Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 258

Chapter 258 The Old Days

Aaliyah’s POV:

Besides, the Richardson family’s problems were all Natalie’s fault. How could they blame me?

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“I don’t have the energy to argue with you right now.” Landon’s voice was ice cold. “If you can’t understand, then you never have to set foot in Thorn Pack territory again. I won’t force you.”

He turned to leave. I remembered how he had humbly begged Natalie. That once-proud Alpha lowered himself like that in front of her.

“Do you really not want to be with me anymore?” I shrieked, my Omega emotions spiraling out of control. “All you think about is Natalie! After what she did to you, are you just a glutton for punishment?” I was furious, beyond caring about saving his pride.

Landon’s POV:

I froze. Aaliyah’s words stabbed deep into my heart. She was right. Maybe I was a glutton for punishment. When I was with Natalie, I never imagined I’d end up like this-unable to let her go.

Even though Natalie hated me to the core and did something to Thorn Pack that could never be undone, even though I should despise her a thousand times over, part of me still longed to go back to how things were before.

But before that was also a mistake-a mistake built on lies.

“My mother and Anna gave Natalie just as hard a time as they gave you I said without turning around. I left the words hanging in the air and walked away.

Of course, I knew my mother and Anna were difficult. For years, I had walked on eggshells to keep the peace at home. Aaliyah never had to deal with the Richardson family before, so there was never any

conflict.

But I remembered everything Natalie went through during those two years she was with me.

Natalie was wronged, too. She handled most of the problems herself because of me. She yielded to my mother, humored the elders, and avoided Anna whenever she could.

With Natalie’s personality, she was no pushover. She could have fought back just like Aaliyah, maybe even more fiercely.

But I knew the truth. Natalie was willing to lower her pride and hide her edges for me, completely and

without reservation.

Natalie’s love wasn’t loud or showy. But it was the most gentle, profound affection I had ever received.

I didn’t appreciate what I had until it was gone.

The most precious things in life were always like that.

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Chapter 258 The Old Days

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When I got back to the room, Grace looked much more relaxed. With Aaliyah gone, she could breathe

easier.

My father’s eyes followed me, a trace of an Alpha’s sharpness still in their cloudiness. He seemed to want to tell me something.

I understood. What worried him most now was the company and the pack.

But I couldn’t tell him the truth.

We had no real power in the company anymore. Natalie had brought in a huge amount of capital from somewhere, diluting the Richardson family shares to almost nothing. Our wealth, built up over the years, was practically gone.

I thought Natalie’s revenge would stop there. But in just a few days, the core business of the Richardson Group collapsed. Key employees and clients left. The company was now just a shell, loaded with debt and no operations.

If this continued, there was only one outcome, and it was bankruptcy.

And without access to company authority, I had no way to turn things around. If the company went bankrupt, the Richardson family would be dragged into the debt. A pack without financial backing would get swallowed up or disbanded quickly by others.

“Dad, just focus on getting better,” I said, sitting by the bed and taking his trembling hand. “With Natalie back at the company, there’s at least hope for the IPO. When the company recovers, we’ll figure something

out.”

As expected, his expression didn’t improve, but his breathing grew a little steadier.

I stayed in the room for a while longer and only left after he fell asleep.

Grace was staying the night. She only walked me to the door. In a hushed, worried voice, she asked, “Is the company really okay? Landon, tell me the truth.”

Grace’s POV:

“Mom, you just take care of my father. I’ll handle the company Landon didn’t give me a straight answer, which was the answer.

What could he possibly do? We were old. Starting over was impossible. Landon was still young, but his reputation in the Maritime City werewolf business world was ruined. After the company failed, was he supposed to go work for another pack? It was a shame for a former Alpha heir to become an employee.

I took a deep breath. A humiliating idea occurred to me. I hesitated, then asked, “You… You haven’t thought about getting back together with Natalie?”

As much as I detested Natalie, comparing her to Aaliyah, she was at least useful. At the very least, she had the ability to support the company and bring benefits to Thorn Pack.

If Landon hadn’t deceived her like that, maybe she would have spent her whole life as a dutiful woman for

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Chapter 258 The Old Days

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Thorn Pack.

Even as a hybrid werewolf, at least she was easy to manage, easy to control.

Back when I was in the hospital with some minor ailment, even if I gave her attitude, Natalie never dared to act up. She just served me obediently.

The more I thought about it now, the more I missed the old days.

If I had known it would come to this, I should have agreed to let Natalie and Landon form a formal bond.

I should have made sure they completed the Moon Goddess’ vow.

Then we wouldn’t be in this massive mess Landon created!

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