Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 185

I couldn’t hold the look. I glanced away, fast. A hush slowly settled over the room as the teacher stepped forward to welcome everyone.

I sat still, hands folded tightly in my lap, heart thudding against my chest, not because of Dana, or Alan, or even Maria’s concerned glances from beside me. But because my little boy was about to take the stage.

The curtains parted and the first group of kids walked up, shyly waving at their parents. The room erupted in soft claps and quiet laughter. A few names were called out here and there, a mom or dad raising a phone a little higher to record every second.

Then I saw him. Leon. He walked proudly onto the stage with Danny, holding their cardboard solar system model between them, glitter stars and foam planets dangling on strings, wobbling slightly with every step.

My throat tightened. He was beaming. Absolutely beaming. The teacher introduced their group, and Leon, without an ounce of hesitation, stepped up to the microphone.

“Our project is about the planets,” he said, his voice small but clear, “and how the Earth goes around the sun. We made this together. I helped paint the stars, and Danny did the Saturn rings.”

Danny grinned beside him.

“And,” Leon added, “we learned that the sun is very hot, but it helps everything grow. Like flowers. And people.”

The room chuckled. Someone awwed.

I blinked hard, suddenly fighting tears. Because it wasn’t just a school project. It wasn’t just glitter and glue and secondhand craft supplies. It was proof. Proof that I hadn’t completely failed. I did that.

When they finished, Leon looked out into the crowd and waved. His eyes scanned the faces and landed on me. His smile grew impossibly wide. He waved harder, both hands now. I raised my hand and waved back, mouthing 'I’m proud of you' even though he couldn’t hear me. But I knew he felt it. He must have.

They came down from the stage, and the next group got ready, but I could barely focus. All I could think about was how proud I was of my son. How grateful I was that I had him. That he was still mine. And that no matter what Luca said, I was not a bad mother.

When the presentations ended, people clapped. The lights came on. Parents stood to hug their kids and take pictures. I started to get up when Dana suddenly touched my arm.

“Ariana,” she said softly. “Can we talk?”

I froze. And then before I could even answer, Alan stood up too. His eyes met mine. There was something in them. Something I wasn’t sure I could handle right now.

I looked toward Maria. 'Help me.' I didn’t even know what I wanted her to help me with, just… something.

Because right then, I didn’t know how to move. I didn’t know how to walk or talk or breathe in front of these people who had seen too much already.

Maria must’ve read the panic in my eyes, because she turned away from me and went toward Leon, who was already hurrying up with that proud little smile on his face. She scooped him into a quick hug, laughing at something he said, blending perfectly into the joyful chaos of parents and children.

Then, almost like a silent chain reaction, Alan moved too, heading toward Rosie. And the moment he did, I let out a small breath of relief. Because even though I didn’t want to talk to Dana. I really didn’t want to have a conversation with Alan.

I had been told to stay away from him. Strictly. Directly. And I wasn’t about to put Leon’s safety—his happiness, in the hands of any man. Not again.

So now it was just Dana and me. We stood together, side by side, quietly watching Maria and Alan, who were now taking photos with the kids, chatting with the other parents like nothing had ever happened. Like yesterday hadn’t cracked the ground beneath us.

Then Dana touched my hand. I froze. Every part of me wanted to pull away. But I couldn’t find the strength to do it. Her fingers wrapped around mine gently, and she leaned in close.

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