Claimed By The Mafia Don (Ariella and Asher) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

I smiled, loving the innocent plea in her voice. I kissed her forehead. “No, baby. I have to take you home. But remember what I told you, once we’re married, this? This will be our daily life.”

Something flickered across her face-something sad, something quickly hidden. I saw it. She tried to mask it, but I caught it. My mouth opened to ask what it was, but she quickly sat up and groaned.

“Alright, fine,” she said, playfully annoyed.

She stood, fully naked, and walked straight into the bathroom, giving me one last lingering view of her ass. My jaw tightened with the urge to follow her, but I already knew-if I went in there, we’d never leave this place. And after what we did last night, I wasn’t sure she could handle another round.

So instead, I sat on the edge of the bed, got dressed, and decided to wait for her out there.

When Ariella finally stepped out of the bathroom, the moment I turned to look at her, I felt it…. something

had shifted.

Something about her demeanour was different.

It wasn’t just the way she moved. It was in her eyes, the stiffness in her posture. She came out a little changed. But this time, I knew-this was the moment I wouldn’t like. The one that would break something between us.

“What is it?” I asked, watching her closely. Deciding to cut to the chase.

She didn’t answer right away. She wiped her face quickly, but not fast enough for me to miss the tears. Her eyes were red.

She walked to her bag, silently pulled out a t-shirt, slipped it on over her bare skin, and then reached for her panties. She put them on slowly, her back to me, like she was dragging out the moment. Then she walked toward the window and stood there quietly, staring outside.

I sat frozen on the bed, every part of me alert.

“Ariella,” I called softly. “What is it? What’s going on?”

She didn’t turn around. Her voice came low and trembling. “I have to tell you something.”

A knot formed inside me. “Is it what’s been bothering you these past few weeks? You’ve been… off. Different. It started the day you asked me to sleep with you. You’ve been carrying something ever since. Just-just tell me. Whatever it is, we can work through it.”

“No,” she said, her voice cracking as she sniffled again.

And then she whispered, “We can’t work this out.”

I stood up, my pulse pounding. “What are you saying?”

She turned then, eyes glassy and distant. “We have to break up, Asher. I can’t marry you.”

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Chapter 86

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I laughed-softly at first. “Stop playing,” I said with a smile. “That wedding is a sure thing. We’re getting married. But if you’re getting cold feet, it’s okay. We can push it forward if you need time. You know I

want you to be-”

“No!” she shouted, cutting me off. I froze.

She turned to face me fully now, and for a moment, I didn’t recognize her. Her face was wet with tears, but it wasn’t just that-there was something in her eyes. A battle. A war between love and guilt. She

looked… broken.

I instinctively stepped toward her, but she raised her hand to stop me. Her breath hitched as she wiped her tears and straightened her shoulders.

“I’ve made my decision,” she said, voice shaking but firm. “I don’t want to marry you anymore.”

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