Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 345

ARIELLA

Sighing again, I watched the clock on the bedside table and decided I was going to try to get more sleep before Asher and Leon came back from their run.

But I couldn’t get any sleep. Maybe it was because I kept thinking about what Asher had told me or maybe it was something else. So in the end, I decided to wake up, take a shower, get dressed, and head downstairs.

When I walked into the kitchen, I found Margaret already working on breakfast with a maid, Lia beside her.

“Good morning,”

They both turned toward me. The maid greeted me politely, and Margaret smiled.

“Good morning, Mrs Romano. How are you feeling this morning?”

“Please call me Ariella,” I told her. Getting called Mrs Romano made me feel old.

Margaret nodded. "Of course."

I walked further into the room, and Margaret said apologetically,

“I’m sorry, breakfast is not ready yet, but I can give you some coffee, tea, or juice.”

“No,” I said quickly. “I was actually wondering if I could assist you.”

“Assist me?” She looked both surprised and confused.

I laughed a little hesitantly.

“It’s just that I haven’t been in a kitchen for so long and I just miss cooking so badly. And Asher… well… if you don’t mind, maybe I could assist you. I need to do something with myself. I’m so tired of sitting around the house doing nothing. And I love cooking, if you don’t mind, of course.”

I added the last part carefully, because I knew some people could be very territorial about their kitchen. I know it's practically my house now that I'm married to Asher but still....

The moment I finished speaking, Margaret’s face brightened.

“Of course. Of course!” she said warmly. “Come in, come in. Get yourself an apron and let's get cooking.”

An hour later, Margret and I had talked so much while cooking and had made a connection. She had even taught me a few recipes and little tricks I didn’t know before. She looked genuinely happy to have me there beside her as she shared stories of her younger days and promised to teach me more recipes.

It was the most fun I had in a long time away from Asher and Leon. I found myself smiling more than I had expected. And somehow, standing there in that kitchen, talking and cooking with her, my thoughts slowly drifted to my mother.

I wondered where she was right now.

If she ever thought about me.

And I wondered if one day my mother and I could have something like this. A moment like this. Where we could just stand in the kitchen together talking, laughing, cooking.

Without the blame.

Without the accusations.

Without the sarcasm.

Without the constant chastisement.

I was lost in my head for a moment until I heard Asher’s voice calling for me.

“Ariella! Ariella, where are you? Come and look at your son!”

I smiled at Margaret, excused myself and stepped out of the kitchen, heading toward the front door.

And there, on the stairs, was Leon.....Sleeping. At least, that’s what it looked like.

His eyes were closed, his small body sprawled across the steps, his hands and legs lying everywhere half-heartedly. His face was flushed and he was sweating all over, breathing so hard his little chest kept rising and falling quickly.

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