Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Warm-up?

Before Rafael could even react...

Thud!

Alessio’s fist slammed into his cheek.

"Ow!" Rafael cried out as his head snapped to the side. Pain exploded across his face, and he could already feel the skin beginning to swell.

He had barely regained his balance when another punch landed squarely in his stomach.

"Ugh...!" The air rushed out of his lungs as he doubled over, clutching his abdomen with a pained groan. His knees buckled slightly, and he had to grab the edge of the couch to steady himself.

Mateo winced from the couch, instinctively touching his own face in sympathy.

Yeah... I’m definitely staying out of this.

Alessio grabbed Rafael by the front of his shirt once again, his sharp green eyes burning with fury.

"Why didn’t you tell me you were interviewing Daisy?" he demanded in a voice so cold it sent chills down Rafael’s spine.

"And what kind of ridiculous questions did you prepare for her?" he continued, his grip tightening. "Did you lose your mind? Were you trying to embarrass her? Were you trying to make a fool out of her?"

Rafael defended himself immediately, rubbing his sore cheek with one hand while the other remained trapped in Alessio’s grip. "No, bro! Those were just warm-up questions! They were meant to make her feel comfortable!"

A cold smile slowly appeared on Alessio’s face.

"Warm-up?" he repeated quietly.

Something about the way he smiled made Rafael’s heart skip a beat.

Alessio took out his phone and read directly from the list.

"’What is your favorite scent?’"

He looked up at Rafael.

"’What is your dream vacation?’"

Another glance.

"’What do you do for fun?’"

His voice grew colder.

"’If you could be any animal, what would you be... and why?’"

Rafael swallowed hard.

Alessio continued without mercy.

"’Do you believe in love at first sight?’"

The living room fell into complete silence.

Mateo, who had been casually eating chips while enjoying the show, suddenly froze.

His green eyes became as round as saucers.

"...Huh?"

A second later, he inhaled a chip the wrong way.

"Cough! Cough! Cough!"

He slapped his chest repeatedly before finally catching his breath. His face was red, and tears were forming at the corners of his eyes.

Mateo exclaimed, staring at Rafael in disbelief. "What kind of interview is that?! Bro... are you interviewing Daisy or trying to ask her out? Those are date questions! Date questions!"

Rafael’s eyes widened.

Rafael protested immediately. "What? No! Those are called icebreaker questions! Every interviewer uses them to make the guest relax before asking the serious questions!"

Alessio stepped closer until only a few inches separated them.

"So your brilliant idea of making Daisy feel comfortable," Alessio asked in a chillingly calm voice, "was asking whether she believed in love at first sight?"

Rafael opened his mouth, but no words came out. He felt like a deer caught in headlights.

For the first time in a long while, he genuinely felt that his older brother might punch him again.

Rafael said immediately, his voice full of panic as he clasped his hands together in apology. "I’m sorry, bro! I don’t conduct interviews very often. It was my first time preparing questions like that. Please forgive me this once. I’m just a stupid fellow. A very stupid, very sorry fellow!"

Alessio stared at him in silence, his cold green eyes revealing nothing.

A few feet away, Mateo was enjoying the scene far more than he should have.

Seeing that the punches had stopped, he casually reached for another unopened packet of chips from the coffee table. With a loud crack, he tore it open and happily stuffed a handful into his mouth, settling deeper into the couch as though he had front-row seats to the best show of the year.

"Mmm..." he mumbled between bites. "This is getting interesting. Very interesting."

Rafael slowly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

Mateo grinned innocently while chewing his chips.

Rafael shot him a murderous glare that clearly screamed, You traitor! Aren’t you supposed to help me?

Mateo simply shrugged, popped another chip into his mouth, and leaned back against the couch as if he had absolutely nothing to do with the situation.

He subtly glanced at Rafael before making a tiny gesture with his eyes and an almost invisible shrug.

I can’t save you.

Rafael’s jaw twitched.

His eyes instantly sharpened, glaring daggers at his younger brother.

I always save you, you little traitor!

Mateo shamelessly ignored the furious glare. He happily crunched another chip with a satisfied smile, pretending he couldn’t understand Rafael’s silent complaint at all.

Sorry, bro, his playful expression seemed to say. Today, you’re the entertainment.

After thoroughly lecturing Rafael and making sure he understood every single mistake, Alessio finally let go of his collar. Rafael rubbed his aching neck with a defeated sigh before quietly sitting on the sofa opposite his older brother. The room gradually became calm again, with only the sound of Mateo lazily munching on chips breaking the silence.

After a few moments, Alessio spoke.

Alessio asked casually, though his sharp green eyes remained fixed on Rafael. "What’s Daisy doing there?"

Rafael blinked before a teasing smile slowly spread across his face.

Rafael said, leaning forward slightly. "Oh? Why are you so interested in her, bro? She just applied for a job, and I called her for an interview. That’s all. Nothing else."

The moment he finished speaking, a mischievous sparkle appeared in his eyes.

Alessio’s expression darkened.

Alessio replied through gritted teeth. "I’m not interested in her."

Yet the instant he denied it, Daisy’s beautiful face appeared in his mind without permission.

Her gentle eyes.

Her soft expressions.

The way she silently spoke through her hands.

His brows furrowed.

No.

Don’t think about her.

She’s MARRIED.

The reminder echoed firmly in his mind, forcing him to push away every unnecessary thought.

Mateo, who had been quietly listening while finishing another handful of chips, looked between his brothers in confusion.

Mateo asked curiously. "Who’s Daisy, bro?"

Alessio immediately stood up.

"No one."

Without giving either of them another explanation, he turned and walked away, leaving the two brothers staring after him.