Chapter 193 Seed of worry

Chapter 193: Chapter 193 Seed of worry

Alessio sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "Fine. Just for a little while."

He carefully sat beside her, keeping a respectful distance at first. His body was tense, his muscles coiled with the effort of maintaining control. He had never been in a situation like this before, and he wasn’t sure how to navigate it without crossing a line he couldn’t uncross.

Daisy immediately leaned against him.

Alessio stiffened. His breath caught in his throat as her body pressed against his. Her head settled against his chest, her soft hair brushing against his chin. Her arms slipped around his waist as though she had finally found the comfortable place she had been searching for. She let out a small, contented sigh and her entire body relaxed into him.

He looked down at her, his green eyes softening despite himself. Her cheeks were still flushed, her expression peaceful. She seemed completely content now, her earlier restlessness replaced by a quiet calm.

Her breathing gradually became slower, and the tension in her shoulders disappeared completely. Her fingers relaxed against his shirt and her face softened into peaceful sleepiness.

Alessio remained still, his hands hovering awkwardly for a moment before he finally rested one carefully over her shoulder. His touch was light, almost hesitant, as if he was afraid of breaking something fragile.

"Just sleep," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Daisy hummed softly in response, a tiny sound of contentment that made his heartbeat quicken.

Alessio looked toward the ceiling in deep thought. His mind was messy, trying to piece together what had happened. Someone had drugged Daisy. That fact was undeniable. But who? And why? He ran through the list of people in his mind, but nothing clicked into place. Whoever had done this was going to pay. He would make sure of that.

❀┈┈┈┈❀

Meanwhile, on the other side of the house, Cedric was experiencing a completely different kind of discomfort.

The wine had left a strange warmth spreading through his body and he couldn’t understand why he suddenly felt so restless. His head felt slightly heavy, his skin unusually warm and his patience seemed to be disappearing with every passing second. The heat was almost unbearable like a fever.

Jessica noticed immediately. Her eyes widened with concern but there was also something else in her gaze, something calculating. "Ricy, are you alright?" she asked, stepping closer.

"I don’t know," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. His collar suddenly felt too tight, and he tugged at it impatiently. "I just feel... strangely hot."

Jessica looked at him with fake concern at first but when he caught her hand, her expression changed. A flicker of unknown emotions passed across her face, too quick to identify.

"Come with me."

He led her away from the main gathering and into a quieter corridor where they wouldn’t be surrounded by the guests. Jessica followed without protest, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

Cedric leaned against the wall and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to make sense of the unfamiliar sensation running through him. His heart was beating faster than normal and his thoughts were scattered. "Why do I feel like this?" he muttered.

Jessica stepped closer, her voice soft and honeyed. "Maybe you’re just exhausted."

Cedric opened his eyes and looked at her. The strange hot warmth hadn’t gone away. Instead of trying to understand it, he allowed himself to follow the impulse, pulling her closer and kissing her. Jessica immediately responded, wrapping her arms around him as they remained hidden in the quiet corner of the corridor. Her fingers tangled in his hair and she pressed herself against him.

After a moment, Cedric pulled back, breathing heavily. "Let’s go somewhere private."

Jessica nodded, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

He took her to one of the unused rooms nearby, still unable to understand why his body felt so unusually heated and restless. Perhaps it was simply the alcohol, exhaustion and emotions of the evening catching up with him. But deep down, something felt off, and he couldn’t quite place it.

❀┈┈┈┈❀

At the same time, Grandpa James looked around the room, his eyes moving from one familiar face to another. But two people were noticeably absent.

"Where are Daisy and Cedric?" he asked, glancing toward the hallway. His brows furrowed slightly, a hint of confusion creeping into his voice. "Both of them are missing!"

He raised his eyebrows with a playful expression before chuckling, his wrinkles deepening with amusement. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he looked around at the nearby guests. "Hmm... young couples. They must have run off somewhere to have their own little romance."

A few people nearby laughed, exchanging knowing glances. One of the older relatives patted James’s arm with a knowing smile. "Don’t worry about them, James. Let the young ones have their fun."

James chuckled again.

Rafael immediately grinned, his expression light and carefree. "Otherwise what, Grandpa?" he replied innocently. "It would be terribly rude of them to leave you alone on your birthday tonight."

His smile looked perfectly harmless. His eyes were anything but. There was a dark calculation hidden behind them as he glanced briefly toward the hallway. He had set the pieces in motion, and now he was watching them fall into place.

Grandpa James laughed and shook his head, waving his hand dismissively. "Let them be. Young people these days have their own world."

Rafael’s smile remained. "Of course." He picked up his drink and took a casual sip. The cool liquid slid down his throat, but his mind was scheming.

"Oh, Grandpa, maybe something happened," Rafael said casually, his tone thoughtful. He tilted his head slightly, as if the thought had just occurred to him. "Otherwise, Daisy is usually always around you. She wouldn’t just disappear like this."

Grandpa James’s smile slowly faded. His eyes darted toward the hallway again, concern appearing in his expression. He had noticed Daisy’s absence too but he had dismissed it as nothing. Now, Rafael’s words planted a seed of worry.