His Merciless Redemption novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Isabella’s POV

The ballroom where the party was at glittered like a galaxy made of chandeliers.

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Crystal, gold, the muted clink of champagne glasses made for the perfect backdrop for a night that was supposed to be celebratory. The merger between our companies was halfway done. A win I had bled for.

I should’ve been proud.

And I was. Besides, this was the first time our company was venturing overseas. It was big step. Which was why we had made sure to invite everyone who was anyone in the Florence art scene.

I’d spent the better part of the evening greeting all the attendees left and right, sometimes with Chiara beaming happily by my side, and sometimes with Luca smiling proudly.

Dominic wasn’t here yet, but my gaze kept straying to the door, waiting for him.

When he finally did, all gazes turned to him.

Dominic Russo didn’t just walk into a room, he occupied it. Eyes followed him like he was gravity and they were helpless bodies caught in his orbit. His tailored black suit, the open collar, the fitted pants, all screamed power and wealth like nothing else.

I swallowed hard and turned away.

I refused to be pulled back into old constellations.

“Isa?” Luca’s voice came warmly at my shoulder. “In case I didn’t say this already, you look beautiful. Really stunning.”

I chuckled lightly. “Only for the third time tonight.”

He laughed, too before offering his arm. I took it. We continued moving through the room then, greeting partners, clients, people I had worked years to build credibility with. I was finally back in my own skin again.

Until a chill crawled up my spine.

I felt him before I saw him.

Dominic was watching. From across the room, past the cluster of investors and executives, his gaze pinned me in place. Dark. Unreadable. Hungry.

My breath snagged.

He started walking, purposeful, and unwavering.

I almost didn’t want to greet him. I knew Chaira already had. But it was the merger with his company that had made all this possible, so I knew I had to.

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Chapter 68

Still, I turned back to Luca, stalling as long as possible.

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Besides, we were mid-conversation with a potential investor. It would be rude to just leave this conversation now to talk to someone else. That was when a shadow fell across our circle.

“Isabella,” Dominic’s voice slid in, low and smooth. “A word?”

It wasn’t a question.

Luca stiffened beside me. I forced a polite smile. “Actually, we were in the middle of—”

Dominic’s hand brushed my lower back. Barely there. Possessive. My pulse spiked with equal parts fury and something I didn’t want to name.

“I’m sure they won’t mind,” he said, eyes never leaving mine. “It’ll just take a moment.”

The group exchanged glances, intimidated without fully knowing why. I excused myself through clenched teeth. Dominic escorted me a few steps away.

“What are you doing?” I hissed.

His mouth slanted in a near-smirk. “Enjoying the party.”

“By hijacking my conversations?”

His gaze flickered over my shoulder to Luca. “I wasn’t aware I needed permission to speak to you. Besides, I’m the CEO of the company you’re merging with. As the main lead of the project, shouldn’t you have greeted me already? But no, you’re busy roaming around with Luca.”

“Don’t make this about Luca. I was going to greet you after I was done talking to them,” I said. “But what you did just now, practically pulling me away like that was you being rude.”

He leaned in, breath warm against my ear. “I was just greeting you. Besides, you look too ravishing to be standing around men like him.”

Irritation thrummed through my veins, my mind latching onto the way he had just insulted Luca instead of the compliment he had given me. I stepped back. “I will stand next to whosoever I please.”

Something like irritation, or jealousy, flashed in his eyes.

Before I could press further, the band shifted melodies, becoming slow, dark, and velvet-rich.

Dominic extended a hand.

“Dance with me,”

“I don’t-”

“Just one,” he said softly. “Please.”

The please did something to me I wasn’t prepared for. Against my better judgment, I placed my hand in his

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Chapter 68

and let him lead me to the floor.

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His palm settled at my waist while his other hand guided mine up to his shoulder. We moved, like muscle memory had written us into each other long ago. My body remembered him, the cadence, the heat, the way we used to move in sync even when we were breaking.

“You look incredible,” he murmured.

I tried to curb the tremor in my chest. “Flattery won’t work on me.”

His thumb brushed my waist. “It’s not flattery if it’s true.”

I hated how easily his words slipped under my ribs.

Around us, people watched. Whispered. Wondered. I could hear fragments—

Why is she dancing with Mr Russo like that?

Are they a couple?

Is this even appropriate for a formal gathering like this one?

I heard he was married, is she his lover, then?

Shame crawled up my throat like smoke. My heart thrashed.

Dominic leaned closer. “Breathe, bella.”

“Don’t call me that.”

He slowed our steps, searching my face. “What’s wrong?”

I laughed, brittle. “What’s wrong? Dominic, what are you doing? You say you want to protect Mateo. Fine. But what is this? The jealousy? The possessiveness?” My voice cracked. “You keep interrupting conversations like I belong to you.”

His jaw flexed. “Maybe I just don’t like other men touching what’s mine.”

My heart plummeted.

“I’m not yours.” The words scraped out of me, low and raw. “I’m not anything to you anymore. I don’t belong to you. I’m not even your wife-”

He stopped dancing.

Slowly, he lowered our joined hands, eyes searching mine like he was sure he’d misheard.

“What did you just say?” His voice wasn’t cold. It was wounded. Fractured.

“I’m not your wife,” I repeated, firmer this time, though still making sure I wasn’t loud enough to be heard by anyone but him. “I may have been once, but that ended years ago. You don’t get to act like you have any claim

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Chapter 64

His brows drew toythe, confinion dicing wross his feaven. We to you and i cubete i dobit and

My breath walled “Dominic-”

“We never filed anything,” His voice was frio with dateled “You deppered I thought you died Way would you think we were-“He took his bed hard, resping dower. “You are will my

My heart hammered to load I could barely hear

He didn’t know

He never got the papers

But why? How?

And he had remarried, right? How could he if he thought we were will marrie

But according to him, you were dead, Isabella. He was free to marry whomer be watred after the death of his wife. A voice at the back of my head whispered.

Right. He had planned the whole thing himself. He had warned me before leaving

I stumbled back, breath shuddering, realization crashing over me like a tidal wave.

All this time, he hadn’t know.

He still believed I was his.

But how could he, when he already had Alessia back home, waiting for him?

God, this was such a fucking mess.

“I need air,” I whispered.

And I walked away from him. Away from the music. Away from the gravity of a man who still believed we were tied together by vows I thought I’d severed. The same vows he had already taken with someone else.

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