His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Dominic’s POV

Isabella stepped back first.

The moment Alessia’s voice cut through the air, something fragile shattered between us. Isabella’s breath hitched, her eyes flicking away from mine as if she’d suddenly remembered where she was, and who I was.

“I should go, uh, check on Mateo,” she said quickly, already turning away.

She didn’t wait for my reply.

I watched her leave, the space she’d occupied still warm, still charged. Frustration curled low in my gut, not just at the interruption, but at myself. I’d been seconds away from crossing a line I wasn’t sure I had the right to cross anymore.

I exhaled slowly and turned to Alessia.

She was watching me closely. Too closely.

ed, keeping my tone carefully neutral.

seamlessly into business. “Its Florence. There’s been movement. Nothing urgent, but it

ourse it did.

We spoke briefly about routes Work was easy. Controlled

Unlike the woman who her eyes.

When we were

I told my

lines. I listened, responded, made decisions. I always could.

ay from me with damp hair and too many unspoken thoughts in

essia with a nod and left before she could say anything else.

kitchen because Mateo was there, not because I knew I’d find Isabella there,

too

sit.

ager again, circling hallways, pretending coincidence where there was clear intent. I my path, making sure I didn’t look like I was searching for her.

kitchen island.

e of the stools, freshly showered, hair still damp and curling slightly at the ends. She wore a w, but it didn’t matter. There was something about her like this, soft, and unguarded, that Pache.

H

aking animatedly about something bd missed

Asemanipull her into my arms. To kiss her like the world west

an with in teeth bared.

Thin, woning my hands on the counter

dermishani planets. And I finished my math early”

maine must be helping

mistad. Did you know that?”

should get her a present!”

an you help me? Mamma, you

too?”

mary this ine but warm.

each

fiest on

opping

inceste

eashells

The stool and running out of the kitchen.

and something in his gaze softened.

bou brought

to this world. You raised him. You made him be thours of when he heard of his nonna’s birthday wasiy

Chapter 43

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New User Rewnirds

His voice was steady, but there was something raw underneath it. I felt warmth pooling in my chest at the praise.

I knew in my heart that I’d done my best to raise Mateo into a kind, young man. But hearing someone else validate it, especially with that someone being his biological father loosened something within me.

“Thank you,” he said. “For that.”

I nodded. “You’re welcome.”

However, what happened in the past wasn’t too far away in my mind.

The memory rose unbidden, sharp, and ugly.

You didn’t want us once.

You accused me. You threatened me. You scared me so badly I had to run to save myself. To save us.

I remembered the explosion. The smoke. The fear that had hollowed me out.

You nearly killed us.

The anger flared, quick and hot, followed by the ache that always came after.

And yet, here he was now. Trying. Admitting fault. Showing up. Letting himself be seen in ways he never had before.

People could change.

But trust? That was slower.

Mateo burst back into the room then, basket in hand. “Come on! Before all the good shells are gone!”

He grabbed both our hands without hesitation and tugged us towards the doors.

Dominic glanced at me, questioning as if it was okay for us to do this together. I didn’t mind. It was only picking shells together, anyway.

I nodded once.

The beach stretched out before us, pale sand and scattered shells glinting in the late afternoon sun. Mateo ran ahead, already crouching to examine the ground like it was a treasure hunt.

I knelt beside him, picking up a smooth shell, brushing sand from its surface.

Dominic stood a few feet away, watching us.

I could feel his gaze, not heavy, not possessive. Just present.

It unsettled me more than if it had been anything else.

prerer Brementered set dd

the arrested faserly. “I forgone for an

Tharvied M

ell, and he added it to the basket with reverence

I didn’t know what we were building

A bracelet. A memory. A fragile bridge between what had been broken and what might still be powe All I knew was that I wasn’t ready to forgive him completely. Not yet. It was too soon, the past too raw But for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t walking away either.

red me almo

uch as it gave me hope.

AD