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Chapter 9
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His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed Chapter 10
Three months after returning to New York, I finally got used to life without Luca.My new office sat high above Manhattan with a view of the Hudson River. Aurelia's New York branch kept me busy enough that I had no time to pick at an old wound. I learned to drive myself, negotiate my own contracts, and attend dinners without checking anyone's expression first.No one humiliated me in front of a room anymore. No one trapped me between cruel words and tender thoughts.Sometimes Mrs. Bellandi sent sweets from Chicago. Her letters were restrained, only asking whether I was well. Luca never disturbed me. He only sent one document through his lawyer, releasing me from the thirty-million-dollar debt, with a short note attached.[Don't tie yourself to that pain anymore.]There was no name, but I knew it was from him. I didn't write back. Some apologies could be accepted. Some people didn't need to return.A year later, I went back to Chicago for a shipping summit. Outside the venue, I saw Luca
His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed Chapter 9
On the first of the next month, I returned to Chicago. Luca was waiting on the steps outside City Hall in a black coat. His shoulders were still straight, but his face was pale, and dark circles shadowed his eyes.When he saw me, light flashed in his eyes. He pressed it down quickly. "Long time no see."I nodded. "Long time no see."The quiet between us felt like one final handover. I gestured toward the doors. "Let's go in."Luca lowered his eyes. "Okay."The process was quick. Sign. Confirm. Stamp. A few sheets of paper ended ten years and a marriage.When we walked out, light snow had started falling over Chicago. I put the divorce file into my bag and was about to leave when Luca called me."Vivi."He said my name softly, like he was afraid of startling me. I turned, and he took a dark green velvet box from inside his coat.Inside was my mother's emerald bracelet.It had been repaired. The broken metal had been joined again with fine gold and platinum vines. The cracks were still t
His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed Chapter 8
Luca tore back to the Bellandi estate. In the living room, Mrs. Bellandi sat on the sofa with red eyes, and Old Mr. Bellandi stood by the fireplace with his cigar burned down untouched. A stack of papers lay on the coffee table.Luca nearly lunged for it. On the first page, the words were clear.Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.I wanted nothing. No Bellandi property, no marital assets, no jewelry, no shares, no support. Because the emerald bracelet was worth thirty million dollars, I agreed to give up everything jointly owned in exchange for it. All I asked was for him to sign.Every word was calm. Every word was final.Luca's hands began to shake. The next second, he ripped the papers apart."No. I won't divorce her. Vivian is the only wife I'll ever have. No one gets to make me sign." His voice turned hoarse. "She said she'd love me forever. She can't lie to me."Mrs. Bellandi cried. "Luca, if you don't want a divorce, why did you treat her like that?"Old Mr. Bellandi spoke hea
His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed Chapter 7
Luca watched the taxi disappear into traffic, his hands clenched so hard his knuckles turned white. Before, no matter how cruel his words were, I always turned back. He thought love worked that way: the harder he pushed, the harder I would prove I wouldn't leave.But this time, I really left.He didn't know how to apologize. More than twenty years of pride and fear jammed in his throat, and he couldn't even say, "Don't go." In the end, he remembered the broken emerald bracelet. If he fixed it, would I listen to him?Luca grabbed that last thread of hope and drove back to the apartment. He knelt on the living room floor and picked up every broken piece. A man who normally frowned at dust on his cuffs didn't notice when the sharp edges cut his palm.Then he smelled blood.Not the blood on his hand. This came from the hallway, thick enough to make his heart sink. He turned toward the open storage room door and walked over step by step.When he pushed the door open, he saw the large dark-r
His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed Chapter 6
I didn't know how long I was unconscious. When I opened my eyes, the storage room was still dark, but the pain in my abdomen had eased. That scared me more than the pain itself. It felt like a quiet ending.I pushed myself up and saw the large dark stain on the floor.When the lock turned, I didn't lift my head. Luca stood in the doorway against the light, his voice testing the air. "Calmed down?"He seemed to think one night would make me soften like before. I nodded. "Yeah." I had never been calmer. Calm enough to know this marriage was completely dead.Luca looked relieved and even smiled a little. "I knew making you cool off would work. Come out."I held the doorframe and stepped into the sunlight. The blood on my skirt finally reached his eyes, and his smile froze.He rushed toward me, his voice shaking. "Blood? Where did all that blood come from?"I stepped away from his hands. "From last night, after I fell. I told you."His face went white. "I didn't know. I thought you...""T
His Heart Begged, His Hands Destroyed Chapter 5
"Luca." I hit the door, trying to keep my voice steady. "Luca, I'm bleeding. Open the door. I need the hospital."No answer came. I heard Ava sniffling, Luca asking if her wound hurt, and the medicine kit opening.I hit the door again. The pain was so bad I could barely stand. "Luca, I'm not lying. My stomach hurts. I'm really bleeding."This time, he answered, his voice flat through the wood. "Vivian, I've known you for ten years. I never knew you were this good at acting. Ava is the one who's hurt. I pushed you once, and now you're screaming about blood. Your period isn't due until next week."I almost broke. "Exactly. It's next week. So why am I bleeding?"I didn't dare think about the answer. I had wanted a child for so many years that hope itself felt dangerous. A few days ago, I had lost my appetite. In the mornings, I felt sick. I told myself it was stress and didn't even dare buy a pregnancy test.Now the pain terrified me."Luca, please." I slid down against the door, sweat co
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