Chapter 236 Why do you look so guilty?

Chapter 236: Chapter 236 Why do you look so guilty?

Daisy jolted awake.

Her eyes flew open, and she sat up abruptly, clutching the blanket against herself.

For several seconds, she stared at the bedroom around her.

She was back.

Her breathing was slightly uneven and an unpleasant sensation remained in her chest. She couldn’t remember what she had dreamed about. The moment she woke up, the details seemed to have dissolved like mist.

A man?

Had there been a man?

Daisy pressed her fingers against her forehead.

Her headache was still there.

She frowned and rubbed her face.

Perhaps she had watched something strange recently. Perhaps the headache had caused a bizarre dream.

Whatever it was, she didn’t want to think about it anymore.

She glanced at the clock.

It was time to get up.

After sitting for another minute, Daisy finally pushed back the blanket and climbed out of bed.

She washed her face, brushed her teeth, and took a quick shower. The warm water helped her feel a little more refreshed, although the ache in her head hadn’t completely disappeared.

She chose a simple outfit, brushed her hair and tied it loosely away from her face.

By the time she finished getting ready, the mansion was beginning to feel less intimidating than it had earlier.

She opened her bedroom door and stepped into the hallway.

It was still early but she assumed someone might already be awake.

Perhaps she could ask Rika for some medicine after breakfast.

With that thought, Daisy headed toward the staircase.

She was so occupied with her headache and the strange, forgotten dream that she didn’t notice someone approaching from the opposite direction.

She turned the corner and walked straight into something hard.

More specifically, someone.

Thud!

Daisy’s forehead collided with a firm chest.

Before she could lose her balance, a pair of strong hands caught her by the arms.

"Easy... easy."

The familiar deep voice made her freeze.

Alessio.

She slowly lifted her head and promptly forgot about her headache for a second.

The man standing in front of her was dressed entirely in black.

His black shirt fitted him exceptionally well, following the broad line of his shoulders and stretching subtly across his muscular chest. The top button was undone, revealing a small portion of his collarbone. His sleeves were neatly rolled to his forearms, exposing strong wrists and veins that became more prominent as his hands rested around her arms.

His black trousers sat perfectly at his waist, secured by a dark leather belt with a simple, elegant buckle.

His hair was slightly disheveled, as though he had run his fingers through it several times after waking up.

And his eyes...

Those green eyes were looking directly at her.

Daisy blinked twice.

Why does he look like that so early in the morning?

It was honestly unfair.

Some people needed an hour to become presentable after waking up.

Alessio Ricci apparently needed only a black shirt and the ability to exist.

He looked like the sort of man who belonged on the cover of an expensive magazine, except that the magazine would probably be too intimidated to ask him for a photograph.

His gaze traveled over her face, lingering briefly on her forehead.

"Did you hurt yourself?"

Daisy quickly shook her head.

Alessio didn’t immediately release her.

Instead, he tilted his head slightly, examining her expression.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded again.

His eyes narrowed.

"You don’t look particularly convincing."

Daisy puffed out her cheeks a little.

I said I’m fine!

Alessio’s mouth curved into a small, infuriatingly attractive smile that appeared whenever he caught her doing something he found amusing.

"All right. I believe you."

He paused.

"Mostly."

Daisy gave him a pointed look.

Alessio chuckled softly.

The sound was low and husky, still carrying a trace of sleepiness.

She noticed that his hands were still resting on her arms.

He seemed to realize it at the same moment. His fingers loosened and he let her go.

Yet he didn’t step away immediately.

Daisy had to tilt her face upward to look at him properly.

Alessio glanced down at her.

His expression softened. "Good morning, Daisy."

She smiled and lifted her hand in a small greeting.

"Good morning?" He raised an eyebrow.

Daisy blinked at him.

Oh. Right.

Maybe he was asking whether she had slept well.

She nodded.

Alessio studied her for another second.

"Really?"

She nodded again, a little more firmly.

He hummed, apparently unconvinced but willing to let the matter go.

Then his gaze returned to her forehead.

"You’re rubbing your head."

Daisy immediately lowered her hand.

Too late.

"I saw that."

She looked away.

Alessio folded his arms across his chest.

The movement pulled his shirt more snugly across his upper body.

Daisy’s eyes betrayed her for approximately half a second.

Unfortunately, Alessio noticed that.

His eyebrows rose. A slow, amused smile appeared on his face. "Something interesting?"

Daisy’s eyes widened.

She shook her head so quickly that a few loose strands of hair slipped across her cheek.

No, no, nothing!

Well, she couldn’t say that aloud but the frantic movements of her head communicated the message perfectly.

Alessio leaned down slightly, bringing his face closer to hers.

"Then why do you look so guilty?"

Daisy stared at him.

Because you look like that!

She immediately looked toward the staircase.

Alessio laughed under his breath. "You’re very easy to tease in the morning."

Daisy pressed her lips together and glared at him.

He straightened, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

But the amusement faded a little when he noticed that she was still holding one hand near her temple.

"Come here."

Before she could wonder what he meant, he gently guided her toward the small seating area beside the staircase.

"Sit down for a moment."

Daisy hesitated.

Alessio looked at her.

"Daisy."

She sat.

He disappeared for a short while, leaving her alone on the sofa.

She watched him go, her thoughts drifting back to the dream she couldn’t remember.

The long-haired man. The bamboo craft and that unpleasant feeling.

Why had it felt so real?

She frowned and pressed her fingers against her temple again.