His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 236

Chapter 236

Isabella’s POV

92

#255 vouchers

The ride home from the hospital was quiet. It wasn’t uncomfortable or tense, just quiet. The kind of silence that comes after you’ve cried so much there are simply no tears left for the moment.

I sat beside Dominic in the backseat, staring out of the window as Milan drifted past in a blur of buildings, people, and ordinary lives.

Everything looked so normal, so unchanged. As though the world hadn’t shifted on its axis a few days ago. As though a future hadn’t disappeared. As though my heart wasn’t carrying around a grief so heavy that it felt physical.

Beside me, Dominic remained silent, not pushing or trying to fix anything, just present.

And strangely enough, that was exactly what I needed.

The counselor had been right. The grief wasn’t gone, not even close. But somehow it felt less sharp. The loss still felt devastating, still unbearable at times. But less like it was actively tearing me apart every second.

My thoughts drifted again, back to the baby, back to everything we’d lost. And then to something else. Something I’d never considered until I talked to the grief counselor today.

A warm hand slipped into mine, distracting me. I looked down as Dominic’s fingers intertwined with mine naturally like they belonged there.

Then he turned slightly towards me. “What are you thinking about?” His voice was soft and careful.

I stared down at our joined hands. Then finally answered. “We never named the baby.”

The words hung heavily between us.

Immediately, I saw something flash across his face. It was pain, the same pain I felt every time I thought about them. Our baby.

The baby.

Even now I didn’t have a name to call them, just a loss, a memory, a future that never happened.

For a long moment Dominic didn’t say anything. Then his fingers tightened gently around mine. “We should.”

I blinked. “What?”

“We should name them.”

The answer came so easily that I found myself staring at him.

Some irrational part of me had expected him to dismiss the idea, to tell me there wasn’t much point, that we hadn’t even known the gender. That we hadn’t gotten that far.

1/6

11:25 Fri, Jul 10

Chapter 236

But he didn’t.

92

7.35 vouchers

Instead he looked out the window briefly. Then back at me. “We’ll just choose something gender–neutral since we don’t know the gender.” His voice softened further. “Something beautiful.”

Something inside me cracked, not painfully this time but a tender, sweet ache. Because once again, he understood without me having to explain, without me having to fight or justify why it mattered.

A tiny smile tugged at my lips at his simple response. Dominic noticed immediately. And smiled back.

Then his expression changed. The smile faded. His gaze dropped.

For a second it looked as though he’d forgotten how to breathe.

“I already had a few names in mind.” The confession was quiet, almost reluctant.

And suddenly I understood that he hadn’t just imagined this baby. He’d loved them deeply, completely. The realization devastated me.

Because I’d spent so much time consumed by my own grief that I sometimes forgot he was grieving too.

He had lost a child too.

I squeezed his hand gently, the way he’d done for me so many times over the past few days.

His eyes lifted to mine, a silent understanding passing between us.

Then he smiled sadly. “We should ask Mateo too.”

I laughed softly, a watery laugh. The kind grief often produced. “Mateo?”

“He was already planning football lessons.”

The memory made my chest ache. But somehow in a sweet way. “He was.”

Dominic nodded. “He might not fully understand what’s happened.” His voice became quieter. “But it was his sibling too.”

I swallowed. Then nodded. “You’re right.”

After a moment I added, “And Caterina.”

His expression softened immediately. “Definitely.”

The rest of the drive passed quietly.

But for a change, the silence felt peaceful rather than crushing.

When we finally arrived home, I barely had time to step through the front door before a familiar voice shouted. “Mama!”

2/6

11:25 Fri, Jul 10

Chapter 236

My heart squeezed as Mateo came barreling towards me at full speed.

I laughed despite myself. Then crouched down and opened my arms.

92

255 vouchers

A second later, he crashed into them, the force nearly knocking me over. “I missed you.” His words came out muffled against my sho

“I missed you too.”

And God, I ha

Behind hi

Mari

eat

uld explain. More than I’d even realized.

and Maria. Both women looked relieved to see me.

pulling me into a careful hug. “I’m so sorry.” The words were whispered against my There wasn’t really anything else to say.

Thank you.”

daway, Caterina immediately moved in, not hugging me, just cupping my cheek briefly in a ne mother comforting another.

oped her hands lightly. “Enough standing around.”

mediately perked up. “Yes!” The enthusiasm startled all of us. “Nonna made all your favorite food.”

puffed up proudly. “And I helped.”

dan eyebrow. “You did?”

course.” His expression suggested I should’ve known better than to doubt him. “I stirred things.”

minic snorted.

ateo glared at him. “Very

smiled. “Then thank

is grin returned

ch was s table w

e anyone forgot what had happened. Nobody had. The grief sat at

d to coexist.

essert, Dominic cleared his throat.

spicious because that tone never meant anything good.

11:25 Fri, Jul 10

Chapter 236

Mateo looked up too. “What?”

92

55 vouchers

Dominic exchanged a glance with me. Then turned towards our son. “I was wondering if you wanted to help us with something.”

Mateo immediately sat up straighter. “With what?”

“We want to pick a name.”

The room became quiet. Mateo frowned. “For the baby?”

My chest tightened. “Yes.”

His expression softened immediately. “Oh.”

Dominic continued gently. “We don’t know if the baby was a boy or a girl. So we’re looking for a name that works for both.”

Mateo became very serious, dangerously serious, the kind of serious only children could manage.

He thought for nearly a full minute.

Everyone waited.

Then suddenly, his eyes widened. “I know one.”

I smiled. “Which one?”

astically. “My teacher told us about it.” He looked around proudly. “It’s a tree.”

tly. “It is.”

again. “And even when everything changes around it, it keeps growing.”

nce of his explanation nearly brought tears to my eyes.

ng.” He smiled. “And beautiful.”

ace settled over the table, emotional and heavy. Because somehow it felt perfect.

pen. Strong. Beautiful. Still growing.

looked towards Dominic.

His eyes were suspiciously bright. “That’s a beautiful name.”

Mateo beamed.

4/6

11:25 Fri, Jul 10

Chapter 236

Then Caterina quietly added, “What about Aspen Grace?”

I blinked.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify