Mafia Lord's Mute Sweetheart

Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Does she still have feelings for him?

Cedric couldn’t respond. His throat felt strangely tight. He didn’t understand himself anymore.

Just moments ago, he had been furious at the thought of Daisy sleeping beside another man. He had wanted to drag Alessio away from her, to pull her back to his side where she belonged. And now, when Grandpa James was actually offering him the divorce he had once wanted, something inside him was resisting. Something was clawing at his chest, refusing to let go.

He couldn’t explain it. He had spent so long telling himself that Daisy meant nothing to him. That their marriage was merely convenient. That once he got what he wanted, he would leave and never look back.

So why did the thought of her actually walking away make his chest feel as though something was being squeezed inside it?

And then another thought struck him.

If Daisy divorced him...

She could marry Alessio.

That f*cking man.

Cedric’s eyes immediately darkened. The idea made something ugly and possessive twist inside him. His blood ran hot and his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

He looked toward Alessio.

Alessio was standing silently, his expression controlled again but Cedric couldn’t forget what he had just seen. Daisy sleeping peacefully against him. Alessio touching her hair. Daisy trusting him enough to sleep in his arms. The way Alessio had stood between them, protecting her, defending her.

Cedric’s fists tightened.

”No...” he muttered under his breath.

James frowned. ”What did you say?”

Cedric looked away, unable to meet his grandfather’s eyes. ”I mean...”

He struggled to find an explanation. His mind raced, searching for words that wouldn’t expose the tangled mess of emotions inside him.

”I don’t want things to end like this.”

James stared at him for a long moment. His eyes were sharp, searching. ”Why?”

Cedric went silent.

He didn’t know how to answer without exposing something he hadn’t even admitted to himself. He couldn’t say he loved Daisy. Because did he? He didn’t know. But the thought of another man becoming her husband made his blood boil.

James watched Cedric for a long moment. His shoulders slowly sank and the anger in his face was replaced by exhaustion.

”You don’t even know what you want,” he said quietly. ”That’s the problem.”

Cedric lowered his eyes.

James turned away from him and looked toward Daisy. She was still standing there, her hands clasped nervously in front of her, her expression uncertain as she tried to process everything that had happened within the last few minutes.

”Daisy,” James called gently.

Her eyes immediately lifted toward him.

”What do you want?”

Daisy blinked.

Her gaze moved from Grandpa James to Cedric, then slowly toward Alessio.

Her hands began moving hesitantly but she stopped halfway, unsure how to explain everything she was feeling.

James watched her patiently.

”I can see you’re trying to tell me something,” he said softly. ”Take your time. You don’t have to rush.”

Daisy swallowed.

James continued, ”But I need you to understand one thing. This is your life. Not mine. Not Cedric’s. Not anyone else’s.”

His expression softened.

”No one should force you into a marriage you don’t want.”

Daisy’s eyes slowly filled with emotion. She nodded.

James gave her a small, sad smile.

”Then tell me honestly. Do you want to stay with Cedric?”

Daisy’s heart clenched.

She looked at Cedric. He was staring at her. For some reason, the intensity in his eyes made her chest feel strangely tight. She quickly lowered her gaze.

She didn’t answer.

Cedric’s breathing became slower as he waited. He didn’t know why her answer suddenly mattered so much to him. He had spent years believing that he didn’t care whether Daisy stayed or left. So why was he holding his breath now?

James noticed her hesitation.

”You don’t have to decide this second,” he said gently. ”Think about what you truly want.”

Daisy’s fingers trembled slightly. She knew exactly why she was hesitating.

Daisy... you don’t know?

Her own thoughts questioned her.

You’ve wanted a divorce for so long. You already knew Cedric would never willingly agree to it. You spent so much time wishing you could finally walk away. So why are you hesitating now?

Her eyes lowered.

Why?

The answer came painfully easily.

Because I loved him.

Her heart ached.

I loved him for three years.

Three years was not something she could erase just because the marriage had become painful. Three years of hoping. Three years of waiting. Three years of loving someone who had never loved her in the same way.

She slowly looked toward Grandpa James. He was already watching her. There was no pressure in his eyes now. Only concern.

Daisy took a deep breath.

Then she slowly raised her hands. Her movements were small at first, almost hesitant.

James watched carefully.

Daisy finally made the gesture for divorce.

Her eyes became glassy.

She wanted a divorce.

James’s expression changed. He closed his eyes briefly, as though the answer still hurt even though he had expected it.

”Alright,” he whispered.

Then he looked at Cedric.

”You heard her.”

Cedric stood completely still. His face had gone pale.

Daisy wanted to divorce him. Even after everything, hearing it directly from her somehow hurt far more than he had expected.

His eyes shifted toward her.

”You really want to leave me?”

Daisy didn’t look at him. She simply lowered her hands.

Alessio remained silent nearby but beneath his composed expression, his emotions were anything but calm.

His hand slowly clenched. Harder. His fingernails dug into his palm until small crescent-shaped marks appeared against his skin. He barely noticed the pain.

Daisy wanted a divorce.

That should have made him happy. Part of him was happy.

Alessio remained silent, but his eyes never left Daisy. The moment she had finally raised her hands to give Grandpa James her answer, he had felt something inside his heart loosen. She wanted a divorce.

He should have been relieved. Maybe even happy.

But then he remembered how long she had taken to give that answer. She had stood there for so long, looking at Cedric, looking away, and struggling with her own thoughts before finally gesturing that she wanted to leave the marriage.

That hesitation stayed in Alessio’s mind. His fingers curled again.

Why did it take her so long?

His eyes moved toward her face. There was sadness in her beautiful eyes, a sadness he couldn’t ignore.

Does she still have feelings for him?

The thought struck him. His jaw tightened.

Of course she might.

Cedric had been her husband for years. Alessio knew he shouldn’t expect Daisy to suddenly forget everything simply because their marriage was ending. Still, knowing that didn’t make the thought any easier.

His gaze dropped briefly.

Maybe she still loves him.

His heart ached.