Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

I narrowed my eyes at her. “You seriously expect me to get dressed up for him?”

“You are doing that.”

“We can’t keep the Don waiting,” I muttered sarcastically.

“He won’t be mad when he sees how beautiful you look. When he sees how much effort you made just for him,” she said, her voice laced with urgency.

“So when you go down there and apologize for the delay, saying you were only trying to present yourself properly, he’ll understand. He’ll respect that. But if you go down there looking like this….” she gestured at me with frustration “he’ll take it as rebellion. He’ll see you as a problem. And that man doesn’t tolerate disrespect.”

I stared at her, anger swelling in my chest. “What do you want from me?” I shouted.

Her face cracked. “I don’t want him to start viewing you as a threat,” she said quietly. “Because if he does … who knows what he’ll do once you’re married.”

I swallowed hard.

“If you keep your head down, play the part, he’ll lose interest. He’ll go back to his mistresses soon enough,” she continued. “But if you defy him, if you stand tall too soon, he’ll fixate on you. And then he’ll try to break you. Please… don’t let him break you.”

It was the fear in her voice that stopped me. For the first time, I saw it-really saw it. The deep fear in her eyes. Maybe, in her own way, she loved me. Maybe she knew how stubborn I was, and she knew the cost

of that.

So I nodded.

But before I left, I said softly, “I don’t want to be alone with him.”

She smiled sadly and pulled me into her arms and I found myself letting her.

“Don’t worry,” my mother said softly. “You won’t be alone with him. Your father and I will be there, okay?”

I nodded slowly. “Alright. Okay.”

“Go. We can’t keep him waiting too long.”

I went to shower quickly. When I came out, my mother had already laid out a modest but beautiful dress.

I slipped it on. She did my hair and makeup with quiet precision, handed me a pair of simple heels, and together, we walked downstairs.

I assumed we’d be meeting him in my Father’s office, but instead, we found them in the living room. The Don-Domenico Romano-and my father were already having a drink. The moment we stepped in, Domenico stood. His eyes landed on me and stayed there.

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Chapter 79

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I couldn’t meet his gaze. I dropped my eyes to the floor instantly.

“What a beautiful daughter you have here,” Domenico said smoothly.

My mother gave a nervous smile. “That is very kind. Thank you so much, Mr. Romano.”

“I’m going to be your son-in-law soon. You can call me Domenico,” he replied.

The words made me cringe. My mother calling him son-in-law-it felt wrong in every way.

The tension in the room was thick, a silent battle for power. This was my father’s house, but it felt like

Domenico was the one in control.

“Sit, please. Take a seat,” he said, motioning to the couches.

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