Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 375

ARIELLA

A tear slipped down my cheek.

And then another.

Asher pulled me into him, holding me tight. And just like that, I broke.

“I know you’re his father,” I said, my voice muffled against his chest. “And I have never felt jealous of you with him. In fact… seeing the two of you together gives me so much happiness you won’t imagine.”

His hand moved over my back, over my hair, steady, grounding.

“I’m not jealous,” I whispered.

“It’s okay,” he said softly. “We both know you’re struggling with Leon adjusting to his life. But from what we’ve seen… he’s doing great. More than just great.”

He pressed a kiss to my head.

“He has my blood. He has the Romano blood in his veins. He’s going to be just fine.”

I clung to him, even as the tears kept falling.

“We have to trust the process,” he murmured. “And be fair to him. Okay?”

I nodded weakly against him, though I couldn’t speak. I knew He wasn’t entirely wrong But he wasn’t entirely right either. And maybe that was the hardest part. Because deep down… I knew this wasn’t just about Leon.

Even if I didn’t want to admit why.

Even if I refused to name it.

So I stayed there, in his arms, letting myself cry.....Trying to come to terms with a life I had never really wanted for my son.

I don’t know how long we stood there. Long enough for my tears to slow. Long enough for my breathing to even out. Long enough for the house, the reality of it to settle back in.

Asher’s hand never left me. It stayed at my back, steady, warm, grounding in a way I didn’t want to admit I needed.

“Come on,” he said quietly after a while. “Let’s get you inside.”

This time, I didn’t resist. I nodded, stepping back just enough to wipe my face, though I knew my eyes were still red and my skin was still flushed. He noticed as he always did, but he didn’t say anything. He just took my hand And we walked inside together.

We went straight towards the bedroom, and Asher pulled me along with him, straight into the bathroom. He took out his clothes like it was the most natural thing in the world, like the weight from earlier hadn’t just been sitting on both of us. Then he turned to me, and without saying anything, he helped me out of my clothes Slow and Careful. Like he was grounding me again.

The shower turned on, and then, before I could even test the water, his eyes met mine. There was something in them, Something that pulled me in. Before I could react, he tugged me under the water..... Cold.

A sharp gasp left me as I flinched against him.

“Asher.....!” I protested, immediately pressing against him, my hands pushing at his chest.

He just laughed. Actually laughed. I smacked his arm lightly, still trying to catch my breath, and he caught my wrist before I could do it again.

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