His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 220

Chapter 220

Chapter 220

Isabella’s POV

After coming back from the hospital, I’d taken deliberate care to calm myself down. Mateo being right in front of me had helped greatly too, I realised. Having him running around, fussing over me and being his usual cheerful self made my mood lighten up. And I also wasn’t constantly worried about his safety when he was right in front of me.

I’d also taken a few days off of going to the office, choosing to work from home instead.

After talking to the doctor, I realised I needed to prioritise myself and my baby above all else. So I was doing everything in my power and then some to feel as calm and relaxed as possible.

It was also why when Dominic suggested we go for a vacation, I hadn’t put up too much of a fight. I too felt like a vacation and some time away from the chaos that was life would be good for me. Which was how I found myself sitting in the passenger seat of Dominic’s car that Friday evening.

The first thing that made me suspicious was how cheerful Dominic was. The second was that he refused to tell me where we were going.

“You’ve been smiling for the last hour.”

Dominic glanced at me from the driver’s seat. “That’s generally considered healthy.”

“Not for you.”

Mateo immediately snorted from the backseat.

I twisted around. “Don’t encourage him.”

“He’s right though,” Mateo said.

“Traitor.

“My favorite kind,” Dominic said.

I groaned.

The two of them exchanged a look. The kind they always did when they were teaming up against me.

“I hate both of you.”

“No, you don’t,” Mateo said confidently.

Unfortunately, he was right

I sighed dramatically. “You’re still not telling me where we’re going?”

“No.”

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Chapter 220

“Is it a castle?”

“No.”

“A farm?”

“No.”

“A secret protection bunker?”

Dominic looked horrified. “That would be an extremely terrible vacation destination.”

“You probably own several.”

“I do not.”

“You absolutely do.”

Mateo gasped. “Can we visit one?”

“No.”

“See?” I pointed triumphantly. “He owns them.”

Dominic muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like a prayer for patience.

The further we drove from Milan, the lighter I felt. The city disappeared. And the tension disappeared with it. Soon rolling hills stretched endlessly around us. Vineyards. Olive groves. Tiny stone villages perched on distant hillsides.

Everything looked peaceful. Beautiful. Normal.

God.

I had forgotten how much I missed normal.

“We’re almost there,” Dominic said.

Mateo sat up straighter. “Does it have a pool?”

“Yes.”

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

“Can I swim?”

“We’ll see.”

“Can I drive a tractor?”

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Chapter 220

“No.”

“Can I look at a tractor?”

“Probably.”

Mateo pumped his fist. “Best vacation ever.”

I laughed softly.

Dominic smiled.

And for one brief moment, it felt like we were just a family going on a weekend getaway. Nothing more complicated than that.

The car finally turned onto a winding gravel road lined with lavender bushes.

My breath caught.

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Rows upon rows of vineyards stretched into the distance, golden sunlight bathing everything in a warm glow. And at the end sat a beautiful stone villa surrounded by olive trees.

“Oh.”

Beside me, Dominic looked entirely too pleased with himself. “Well?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Well what?”

“Do you like it?”

I stared at him. “You’ve been waiting to ask that.”

“Answer the question.”

“It’s beautiful,” I answered honestly, unable to keep the smile off my face. I didn’t realise this was exactly the kind of vacation getaway I wanted until it was right in front of me.

His smile widened. “There it is.”

“Don’t look so smug.”

“I’m absolutely going to look smug.”

Mateo was already halfway out of the car. “This place is huge!”

“Don’t break anything,” I called as he ran towards the villa.

“No promises!”

Dominic sighed. “Our child.”

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Chapter 220

“Definitely your child.”

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The silence hit me the moment I stepped outside the vehicle. Not empty silence. Peaceful silence. There was no traffic here, no crowds, no constant noise. Just wind moving through the vineyards. Birdsong. The distant hum of nature.

I hadn’t realized how desperately I’d needed this until now.

Dominic noticed immediately. Of course he did. His expression softened. “Better?”

I looked around slowly. Then nodded. “Better.”

Something warm flashed through his eyes.

The villa was even more beautiful inside with its warm stone walls and wooden beams. Large windows overlooking the vineyards, the lush greens providing a sense of serenity.

Everything felt welcoming. Comfortable. Like somewhere people actually lived. Not a hotel but a home.

I started reaching for my suitcase, inly for Dominic to grab it first.

I frowned. “I can carry my own suitcase.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you carrying it?”

“Because you’re pregnant.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m pregnant, not dying.”

“According to every pregnant woman I’ve ever met, those are surprisingly similar experiences.”

I smacked his arm.

Mateo cackled from the staircase. “Mom hit you.”

“I noticed.”

“You deserved it.”

“Thank you, Mateo.”

He simply giggled before disappearing upstairs, eager to explore the entirety of the villa.

A few minutes later Dominic appeared beside me again. “Come with me.”

That instantly made me suspicious. “Why?”

“It’s a surprise.”

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“Those words never end well.”

“They do today.”

I followed him upstairs.

The closer we got to a room, the more nervous he seemed. Which immediately made me nervous too.

Then he opened the door.

And I froze.

Photographs covered the entire wall. Hundreds of them.

A younger version of us.

Our wedding.

The few family gatherings we had attended together years ago.

Then there were pictures of Mateo as a baby. His birthdays. Holidays I had taken with him.

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Then some random pictures of me, Dominic and Mateo from our days in Florence. I hadn’t even realised he had taken those until now.

The wall was full of memories. Years and years of happy memories. It was almost as if I was looking back on all the happy moments of my life in one go.

And right in the center, was the ultrasound picture.

Our baby, framed carefully and surrounded by soft lights.

My vision blurred immediately.

“Oh.”

For once, Dominic looked uncertain. “I know it’s probably stupid-”

“It’s not stupid.” My voice cracked.

He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “I just wanted….” His eyes found mine. “I wanted to show you that this is what I’m fighting for. Us. Together. I know there’s a lot I missed because of my own stupidity. But not anymore.”

My heart broke a little at his words because I believed him. Maybe that was the problem. I believed in him a little too much.

God.

I crossed the room before I could stop myself. Then wrapped my arms around him.

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For a second he went completely still.

Then held me back tightly and carefully. Like I was something precious.

“I love it.”

His relief was immediate. “Yeah?”

I laughed softly. “Yeah.”

A grin spread across his face. A real one. The one he rarely showed anyone. The one that always made my stomach flip.

That evening we ate dinner outside beneath strings of golden lights.

The sunset painted the vineyards in shades of gold and amber.

Mateo spent most of dinner discussing his future. Specifically his plans to own a vineyard.

“And then I’ll sell grapes.”

“Excellent business strategy,” Dominic said.

“And I’ll have tractors.”

“Naturally.”

“And maybe dinosaurs.”

I blinked. “What do dinosaurs have to do with vineyards?”

Mateo looked at me like I was slow. “They’ll protect the grapes.”

Dominic nodded solemnly. “That’s actually genius.”

“Oh my God.”

The two of them high-fived and I wanted to disown them both.

A little later Mateo ran inside to get dessert he’d forgotten existed five minutes earlier, leaving Dominic and me alone.

The vineyards stretched around us. The air was cool. Peaceful.

And Dominic was watching me. Again.