Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 404

ARIELLA

My voice cracked completely after that.

“She is my mother." I began, trying to hold it together. "She's the only relative I have left, the only parent I have left, and I know my dad loved her. And as much as my mom was... that to me...” I swallowed painfully. “She was there for my father. I knew that whatever happened to our family, whether it was to my dad or me, she would've stuck through it. She would've been there.”

I shook my head.

“And I should have gone to see her.” I finished off.

By now I was fully crying again.

Asher didn't interrupt me. He just pulled me toward his already wet chest, his hand moving through my hair slowly while he mumbled softly that it was gonna be fine, that it was okay, telling me to let it all out.

And I did. I really did.... it hurt so bad inside right now.

“I'm a mother,” I cried. “How could I do that to my mother knowing the bond that one has with their child?”

Asher never let go and when I had calmed down enough to breathe properly again, he gently helped me sit up so the two of us could hold each other's gazes in the dim light.

He held both my hands tightly in his before he spoke.

“Look at me, Ariella.”

I lifted my eyes toward him.

“I am not on your mother's side, and I'm not on yours either,” he said carefully. “But you're my wife, and your mother was wrong for her to come there the way she did.... and humiliate you like that, treat you like that.”

He shook his head, and I could hear the pain in his voice.

“I wanted to interfere when she started shouting at you so bad, but I knew that was a moment between the two of you. That's why I didn't interfere.”

He swallowed hard, like even remembering it upset him.

“And it was so hard for me,” he admitted quietly. “So hard.... I can't imagine how it was for you.”

His fingers tightened around mine.

“I know that you love her. She's your mother.”

“I don't think I do,” I whispered immediately. “If I did, I would've gone to see her.... I have been back for weeks, months....”

“Maybe you don't think you do, just like she doesn't think she does,” he answered softly. “But I know you love her, and I know she loves you, and I know.....the two of you are going through a lot of pain right now.”

He paused before continuing.

“I'm not going to say a lot more. You and I both know your mother's a piece of work, but I'm not going to say more than that because tomorrow.... tomorrow when you're calmer, I don't want you regretting hearing me say something unforgivable about her.”

That made my chest ache even more.

“And I don't want you saying something unforgivable about her either,” he added quietly. “Because I know it was grief talking.”

I held his hands even tighter.

“But what if she really means it?” I asked brokenly. “What if she really blames me? What if every time she looks at me, she sees Dad dying?”

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