Chapter 224 So rude of me to think like this

Chapter 224: Chapter 224 So rude of me to think like this

Daisy’s eyes widened the moment the food finally arrived.

She had been expecting something simple. Perhaps a sandwich, a bowl of soup or maybe some rice and vegetables. She had already decided that she would be perfectly satisfied with anything the kitchen sent over, especially after Alessio had insisted that she eat something before doing anything else.

Instead, when the staff began placing the dishes on the dining table one after another, Daisy slowly blinked in surprise.

There was far more food than she had expected.

Several beautifully prepared dishes were arranged across the table, each one placed neatly in its own serving dish.

There was warm soup, freshly cooked vegetables, fragrant rice, tender meat, freshly baked bread and several smaller side dishes that Daisy couldn’t even identify at first glance.

A small dessert had been placed near the end of the table as well, decorated so carefully that it almost looked too pretty to eat.

Daisy stared at the spread. Then she looked at Alessio. Then back at the food.

Her expression seemed to silently ask one very simple question. Was all of this really for her?

Alessio, however, simply sat down across from her as though nothing unusual had happened. He looked completely relaxed.

"This should be enough," he said casually.

Daisy looked at the table again. Enough? There was enough food here to feed several people. She wasn’t sure whether she should laugh or feel embarrassed.

Rafael had already disappeared somewhere with Eva, leaving the two of them alone at the table.

Mateo, who had apparently reached the limit of his energy for the day, had fallen asleep on one of the nearby sofas.

His head was resting against the cushion, his arms loosely folded, completely unaware of the activity around him. His soft breathing filled the quiet room.

The enormous dining room suddenly felt much quieter.

Which meant there was only one person sitting directly across from Daisy.

Alessio.

Daisy slowly pulled her chair closer to the table. She picked up her spoon and carefully tasted the soup first. Her eyes widened slightly. It was delicious.

She took another spoonful and then another. The warmth of the food slowly settled in her stomach and she finally began to realize just how hungry she had actually been.

She hadn’t noticed it earlier because so many things had happened throughout the day. But now that she was sitting in front of a proper meal, her stomach seemed determined to remind her that it had been neglected for far too long.

Daisy began eating more comfortably.

However, there was one small problem. She could feel someone’s eyes on her.

She tried to ignore it. She really did. She concentrated on her food, carefully cutting a piece of meat and bringing it to her mouth. But after a few seconds, she couldn’t help herself.

She glanced up.

Alessio was looking at her. Their eyes met.

Daisy immediately lowered her gaze. Her cheeks became slightly warm. She tried to continue eating as though nothing had happened.

A few moments later, she looked up again.

He was still watching her.

Daisy quickly looked back at her plate. Why was he staring at her?

She took another bite and then another. She could practically feel his gaze following her. She wasn’t used to someone watching her while she ate.

Especially not someone like Alessio. He wasn’t doing anything strange or even saying anything. He was simply sitting there with his elbow resting lightly against the table, watching her with those striking green eyes.

Every time Daisy accidentally looked up, she found him looking directly at her.

Her cheeks became warmer. She lowered her head a little more.

Perhaps she should tell him that he didn’t need to sit there and watch her eat.

But then she hesitated. She was staying under his roof. She was eating food prepared by his chef. He had given her a beautiful room without asking for anything in return. He had even made sure she had food because she hadn’t eaten all day.

Complaining now would probably make her sound terribly ungrateful.

Daisy’s lips pressed together. So rude of me to think like this...

She immediately shook the thought away and continued eating.

Maybe he was simply making sure she actually ate. After all, he had been worried about her. She tried to convince herself that was all it was.

Meanwhile, Alessio remained silent. He had barely touched his own food.

Daisy eventually noticed. Her spoon stopped halfway to her mouth. She glanced at his plate. Almost everything was untouched.

Her brows furrowed. She looked at him, then at his plate, then back at him. Why wasn’t he eating?

She pointed toward his plate.

Alessio looked down at it. Then he looked back at her.

Daisy picked up her spoon and pointed toward the food in front of her before gesturing toward him, silently asking if he wanted some.

Alessio understood immediately. He shook his head. "No."

Daisy tilted her head.

He gave her a faint smile. "I’m not hungry."

Daisy stared at him suspiciously. She didn’t believe him. Her eyes dropped toward his untouched plate again. He had been with her the whole time as well, so he hadn’t eaten either.

She pointed at it once more.

Alessio’s lips twitched. "Really."

Daisy narrowed her eyes slightly.

Alessio almost smiled. "I promise."

Daisy continued staring at him for another moment before finally giving up. She shrugged lightly and returned to her food. If he didn’t want to eat, she couldn’t force him.

She picked up another piece of bread and continued her meal.

For a while, everything became peaceful again. Daisy slowly relaxed.

Then, suddenly—

Ring...

The sound of Alessio’s phone interrupted the quiet dining room.

His hand immediately moved toward his pocket. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.

His expression changed. The slight softness that had been there moments ago disappeared. His jaw tightened and his eyes became sharp and cold.

Daisy noticed immediately. Her chewing slowed and her eyes fixed on his face.

Alessio stood up. "I have to take this."

Daisy nodded.

He stepped away from the table and walked several feet toward the other side of the room before answering. His voice was low, too low for her to hear but she could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his free hand curled into a fist at his side.

Daisy continued eating, but her attention had shifted toward him. She watched him from across the room, her spoon hovering near her lips, her brows slightly furrowed with concern.