Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 394

ARIELLA

Today was the day.

Leon and his dad had gone on their usual run and now they had upgraded it to something more intense. And I had to admit… Leon was changing.

He looked sharper these days, Stronger and Taller. There was something about him now that made him seem older than he really was. And his father, his father looked so proud.

But me? I was… a little concerned.

Everything with Sia and his studies had been going great so far. She had been giving me updates, saying he was doing incredibly well, even better than she expected. He was already far ahead of the pupils in his class, and maybe, if everything went as planned, he could even skip ahead when he returned to school.

And I was proud. So, so proud. But at the same time Watching him grow like this, physically stronger, more confident, more… independent.... It did something to me.

It scared me. It felt like I was losing him. Like he was growing too much, too fast, and I wasn’t ready. Not yet. I wasn’t ready to accept that my little boy was growing up… that one day, he wouldn’t need me the same way anymore.

Before I could let myself sink too deep into that thought, I quickly wiped my tears. No. Not today. The makeup artist and the dresser would be here any moment, and the last thing I needed was for them to find me crying.

Because today wasn’t just any day. Today was the day of the party.

The fundraising ball he had told me about.

The one he didn’t want me to go to.

The one I wanted to go to anyway.

And now....He had no choice but to let me go. The makeup artist and the dresser were expected to arrive at any moment. Getting them to the house was a hassle in itself. At first, Asher said he didn’t want any new people in the house. But Maria managed to convince him, telling him she knew them, that she had grown up with them, that they came from familiar circles, from respected families in the famiglia, and that they were safe.

Of course, Asher insisted they be vetted and searched by security before setting foot inside the house and that was a no-brainer. But yes… they were coming And I was finally going to choose a dress.

I had spoken to them on the phone earlier, told them exactly what I was going for, and they promised to come up with options, a selection of dresses I could choose from. Because today wasn’t just any day.

Today was the day I was stepping back into the world. The day everyone would finally see me. A reintroduction of sorts.

I was excited.... And nervous. So nervous. Seeing all those faces again after so long… But knowing Asher would be there next to me, with me, every second, every step, every breath, it gave me confidence.

Then suddenly,

“Mom!”

Leon ran into the room, crashing straight into me. I barely had time to steady myself before his arms wrapped around me.

“You’re really leaving?” he asked, pulling back just enough to look up at me. “What about me? I want to come too.”

I smiled softly, brushing his hair back.

“You will,” I said. “Your dad and I are going to have a huge party just for you when you turn seven. And we’re going to introduce you to your dad’s world.”

“Are you talking about the famiglia?” he asked immediately.

I stilled for just a second, then straightened my voice.

“Yes.”

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