A Heart in Ruins Chapter 07

Vittorio wore a serious expression, the warmth completely draining from his eyes. “Get out.”

Silvia pouted coquettishly, “We’re a couple now. What’s wrong with sleeping together?”

Seeing that he remained as immovable as a statue, her eyes instantly reddened. “If you kick me out, I’ll cry!”

Vittorio closed his eyes, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as he helplessly gave in.

Silvia got her way, a secret, triumphant thrill blooming in her chest. Eager to solidify her victory, she pulled out a stack of yellowed letter papers and worn sketchbooks from beneath the pillow.

“Look! These are the love letters I wrote to you during my teenage years, along with drawings of you!” she read excitedly, “You smiled at me again today. I love you so much…”

She threw her arms around him, rubbing against his chest tenderly. “I never expected you to like me back. I’m so happy!”

Vittorio remained silent for a long time, letting her cling to him. Then, suddenly, his voice broke the quiet. “Let’s get married.”

Silvia was utterly shocked, raising her head to look at him, “…What?”

Vittorio repeated, “Silvia, we get married.”

Silvia stammered in panic, “Isn’t this too fast…”

“If you want to be with me, you have to marry me.” Vittorio was unusually calm, “I, Vittorio Croft, would never sneak around on dates. In a month at most, you must severe ties with the Crofts. After that, we’ll make our relationship public, and get married.”

Silvia’s face was pale as a sheet. She shook her head frantically, her nails digging into his skin. “No, I can’t! If we cut off the relationship, I won’t be the daughter of the Crofts anymore! If we go public, rumors will be flying everywhere. People will accuse me of ensnaring my brother and violating ethical norms! Mom and Dad would never agree with us either! No way! Absolutely not!”

Vittorio looked at her indifferently. “So, you want to be my secret lover?”

Silvia burst into tears, “That’s not what I meant! I mean…we can just be together secretly. We can keep our relationship hidden from everyone. Nothing would change. What do you think?”

Vittorio replied flatly, “Is that why you didn’t introduce me to your classmate?”

Silvia stiffened, “Y-You heard that?”

She grabbed his hand in a panic, “I didn’t mean that! I was just afraid they’d gossip at school! Vittorio, please don’t blame me. I was just… just a coward…’

“Ah…you were being a coward, so you agreed with Dad on the marriage candidates.”

Silvia nodded desperately. “Exactly! I’ll just brush it off when the time comes!”

Vittorio shook his head sadly, a trace of disappointment across his dark eyes, “Silvia, I love you, but I’ve always suppressed my feelings. Don’t you know?”

Silvia lowered her head in silence, the weight of his words pressing down on her.

“I’m not scared you don’t return my feelings or turn me down, because I knew how selfish you are. Even though you agreed to be with me, I know you wouldn’t give me anything else I actually wanted. You like me, but you love the status the Croft gives you far more. You’re afraid of being judged by others, and disappointing our parents.’

Trembling from her sobs, Silvia wailed, “Since you know all of this, why did you still agree to be with me?”

Looking at her face, Vittorio spoke softly, “Because I still held onto a sliver of hope. As long as you are willing to stand by my side, I would go to the ends of the earth for you. But…I know you won’t.”

Vittorio paused briefly before delivering the final blow. “So, let’s end this here.”

Silvia clung desperately to Vittorio’s arm, her tears soaking his sleeve.

“Vittorio, don’t…don’t leave me alone…” She begged, her voice breaking. “I know I’m selfish and a coward. You love me so much, why don’t you just indulge me one more time? Please?”

One by one, Vittorio pried her fingers off his arm. His voice was calm, bordering on cruel. “I can indulge you in anything but this.”

Silvia’s tears froze on her face, “Okay. I know you won’t. We can just go back to being brother and sister.”

Suddenly, she laughed until tears began streaming down her face once again.

“Vittorio, are you waiting for this exact moment?” Silvia questioned him, “These few days you coaxed me into being happy…you’re just messing around with me. As long as I upset you, you’ll break up with me.”

Her voice grew shrill, piercing the air as she pointed a shaking finger at him. “You’re rushing to get rid of me so you can go find Sylvia, aren’t you? You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?!”

Vittorio remained silent for a moment, letting her words hang in the air. “I will indeed go find her. I will not divorce Sylvia, though I’m not sure whether I have feelings for her.”

He gazed out the window into the dark night, his deep voice low, “All I know is that I’ve grown accustomed to having her around. She hasn’t been home these past few days, and I feel incredibly unaccustomed.”

Silvia stumbled backward two steps as if all the strength had been drained from her body.

She laughed until her tears fell, “Vittorio, she’s never coming back.”

“She will.” Vittorio stated with absolute certainty.

“She loves me. As long as I turn back to find her, she will turn back to me.”