His Ruthless Redemption (Isabella and Dominic) novel Chapter 245

Chapter 245

Chapter 245

İsabella’s POV

A soft tap against a champagne glass drew everyone’s attention towards the small stage at the front of the hall.

Chiara stepped up to the tnicrophone, smiling as the conversations gradually faded into silence.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” she began warmly, “thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate the opening of Renaissance Reborn. Every project has a team behind it, but every once in a while, someone comes along whose passion quietly carrie everyone else through the difficult days.”

She looked directly at me. “Tonight, that person is Isabella Bianchi.”

Applause filled the hall, heat rushing to my cheeks as Chiara gestured for me to join her.

“I think we’d all love to hear a few words.”

I smiled nervously before making my way to the stage.

ది

Looking out across the room, I recognized so many familiar faces.

Chiara.

Luca.

Maria.

Caterina with Mateo standing proudly beside her.

And Dominic, standing a little apart from everyone else, watching me with unmistakable pride.

I instinctively touched the pendant resting against my collarbone before taking a quiet breath.

“When we first began working on Renaissance Reborn,” I started, “I don’t think any of us truly understood how much this project would come to mean to us.”

A few smiles appeared throughout the audience.

“It wasn’t simply about restoring beautiful works of art. It was about preserving stories. About protecting pieces of history so that people decades from now can stand where we’re standing tonight and feel connected to those who came before us.” I paused briefly. “There were days when we thought we’d never make the deadline.”

That earned a ripple of knowing laughter.

“There were unexpected problems.” I smiled catching Luca’s eye. “Many heated debates, and more cups of coffee than I care to admit.”

Another laugh rolled through the room.

“But every challenge reminded me of something.”

I took another slow breath.

“Beautiful things are rarely created without patience. They take time. They take care. And sometimes, they ask more of us than we ever expected to give.” My voice softened. “I’m incredibly grateful to every single person who worked on this project. To Chiara for believing in an idea before it even existed. To Luca for standing beside me through every impossible deadline. To every member of our team who refused to settle for anything less than excellence.”

Chapter 245

My eyes drifted towards Dominic.

“And to the people who quietly supported me when no one else could see how much I needed them.”

For the briefest moment, our eyes met. He gave me the smallest nod.

“Thank you all,” I finished quietly. “I hope that when you leave tonight, you don’t simply remember the art. I hope you remember why preserving beauty matters in the first place.”

The applause that followed seemed to last forever.

When I stepped down from the stage, a small pair of arms immediately wrapped around my waist. “Mama!”

I laughed, hugging Mateo tightly. “What did you think?”

“I think…” He looked up at me with complete seriousness. “…. that you’re the smartest person here.”

The adults around us laughed.

I brushed his hair back affectionately. “That’s a very biased opinion.”

“No.” He shook his head confidently. “You made all this.”

“Not by myself.”

“But you helped the most.”

His certainty made my eyes sting unexpectedly. I kissed the top of his head. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Caterina smiled warmly. “I think we all agree with him.”

The evening slowly began winding down after that.

Guests started saying their goodbyes, exchanging business cards and one final look around the exhibition before leaving.

Mateo rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand before trying, and failing, to hide a yawn.

Caterina noticed immediately. “I think someone has reached his limit.”

“I’m not tired,” Mateo protested.

Another enormous yawn interrupted him halfway through the sentence.

Dominic chuckled. “I think the evidence disagrees.”

“I was just thinking,” he said, ending on another yawn.

Caterina smiled. “Why don’t I take him home?”

Before I could answer, Luca stepped forward. “I’ll come with you, My car’s parked nearby anyway.”

I looked at both of them gratefully. “Are you sure?”

“Of course,” Caterina replied. “You should stay a little longer. This is your night.”

Mateo hugged me once more. “Don’t stay too long.”

“I won’t.”

“I’ll wait up.”

“You’ll be asleep in ten minutes.”

He grinned. “Maybe eleven.”

55 ve

I watched as Caterina gently took his hand and the three of them disappeared towards the exit.

A strange ache settled inside my chest. I wanted to call after them. To tell them that I was going to leave this country with Mateo in a few hours. To hug them one more time. To tell them how much they had come to mean to me.

Instead, I simply watched until they disappeared from view.

“They’re proud of you.” Dominic’s quiet voice pulled me back.

I turned towards him. “So am I.”

His smile was gentle. “I don’t think I’ve ever been prouder of anyone.”

Emotion tightened unexpectedly in my throat.

“You’ve built something extraordinary, Isabella. I just wish that you didn’t have to leave it behind,” he added quietly, a hint o guilt in his voice.

I understood what he really meant. He wasn’t talking about the exhibition. He was talking about Florence and Milan. About this life.

I smiled sadly. “I built it once.” I looked back across the exhibition hall. “I’ll build something beautiful again.”

I had to. For myself and for Mateo. I didn’t have the luxury of choice if I was going to leave everything behind.

“I know you will,” he replied and with such absolute certainty that, for just a second, I almost believed nothing was ending.

The last few guests drifted toward the exits.

Staff began quietly clearing empty glasses from the tables.

The celebration was over.

I gave the necessary instructions to my team to wrap everything up and picked up my handbag. “I should get going.”

Dominic, who had been right beside me while I did so, nodded. “I’ll walk you out.”

Outside, the evening air was cool against my skin. We stopped beside my car.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke.

There was nothing left to say that we hadn’t already said to each other..

He reached over and gently squeezed my hand. “Drive safely.”

“I will.”

“And congratulations, once again,” he said even though he didn’t have to. It was just his reluctance to let me go that was making him say all this. It was, after all, our last goodbye.

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