His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 166

Chapter 166

Isabella’s POV

Florence always had a way of welcoming me back gently.

The moment the car crossed the Arno and the familiar skyline unfolded with the Duomo rising proudly above the city, terracotta roofs glowing under the afternoon sun, something in my chest eased.

This was home. Not Sicily. Not even New York City where I’d spent most of

Florence had always been my place.

my early life.

Mateo pressed his face to the window beside me. “Mama, look! The big church!”

“The Duomo,” I said softly. “Yes.”

He grinned. “Can we go inside later?”

“Of course.”

His vacation had officially started the day before we left Sicily, and he had been vibrating with excitement ever since.

Milan.

I would tell him about Milan after the opening.

After everything was finished.

One milestone at a time.

The car pulled up outside the house.

Marco stepped forward immediately, opening the door.

“All secure,” he said quietly. He had come with us to Sicily as well, always a quiet presence that somehow made me feel safe, specially when it came to Mateo’s safety. I almost wanted to tell him to leave me be. That I didn’t want Dominic’s protection, but the thought of Mateo ever being in the slightest of danger and not having any security for him made me let him stay.

“Thank you,” I said to him.

He gave a brief nod before stepping aside so Mateo could jump out.

“Mama, race you!” he declared, already running towards the entrance where he hugged a waiting Maria happily,

I watched him go, a small smile tugging at my lips.

Chapter 166

Children recovered quickly.

I wished adults could do the same.

The past week had been difficult.

That was the polite word.

The honest word was brutal.

I had missed Dominic constantly.

It was in the smallest things, the instinct to reach for my phone when something quiet moments in the evening when my mind wandered straight back to him.

But I had made a promise to myself.

No calls. No messages. No reaching out.

He had chosen his path.

I had to choose mine.

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amusing happened, the

My phone had rung twice that week with his name on the screen. Both times my heart had nearly leapt out of my chest. Both times I had stared at the screen until the ringing stopped. It had taken everything in me not to answer, not to call him back afterwards.

But I hadn’t.

I had forced myself to be strong.

Work had helped.

The opening was approaching quickly, and the final preparations had demanded most of my attention.

Lighting adjustments. Press confirmations. Security coordination. Donor arrangements.

It had kept my mind busy, kept my heart from wandering too far into dangerous territory.

Still, Mateo had asked about Dominic a few times.

“Is Dominic still working?”

“Yes,” I would answer each time. “He’s busy,”

It wasn’t a lie. Not exactly,

Inside the house, Caterina was already removing her coat.

She paused in the hallway and looked around slowly.

Chapter 166

“Florence always smells like history,” she said softly.

I smiled faintly. “It does.”

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She turned towards me then, her expression gentle but thoughtful. “You must be excited for tomorrow’s opening.”

“I am.” And that was true. Despite everything, I was proud of the work we had done. This project had taken months of planning, years of dreaming. Of course, I was excited.

Caterina stepped closer. “I wish I could be there.”

My chest tightened slightly. “I know.”

Her eyes softened. “You understand why I have to attend Dominic’s engagement.”

“I do.” Of course, I did. Dominic was her son, her own blood. I would never ask her to choose between the two of us.

“I don’t want to go, but appearances matter,” she said, her reluctance showing through her words.

“They do,” I could only agree softly. Because what else was there to say?

She sighed, looking suddenly tired. “My heart isn’t agreeing with any of this.”

Neither is mine.

But I didn’t say that.

“Dominic may be going through with it,” she continued, “but it is breaking him inside.”

I didn’t respond.

Because the first thought that rose in my mind was sharp and bitter.

It’s breaking me too, more so than him. And I didn’t even get a choice in the matter.

But I swallowed the thought.

There was no point voicing it.

The past couldn’t be changed.

Caterina reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “I will try to come to your opening,” she said.

I looked up quickly, “You don’t have to.”

“I want to,” she insisted. “I want to see you shine.”

Something warm flickered in my

chest.

Chapter 166

“And Isabella?”

“Yes?”

“I am very proud of you.”

The words surprised me.

“For how you have handled everything.”

I nodded slowly.

“Thank you.”

But inside, a quiet voice whispered the truth.

You have no idea how I’m handling it.

Because on the outside, I was composed. Professional. Strong. Everything I was supposed to be.

But on the inside?

Inside I was still holding the pieces of a broken heart together with nothing but sheer willpower.

The next evening arrived faster than I expected.

The gallery was glowing with warm golden light when I stepped inside.

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Guests were already arriving in elegant dresses and dark suits. There was the soft murmur of cultured conversation all around.

Luca spotted me immediately and spread his arms wide.

“There she is!”

I laughed despite myself as he pulled me into a quick hug.

“You look like you haven’t slept in a week,” he teased.

“I haven’t.”

Chiara joined us moments later, practically bouncing with excitement. “Isa, the place looks incredible.”

I glanced around.

The restored fresco reproductions glowed under carefully designed lighting, Leonardo-inspired interactive installations filled the center gallery. Visitors moved slowly from room to room, absorbing centuries of history reborn.

“It really does,” I said softly.

Months of work, finally alive now.

“Ready for your speech?” Luca asked.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Guests approached constantly after that.

Museum directors. Art critics. Donors. Cultural ministers.

Hands were shaken. Compliments exchanged. Photographs taken.

“This project is extraordinary.”

“You’ve created something truly special.”

“Florence needed this.”

I thanked them politely, smiling, answering questions.

At one point I noticed several members of the Russo Foundation team, people Dominic’s company had assigned to help support the project.

They greeted me warmly.

“Congratulations, Director.”

“Beautiful work.”

I returned the greetings graciously. No one mentioned Dominic. There was no need.

Everyone knew where he was tonight. At his own engagement ceremony. The grand Russo-Moretti alliance.

It had been important for him to attend this opening, too.

But it wasn’t shocking that he didn’t.

A small thought crept in.

If Dominic had truly wanted to come, he could have moved the date for the opening. His influence was powerful enough as the head of the company this whole project was in collaboration with.

But he hadn’t.

Perhaps it had been another moment of cowardice. Perhaps he wasn’t ready to face me either.

The thought lingered for only a second before I pushed it away.

I didn’t have time to dwell. I didn’t want to. The less I thought about him, the better.

People continued approaching, full of questions, compliments, invitations for future collaborations.

The evening flowed smoothly.

But beneath it all, there was a quiet ache.

A small, persistent emptiness I couldn’t quite shake. Because even while smiling at donors and discussing Renaissance philosophy with art historians, a part of me still searched the room.

Still hoped.

Maybe he’ll come. Maybe he’ll walk through the door. Maybe he’ll stop this madness before it’s too late.

And I hated that part of myself. Hated that even now, after everything, some fragile piece of my heart still believed in him.

Still wanted him to choose me.

I forced the thought away and turned back towards the guests waiting to speak with me.

Tonight was my night. My achievement. My moment.

And I refused to let longing ruin it.

Even if somewhere deep inside, I still missed him more than I wanted to admit.

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