Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 386

ARIELLA

This time, Luca answered.

“She climbed higher than she should have,” he said, his tone quieter now, steadier. “Lost her footing.”

Leon’s eyes widened.

“And then?”

“Asher caught her,” Luca said simply, nodding toward him. “Before she fell.”

Leon turned to Asher, as if he had just confirmed something important.

“I knew it.”

Asher didn’t say anything right away. Just gave a small shrug.

“I was closer.”

Luca scoffed softly.

“Don’t downplay it. You held her up long enough for us to pull her back.”

There was a pause. And then, Luca’s gaze shifted to the stump.

“I was the one who lost it after,” he added.

Leon blinked.

“What do you mean?”

“I took an axe to the tree,” Luca said bluntly. “Couldn’t stand looking at it after that.”

Asher glanced at him, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

“You didn’t just take an axe to it.”

“I destroyed it,” Luca corrected.

“You nearly took half the yard with it.”

Leon let out a small laugh.

“Really?”

“Really,” Asher said. “I had to step in before he brought the whole place down.”

Luca smirked slightly.

“You helped.”

“I finished it,” Asher corrected calmly.

“Same thing.”

“Not even close.”

Leon was glowing now.

“So you both cut it down?”

“Yeah,” Asher said.

“And then?” Leon pressed.

Luca exhaled. “She cried,” he said, almost like he still found it ridiculous. “Said we ruined it.”

"Ooh...!" Leon said, looking disappointed too.

“So we built this,” Luca added, gesturing lightly around them. “To make up for it.”

Leon turned slowly, taking everything in. The gazebo and the stump at the centre of it all.

“That’s so cool,” he whispered.

I stepped closer then, Without realizing I had stayed back. Leon grabbed my hand instantly.

“Mom, look! This is where it happened!”

“I see,” I said softly.

And I did. But I also saw something else..... The way Luca looked at it, not proud, not nostalgic. Just… distant. Like it reminded him of something he didn’t want to sit with for too long.

And Asher was Calmer, Grounded. Like he had already made peace with it.

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