Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 414

ASHER

All this wasn't entirely convenient and I had hoped, I still hoped that Sia had gotten over whatever she thought used to exist between the two of us. To be honest, growing up my father pondered the idea of a bond between our two families and us, but it never got to it.

She knew I was looking for a tutor for Leon and had her mother and the school call me and recommend her for the position. I knew her and had practically grown up with her and I thought it was ideal. When she started working with Leon everything was okay, until we went on that stupid treasure hunt at the stump and I found that letter.

I just know if Ariella had seen that letter, it would have caused quite a commotion. I hated lying to Ariella and misleading her at that moment, but I knew I was making the right choice by hiding it from her. My job is to protect her both physically and emotionally, she already had an issue with Sia and I didn't want to make it worse.

Sometimes I think... yeah, maybe Sia is doing too much. But sometimes, most of the time, actually, I think she's cool, and she just sees me as she sees Luca now, as her brother. I mean, it's been years. Of course, she doesn't have whatever feelings she thought she had for me back when we were kids.

She's such a great fit for Leon and she is so good at her job, you can tell Leon likes her very much too and he is having fun learning. I don't want to jeopardise what's going on right now, not with all the attacks on us.

So, I prepared a bath for Ariella and helped her take her bath, towel dry and get into her pyjamas. And then I went downstairs and got us dinner, We were staying in tonight. ARIELLA was still sleepy, so I fed her first and then I ate in the bedroom while watching over her, making sure that she was okay.

It was all quite, Until Leon came upstairs.

"Dad, where's Mom?"

"She's sleeping," I told him.

"Mom is sleeping? So early? Is she not feeling well?"

"She's fine buddy. She's just a little tired."

"Okay... you didn't come down for dinner and we waited for you."

"I told Maria that I was taking care of your mother."

"Is she sick? She said she was very happy today drinking wine with Sia and Maria."

"Yeah, I guess she got too happy."

"Okay... she was too sad yesterday and she was so happy today," he said thoughtfully.

"Yeah. She was."

"Okay, Sia wants to leave, she wants to say goodnight."

"Okay, you can tell her goodnight as I stay here taking care of your mother."

"I will. Take care of her."

"I'll escort you out," Leon said, taking her hand.

They turned and started walking away when she turned around and stared at me as our gazes met. And she just looked at me. I couldn't tell what she was thinking. I don't know what.... But there was something there. Something quiet. Something unreadable. Then she walked out the door and just left.

I stood there for a few seconds, staring at the doorway long after she had disappeared. Then I looked back to where my wife was mumbling softly in her sleep. I think I heard her say my name And I smiled immediately.

Everything else just disappeared. Everything. I walked back toward the bed and sat down beside her, brushing some hair away from her face. Her eyebrows moved slightly, and she turned toward me without even opening her eyes, like her body already knew where I was. Like it knew where it belonged.

I leaned down and kissed her cheek softly. Then I just sat there watching her. Watching her breathe, watching her sleep, watching the woman who somehow made all this madness feel like home.

And then when I was satisfied she was going to be okay, I lay down beside her, pulled her against my chest carefully, and closed my eyes.

Tonight... My family was here and Safe. For now, that was enough to bring a smile to my face.

At the break of dawn, Ariella woke up with a huge headache, and she is lucky that she has such a loving husband like me. I had thought ahead and already had a remedy ready. I already had the pills to help her with it.

I also went downstairs and made her a hangover smoothie. She drank it and then immediately went back to sleep again mumbling in her sleep.