His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Dominic’s POV

I found Alessia by the east staircase, going through documents with one of the lieutenants. She dismissed the man qu smoothing down her blouse before turning towards me.

“Dominic,” she greeted, soft and composed. “Is everything alright?”

“Did you talk to Isabella today?” I asked, straight to the point.

For a moment, just a fraction, something flickered in her eyes. Then she smiled, gentle and concerned.

“Yes,” she said. “Maria mentioned she seemed a little out of sorts. Said you helped her upstairs last night since she was so drunk, and I worried. I only went to check on her. She seemed tired, that’s all.”

She looked genuinely troubled.

Of course she would check. Of course she would worry. Alessia always had this steady kindness about her. She was reliable. Predictable. The one who remained when everything else fell apart.

Based on what Isa had been saying last night, she was jealous, I could see how it might happen. Alessia and I spent long hours working. She was always in my orbit. And Isabella, well, jealousy made people see ghosts.

Still, hearing her last night, the pain in her voice, it rattled me more than I liked. I didn’t realise how deeply she felt about this until she spoke about it like that last night.

“She’s upset,” I said quietly.

Alessia’s face softened. “She doesn’t understand you.

Whatever she said, I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

A short pause, almost too short.

world, Dom. Not like I do. You can’t blame her for feeling threatened

“You should go talk to her,” she added with a kind smile. “Make sure she knows she’s safe. Some women just need reassurance more than others.”

It wasn’t said cruelly. It was just matter–of–fact. Reasonable.

I nodded. “Yeah. I’ll talk to her.”

“Go,” she encouraged. “I’ll handle things here.”

I nodded before turning away.

When I reached outside, the sun was warm on the garden stones. Mateo’s laughter floated across the grass as Mara chased bubbles with him. The scene hurt in a way I couldn’t name, too quiet, and too peaceful, like I was on the outside looking in

And then I saw her.

Isabella sat on the bench, knees pulled close, slowly eating a cup of fruit. The sunlight wrapped around her hair like it had been waiting for her.

For a second, just a heartbeat. I let myself remember what it felt like to come home to that sight. To believe someone like her might actually be mine.

1/4

Then Furad mysli baward

Hey Laund

Si scapbed slightly spans anileong Tib You’re here

Just a fart Pompal Fold

Man spotted and spaniel over, colliding with my leg. “Dom bom look! Maria taught me to blow bubble

Tends!”

I pick

matically squeezing him close. “Two hands? That’s impressive”

husiastically it made me laugh, and Christ, it felt good. His joy felt good kelt right

at meet my eyes

said, setting him down gently, “why don’t you go show Maria again? I need to talk to your Mamma for a moment

aded and ran off

ence settled between us like fog.

I know you said you need space” I began. “But w

“No,” she said immediately, without looking

“Isa, just listen=”

“I said no. Dominic”

She stood to leave, fruit cup

“I want to explain abou

“Don’t,” she cut

“Why no

nch.

Ik about

y don’t.”

ping in her path.

mbling “I don’t want to hear it.”

yself. “You threw all of it at me while drunk and now won’t even hear me wober

ase apparently I can only talk when I’m drunk, right? That’s what you sand.”

She looked at me then, eyes sharp and wounded. “That Fin irresponsible That herause I’m * a drink? Shouldn’t go out? Shouldn’t have a life? Should never be anything other than Marco‘..

nd through my hair. “That’s not what I-

“I don’t want your explanation. I don’t want your reassurance I don’t want to be one more respe

nd I heard myself shap

load every feeling

damn thing wher

926

Chapter 60

Her breath hitched and every cell in my body knew I’d fucked up

“That’s not what I meant.” I said instantly

“But it’s what you said.”

Fuck.

“Isa, stop twisting my words-

“Oh, I’m twisting them?” she whispered. “You know what? Fine. I’ll stop”

The calmness in her tone scared me more than the anger.

“I already told you I need space, anyway, she said. Td like to leave, now?

She stepped past me, shoulders rigid, pulse visible at her throat

“Isa,” I called softly.

She stopped, but didn’t turn.

I swallowed. Hard.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

A beat of silence.

Then, she said, “But you did, anyway.”

And she walked away.

I stood there long after she was gone, trying to breathe around the weight in my chest.

I wanted to tell her that there was nothing romantic happening between me and Alessia. That we only work togan friends, that’s all.

But she wasn’t ready to hear a word of it.

Maria glanced over from where she was holding Mateo’s hand as he reached for bubbles. Her expression softened. She didn’t speak. Didn’t need to.

I had seen that look before.

My mother wore it the day Isabella left.

Inside the house, I found myself in the kitchen without remembering deciding to go there. My hands braced again the counter, breath shaking.

Why did every attempt to get closer end with us further apart?

Why did every step forward feel like the floor vanished beneath us?

Why did it feel like I was losing her all over again?–

I heard Mateo’s laughter from down the hall. The sound reached something in joe that hun, like a brise pressed too hard.

3/4

ell in my body knew I’d fucked up.

Jun up

what? Fine Fi uopfheid she whispered. “You know what? Fine. I’ll stop.”

nger

aerone scared me more than the anger.

d like to ly ave w I need space, anyway,” she said. “I’d like to leave, now”

her than past me, shoulders rigid, pulse visible at her throat.

Frolled softly.

She stopped but didn’t turn.

Iswallowed. Hard.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

A beat of silence.

Then, she said, “But you

did, anyway.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify