Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 215

ARIELLA

I was in the bedroom. I don't know for how long....Maybe hours. Maybe minutes. Time had twisted into a fog of silence, nervousness and fear.

I felt like I was unraveling—like any second now, I’d lose my grip. Lose my calm and lose my mind. I started pacing. My fingers clenched and unclenched. My teeth ground together so tightly I thought they might crack.

I couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t breathe right. And then, I heard footsteps.

Footsteps on the stairs. My heart stilled. I stopped mid-pace, eyes darting toward the door, every nerve in my body flaring to life. I dropped down to the edge of the bed, trying to fix my face, trying to look calm, composed, like I hadn’t been seconds from breaking down.

I didn’t know what I was going to say. I didn’t have a speech prepared. I didn’t have the right words. But I had to hold it together. I had to...... Because whatever came next, it had to be okay. It had to be smooth.

No missteps.

No chaos.

No emotion leaking through.

I could do this. I had to do this. I held my breath as the footsteps drew closer. Two sets. Two different paces. One small. One larger.

Leon... and Asher.

I clutched the bedsheet beside me, waiting for the doorknob to turn. Waiting for them to come in. Waiting to see their faces, their expressions, their judgements.... But they didn’t come in. They passed the door. They kept walking.

I blinked. What?

My heart dropped into my stomach. Where are they going? And just like that, something in me snapped.

Panic.

Terror.

A voice inside me screaming..... He’s taking him away.

He’s packing his things. He’s going to leave. He’s going to walk out with Leon, and I’ll never see them again...... I’ll lose everything.

I flew to the door, but I stopped myself. I couldn’t just yank it open and chase after them like a lunatic. So I gripped the knob, turned it slowly, and stepped into the hallway with the caution of a ghost.

The silence was too much. Too loud. And then, I heard it... Voices. Low murmurs. Coming from Leon’s bedroom. I tiptoed, barefoot, careful not to make a sound. I was afraid. Terrified of what I’d see. Of what I’d feel.

Is he packing his clothes?

Is he whispering goodbye?

Is he taking him from me?

Am I losing my world?

Am I losing everything?

My hand trembled as I reached out to the doorframe. My breath caught. I didn’t dare look inside yet. I just... listened. And what I heard wasn’t goodbye. It wasn’t anger. Or chaos. Or grief. It was... gentle.

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