Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 149: Chapter 149 Interesting

The dining table had been filled with far more food than Daisy had expected.

A warm bowl of soup, freshly baked bread, grilled fish, roasted vegetables, pasta and a few side dishes. Even a small slice of strawberry cake waited on a separate plate, its pink frosting catching the soft light of the chandelier.

Daisy looked at the table, then at Alessio. Her eyes slowly widened. She had only expected a cup of coffee or perhaps a light snack. Instead, he had asked the kitchen to prepare an entire dinner.

She looked at him with slightly guilty eyes before slowly raising her hands.

Thank you so much.

Alessio, who had just picked up his glass of water, looked at her. A helpless sigh escaped him.

"Daisy..." He set the glass down. "I can’t keep telling you the same thing. You don’t have to thank me. And you definitely don’t have to apologize every few minutes."

Daisy looked at him helplessly. How could she not? He had prepared dinner for her. She lowered her eyes shyly before giving him an awkward little smile.

Alessio quietly looked at her. He wasn’t annoyed. If anything, he simply wished she would stop treating every small kindness as though it were an enormous favor. To him, looking after her felt natural.

Across the table, Rafael slowly chewed a piece of bread. His eyes moved from Daisy to Alessio, then back to Daisy again. He blinked once and twice. He wisely decided not to comment. Silence was safer.

After a few moments, Alessio looked around the dining room. His brows drew together slightly.

"Where are Eva and Mateo?" He glanced at Rafael. "I told them we’d have dinner together."

Rafael shrugged. "Eva went out. As for Mateo..." He sighed. "I have no idea where he disappeared to. I’ve been busy dealing with you all afternoon. I didn’t even notice when that brat slipped away."

Alessio simply nodded and didn’t ask further. He picked up a serving spoon and placed another piece of fish onto Daisy’s plate.

"You barely ate. Eat some more."

Daisy looked down at the food before looking back at him. She smiled softly and nodded.

Meanwhile, Rafael quietly watched the scene unfold. His thoughts drifted elsewhere.

Earlier today, his brother had been furious from what he had heard from Mateo. A single lead about their missing sister had been enough to send him into one of his worst tempers. Yet now, he looked calm and relaxed. The coldness that usually surrounded him had softened without him even realizing it.

And every few seconds, his eyes would unconsciously drift back to Daisy.

Rafael noticed every single glance. A slow smile appeared on his face.

Interesting...

His brother didn’t even realize it himself but Rafael did. Without Daisy, Alessio would probably have locked himself inside his office, ignored the doctor, skipped dinner, and continued working despite the fever. Now, he was sitting at the dining table, eating properly, speaking calmly and actually looking peaceful.

Rafael lowered his gaze to his plate. A firm thought settled in his mind.

No matter what, I have to find a way to help Daisy get that divorce. Cedric doesn’t deserve a woman like her but my brother...

His eyes briefly lifted toward Alessio.

He looked like someone whose heart had finally found a reason to beat a little faster. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s him. And if fate is willing, I hope that happiness is sitting across the table from him right now.

Just then—

The front door slammed open.

"Brooooo! I’m home!"

A loud, energetic voice echoed through the mansion.

"Why are we having dinner sooo early today? Did the world end or something?"

Heavy footsteps came running down the hallway.

A young man with messy black hair, bright green eyes and a backpack hanging from one shoulder rushed into the dining room and threw his bag into the corner. The bag landed with a soft thud against the wall, completely forgotten.

He stopped so suddenly that he almost slipped. His sneakers squeaked against the floor as he skidded to a halt.

His eyes landed on Daisy.

"...Eh?"

He blinked. Then looked at Alessio. Then at Rafael. Then back at Daisy again.

"...Ooooo! We have a guest?"

Almost instantly, he straightened his back. He quickly fixed his messy hair with both hands, adjusting his shirt and even cleared his throat. His posture became unnaturally formal like a young man trying to make a good first impression.

"Ahem."

He walked over with an unusually gentlemanly smile.

"Hello. I’m Mateo Ricci. It’s nice to meet you."

Daisy smiled warmly and nodded before making a small greeting gesture. Her hands moved gracefully, a simple wave accompanied by a gentle bow of her head.

Mateo tilted his head.

"...Huh?"

Rafael smiled knowingly. "She’s Daisy and she’s..mute."

Mateo’s eyebrows rose. He looked at Daisy with a flicker of understanding. Then he smiled just as brightly as before.

"Oh. That’s okay. I usually talk enough for everyone anyway."

He pulled out a chair and sat beside Daisy naturally, completely unbothered by her silence. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"I’m the youngest brother. So..." He secretly leaned a little closer. "...Don’t be fooled by these two."

He pointed at Rafael. "He’s annoying."

Then he pointed at Alessio. "And Big Bro..." He shivered theatrically. "...He’s terrifying."

Rafael immediately protested. "Hey! I’m a wonderful older brother."

Mateo looked at him with complete disbelief. "You locked me outside the house for two hours because I borrowed your motorcycle."

"You didn’t even borrow it. You stole it."

"...You’re my brother. We can share things."

Rafael rolled his eyes so hard his whole head moved.

Then Mateo dramatically pointed at Alessio. "And this one..." He whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear. "...Has smiled about three times in his entire life."

Alessio calmly continued eating. "I’ve smiled more than that."

Mateo nodded seriously. "Yes. Twice when the old man accidentally called you handsome when you were 16. And once when your football team won."

Daisy covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Her shoulders shook with silent laughter.

Mateo noticed immediately. "Oh! You don’t believe me?" He leaned toward her with an exaggeratedly serious face. "Let me tell you a story."

"When I was 14, I got eight marks on a 100-mark exam. I happily ran to show Big Bro. What do you think he said?"

Daisy looked curious, her eyes wide and amused.

Mateo imitated Alessio’s deep voice perfectly. "Eight?" He lowered his voice into a cold, flat imitation. "Out of a hundred?" He paused dramatically. "That’s not even a passing grade." He imitated Alessio’s cold expression, his face going completely blank.

"Not a single reaction. Not a word of encouragement. Just disappointment."

Rafael burst out laughing. "He’s not wrong."

Mateo threw his hands in the air. "See? See?! This is what I’ve been dealing with my whole life!"

Alessio didn’t even react. He simply took another bite of his food.

Daisy was laughing silently now, her whole body shaking. She pressed her hand over her mouth, her eyes sparkling with amusement.