Chapter 32 Ariele

I couldn't believe what Eric had told me. Finding my mother and discovering that I was the heir to a mafia family? It seemed completely surreal. But even so, I tried to prepare myself for what could happen.

In the days that followed, I acted like a robot. I did what needed to be done, took care of Toni, and tried to avoid Cassandra as much as possible. She seemed determined to make my life miserable, but I didn't have time to deal with that now.

My thoughts were constantly focused on Eric and the possibility of meeting my mother. Would she recognize me? Would I have a real family? And the most frightening of all: what would it be like to be part of a mafia family?

I tried to keep busy to avoid thinking too much about it, but it was difficult. I needed to be ready for whatever might happen. I didn't know what to expect, but I knew I had to be prepared.

Finally, the day came when Eric said we would meet. My heart was racing, and my mind was filled with confused thoughts. What would come next? What would my mother say? And the mafia family? What would it be like?

I didn't know what to expect, but I was ready to find out. All I could do was trust Eric and move forward. After all, it was the only option I had.

It was on December 23rd, in the midst of winter in Italy, that I finally met my mother. That date would never leave my memory because it was one of the most important days of my life.

I woke up early, nervous and anxious about what was to come. I knew I needed to dress appropriately for the severe cold outside, but I also wanted to feel elegant when meeting my mother. I spent hours choosing my outfit, trying to find a balance between style and comfort.

In the end, I opted for tight black pants, a white turtleneck blouse, and a long gray wool coat. I wore a red scarf and black gloves to protect myself from the cold. I looked at myself in the mirror and tried to control my anxiety.

I was very nervous as I waited for Eric that afternoon. He would meet my mother and find out if his suspicions were true or not. I was apprehensive and full of doubts, but Eric tried to calm me.

"Ariele, everything will be fine. I'll be there with you, always," he said while holding my hand.

"But what if I'm not really the heir to a mafia family? What if it's all a big mistake?" I asked, worried.

"Ariele, regardless of what happens, I'm here for you. It doesn't matter if you're the heir to a mafia family or not; what matters is that I'm here for you," Eric replied with tenderness. His fingers caressed my face, and his eyes conveyed all the reassurance I needed.

When we arrived at the Capo di Capo's mansion, I was impressed. The house was immense and extravagant, even more so than Eric's mansion, which was already impressive. I could see that the soldiers were everywhere, which made me a little uncomfortable.

"Eric, I'm not sure I'm ready to meet these people. This is all very intimidating," I said to him, concerned.

"Ariele, I'm here with you. I'll never leave you alone. Let's go inside and see what happens," he replied, soothing me.

We walked to the mansion's entrance and were greeted by a battalion of heavily armed soldiers. They searched us and led us to the main hall of the mansion.

I had never seen so much wealth and luxury in one place. The decoration was made of marble and gold, and the furniture seemed to have been custom-made. Everything was so perfectly aligned, while Eric's environment was always clean and minimalistic.

Then I saw my mother for the first time, and I was speechless. Her features were so similar to mine that there was no denying we were mother and daughter. Her dark brown hair fell in perfect waves over her shoulders, and her lips were full and rosy. Her skin was as white as snow and looked so smooth that I wanted to touch it to be sure if it was real, as it was so much like mine.

But when I looked at the man who appeared to be 60 or 70 years old standing beside her, I was truly paralyzed. He was in great shape, dressed elegantly, and had eyes as cold as ice. However, it wasn't these traits that held my attention. It was his eyes, which were exactly like mine.

I immediately knew he was my grandfather, even though I had never seen him before. His gaze was so familiar that I felt an instant connection with him. I stared at him, unable to look away.

I knew my life would never be the same after that day. I was nervous and scared, but at the same time, curious and fascinated by everything that was happening. I wasn't sure what the future held for me, but one thing was certain – I had finally found my family.

I was confused when I saw Eric being so respectful and devoted to the elderly man who appeared so intimidating that I was sure he was my grandfather. Eric was so powerful, and everyone seemed to bow to him, but now he seemed submissive to the elderly man.

I heard Eric calling him "Capi di Capi," and I knew that meant he was the head of all mafia families. I was trembling, feeling scared and vulnerable, but Eric seemed so comfortable in that environment.

I watched as Eric approached the elderly man, bowing in reverence and kissing his hand. The man greeted him in a friendly tone, calling him "my young friend." Eric responded politely, and I could see the admiration and respect he had for the man.

They talked for a while, and I couldn't understand most of what they were saying. But I could feel the tension in the air as they spoke, and I knew there was a lot at stake. My supposed mother continued to stand near the window, her eyes fixed on me as if she didn't expect my arrival.

My grandfather gave a subtle smile and called me over as I approached him with apprehension. He stood up and made a blessing gesture, then invited me to sit in front of him.