A Heart in Ruins Chapter 06

Over the next few days, Silvia clung to Vittorio constantly like a sticky piece of confection that refused to be peeled

away.

She demanded his constant presence, dragging him from one luxury boutique to the next. Whenever her eyes lit up at a designer bag in a shop window, Vittorio never hesitated. He would simply pull out his black card and settle the bill without a second thought.

When she craved the newest trendy restaurant, he stood by her side in line for two hours, never uttering a single word of complaint. When a sudden whim struck her to visit an amusement park, he would cancel board meetings just to ride the carousel with her.

She was getting everything she had ever wanted from Vittorio. He indulged her every whim without limit, yet anyone looking closely would notice that there was never a single trace of warmth in his dark eyes.

One day, while dining at a newly opened couple-themed restaurant, Vittorio stepped outside midway through the meal to take a private phone call.

Having finished her dessert, Silvia was about to head to the restroom when she bumped into an old classmate. “Silvia! What a coincidence!” the classmate exclaimed and couldn’t help but dart a look at the tall, imposing man behind her. “Who was that guy just now? He’s incredibly handsome!”

Silvia raised her chin proudly, “My brother.”

“Brother?” The classmate pressed a hand to her mouth in exaggerated surprise. “Oh, my god! He treats you so well! I noticed that he took care of you the whole time. He even peeled the shrimp for you!”

Silvia was flattered and getting carried away, the smile on her lips growing wider.

“The way he looks at you is so gentle.” The classmate continued to hype her up. “It’s exactly like how someone looks at their girlfriend! You guys aren’t…”

Silvia’s smile suddenly froze.

“No,” she interrupted sharply, her tone stiff. “Cut the crap! He’s my brother. Biological brother!”

The classmate blinked, and then gave an awkward laugh. “Oh… Sorry about that…I don’t know…”

When the classmate walked far away, Silvia turned around, only to find Vittorio standing behind her. His expression was a mask of absolute, terrifying indifference.

Panic seized her heart. Silvia hurried over to him and forced a brittle smile, “Vittorio, are you done with your

call?”

Vittorio lowered his gaze to look at her, “Mhm.”

“Did you… hear anything just now?” she asked cautiously.

A faint smirk touched Vittorio’s face, his eyes still holding that familiar doting look, “What was I supposed to hear?”

Relieved, Silvia leaned in to act cute. “Nothing! I’m full. Let’s go!”

Vittorio reached out to hold her hand, but she instinctively dodged his touch, giving a nervous laugh. “L-Let’s hold hands once we’re in the car. There are too many people here…”

Vittorio didn’t say anything. He simply withdrew his hand and turned to walk outside.

Before getting into the car, he glanced back at the restaurant.

Following his direction of his glance, Silvia asked in confusion, “Vittorio, what are you looking at?”

Vittorio kept silent for a moment and shook his head, “Nothing.”

He wasn’t looking at the restaurant. He was remembering.

Sylvia had kept pestering him to come here with her when this restaurant was newly opened. That day, he had been two hours late. By the time he arrived, Sylvia had already ordered a table full of dishes and deliberately worn a dress he had once praised. At the first sight of him, her eyes had sparkled brightly, as if she had finally embraced the entire world.

“Vittorio?” Silvia’s voice pulled him back to reality.

Vittorio retracted his gaze and got into the car.

They drove directly to the old residence estate for visiting their parents. Unaware of Vittorio’s divorce, parents casually asked upon noticing the empty seat beside him, “Where’s Sylvia? Why didn’t she come back with you?” Silvia got in her words before Vittorio could speak up, “She’s busy. She can’t make it today!”

They nodded, then turned to look at Silvia. “Silvia, you’re grown up now. It’s time to think about marriage. I’ve picked out a few candidates for you. We can get together another time.”

Silvia obediently agreed, “Okay, I’ll. Daddy.”

Under the table, she quietly squeezed Vittorio’s hand, trying to soothe him, to reassure him that she was still there.

Vittorio lowered his eyes, staring at her hand on his, and said absolutely nothing.

On the way back to the villa, Silvia whined sweetly, “Vittorio, I was just fobbing Dad off. Don’t take it seriously!”

Vittorio remained perfectly calm, “Mhm.”

Later that night, after taking a shower, Vittorio lifted the duvet, only to discover Silvia lying on his bed in a spaghetti-strap nightgown.