Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 243

ASHER

Dinara widened her eyes at me.

“That’s not true,” she said.

“It’s true,” I shot back. “The only thing Dominic is missing is power. If he had power, you wouldn’t still be after me. Nagging me. Chasing me. Talking to me. Afraid of losing me...”

She flinched, but I laughed, cold.

“Really, Dinara? Really? So you slept with your brother-in-law....my own brother, because I’m your husband? Because you love me so much, don’t you?” I asked, my voice dripping with a sneer.

“Don’t you dare put the blame on me,” she snapped. “You’re the reason I ran toward Dominic. You’re the reason he was able to seduce me, able to exploit my weakness and take advantage, because you didn’t have time for me. You left me all alone. You didn’t give me any attention. I was lonely.”

“So you fucked my brother?” I asked flatly.

She looked away then, taking a deep, trembling breath.

“You know you’re the reason I ran into Dominic’s arms,” she whispered. “If only you had given me space in your heart. If only you would have let me inside. Then I wouldn’t have needed Dominic. I would break up with him today. If only you told me....if only you gave me a chance, a space in your life, let me be your wife, Asher. Please.”

“So you’re saying you love me now?” I asked her.

“I have always loved you, Asher,” Dinara said without hesitation. “You have always been the man for me. You’re my husband. I grew up knowing I was going to be given to you. And I went through a lot, learning what you liked, what you didn’t like. I grew up my whole life accustoming myself to you, so I could be a perfect match for you. And you think I went through all those sacrifices for nothing?”

Her voice cracked, but her eyes burned with conviction.

“You know,” I said coldly, “I just killed a lover of yours.”

She froze. “A lover of mine? What do you mean?”

“Alan,” I said. “Ring any bells?”

Her face stayed blank, so I added, “He used to cook books for your brother Alex... Alan. Of course, you know him. He told me plenty about the two of you, about your… relationship.”

Dinara laughed, sharp and mocking, as if I’d just told her the punchline of a pathetic joke.

“Oh, Alan. Little, poor Alan. He knew I was from the mafia world. A Mafia princess. He was just an ordinary person. I would never have married him. He knew what the score was.”

“The day I decided to finally give you what you wanted. I came home ready to try. And instead, I found you in my brother’s arms.”

“No…” she whispered, shaking her head, tears spilling down her cheeks.

But I couldn’t tell if they were real or fake. Probably fake.

“Yes, Dinara. Yes, my perfect, lovely wife,” I said, my voice low but cutting. “But I’ve been far too lenient with you.”

Her eyes flickered, but I pressed on.

“I let you stay here after finding you in bed with another man. I let you keep fucking my brother. I never asked a single question. I never interfered in your affair. And I didn’t even have to tell you to be careful, you just knew. Because we both know what rumour can do in our world.”

I stepped closer, my words pressing into her.

“But I’m curious now… how long? How long had you been fucking Dominic before I even found out? When you came to me with tears in your eyes, begging me to work on our marriage....begging me to give us a chance. How long had it already been going on?”

Dinara shook her head violently, her tears spilling faster. “I’m sorry, Asher. I’m sorry. I promise you....I’m going to stop. I won’t do it again. I love you.”