Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 427

ARIELLA

I kept watching Leon and Asher's figure even when they had disappeared completely when Sia asked,

“So you're not a morning person, are you?”

I turned toward her.

“I am. But not if I have to exercise first thing.”

“Not at all?”

“Absolutely not.”

She laughed.

“And Asher's trying to get me to start running every morning,” I added.

"It must be tragic.”

“I feel like I'm going to die.”

That only made her laugh harder.

“I would have to find some way not to come running tomorrow.” I folded my arms dramatically. “Maybe fake my own death.....”

“Ariella,” Sia exclaimed eyes wide.

“What?”

She shook her head, still laughing.

“It's going to be good for you. Running is the best way to clear your head, burn some serious energy and crush your day before it starts.

“That's what everyone keeps saying,” I replied with a sigh.

“It is,” she said cheerfully. Then she glanced at me briefly. “It's good for all of you.”

The conversation quieted after that. For a few moments, there was only the hum of the car. Then Sia spoke again.

“So... how have you been doing?”

I looked out the window And then I smiled at her. The fake one, the one I had perfected. The smile everyone seemed willing to accept.

“I'm great.”

Sia was quiet. A little too quiet after my response but nodded. “Okay.”

A few seconds later she pulled up in front of the house.

“We are here.”

“Great. Thanks for the lift.”

I climbed out of the car and headed straight inside. The second I got upstairs, I took a very much-needed shower. Afterwards, I went directly to bed; which seemed to be calling for me, and I was exhausted. Completely exhausted.

But the second I sat down, something unexpected happened. I got hungry... Food. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was really hungry. I had barely been eating lately, Food had felt like a chore, like something I had to force myself to do. But suddenly I was starving.

I got right back up, Forget sleep, Food first. I headed downstairs and found Margaret setting the table.

“Good morning, Margaret.” My hand was already reaching for a croissant before I even finished speaking.

“Slow down,” she said.

I was already taking a bite.

“You went running today?” she asked, a hidden smile tugging at her lips.

“Yes.”

I pointed at the croissant.

“Sorry. I'm starving.”

“I've got you.”

She placed both hands gently on my shoulders And then she gave me a look. A motherly look, an understanding look. The kind of look that made my chest tighten unexpectedly.

Without saying anything else, she started piling food onto my plate: more eggs, More fruit, More pastries, More everything. And I ate every single bite. I was so focused on the food that I didn't even realise she was still standing there watching me.

Only when I finished did I finally look up. Margaret smiled at me, A real smile. There was relief in her gaze.

“That's more like it.”

I nodded. Then swallowed and took another deep breath, because that wasn't the hard part. The hard part was what came next.

“After that,” I said quietly, “I also want to go and see my mother.”

I watched him freeze, just for a second. But I saw it. I saw all the thoughts moving through his head. All the concerns and all the reasons why this could go badly. He didn't think it was the right decision, and I knew that.

But I also knew this was something I needed to do.

“I don't think I can move forward without seeing her.”

His jaw tightened slightly And so I kept going.

“I have to go see her.”

I stood from the bed.

“She's a huge part of what's going on with me. A huge part of what happened when I wasn't here.”

My voice wavered But I forced myself to continue.

“She was the one who was there when he died......” I looked away. “She was the one who had to bury him... alone.”

The reality of that still hurts. It still felt wrong. My father was gone And my mother had carried that burden alone for years.

“I am going to see her.” I looked back at Asher. “I need to see her.”

My eyes burned.

“She has to forgive me somehow.” The words came out broken. “Or at least try to.”

For five years I had convinced myself that staying away was the right thing. That disappearance had protected everyone, That it had been necessary. But standing at my father's grave had shattered something inside me.

Because suddenly all I could think about was my mother alone, grieving. Believing her daughter was dead. Believing she had lost both her husband and her child And I couldn't carry that anymore.

“It won't get better if I don't go see her,” I whispered. “I can't keep running from this. I have to find peace.....”

The room went quiet for a few minutes. Asher said nothing as he just looked at me. For the first time since I had spoken, I wasn't asking for permission. I wasn't looking for approval and I wasn't looking for someone to make the decision for me.

My mind was already made up.... I was going to see my mother. No matter how terrified I was of what would happen when I did.