His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 167

Chapter 167

Dominic’s POV

The room was suffocating.

That was the thought that kept repeating in my head as flashlights went off around us.

Too bright. Too loud. Too many people.

“Mr. Russo, one more photo please.”

I forced another smile.

Alessia’s arm tightened around mine as the photographer adjusted his angle.

“Perfect,” the man said cheerfully. “Closer together.”

Closer.

If only he knew how impossible that request actually was. I stepped half an inch nearer to Alessia anyway and the camera clicked again. Another photo. Another frozen moment of happiness that didn’t exist.

My jaw was starting to ache from holding the same polite expression for so long.

Every handshake felt mechanical. Every congratulation felt hollow.

“An incredible alliance,” someone said.

“A historic moment for both families.”

“A brilliant strategic decision.”

Strategic. They all loved that word. None of them had any idea what it had cost me.

Alessia leaned slightly closer as another guest approached. “You’re doing fine,” she murmured softly.

Fine.

If this was fine, I would hate to know what broken looked like.

She smiled brightly at the approaching donors, effortlessly graceful in the pale gold gown chosen for the evening. She looked beautiful. Radiant. Happy. Everything a woman should look like at her engagement celebration.

And I hated myself for noticing that I felt absolutely nothing when I looked at her.

“Dominic.”

My mother’s voice cut through the crowd.

I turned immediately.

She stood a few steps away, her expression composed but her eyes were anything but.

I stepped towards her. “You came.”

“Of course I came,” she replied quietly before looking around the room slowly.

The flowers. The champagne. The photographers.

“And this is what it has come to.”

There was no accusation in her tone. Just sadness.

“Mama-”

“You are not doing the right thing,” she said softly. “I know why you think you must do this.”

I didn’t respond.

“Duty,” she continued. “Responsibility. Protection.”

Her gaze met mine.

“But those things do not always justify the choices we make.”

My chest tightened.

“You think I don’t know that?” I said quietly.

She studied me for a moment longer. “I think you know it very well.”

Then she reached up and adjusted my tie slightly. “You look miserable.”

I almost laughed. “Appearances matter tonight,” I said.

She gave me a long look. “Yes,” she replied quietly. “They always seem to.”

Before I could answer, two familiar voices cut through the conversation.

“Dominic!”

Salvatore. And Vittoria.

My uncle and aunt approached with wide smiles.

“Magnificent evening,” Salvatore declared, clapping me on the shoulder.

“Absolutely magnificent,” Vittoria added. “The alliance was long overdue.”

My mother’s expression cooled slightly,

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Vittoria turned towards Alessia. “You look stunning, dear.”

“Thank you,” Alessia replied warmly.

Salvatore leaned towards me. “You made the right decision,” he said. “I know it couldn’t have been easy, considering your previous attachments.”

My jaw tightened.

Vittoria sighed dramatically. “That woman was never suited for this life anyway.”

I felt something cold and sharp snap

inside my chest.

“She was weak,” Vittoria continued. “Unstable. A liability for the family.”

“That’s enough,” I said quietly.

She blinked. “I’m just saying what everyone already knows-”

“I said enough.” My voice dropped lower, dangerously calm. “You will not speak about her like that.”

The room around us seemed to quiet slightly.

Salvatore raised his hands defensively. “No offense meant.”

“Then don’t say it again.”

Vittoria pursed her lips but said nothing further.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Alessia watching the exchange carefully. Something in her expression tightened. But instead of addressing it, I stepped back.

“I need to take care of something,” I said.

Salvatore frowned. “Now?”

“Yes.”

Alessia looked up at me. “You’re leaving our engagement party to go somewhere else?”

“Briefly.”

Her brows knit slightly. “Is everything alright?”

“It’s urgent,”

She hesitated. Then nodded slowly, “Don’t be long”

I didn’t answer.

Eduardo was already moving towards the exit when I reached the hallway.

“You’re serious about this,” he said quietly.

“Yes.”

“You realize how risky it is.”.

“I don’t care.”

He studied my face for a moment. Then nodded. “Let’s go.”

Florence was quieter than usual at this hour.

The gallery lights were still glowing when we arrived, late enough that the event was winding down. But not

over.

I stepped inside slowly.

The air felt different here. Warmer. Alive.

People moved through the galleries, voices softer now as the evening settled.

Art critics. Donors. Scholars.

And then, I saw her.

Isabella stood near the central installation, speaking to a small group of guests.

And for a moment, the entire world stopped.

She looked breathtaking.

Her dark hair fell softly over one shoulder. The deep emerald dress she wore caught the gallery lights perfectly, making her look like she belonged inside the exhibition itself. She looked radiant, confident. Alive.

My chest tightened painfully.

God, I had missed her.

More than I had allowed myself to admit.

Seeing her again felt like taking the first full breath I had managed since the day I walked away from her.

My body instinctively took a step forward,

I wanted to cross the room. Wrap my arms around her. Bury my face in her hair. Tell her everything. Tell her how much I missed her. Tell her how empty everything had felt without her.

But I didn’t move,

Because I knew I had no right,

I had chosen this. I had chosen a path that had pushed her out of my life.

And she had drawn her line clearly.

She would not be second.

“Dominic,” A voice broke through my thoughts.

I turned, only to see Luca standing a few feet away, his expression hard.

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to see her.”

“That’s exactly what you shouldn’t be doing.”

My jaw tightened. “I’m not here to cause trouble.”

“You already did that,” he replied sharply. “She doesn’t need you here tonight.”

My temper flared. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh I do,” Luca said coldly. “You led her on for months. Made her believe things were changing. And then you went and got engaged to someone else.”

“I never meant to hurt her.”

“But you did. Deeply.”

His words landed like a blow.

My chest tightened again.

“You should leave,” he continued quietly. “Before you ruin this night for her too.”

Anger burned in my veins, but Luca didn’t stop there.

“You know what the best thing about tonight is?” he added. “That she’ll be far away from you soon.”

My brows drew together.

“What are you talking about?”

“She’s going to Milan,” he said flatly. “With the next phase of the project.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

Milan?

“What?”

Chapter 167

“And I’ll be going with her,” Luca continued, watching my reaction carefully. “Its a fresh start for her.”

My mind spun.

Milan.

She hadn’t told me.

She hadn’t said a word.

“She deserves to be around a real gentleman for once,” Luca said coldly. “Someone who actually values her.”

The anger inside me flared hotter.

“Watch your words.”

“Oh, I mean them,” he said calmly. “Being with a good man should make a woman happy. Not miserable like you’ve been making her for years.”

The words cut deeper than he probably realized.

“And I’ll show her what being with a good man actually looks like.”

For a second, I couldn’t speak.

Shock and fury collided in my chest.

A million questions exploded in my mind all at once.

Milan?

Was she planning to leave Florence without telling me?

Was she running again?

Was she planning to disappear again?

Why hadn’t she said anything?

Why hadn’t she even spoken to me at all?

Did she hate me that much now?

“She hasn’t talked to you, has she?” Luca said quietly.

I didn’t say anything. And that was answer enough for him.

“Well,” he continued, “maybe that’s because she’s finally realized she’s better off without you.”

My jaw clenched. I was seconds away from punching his smug face. The only thing holding me back was the

fact that I didn’t want to create a scene right then. “You’re finished,” I gritted out,

“Am I?” Luca shrugged. “Because from where I’m standing, she’s about to start a new life. With people who actually treat her right.”

Anger burned in

my

veins.

But beneath it was something worse.

Fear.

Because if Isabella moved to Milan, the distance between us wouldn’t just be emotional anymore.

It would be real. Permanent.

“You should go,” Luca said finally. “Before the media catches you here.”

He was right.

If anyone photographed me here tonight, the consequences would explode across every news outlet within

minutes.

I looked across the room one last time.

Isabella was still there, laughing softly as someone congratulated her.

Beautiful. Alive. Out of reach.

My chest tightened painfully.

And suddenly I understood something with brutal clarity.

She was moving on.

Without me.

“Dominic,” Eduardo murmured quietly.

I nodded once.

Then turned towards the exit.

But as I walked away, one final thought settled firmly in my mind.

If Isabella thought she could simply disappear from my life again, she was wrong.

If she was going to ignore me, then I would make sure she couldn’t,