Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 351

ARIELLA

“She is Luca’s sister. Sia. She’s really good with kids, apart from her job at the elementary school, she also teaches Sunday school. I won’t say much more, you’ll learn the rest from her. But she’s a nice girl. She used to come to the house with Luca when he visited with his parents.”

I nodded, waiting for the third and final candidate to walk in. In truth, before she walked in… I had already formed an image of her in my head.

Entitled. Maybe a little spoiled. She was twenty-four, I shouldn't have judged her, I wasn’t that much older than her, but still, she was the ex-consigliere's daughter and the consigliere's sister.

The door opened. And the moment she walked in, she came straight toward me for a hug. A full hug. I blinked, caught off guard. I had never met her before, but she was already all energy and warmth.

“Hey! Hello!” she said brightly. “I heard a lot about you.....and the wedding! I heard it was fantastic. I hope we get another one here at home.”

I let out a small, polite laugh, still adjusting to her presence.

“Oh my God.....and you!” she continued, turning toward Leon. “Who is this handsome little guy?”

She gestured toward him, and Leon immediately went pink, his eyes widening.

“And I’m not supposed to say this,” she added playfully, “but you look so much like Asher, the resemblance is startling. I don’t know, either way, you’re adorable.”

“This is Leon,” I said.

“Yes, Leon!” she said with a grin. “I’ve heard so much about you. Everyone keeps talking about the Don's son....and you look just like him.”

She paused then, just… staring at Leon for a moment. A moment too long It got a little awkward.

I cleared my throat lightly.

“Okay, thank you for coming. Would you like to sit down?”

“Yeah, of course,” she said easily, taking her seat.

And then.....She answered everything perfectly. Every question. Every scenario. She engaged with Leon naturally, not talking down to him, not trying to impress him, just… meeting him where he was.

She even made something very clear.

“Even if I’m working for you,” she said, “I have my own rules.”

Then she turned to Leon and told him those rules and Leon listened. Actually listened. And from the look on his face… he liked her. A lot.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. But by the time she left, Leon couldn’t stop talking.

“Miss Sia this… Miss Sia that… Miss Sia…”

He had already decided. “She’s going to be my tutor,” he declared.

He was more than excited. Certain. But me? I was still unsure about her.

I glanced down at my phone, then back toward the door she had just walked through. Maybe… I would talk to Asher later about her. He knew Luca and his siblings far better than I did. And something told me…This wasn’t a decision I should make alone.

The moment the door closed behind her, Leon turned to me so fast I barely had time to breathe.

“She’s the one.”

I blinked. “Leon....”

“No, Mom, listen,” he insisted, stepping closer, his eyes bright in a way I hadn’t seen in days. “She’s not boring. And she doesn’t talk to me like I’m… like I’m just a kid. She actually explains things.”

William stood quietly by the door, watching the two of us with a faint, knowing smile.

“And,” Leon added, lowering his voice like he was sharing something important, “she didn’t look scared.”

That made me pause. “Scared?” I repeated.

He shrugged. “Most people do. When they come here. Or when they talk about Dad.”

I exhaled slowly, my gaze drifting briefly to the door Sia had just walked out of. That… was true.

The first woman had been stiff. Careful. Watching every word she said like it might cost her something. The second had tried too hard, every smile, every compliment felt rehearsed. But Sia… She had walked in like she belonged.

Too comfortable.

Too familiar.

And yet… Leon liked her. A lot.

I looked back at him. He was practically vibrating with excitement, all traces of his earlier “suffering” completely forgotten.

“Okay,” he said. “But when she comes back, I’m showing her the garden.”

“When she comes back?” I echoed.

“Yes,” he said, completely serious. “For her first day.”

William let out a quiet cough that suspiciously sounded like he was hiding a laugh. I turned away slightly, pressing my lips together to stop my own smile. This child…

“Alright,” I said, giving in just a little. “Go on. You’ve done enough supervising for today.”

“I helped,” he corrected.

“You did,” I agreed.

That seemed to satisfy him. He nodded once, then turned and hurried out of the room, no doubt already planning whatever “first day” he had in mind.

The door closed behind him, and just like that The room felt quieter again. I exhaled slowly, my smile fading as I looked around the space again. It really was perfect.

“So, what do you think?,” William said softly, stepping further into the room.

“Sia looks like a good fit,” I murmured.

There was a brief pause before he added, “You’re unsure.”

I glanced at him.

“Is it that obvious?”

He simply shrugged.

I sighed, folding my arms lightly. “She’s good,” I admitted. “More than good. And Leon clearly likes her.” A small pause. “But something feels… off.”

“Off how?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “Maybe I’m overthinking it.”

Or maybe I wasn’t.