Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 390

ARIELLA

My eyes instinctively moved around the table, searching.

“Where is Maria?”

The question slipped out more naturally than I expected. Not sharp, not loud. Just… there. Maria should have been at the table with Leon. She wasn't but Sia was, why?

Sia’s smile didn’t falter, but it softened just a fraction. Leon, on the other hand, didn’t notice anything at all.

“She’s probably in the kitchen,” Sia said lightly. “She told me she had something to finish.”

“I can go get her,” Leon offered immediately, already halfway out of his chair.

“No....” I started, but Asher’s hand landed gently on Leon’s shoulder, keeping him in place.

“Sit,” he said, calm but firm. “We’ll all eat first.”

Leon pouted for half a second, then shrugged and reached for his juice like nothing had happened. I took my seat slowly, my eyes drifting briefly towards Sia before I forced myself to look away.

She was already adjusting Leon’s napkin, leaning slightly toward him, her voice soft as she asked him about his morning.

Asher pulled out my chair and leaned down slightly. “You okay?” he murmured, low enough that only I could hear.

I nodded quickly. “Of course.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he let it go.

Breakfast started like any other with Leon talking endlessly, Sia listening like every word mattered, Asher occasionally responding, and me… watching and observing.

At some point, Leon turned to Sia again, excitement lighting up his face. “Are we still going to see the stump today?”

Sia laughed softly. “If your mom says it’s okay.”

Both of them looked at me. I paused just for a second. Then I smiled.

“Of course. After your lessons.”

Leon cheered like I had just given him the best news in the world. Sia’s eyes met mine then, and this time, there was something different in them. She smiled, and I smiled back; we both went on with our food.

Soon after we finished having breakfast, Leon took Sia's hand and they went to resume studies. Soon after, Asher also kissed me goodbye, saying he had to go to the businesses today.

And of course, I had to remind him.

“Please be very careful. Don’t be late for dinner, and don’t come back with a single scratch on you.”

“So it’s okay to have scratches on my clothes?” he asked playfully.

I smacked him lightly on the nose, which he used as an excuse to steal another kiss before running out of the room, both of us laughing.

After Asher left, I made my way to the kitchen. Since our talk last night, I found myself wanting to check on Maria and see how she was doing. When I walked in, she was inside there with Margaret, the two of them talking and laughing without a worry.

I greeted them with a smile, and they welcomed me easily before continuing their conversation. Margaret was in the middle of a story, something amusing enough to have Maria laughing again, really laughing.

That confused, shaken look from last night wasn’t on her face anymore which was great. But if you looked closely, if you really looked, you could still see it. Just a trace. A shadow behind her eyes.

I noticed, but I also knew this wasn’t the time. So I let it be.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify