Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 156

Still, the silence between us lingered long enough for me to break it.

“I’ve seen you around… You live next door, right?” I asked

“Yup. That modern grey house that looks like it’s judging the rest of the street.”

I chuckled. “It’s beautiful. Do they pay teachers that well here?”

Dana burst out laughing. “God, no. If only.”

“Oh... I just assumed, you know… that house...”

“I don’t own it,” she said, waving her hand. “It’s my brother’s. He’s filthy rich and barely home. Works in the city comes by some weekends to show off his new car and judge my parenting.”

I smiled, then caught myself.

“Sorry if that’s too much,” she added, watching me closely. “I’m used to saying things out loud.”

“No, it’s fine,” I said quickly. “I just… wasn’t sure if there was a husband in the picture.”

She shook her head. “Nope. Single mom club. Official member. Just me and my girl. You?”

I hesitated. “Same.”

Because I was, wasn't I? Basically since Leon was just an embryo to now. His father has never acknowledged him, never even wanted to see him... Yeah, I was a single mother through and through.

There was a pause. Then she tilted her head. “We should talk more. You know, single mom to single mom... You want to come over one evening? I’ve got wine. Or tea if you’re the responsible type.”

I hesitated again but then nodded.

“Maybe… yeah. I’d like that.”

And just like that, the first real human connection I’d made in this new life was born.... not forced, not fake. Just two women, next door to each other, trying to survive.

Maria was happy that I had finally made a connection that was not her.

She was usually on her phone, and now, since she no longer had to take care of Leon 24/7—since Leon was at school, she had started volunteering at the church. She was a church girl through and through, always walking in marches, attending prayer meetings, and helping organize events. So she spent a lot of time at the church or on her phone, but she was always there at the right time, doing her duties. I guess someone was enjoying her freedom just like I was.

Although, as I said, Maria was happy that I wasn't holding on to her as I used to. Since I used to go with her to the church and everything, but that was never what I enjoyed doing. I wanted to do more. I wanted to do all the things that I couldn't have done before. First, because I was too poor—working three jobs and taking care of Leon. I was busy and exhausted, and I just didn't have the time or the money to even eat properly.

"If it wasn’t for my brother, I wouldn’t be able to afford living here. Not just on my job, not just on my salary," she said. "And you're almost always at home. What is it that you do? Do you work online or something?"

I laughed, kind of guilty and ashamed, because I wasn’t actually doing, you know… anything. The work at the library wasn’t really work, it was a part-time job. So really, most of the time, I was just at home, and I worked at the library three times a week. You couldn’t really say I had a job.

So I said, and I let it come out of my mouth like it was normal:

"My ex paid for it."

She looked surprised. “You didn’t tell me anything about an ex.”

"It’s Ryan’s father. He’s this huge deal—a billionaire with a bad attitude. He didn’t know how to treat me, so we got divorced. But yeah, I got this house, and he’s paying for everything. And since I’m not thinking about ever moving on with anyone else, it seems like he’ll be taking care of me for the rest of my life."

Then I laughed and she laughed with me.

“You’re a lucky girl,” she said.

If only she knew the truth.