Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 381

ARIELLA

I walked in. Leon was still at the desk, though now he was writing, his tongue slightly peeking out the side of his mouth in concentration.

Sia sat across from him, watching, not interrupting. Just… there. Present.

“Mom,” Leon said without looking up, “I’m writing now, you shouldn't interrupt my class.”

I blinked, stunned for a second and then smiled.

“I can see that.”

Sia glanced at me briefly, a small, polite smile, before her attention returned to Leon.

“Take your time,” she said to him softly. “Don’t rush it.”

“I’m not rushing,” he muttered.

“You are,” she said calmly. “Slow down.”

He groaned, but he listened.

I stepped further into the room, leaning lightly against the wall, watching and letting her lead.

“Mom,” Leon said after a moment, still not looking up, “when I finish this, she said she’ll show me something cool.”

“I heard,” I said.

“It’s not just cool,” Sia added. “It’s useful.”

Leon grinned.

“See?”

I huffed a small laugh.

“Then I guess you should finish it properly.”

“I will,” he said quickly, focusing again.

Sia didn’t say anything more. She just observed him, patient, composed. Confident in what she was doing. And I realised something again.... She wasn’t trying to impress me. She wasn’t trying to prove anything. And that made it easier.

“Would you like to see the schedule I drafted?” she asked suddenly, looking at me.

I paused. Then nodded.

“Yes.”

She reached for a notebook, sliding it toward me.

“I kept it flexible,” she explained. “So he doesn’t feel overwhelmed. Short sessions, breaks in between. And I included time for activities he enjoys, so learning doesn’t feel like punishment.”

I looked down at it. It was neat, structured, and thought out.

“Let me know if you want anything changed,” she added.

I shook my head slightly. “No… this is good.” And I meant it.

She studied my face for a second, like she was trying to see if I was being genuine. Then she nodded once.

“Okay.”

Leon suddenly slammed his pencil down.

“Done!”

We both looked at him.

“Already?” I asked.

“Yes!” he said proudly, turning the book toward us.

Sia leaned in, scanning it quickly.

“Better,” she said. “Much better.”

His chest puffed up slightly.

“Now the cool thing?”

She smiled.

“Yes. Now the cool thing.”

I watched as she leaned closer, starting to explain something simple, engaging, something that immediately caught his attention.

And as Leon lit up again, I didn’t interrupt. I didn’t step in either. I just stood there Letting it happen and letting him grow. Even if it meant learning how to stand a little further back.

“What did you just say?” he asked, lightly pinching my waist.

I laughed, trying to get away from his hands.

“I said.....like father, like son.”

“I have never been that stubborn.”

“Yes, you have,” I said. “You were, and you still are.”

“You didn’t know me when I was six,” he argued.

“Still your son,” I said. “And he clearly takes after you.”

I raised my hands slightly, like I was stepping out of the argument.

He smirked. “Maybe he got it from his uncle,” he added.

I gave him a look.

“Don’t even try it.”

Then I slipped out of his lap and reached for his hand, pulling him up.

“Come on, let’s go.”

He let himself be pulled, though not without a small shake of his head. And then, hand in hand, we walked out of his office together.

The moment we stepped out of Asher's office, I could hear them. Leon’s voice, bright, excited and Sia’s—calm, patient coming from the dining room.

“…no, you have to hold it like this,” she was saying.

“I am holding it like that!” Leon argued, laughing.

We walked into the room with Asher leading still holding my hand.

“Looks like you two started without us,” he said.

Leon turned immediately towards his father's voice..

“Dad! Look!” he said, holding up a spoon like it was some kind of trophy. “Sia showed me a trick!”

Sia glanced up and her eyes flickered between the two of us, then at our joined hands.