Chapter 232 Have you heard from Alessio?

Chapter 232: Chapter 232 Have you heard from Alessio?

Daisy slowed down.

He still hadn’t returned.

She stood there for a moment, looking at the door. She remembered how suddenly he had left the mansion the previous day. He had told her that something urgent had come up and she understood that his work sometimes required him to be away for long hours.

Still, she had thought he might have returned by now.

She couldn’t help wondering where he was.

Was he still busy? Had he eaten anything? Was everything going well?

Daisy pressed her lips together before continuing toward her own room.

She had no reason to worry so much. Alessio was a grown man and he had plenty of people around him who could help if anything went wrong.

Besides, they were friends. She couldn’t expect him to tell her everything he was doing.

Yet, after changing into comfortable clothes, she found herself sitting on her bed with her phone in her hands, staring at their conversation.

She hesitated before typing a message.

Are you okay?

She read it once, then sent it.

Afterward, she placed her phone beside her and tried to occupy herself with other things. She had brought a few belongings from her old home that still needed organizing and she began putting them away.

A few minutes later, she reached for her phone again.

There was no reply.

Daisy frowned slightly.

Maybe he’s busy.

She put the phone down and continued arranging her things But the thought kept returning to her mind.

She had seen how serious Alessio had looked when he received that phone call. He hadn’t even finished his conversation with her before leaving. She wondered whether the problem had been resolved or whether he was still dealing with it.

She didn’t know much about his work and she had never asked him to explain it to her. She knew he had responsibilities but she wasn’t sure what those responsibilities involved or why they sometimes kept him away for so long.

All she knew was that he hadn’t come home yet.

And she was worried.

Eventually, Daisy went downstairs, hoping she might find Rafael.

She spotted him sitting in the living room with Eva. They were talking about their day and Rafael looked relaxed as he leaned back against the sofa.

When he noticed Daisy approaching, he smiled.

"Hey. Everything alright?"

Daisy nodded, then took out her phone and typed a question.

Have you heard from Alessio?

Rafael read the message and looked at her.

"No, not today. Why?"

Daisy hesitated before typing again.

He still hasn’t come home.

Rafael’s expression softened with understanding.

"Ah, you’re worried about him."

Daisy immediately looked down at her phone.

She hadn’t meant to make her concern so obvious.

Rafael let out a small laugh, not to tease her but because he found her worry understandable.

"Don’t worry too much. He had something urgent to deal with yesterday. He’s probably still busy."

Daisy nodded, though she didn’t look entirely reassured.

Eva glanced at Rafael. "You haven’t spoken to him at all?"

"No. But if something serious had happened, someone would have contacted us."

"That makes sense," Eva replied.

Daisy listened to them, trying to convince herself that they were right.

She knew Alessio could take care of himself. She also knew she had only been staying at his mansion for a short time and she didn’t want to interfere in his personal affairs.

Still, she wanted to know that he was alright.

Rafael noticed her glancing at her phone again.

"Why don’t you try calling him?" he suggested. "Maybe he’ll answer if he’s free."

Daisy looked at him, then nodded.

She opened Alessio’s contact and pressed the call button.

The phone rang.

Daisy held it close to her ear, waiting.

After several rings, the call ended without an answer.

Her shoulders lowered slightly.

He hadn’t picked up.

She stared at the screen for a moment before sending another message.

Please let me know when you’re free.

Then she put her phone away.

Rafael didn’t say anything more about it. He simply moved over to make room for her on the sofa and Daisy sat down beside him while Eva continued telling them about something that had happened earlier that day.

Daisy tried to focus on their conversation. She smiled at the appropriate moments and occasionally typed a reply but her attention kept drifting toward her phone.

Every time the screen lit up, she checked it.

Every time it was a message from someone else, she felt a little disappointed.

She didn’t even understand why she was so concerned.

Alessio had been kind to her when she needed somewhere to stay. He had given her a room, made sure she had food and treated her with consideration without asking her to explain her difficult marriage.

Of course she cared about his safety.

He was her friend.

That was all.

At least, that was what Daisy told herself.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city, Alessio Ricci was in no mood to tolerate anyone’s mistakes.

A glass crashed against the wall.

The sound echoed through the private office, followed by the sharp clatter of broken pieces falling to the floor.

Alessio stood behind his desk, his jaw clenched and his green eyes filled with fury. Papers, photographs, and folders were scattered across the floor. He had swept everything off the desk in a fit of anger, unable to contain his frustration any longer.

Another lead.

Another useless lead that had led him nowhere.

He stared at the photograph in his hand before crushing it between his fingers.

"Damn it!"

His voice was low, but the anger behind it made the men standing near the door exchange uneasy glances.

For weeks, he had been following every possible lead, questioning people, checking old records and sending his men to places most people wouldn’t even dare to enter. Every time they found something promising, he allowed himself a small amount of hope.

And every time, that hope was destroyed.

His little sister was still missing.

Years had passed, yet he still didn’t know where she was, who had taken her or what had happened to her after she disappeared from his life.

The thought was enough to make his chest tighten.

What condition is she living in right now?

Was she safe?

Did she have somewhere to sleep?

Was someone taking care of her or was she struggling all alone somewhere, waiting for a family that might never find her?

Alessio closed his eyes briefly.