Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 221

ARIELLA

He stood up abruptly, voice sharp.

"You and I both know Asher is not Leon's father..... And in case you forgot, I know who Leon's real father is and won't hesitate to tell Asher the truth. So, before you keep spinning your story, before you keep fantasizing, I’m giving you 24 hours. Until tomorrow. You and I both know the truth. Make a wise decision, Ariella.”

Without another word, leaving me stunned and frozen, my mouth agape and my eyes wide with a mix of anger and astonishment, he turned sharply and walked out, leaving me alone with his words ringing on repeat in the room.

It took me a moment to shake off the spell he’d just cast over me because what the hell was that? What was Luca talking about? Leon is not.... Asher is not Leon’s dad? Leon is not Asher’s son?

I replayed his words in my head: 'I’m going to tell Asher who the real dad is.'

The real dad? What the hell was he on about? What was going on? My mind raced, and my hand instinctively reached for my phone.

Maria quickly walked into the room, breaking my spiral. “What happened?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

"Luca looked angry when he left," she added softly.

I just nodded, following her gaze but unable to offer any answers. I was still shocked from my conversation with Luca.

I shook my head, trying to make sense of it all. We had argued and argued, and I thought we were finally on the same page. But something had clearly shifted.

As the memory of our conversation replayed in my mind, a troubling thought crept in. Was Luca angry because he thought Leon wasn’t Asher’s son?

I shook my head again in disbelief. How could he possibly think that? Just look at them....Leon and Asher. Luca is Asher’s best friend. He had to know Leon was Asher’s son.

That had to be why Luca cared so much for Leon, why he got along with him and liked him so much. Because, until now, he believed Leon was Asher’s son.

But now, after all that, Luca was saying he wasn’t. What the hell was he thinking? Who did he think Leon’s real dad was?

I slumped into the seat, the weight of confusion pressing down on me.

“What’s that?” Maria asked, motioning toward the envelope sitting on the table in front of me.

She reached out as if to pick it up, but I quickly stopped her. “Don’t touch it.”

Her curiosity was clearly piqued. “What is it?” she pressed.

I felt myself slump back down to the floor, the weight of it all pressing me further into despair.

“My way out,” I muttered.

Maria looked at me, confused. “Your way out? What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

" You didn't ask him for help? And you didn’t want it?”

I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yeah, I told him I didn’t want it.”

Maria’s shock deepened. “You don’t want to go away? But I thought you wanted to leave. Go far away from Asher and the famiglia.”

“Not after Asher and Leon met,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion. “Not after Leon met his dad. And the way they bonded... You didn’t see them together, but I did. I can’t take that away from Leon. I can’t take that away from Asher. I wouldn’t want to leave them. I wouldn’t want to go away.”

I swallowed again, shaking my head. “Asher and I... we were really coming to a good place. We had normal conversations. We were almost back to where we were before I left. And then this happens. Now Luca wants me to go away.”

I looked Maria in the eye. “I’m not leaving, Maria. I’m not leaving.”

Maria studied me for a long moment, as if trying to read what was beneath the surface. Finally, she nodded slowly.

“Okay, okay, I get you. So... what are you going to do, Ariella? What’s next?”

I took a deep breath, the weight settling on me. “I guess... the only option I have right now is to wait. Wait and see what Asher does next.”

Maria nodded slowly, as if she understood, then asked softly, “Is that why Luca was so mad?”

She straightened herself. “Wait, I don’t get it,” she said, voice deepening with concern. “If that’s your decision, to stay.... then why the hell did he give you that envelope? Why does he want you to go away?”