Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 146: Chapter 146 Who is it?

The taxi slowly came to a stop in front of a massive wrought-iron gate.

Daisy looked out of the window, her eyes widening. Beyond the gates stood an enormous mansion surrounded by perfectly trimmed gardens, fountains and palm trees. The estate looked less like a home and more like something from an old European palace.

It was so grand and beautiful that she almost forgot to breathe. The evening light casts long golden shadows across the manicured lawns.

She paid the driver, stepped out, and looked around uncertainly. The evening breeze carried the scent of flowers from the gardens and the soft sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain filled the air.

Before she could even ring the bell, the gates opened.

Rafael walked out with a relieved smile.

"Daisy!"

He hurried over to her.

"Thank goodness you’re here."

Daisy smiled politely before looking past him at the enormous mansion. Her dark eyes slowly widened. She hadn’t expected this.

Rafael noticed her stunned expression and chuckled.

"I know. The first time I saw it, I thought the same thing."

Without giving her much time to admire the place, he gently ushered her inside.

"Come on. We have to be quiet."

Daisy looked at him in confusion.

Rafael lowered his voice conspiratorially.

"I haven’t told my brother you’re coming."

Her eyes grew even bigger.

You... didn’t?

He grinned sheepishly. "If I had told him, he would’ve ordered security not to let you in and sent you back. He’s stubborn like that."

Before Daisy could even process that statement, Rafael lightly took hold of her wrist and hurried her through the mansion.

The house was elegant, quiet and surprisingly warm despite its luxurious appearance. Several staff members greeted Rafael respectfully. He simply nodded and continued walking.

"This way."

They climbed the grand staircase and entered the second floor. The corridor was peaceful, lined with doors and soft lighting.

Near one of the bedroom doors sat the family doctor on the waiting couch, comfortably sipping a cup of coffee while scrolling through his phone. The moment he noticed Rafael, he sighed dramatically.

"He still won’t let me in. I’ve been waiting for an hour. He said he’s fine but he’s burning up."

Rafael rubbed the back of his neck helplessly. "I figured."

The doctor then noticed Daisy standing beside him. His eyebrows rose slightly.

"...Who’s this?"

Rafael grinned. "My secret weapon."

The doctor looked confused but didn’t ask further.

Rafael turned to Daisy. He pointed toward the bedroom door.

"Go inside."

Daisy hesitated. She pointed at herself.

Me...?

Rafael nodded confidently. "Trust me. He’ll listen to you."

She still looked uncertain. What if Alessio became angry? What if he didn’t want to see anyone? But seeing Rafael’s pleading expression, she finally nodded.

Taking a small breath, she gently knocked once before carefully opening the bedroom door.

The room was quiet. Alessio was sitting on a sofa near the large windows, a laptop resting on his knees. His back was to her, his posture tense. His shoulders were stiff and his head was slightly bowed.

Without looking up, he spoke in an irritated voice.

"I already said I’m fine. Why are all of you so stubborn? I don’t need a doctor. I don’t need rest. I just need to work."

Daisy quietly closed the door behind her. She didn’t make a sound.

Instead, her eyes drifted toward the laptop screen. What she saw surprised her. The display wasn’t showing work documents. It was filled with dozens of grainy black-and-white CCTV recordings.

Different streets. Train stations. Bus terminals. Crowded markets. Each clip showed hundreds of unfamiliar faces. Women. Children. Elderly people. Everyone.

Alessio kept pausing the footage, zooming in, then switching to another recording with intense concentration. His fingers moved quickly, almost desperately.

Daisy frowned slightly.

...What is he looking for?

She couldn’t understand.

.

Before she could think any further, Alessio’s fingers stopped moving. He still hadn’t turned around. Yet his expression changed slightly. His shoulders tensed even more.

His senses were always sharp. He could tell immediately. The person standing behind him wasn’t Rafael. And it definitely wasn’t the doctor.

Slowly, he closed the laptop halfway. Without turning around, he spoke in a calm voice.

"...Who is it?"

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she quietly walked toward him. Her footsteps were so light that they were almost impossible to hear against the thick carpet. The soft fabric muffled every sound, making her movements feel almost like a whisper in the quiet room.

Alessio frowned slightly. He slowly turned around.

The moment his green eyes met hers, he froze.

"Daisy...?"

His voice unconsciously softened. The irritation that had been in his voice just moments before disappeared entirely.

She gave him a small, gentle smile. Her eyes curved into soft crescents, and her presence seemed to instantly ease the tension in the room.

Without saying anything, she continued walking toward him. Her attention was completely on his face. She was trying to see whether he really looked sick, her eyes scanning his features with quiet concern.

Because of that, she failed to notice the low coffee table standing between them. Her foot caught its edge.

"Daisy."

Before she could stumble forward, Alessio reacted instinctively. His hand shot out and caught her wrist. With one effortless pull, he steadied her.

Unfortunately, he used a little more strength than he intended.

Daisy let out a startled gasp as her balance disappeared entirely. Instead of merely regaining her footing, she fell straight onto him.

Her eyes widened.

By the time she realized what had happened, she was sitting sideways on his lap.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

Silence filled the room. The soft ticking of the clock on the wall seemed to echo in the stillness.

Alessio’s usually composed expression went completely blank. His green eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.

His heartbeat stumbled.

He could feel the warmth of her through the thin fabric of her dress. The soft weight of her against him, the gentle press of her body against his chest. Her floral scent surrounded him, gentle and comforting, making his thoughts scatter.

A rush of heat spread across his face.

And, much to his annoyance, the rest of his body wasn’t reacting much better.

...Get a grip.

He silently scolded himself.