Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 175: Chapter 175 You’re imagining things

Rafael stared at the bandage around Alessio’s hand for a few seconds and then a slow, meaningful smile spread across his face as something occurred to him.

His eyes gleamed with understanding and he tilted his head, studying his brother like a scientist who had just made a breakthrough discovery.

"Oh..."

Alessio glanced at him, his expression flat. "What?"

Rafael didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he looked at the bandage again, then back at his brother, his smirk growing wider and more insufferable by the second.

"That’s good. That’s really good."

Alessio’s eyebrows drew together slightly. "What exactly is good?"

Rafael stepped closer, looking far too pleased with himself, his hands clasped behind his back like a man who had just uncovered a secret.

"She cared enough to notice your injury."

Alessio remained expressionless, his green eyes fixed on his brother with patient indifference.

Rafael pointed at the bandage, his finger jabbing toward it dramatically. "Think about it. She saw your injured hand, got worried, dragged you to a doctor and stayed there until it was treated."

Alessio said nothing.

Rafael’s grin became downright mischievous. He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Which means..." He deliberately paused, watching his brother’s reaction with intense satisfaction. "Maybe she cares about you more than she cares about that little man."

Alessio’s eyes flickered. Just for a second. A barely perceptible shift in his gaze.

But Rafael saw it. He had been waiting for that tiny crack in the armor and the moment it appeared, he pounced.

"Oh, come on," Rafael said with a chuckle, stepping back and crossing his arms. "Don’t give me that face. You heard me."

Alessio looked away, his gaze drifting toward the window. He wasn’t going to admit it but the thought had landed somewhere far too comfortably in his mind and heart.

She cares about him more than Cedric.

The idea was ridiculous. Probably completely wrong. And yet, it felt fucking great.

He could still remember the way she had looked at his injured hand, the immediate worry in her eyes, the way her brows had knitted together, the way she had refused to let him ignore it. He remembered how she had practically dragged him toward the nurse, her small hand wrapped around his.

She had been genuinely worried about him.

The thought warmed something inside him that had absolutely nothing to do with fever. It settled in his chest like a quiet fire, spreading warmth through places he had long thought frozen.

Still, Alessio kept his face perfectly calm.

"I don’t think so."

Rafael’s smirk widened. "You don’t?"

"Nope."

"You’re sure?"

"Yes."

"Then why did you suddenly become so quiet?"

"I was already quiet."

Rafael laughed, the sound echoing through the dimly lit living room. "I’ve known you my entire life."

Alessio gave him a flat look. "I know."

"I can tell when something makes you happy."

"It didn’t."

"Your face says otherwise."

"My face says nothing," Alessio said, feeling annoyed now.

"Exactly. That’s why it’s suspicious."

Alessio sighed quietly, a long, weary exhale.

Rafael folded his arms and continued teasing him, clearly enjoying himself far too much. "Just admit it. You liked hearing that she cares about you."

Alessio looked at him for a long moment. His green eyes were unreadable and dark.

Then he calmly said, "You’re imagining things."

"Am I?"

"Yes."

"Completely?"

"Completely."

Rafael nodded slowly as though he accepted the answer. "Okay."

Alessio turned toward the stairs. "I’m going to my room. I need to freshen up."

Rafael immediately grinned. "Running away?"

Alessio didn’t even turn around. "No."

"You’re definitely running away."

"I’m tired."

"Sure, sure, bro!"

Alessio continued upstairs without responding, his expression remaining perfectly composed until he disappeared from sight but there was a slight tension in his shoulders that hadn’t been there before.

The moment he was gone, Mateo slowly lowered his pizza slice. He had been watching the entire exchange from the sofa, occasionally taking bites while listening with rapt attention. His green eyes were wide, his chewing slow.

"Iceberg is melting?" he muttered.

Rafael looked toward him. "Definitely."

Mateo chewed thoughtfully. "How much?"

Rafael glanced toward the staircase. "How much do you think melts under high temperature?"

Mateo’s eyes widened slightly. "Under high temperature?"

"Yup. Under very high temperature."

Mateo took another bite of pizza, processing the information. "Should we prepare for disaster?"

Rafael considered it seriously. "Yes."

"What kind?"

Rafael’s smirk returned, slow and dangerous. "The best kind."

❀┈┈┈┈❀

Daisy slept peacefully in the VIP wardroom Alessio had booked for himself. The room was beautifully maintained, far more comfortable and private than the ordinary hospital rooms, with fresh white sheets, soft lighting, a comfortable sofa near the window and everything arranged neatly enough to make the unfamiliar place feel strangely safe.

After the exhausting day she had spent moving between Cedric’s room, the corridors, and worrying about everyone else, the moment her head touched the pillow, sleep had taken her almost immediately.

For several hours, she slept deeply without being disturbed. Her breathing remained soft and even and the tension that had been sitting in her shoulders all day slowly disappeared. Somewhere during the night, she dreamed.

There were vague images in her mind, strangely warm and familiar but they slipped away whenever she tried to hold onto them. She saw someone standing somewhere she couldn’t clearly remember.

She could almost hear a voice, gentle and familiar, saying something she couldn’t quite understand. There was a strange feeling of safety attached to it, as though she had known that person for a very long time.

Then everything faded.

Daisy slowly opened her eyes.

For a few moments, she simply stared at the unfamiliar ceiling, still half lost between sleep and waking. Pale morning light had begun slipping through the curtains, spreading softly across the room. She blinked several times before remembering where she was.

The hospital.

Alessio’s VIP room.

She slowly sat up, rubbing her sleepy eyes with the back of her hands. Her hair was slightly messy from sleep, falling loosely around her face as she looked around the quiet room.

Then she frowned.

There had been a dream.

She was sure of it.

Daisy closed her eyes again, trying to reach back into the fading memory. Her brows furrowed as she concentrated harder, trying to pull the pieces together before they disappeared completely.

Nothing.

The harder she tried, the more distant it became.

She remembered the feeling of the dream more than the dream itself. It had left behind a strange warmth in her chest, mixed with a faint sense of longing she couldn’t explain.

Daisy opened her eyes again and stared at her hands.

What had she dreamed about?

She tried once more.

Still nothing.

After a few moments, she finally sighed silently and gave up.

Perhaps it was just another meaningless dream.