Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 111: Chapter 111 You actually found the problem!

"...No way."

Ace practically snatched the notebook to read it again, his eyes scanning the words with desperate hope. Then he rushed toward Daisy’s workstation and examined the chromatograms himself, his fingers tracing the peaks.

Several moments later, he looked back at Daisy.

His face lit up. "Oh my goodness..."

His voice rose with excitement. "You actually found the problem!"

Without thinking, he stepped forward and wrapped Daisy in a quick, tight hug.

"Daisy! You did it! We’ve been searching for this for days!"

Everyone in the laboratory turned toward them. Mona’s mouth fell open.

"She found it?"

The researchers hurried over, eager to verify the results. Their tired faces transformed with hope as they gathered around Daisy’s workstation.

Daisy blinked in surprise inside Ace’s enthusiastic hug. Her cheeks turned pink, her eyes wide and uncertain.

She awkwardly patted his shoulder, unsure what to do.

Just then—

"What’s going on?"

A deep, cold voice echoed through the laboratory.

"This is working hours."

The entire room fell silent.

Daisy quickly removed her hands from Ace’s shoulder, and Ace turned around, his face flushing slightly.

Standing a few steps away was Alessio.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his sharp green eyes swept across the laboratory before briefly settling on Daisy. His expression remained unreadable but there was something in his gaze that made everyone nervous.

Ace immediately straightened, his posture snapping to attention.

"Sorry, sir."

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, his ears red. "I got carried away."

He couldn’t stop smiling. "We found it. Daisy found the problem."

His excitement was impossible to hide.

Alessio’s eyes shifted to Daisy.

She was still holding her notebook, her cheeks flushed, her eyes bright with the joy of discovery.

Their gazes met.

Alessio’s gaze shifted from Ace to Daisy. His sharp green eyes rested on her for a long moment, studying her expression, the slight flush on her cheeks, the way her fingers tightened around her notebook. He took in every detail, the way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the way her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to speak but couldn’t.

"So..."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm and deep, carrying an authority that made everyone feel nervous.

"What exactly did you discover?"

The moment he spoke, every person in the laboratory instinctively fell silent.

Daisy looked up.

The moment their eyes met, she froze.

His gaze was intense. Waiting for her answer.

Alessio walked toward her with his usual unhurried, graceful stride. His shoes echoed softly against the laboratory floor until he stopped directly in front of her.

There was barely an arm’s length between them.

Close enough that she could see the faint lines around his eyes, the slight shadow on his jaw. Close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.

Daisy unconsciously tightened her grip on the papers she was holding. Her heart pounded against her ribs, and she could feel the warmth rising to her cheeks.

Without saying a word, Alessio reached forward. His long fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the report as he slowly slid it from her grasp. The touch was brief, almost accidental but Daisy felt it like a small electric shock. A shiver ran down her spine.

He lowered his eyes to the chromatograms.

Several peaks...Numbers.. Chemical names...Tables.

He stared at them for a few seconds, his brow furrowing slightly. Then he looked up at her, his gaze questioning.

Then...

"Hm?"

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes flickering with curiosity.

Ace immediately stepped forward, eager to explain. "Sir, let me—"

Alessio lifted one hand without looking away from Daisy.

The simple gesture was enough to stop Ace mid-sentence.

"I asked her."

His voice remained calm but there was a quiet authority in it that made the room feel smaller.

Only then did Ace remember. "But..but Sir..." he said awkwardly. "She... she can’t speak."

"I know."

Alessio’s answer was immediate, without hesitation.

"I still asked her."

Ace hesitated, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. "But—"

Alessio slowly turned his head.

One look. That was all. His cold green eyes settled on Ace for barely a second, and Ace immediately closed his mouth.

"...Yes, sir."

The laboratory became silent again. So silent that Daisy could hear her own heartbeat, could hear the soft rush of blood in her ears.

Daisy stood there, clutching her notebook. Their gazes pressed down on her, and her heart began beating faster. Her eyes gradually became watery.

Alessio noticed immediately.

His expression softened almost imperceptibly. The hard lines of his face eased and something gentle flickered in his gaze.

"Why are you crying?"

His voice was quieter this time, meant only for her.

"You found the problem."

He held the report between his fingers, his gaze stayed on her face.

"That’s exactly why I’m asking you. You understand it better than anyone here. I’m not trying to embarrass you."

His words were simple. Matter-of-fact. But there was something in the way he said them, a tenderness that he didn’t show to anyone else.

Daisy blinked twice before nodding gently, her shoulders relaxing slightly. She took a slow breath, steadying herself.

Taking a slow breath, she stepped a little closer. She pointed toward one of the chromatogram peaks. Then another. Her fingers moved carefully as she explained through signs.

She mimed two ingredients coming together, then shook her head.

Not compatible.

Next, she pointed to the stability graph, tracing the gradual decline with one fingertip before indicating a slightly larger proportion with her hands. Her movements were fluid, confident, the signs coming naturally.

Alessio watched every movement, completely focused.

His eyes followed her hands as if they were the most important thing in the room. He had been practicing sign language over the past few weeks, in the free moments between meetings, late at night when sleep wouldn’t come. He still understood only fragments, isolated words and gestures that didn’t always connect.

But today, those fragments began fitting together.

"The ratio..." he murmured thoughtfully, his voice low enough that only she could hear.

Daisy’s eyes immediately brightened. She nodded enthusiastically, her hair bouncing with the motion.

Yes.

She pointed again at the graph, then at the formula, then she crossed one ingredient out with her finger before indicating a smaller amount. Her expression was eager, excited.

"Too much fixative?" Alessio asked, his gaze meeting hers.

Her eyes widened. She nodded again, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

Exactly.