassuring.”

“I’m serious.”

“That’s the concerning part.”

A knock sounded on the office door before he could reply.

Then, Dominic walked in.

And for one brief second, the room shifted.

It always did when he entered. Annoyingly. Dangerously.

He wore dark trousers and a charcoal shirt today, the sleeves rolled up just enough to expose his forearms, and I hated that my brain still noticed things like that immediately.

His eyes found mine first. “You ready?”

Straight to the point. Classic Dominic.

Luca leaned back in his chair slowly.

“You know,” he said dryly, “normal people usually say hello before kidnapping pregnant women from work.”

Dominic didn’t even look at him. “I’m not normal people.”

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Chapter 213

Unfortunately true.

I stood up before the testosterone levels in the room became medically concerning.

“Let’s go.”

The drive to the clinic felt quieter than usual. Not uncomfortable. Just softer.

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And Dominic seemed calmer today too. Less tense. Like he had left some part of his anger behind somewhere.

He glanced towards me briefly while stopping at a red light. “You nervous?”

“A little.”

That was an understatement.

Because every appointment still terrified me. Every single one. The irrational fear that something would wrong never fully left.

Dominic seemed to sense it immediately. He reached across the console and took my hand gently. “We’re okay.”

The certainty in his voice wrapped around me slowly. It was dangerously comforting.

“You don’t know that yet.”

“I do.”

I looked at him. “How?”

“Because I said so.”

I laughed softly despite myself. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet you continue tolerating me.”

Barely.

But I didn’t say that.

Because the truth was, I liked moments like this too much. Us in a car. Talking quietly. Hands touching,

Pretending life wasn’t impossibly complicated.

Pretending we were just another couple heading to a gynecologist’s appointment together.

God.

That thought alone almost made me emotional

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Chapter 213

The room was dimly lit when the technician finally started the ultrasound.

I lay back against the examination bed, trying not to overthink every movement she made.

Dominic stood beside me quietly, close enough that I could feel his presence constantly.

The technician smiled softly. “There we are.”

Then, sound filled the room. Fast. Steady. Tiny.

My breath caught.

Oh. Oh God.

The baby’s heartbeat.

For one second, I genuinely forgot how to breathe.

Beside me, Dominic went completely still.

I turned instinctively. And the expression on his face nearly destroyed me.

Wonder. Pure, overwhelming wonder. Like the world had stopped turning for him too.

“That’s…” I whispered.

The technician smiled. “Strong and healthy.”

Strong and healthy.

Tears burned unexpectedly behind my eyes. Dominic’s hand tightened around mine. And when I looked at him again, his eyes were shining too.

God.

“We made that,” he said quietly.

The awe in his voice cracked something open

inside me.

A helpless laugh escaped me through the sudden emotion. “Yes,” I whispered.

We did.

For a moment, nothing else existed..

Not Alessia. Not fear. Not the mafia. Not complications.

Just us.

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Chapter 213

And this tiny heartbeat connecting us together again.

Dominic leaned down slowly and pressed a kiss against my forehead.

Tender. Careful. Reverent.

And my heart broke a little because of how much I still loved him.

*

ร

By the time we stepped outside the clinic, the evening air felt cooler against my skin. Lighter somehow.

Like maybe things could still be okay.

My phone rang before the thought could fully settle.

Maria.

I smiled faintly and answered immediately.

“Hi-”

“Isa.”

Something in her voice made my stomach drop instantly.

Cold. Sharp. Wrong.

I stopped walking.

Beside me, Dominic immediately noticed the change in my expression.

“What happened?” he mouthed silently.

My fingers tightened around the phone. “Maria?”

“I-I can’t find Mateo.”

Everything inside me stopped.

“What?” My voice barely sounded human.

“He was right beside me and then-”

The rest of her words blurred into static inside my head. Because suddenly I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think Couldn’t hear anything except one terrifying sentence repeating over and over inside my skull.

Mateo is gone.

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Chapter 214

Chapter 214

Isabella’s POV

The world stopped Maria’s words registered in my mind, everything inside me going cold so fast that it physically hurt.

“What do you mean you can’t find him?” I whispered.

Beside me, Dominic had already gone rigid.

Maria sounded panicked on the other end.

“He was in the play area downstairs, Isa. I stepped away for just a moment to use the washroom and when came back-”

My vision blurred.

No.

No no no.

Not Mateo.

Not my baby.

“When did this happen?” Dominic demanded sharply beside me.

I could barely hear him over the roaring panic in my ears.

Maria continued frantically. “I’ve looked everywhere here already. I thought maybe he went upstairs somehow but he’s not-”

I ended the call before she could finish.

Then I turned towards Dominic.

And something inside me snapped.

“This is your fault.” The words exploded out of me before I could stop them.

Dominic blinked once. “What?”

“This is your fault!” I shouted louder. “Mateo is missing because of you!”

His expression hardened immediately. “Isa-”

“No!” My chest heaved violently now. “I told you! I told you something was wrong with her!”

People outside the clinic were staring now.

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Chapter 214

I didn’t care. I couldn’t care.

My son was missing.

“She keeps following him around and showing up everywhere and you keep defending her!”

Dominic’s jaw tightened sharply. “How are you so sure Alessia has anything to do with this?”

I stared at him like he had lost his mind. “Are you serious right now?”

“Yes, I am!”

“In all the time we’ve lived here, nothing like this has happened!” I shouted. “Now Alessia is back in Mila suddenly Mateo disappears! Isn’t it obvious who took him?”

His expression flashed with anger then too. “You are making assumptions without proof.”

I laughed shakily.

Oh God.

He was still defending her.

Even now.

“You know what?” I snapped. “I don’t have time to argue with you when my son is missing.”

I turned immediately. Ready to leave. Ready to run around the entire city on foot if I had to.

But Dominic grabbed my wrist firmly.

“Isa.”

“Let go

of me.”

“Get in the car.”

I jerked against his grip angrily. “I said let go-

“We’ll get there faster in the car.”

The words cut through the panic enough to make me pause.

Because damn him, he was right.

And Mateo mattered more than my anger.

Always.

I yanked my hand away anyway before storming towards the parking lot.

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Chapter 214

Dominic followed close behind.

*

se ve

The drive back felt endless.

I could barely breathe properly.

Every horrible possibility kept flashing through my mind one after another. What if someone had take What if he was scared right now? What if he was crying for me?

What if-

No.

No.

I clenched my trembling hands together hard.

Think. Not panic. Think.

But panic kept swallowing every rational thought whole.

Beside me, Dominic was on the phone already.

“Marco.”

His voice had gone cold, deadly calm, the kind that always terrified other people.

“Get the CCTV footage from the building exits immediately.”

A pause.

about anything else.

my baby be okay.

heart practically battered against my ribs.

ne moment we reached the apartment building. I practically ran towards the play area downstairs. Maria stood there looking pale and frantic. The second she saw me, tears filled her eyes. “Isa. I’m so sorry

14:54 Tue, Jun 30

Chapter 214

“Where was he last?” I interrupted immediately.

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She pointed shakily towards the little play area. “He was playing football with some other boys and I step away only for a minute-”

“A minute?” I repeated sharply.

Guilt flooded her face instantly.

“I know, I know, I shouldn’t have left him alone-”

I closed my eyes briefly.

No.

This wasn’t helping.

Losing control wouldn’t help Mateo.

I forced myself to breathe.

Think.

“Did anyone see him leave?”

Maria shook her head quickly. “No.”

Dominic was already several feet away barking orders into his phone. “Check every exit. Every staircase. Every camera angle.”

A pause.

Then, “What do you mean he hasn’t left?”

I turned instantly.

Dominic looked at me. “He’s still inside the building.”

Relief hit me so hard my knees almost gave out.

Still here. Still close.

Okay.

Okay.

That was good.

That meant he was reachable. Findable. Safe. Probably safe.

I wrapped my arms around myself tightly.