His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 222

Chapter 222-

Chapter 222

Isabella’s POV

The vacation had been a mistake. A wonderful, beautiful, terrible mistake. Because now that it was over, I couldn’t stop. comparing everything to it.

The silence. The peace. The feeling of waking up and not immediately checking for danger. The feeling of being a family. Just a family.

Not Dominic Russo, mafia boss.

Not Isabella Bianchi, constantly looking over her shoulder.

Not Mateo, surrounded by security.

Just us.

And now we were back in Milan. Back to reality. Back to complications. Back to unfinished conversations.

I sat behind my desk staring at the museum plans spread across my table.

The opening was getting closer every day. Months of work, years of planning would soon finally be finished.

I should have been excited. Instead, my thoughts kept drifting elsewhere. To the vacation we had just had. To Dominic. To the future. Or lack thereof.

I leaned back in my chair and sighed.

The project was almost complete. After that, technically, I should return to Florence. That had always been the plan. But

now?

Now the thought filled me with dread.

Florence meant Alessia. Florence meant Dominic’s upcoming wedding. Florence meant the Vitellis. Florence meant complications I didn’t have the energy for anymore.

I looked down at my hand resting unconsciously on my stomach. The baby.

God.

Everything felt different now. Bigger. More important.

The vacation had reminded me of something dangerous. Something I’d been trying very hard not to think about. I still wanted Dominic. Not the chaos. Not the maña. Not the wedding drama. Not the enemies.

Just him.

Dominic Russo. The man who made me laugh. The man who built an entire wall of family photographs because he was terrified of losing me. The man who looked at me like I was the center of his universe.

I wanted hini.

And that was the problem. Because I didn’t know if I could ever have him without everything else that came attached.

I closed my eyes briefly.

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Chapter 222–

Maybe didn’t need to decide immediately. Mateo still had plenty of vacation days left. And maybe I could stay in Milan a few extra weeks after the opening.

That would give Dominic a le more time.

One last chance.

If things changed, if he actually managed to son everything out, then maybe there was still hope for us.

And if not?

Then I would leave. Not just Florence, but everything. Maybe another country. Maybe somewhere far away where nobody knew Dominic Russo’s name.

The thought made my chest ache.

Because even imagining a future without him still hurt.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in.”

The door opened and Luca stepped inside.

He took one look at me and smiled. “Well,”

I raised an eyebrow. “Well what?”

“You definitely look better.”

I laughed softly. “I feel better.”

And it was true. I did. The constant knot in my chest had loosened slightly, especially now that I knew Alessia wasn’t in Milan anymore. The fear wasn’t gone. But it wasn’t consuming me anymore.

Luca dropped into the chair opposite my desk. “The weekend getaway helped?”

“It did.”

His expression softened slightly. “I’m glad.”

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Then his eyes narrowed. “Things with Dominic are better?”

There was something in his tone, not anger exactly. But close.

I sighed. “Better, yes,”

“Fixed?”

“No.”

“Good”

I blinked. “Luca.”

“What?”

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Chapter 222.

gave him a look-

He leaned back in his chair. “I’m serious” The words were full of bitterness and frustration, something he’d been feeling for

a long time now over my situation with Dominic, “I’m tired of watching this happen.”

My stomach tightened. “Luca-”

“No.” He shook his head. “You keep giving him chance after chance.”

I looked away.

He continued, “He keeps trying. And he keeps hurting you.”

The words landed harder than I wanted them to. Because there was truth in them even if I didn’t want to admit it.

Luca sighed heavily. “Isa, all you ever see is him.”

I couldn’t help but laugh softly. Because maybe that was true too. “I love him.” The words came easily, naturally, like they always had.

Luca’s jaw tightened. “I know.”

“I see the effort he makes.” I looked down at my hands. “The things he does for us. The things he sacrifices.”

Luca looked unconvinced. “And what about the things he keeps bringing into your life?”

I frowned. “What does that mean?”

“The stress. The danger. The drama.” His voice softened. “You deserve better than constantly worrying.”

I looked at him carefully. “That’s not all Dominic.”

“No.” Luca admitted reluctantly. “But it’s always around him/

Silence stretched between us.

Then I shook my head. “I can’t just walk away.”

“Why not?”

I stared at him. Because that answer felt obvious. Because I loved him. Because Mateo adored him. Because we’d made another baby together. Because despite everything, he was still the person I wanted to call when something good happened. Or something bad. Or something funny. Or nothing at all.

I loved him.

And unfortunately, love wasn’t logical.

“You’re being stupid.”

I laughed. “Am I?”

“You are.”

“I’m not.”

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Chapter 222-

You absolutely are.”

“I’m pregnant.”

“That’s not a defense.”

I burst out laughing. And finally Luca smiled too. A rehuactant one. But still a smile.

Eventually he sighed defeatedly. “Fine.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Fine?”

“You’ll do whatever you want anyway.”

“Probably.”

“I just hope you don’t get hurt again.”

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. I reached across the desk and squeezed his hand.

“Thank you.”

He shook his head.

Then immediately changed the topic.

“So. About the opening.”

And just like that, we were back to work. Hours passed quickly afterwards. Emails. Meetings. Final approvals. The usual

chaos.

At some point my phone buzzed.

I smiled immediately when I saw Dominic’s name.

Dominic: Have you eaten lunch?

I rolled my eyes.

Me: Yes.

Dominic: Properly?

Me: Yes.

Dominic: That’s suspiciously fast.

Me: I promise I consumed vegetables.

Dominic: I don’t believe you.

A smile tugged at my lips.

Another text arrived.

Dominic: I miss you.

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Chapter 222

That man

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end

Me: It’s been six hours.

Dominic: A tragedy.

I shook my head, smiling like an idiot.

A few minutes later another thought occurred to me.

Me: Can you tell Marco to relax a little?

The reply came instantly.

Dominic: No.

Me: Dominic.

Dominic: It’s for your own good.

Me: It feels suffocating.

Three dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared again. I smiled. Because I knew he was struggling.