Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 37: Chapter 37 I will grant you one of your wishes

Daisy worked in silence. The only sounds were their breathing, his deep and steady now, hers soft and quiet. The soft rustle of her dress when she shifted her weight. The distant chirping of birds outside the window. The gentle sound of her fingers moving through his hair, slow and careful.

She watched the back of his head. His dark hair, soft between her fingers, slipping through them like silk. His strong neck, the muscles loosening under her touch one by one. The way his shoulders had relaxed, dropping from his ears. The way his hands had uncurled, resting open on his knees instead of clenched into fists.

After ten minutes, Cedric let out a long breath. A deep, shuddering exhale like he had been holding it for days and had finally forgotten how to let go.

"It is better," he said quietly. His voice was different now, soft and a bit gentle.

Daisy’s hands stilled.

She leaned forward slightly, peeking at his face from the side. Her dark eyes searched his profile. His eyes were still closed. His expression was soft, almost peaceful. The angry lines around his mouth had smoothed away. The tension in his jaw had melted. His brow was no longer furrowed.

He looked much calmer now.

She smiled softly.

She moved her hands away and reached for a small towel she kept on her side table. It was pale yellow, the edges frayed from use. She wiped the excess oil from her fingers, cleaned her palms, dried her skin. Each movement was slow and careful, like she was savoring the moment.

Cedric opened his eyes.

He turned to look at her.

She was sitting on the edge of her bed, her hands folded in her lap, her dark eyes watching him with a soft and warm expression. The afternoon light fell across her face, catching the golden flecks in her eyes. Her caramel hair hung loose around her shoulders, soft and shiny. Her lips were curved in a gentle smile.

He did not know what to say.

Thank you felt too small. Too inadequate. Too weak for a woman who had just eased a pain he had been holding for days with nothing but her hands and her patience.

Sorry felt too hollow and empty.

He did not know how to say any of it. So he said something else instead.

"I will take you to an event tomorrow," he said. His voice was now sharp and cold. "There is a business dinner. Spouses are expected to attend. You will come with me."

Daisy’s face fell. Her smile faded. Her shoulders drooped. She did not like attending events. She did not like standing in corners while everyone ignored her. She did not like watching Cedric laugh and talk with people who pretended she did not exist.

But she nodded anyway.

"And since you helped me," Cedric continued, still not looking at her, still staring at the wall, "I will grant you one of your wishes."

Daisy’s heart stopped.

One of her wishes.

Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. Her hands flew to her chest.

She stared at him, searching his face for any sign that he was joking. He was not smiling. His expression was serious, almost uncomfortable like he regretted the words as soon as they left his mouth.

But he had said them. He could not take them back.

Daisy scrambled for her phone. Her fingers trembled as she unlocked the screen, as she opened her notes app, as she typed quickly. She pressed each letter with her whole heart.

I want to do a job. Will you let me?

She held out the phone to him. Her hand was shaking. The screen was bright in the dim room.

Cedric turned around. His blue eyes scanned the screen. His expression shifted from surprise to confusion, then to something that looked almost like suspicion.

"A job?" he asked.

Daisy nodded eagerly. Her caramel hair bounced around her shoulders. Her dark eyes were wide and hopeful, shining like she had just been given the most precious gift in the world.

"You want to work?"

She nodded again, harder this time. Her whole body moved with the motion. Her hands clasped together under her chin, fingers pressed tight.

"Why?"

She typed quickly, her thumbs flying across the screen.

I want to earn my own money.

She showed him the screen, almost shoving the phone in his face. Her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes were bright.

Cedric read the words. His jaw tightened. He looked at her with a mocking expression, the same kind he wore when he talked about her hobbies, her dresses, her disability.

"Do you even have a degree to do a job?" he asked. "You cannot just walk into an office and expect people to hire you. You need qualifications, experience and connections. You need to be able to talk to people."

The words hit her like small stones. One by one, sharp and cold.

Hurt flickered across her face. Her eyes dimmed. Her smile faltered. Her hands lowered to her lap.

She typed again. Her fingers moved faster this time, pressing harder, like she was trying to push her feelings into the screen.

Of course I have a degree. I studied before the accident. I graduated. I have papers. I have certificates. I am not stupid.

She showed him the screen, her hands shaking slightly. The phone trembled in her grip.

Cedric read the words.

He said nothing.

He looked at her face. At the hurt in her eyes. The desperation in her posture. The way she clutched her phone like it was a lifeline like it was the only thing keeping her from drowning. The way her lower lip trembled.

"Whatever you do, I am not interested," he said finally. His voice was flat and dismissive.

He turned and walked out of the room.

The door closed behind him.

Daisy stood alone in the small room, her phone still in her hands, her heart still pounding.

She stared at the door.

He had not said no.

She played his words back in her head. Whatever you do, I am not interested.

He had not said no. He had not said yes. He had not forbidden her. He had not given permission. He had simply said he was not interested.

Which meant he did not care.

Which meant he would not stop her.

Daisy’s lips parted. Her eyes widened. Her breath caught in her throat.

Which meant she could do a job. She could earn her own money.

A smile spread across her face. Slow at first, like the sun rising over the mountains. Then wider, brighter, until her whole face was glowing. Her cheeks flushed pink. Her eyes sparkled. Her lips curved into the biggest smile she had smiled in months.

She hugged her phone to her chest and spun around in a small circle. Her dress twirled around her legs. Her hair flew out behind her. Her bare feet padded on the wooden floor.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to shout. She wanted to run through the halls and tell everyone that she was going to do something with her life. But she could not scream.

So she laughed silently. Her shoulders shook. Her eyes crinkled. Her mouth opened wide, but no sound came out. Just a soft exhale, just the shape of laughter without the noise.

She stopped spinning, stomped her foot excitedly, and pressed her hand to her chest. Her heart was beating so fast. She felt light and floating, like she was walking on clouds.