A Heart in Ruins의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

“No matter what decision you make, we will always support you. How about coming to Germany?”The words echoed in my ear as I spoke to my parents on the phone. I didn’t answer right away. Instead, the moment the call ended, I headed straight to the embassy.A few years ago, my parents had transferred their entire business overseas. They had moved abroad with my brother, leaving me behind to stay with Vittorio. Now, I was finally determined to leave. “The paperwork will be ready in a week,” the officer said with a polite smile.I gave a slight nod, took the receipt, and walked out of the embassy. The cool air hit my face, and a quiet certainty settled in my chest.Everything was finally coming to end. That evening, I met up with a few friends at a bar. Honestly, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d stepped foot in a nightclub since marrying Vittorio.“Sylvia, what’s gotten into you today?” Maggie asked, grabbing my arm in sheer surprise. “Ever since you fell for that aloof monk,

The first slap landed on my face with a searing sting, leaving a burning imprint on my cheek. Then, came the second, and the third…I struggled desperately against the iron grip of the bodyguards, my voice hoarse, “Silvia, aren't you afraid your brother will settle the score with you?”Silvia threw her head back and laughed brazenly, “Whatever trouble I cause, he’ll always be there to fix it for me. Even his wife is no exception.”She leaned in, whispering into my ear, “Sylvia, I am his one and only. Keep it in your mind!”With that, she kept slapping me, over and over again. I fought back with every ounce of strength I had left, but the bodyguards held me down. When the final, crushing blow fell, a metallic taste flooded my mouth. I spat up a mouthful of blood, my vision tunneling into darkness before I completely blacked out.In the hazy void between consciousness and oblivion, I heard the front door burst open, followed by a fierce, commanding shout: “What the hell are you doing?!”

Pushing open the front door, Vittorio was only met with a suffocating chill. The living room was completely empty. There was no sign of Sylvia. Her plush slippers were gone from the entryway, and the blanket she used to curl up with on the sofa had been folded into a perfect square, as if it had never been used. A deep frown creased Vittorio’s forehead. He hurried up the stairs and threw open the bedroom door, only to be met with a devastating emptiness. The wardrobe was entirely bare. Her skincare products had vanished from the vanity, and even the dog-eared book she used to read frequently was missing from the nightstand. The entire room was spotless as if she had never existed here at all. Following closely behind, the assistant asked cautiously, “Mr. Vittorio…where is Sylvia?” Vittorio stared at the hollow room, his voice eerily calm, though his jaw was clenched tight. “She is gone.”He pulled out his phone, his thumb hovering over her contact before dialing. “Hello, the subscri

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.”

Vittorio stood still, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. “She went abroad. I'm going to bring her back now.”“Remember to bring her over for dinner when you get back.” Dad reminded him with a smile. He kept talking, his tone full of fondness. “She is so thoughtful. Last time, she deliberately scoured an auction house for an antique tea set just to cheer me up. And your mom suffers from insomnia, yet she specially takes her for acupuncture every single week without fail.” Vittorio froze in his tracks. He had never known that Sylvia had done all these things. The weight of her silent devotion suddenly pressed down on his chest.Just as he reached the front door, the bodyguards were escorting Silvia inside. Her eyes were red and swollen, betraying a night of endless weeping.At the sight of Vittorio, she lunged forward and grabbed his arm, “Vittorio! Don't go, please!”Her voice trembled, thick with unshed tears. “Can we just pretend as if nothing ever occurred yesterday? I don’t want to l