His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Isabella’s POV

38

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The Sicilian morning spilled golden light into the villa, warm enough that it made the night before feel like a bad dream.

If only it were.

Mateo had bounded out of bed the second he smelled breakfast, dragging me along behind him with way too much energy for someone who had survived a near-kidnapping two days ago.

“Nonna! Nonna!” he cried, rushing into the sunlit kitchen.

Caterina beamed as she scooped him up, peppering his cheeks with kisses he pretended to hate but secretly loved.

“You’re hungry, sì?” she asked.

“Yes! Super hungry!” Mateo announced grandly.

I stood at the doorway, watching them, something warm and fragile stirring in my chest. Caterina caught my eye and smiled like she was grateful I existed, like us being here had suddenly given her a purpose in life.

I didn’t know how to accept that kind of love anymore.

But I tried.

After breakfast, Caterina took Mateo outside to play in the gardens. They chased butterflies. Fed the koi fish in the courtyard pond. Built tiny sandcastles in the garden’s sandbox until his curls were dusty and he was laughing so hard he had hiccups.

He had joy here.

He had family here.

And it terrified me.

Because what if he loved this place so much that he never wanted to leave?

What if this became home?

What if Dominic made sure it did?

I tried focusing on work with my laptop open, emails piling, Chiara checking in with gentle concern, but my eyes kept drifting to the empty doorway.

Dominic hadn’t shown himself once today.

Hours passed.

19:08 Thu, Jan 15

Chapter 31

The sun shifted.

Dinner prep began.

Still nothing.

:

My chest tightened with an unfamiliar kind of anxiety.

Not fear.

But absence.

I hated that I noticed. Hated that I cared.

(38)

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At one point, Caterina leaned against the doorway, wiping her hands on an apron, watching me stare toward the hall again.

“He’s out for work,” she said softly. “He will come back.”

I swallowed, pretending his absence didn’t matter. “I wasn’t asking.”

“Mmhmm.” She nodded, eyes knowing. “But you were wondering.”

I closed my laptop a little too forcefully.

“I’m just making sure Mateo feels safe here,” I muttered.

“I know,” she said gently. “And Dominic wants the same.”

I let that statement hang, not saying anything.

Because believing it still hurt.

Evening fell slowly, the sky streaked with pink and lavender. I was in the courtyard with Mateo when voices drifted in from the front entrance.

Familiar voices.

My stomach sank.

Dominic.

And Alessia.

They rounded the corner and came into view, talking, laughing lightly, their heads inclined in that easy way old friends do.

He noticed us first.

His expression shifted. A flicker of guilt. Or maybe caution.

19:08 Thu, Jan 15

Chapter 31

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But Alessia? She looked right at me and smiled with pure sugar.

“Isabella! You’re looking much better today.”

The urge to scratch that smile off her face was almost concerning.

B

(33)

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Caterina hurried out behind them, delighted. “Dominic! You’re home. And Alessia, cara, welcome. It has been too long.”

Of course she belonged here too.

She always had.

Alessia kissed Caterina’s cheeks. “I came to help Dominic with the business situation. You know how it is.”

Yes. I knew exactly how it was.

And even though Dominic tried to meet my gaze a few times, checking in, searching, I turned away every time.

He didn’t get the comfort of knowing where I stood. Not anymore.

Because part of me had thought, just for a moment, that maybe he really had changed.

But tonight?

Tonight reminded me of the truth- some patterns don’t break. They just go quiet until the next storm.

After dinner, Caterina took Mateo to show him where the stars reflected in the pool.

Dominic stepped closer then, a careful, hesitant approach. “Can we talk?”

“About what?” I asked coolly.

19:09 Thu, Jan 15

Chapter 31

38

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His jaw tightened, frustration and longing wrestling behind his eyes. “About us. About everything.”

I gave a humorless laugh. “Seems like you already have someone to talk to about everything.”

His gaze snapped to Alessia across the room, and then back to me, a flicker of panic hidden in it’s depth.

“It’s not what you think,” he said. “Alessia-”

“I don’t want to hear her name,” I cut in sharply.

Silence.

Thick and dangerous.

I took a slow breath, the kind that tasted like smoke and regret.

“I agreed to dinner,” I said quietly. “Don’t ask for more tonight.”

Dominic stepped back like I’d shoved him.

He swallowed hard. “I understand.”

And he did.

That was the worst part.

He understood he had broken something precious, and he didn’t know how to fix it.

I turned away before he could see the tears threatening to fall.

Because anger was easier than heartbreak.

And I was so, so tired of breaking.

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