Chapter 257 Mateo, what’s this behaviour?

Chapter 257: Chapter 257 Mateo, what’s this behaviour?

"Okay, Maria, I can manage on my own. I honestly can’t understand a single thing you’re saying. Are you teaching me or making things more complicated?" Mateo complained, scrunching up his nose as he stared at the notebook in front of him.

He had absolutely no idea why his tutor had been granted an extra hour of teaching time by his brother. One hour had already felt like an eternity and now he was apparently expected to endure even more.

To make matters worse, Alisha seemed unusually enthusiastic today. She had arrived with a bright smile, her hair carefully styled and her face covered in several thick layers of makeup. Even her perfume seemed stronger than usual and she had been smiling at him every few minutes.

Mateo found it exhausting.

Alisha’s smile twitched.

"First of all, it’s not Maria. You still haven’t learned my name, despite me telling you at least twenty times!" she snapped, pressing her pen against the notebook. "It’s Alisha. A-li-sha. Is that so difficult to remember?"

Mateo gave her a bored look.

"Whatever. Maria, Alisha, what’s the difference?"

Her jaw tightened.

"You’re incredibly rude, you know that?"

"Thank you. I try."

"Mateo!"

"What?" He spread his hands innocently before leaning back in his chair. "You’re the one making such a big deal out of your name. Anyway, can you just teach me something useful instead of giving me a lecture about introductions?"

Alisha took a slow breath, clearly trying to regain her patience. She straightened the notebook in front of him and pointed at a question she had written down earlier.

"Fine. Let’s move on. Solve this one first, and I’ll explain the next concept."

Mateo glanced at the question, then at her. "Teach me this."

"That’s what I’ve been trying to do for the last forty minutes!" She said trying to control her anger.

"Then perhaps try explaining it properly." He said while looking at question.

Alisha stared at him.

Mateo shrugged and pushed the notebook a little closer to her. His brother was paying her an enormous amount of money to teach him, so surely she could manage something as simple as explaining a question without making him feel as though he were attending a punishment session.

Besides, if Alessio was determined to spend so much money on private tutors, Mateo might as well get something out of it.

He reluctantly picked up his pen again.

Although he continued to complain under his breath, he eventually tried to follow her explanation. His eyebrows drew together as he studied the equations, occasionally glancing at the notebook and then back at the textbook. He still wasn’t particularly interested but he was at least making an effort to understand what she was teaching him.

And that was precisely what Alessio noticed when he entered the room.

He paused near the doorway, watching his younger brother sitting at the desk with a notebook open in front of him. Mateo’s shoulders were slightly hunched, and his expression suggested that he would much rather be doing anything else but he was holding a pen and actually attempting the questions.

Alessio felt quietly pleased.

Mateo had always struggled with studying independently. He would sit with his books for hours, become distracted within minutes and then grow frustrated when he couldn’t understand something.

Alessio had tried several ways to encourage him but hiring a private tutor had seemed like the most practical solution. He hadn’t expected immediate results, of course but seeing Mateo at least attempt his work was encouraging.

He stepped further into the room.

Alisha noticed his presence almost immediately. Her expression brightened and she quickly adjusted her posture, sitting a little straighter as she offered him a pleasant smile.

"Good morning, sir."

Alessio slipped one hand into his trouser pocket and approached the desk. His gaze briefly travelled over the open notebook before settling on Mateo.

"How is he doing?"

Alisha smiled warmly, almost as though she had been waiting for him to ask.

"He’s doing quite well, sir. He’s slowly getting the hang of things, although he still has quite a lot to learn. We need to work on his concentration and he should practise regularly if he wants to improve."

Mateo, who had been attempting to solve the question, immediately made a face.

Quite a lot to learn?

He glanced at the woman, then returned his attention to the notebook.

"If you were actually capable of teaching me properly, perhaps I wouldn’t have so much to learn," he muttered under his breath, deliberately loud enough for her to hear.

Alisha’s smile faltered.

"Mateo!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.

His pen continued moving across the page as though he hadn’t heard her.

Alessio’s expression changed.

"Mateo, what’s this behaviour?"

Mateo looked up, his eyebrows lifting. "What?"

"Don’t speak to your tutor like that. She’s here to help you, and she’s putting in her time and effort. You should at least show her some respect."

Mateo’s expression immediately soured."But I’m not even saying anything wrong!"

"Then why do you keep making unnecessary comments?" Alessio asked.

"Because she’s annoying me!"

"Mateo."

"What? You asked me to study with her, and I’m studying, aren’t I?" He gestured towards the notebook. "Look! I’m sitting here, doing the questions, listening to her explanations. What else do you want?"

Alessio’s gaze moved briefly towards the notebook before returning to his brother.

"I want you to cooperate instead of making things difficult for everyone."

Mateo let out a disbelieving laugh.

"Of course. She’s always right, isn’t she?"

Alisha lowered her eyes, pressing her lips together as though she were trying very hard not to cry. Her fingers moved over the edge of the notebook and she gave a small, wounded sigh.

"I don’t mind, sir. Really. I understand that he might find studying frustrating. I’ll try to be more patient with him."

Her voice was gentle, almost painfully considerate.

Mateo stared at her.

Oh, please.

He knew that tone. He had heard it before from people who wanted to appear innocent after deliberately irritating him. Yet, somehow, his brother seemed completely convinced by it.

Alessio sighed.

"See? She’s being patient with you, Mateo. You should learn to appreciate that."

Mateo’s fingers tightened around his pen. "You’re seriously taking her side?"

"I’m not taking anyone’s side. I’m telling you to behave properly." Alessio explained.

"But you don’t even know what happened!" Mateo said

"I know enough. I’ve walked in and found you insulting the person who’s supposed to be helping you."

"Because she’s—"

"That’s enough."

Alessio’s voice was firm, leaving little room for argument.