Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 285

Chapter 285 His Honesty

Leonardo’s POV:

Then I heard her running footsteps and her worried, breathless voice calling my name. “Leonardo.”

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I turned around, pushing all the lingering fury deep into my eyes, replacing it with the softness she knew. As soon as she was close, I reached out. She came into my arms naturally.

“Why are you running? I wasn’t going anywhere,” I said, stroking her back. Feeling her warmth finally started to calm the restless pounding in my chest.

“When did you get here? Just now…” She wrapped her arms around my waist and immediately started to ask.

“Not long ago. I happened to see Landon bothering you,” I said, cutting her off. My voice was calm, giving nothing away.

“Leonardo, please don’t misunderstand! Seeing him today was totally accidental,” she explained urgently, afraid I’d get the wrong idea.

I nodded but didn’t say more. I just gently brushed back the strands of her hair, messed up by the wind. “Where did he touch you just now?” My tone was still gentle and even, but I knew the possessiveness inside me was overflowing.

She paused, then said he hadn’t. I didn’t believe it. My hand moved from her cheek down to her waist, where the ghost of another’s touch might still linger. I tightened my grip slightly and heard her soft gasp. Did you see the anger in my eyes, Natalie?

“Are you mad at me?” she asked.

“I’m angry, but not at you,” I corrected her, leaning close so she could hear the tension and bitterness in my voice. “I’m jealous. I’m so jealous it’s making me sick.”

She tried clumsily to reassure me, saying Landon was nothing compared to me.

It wasn’t enough. “What exactly doesn’t compare?” I asked, my lips almost touching hers.

“He… He doesn’t compare to you in any way. Not even a little,” she murmured, looking up at me with dazed eyes, her cheeks flushed. The look pleased me, but it still wasn’t enough.

“Go on. I want to hear you say you only love me,” I coaxed, my hand stroking her waist.

She grew shy but whispered the words anyway. “I only love you.”

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21:02 Wed, Jan 21

Chapter 285 His Honesty

:

“Say my name,” I demanded, wanting to hear a more intimate call.

“Leonardo…” she murmured.

“Not that one.” I prompted her toward the more private name.

“Leon…” Her voice was as soft as a feather.

A

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“Who am I to you?” I kept pushing, needing to hear the word that confirmed what we were.

Her face turned even redder. Her voice, tender and sweet, made my heart clench. “Husband.”

“Say it again,” I murmured, with a raspy, magnetic voice that even I could detect the longing and passion within it.

She seemed overwhelmed, her ears bright red, but she obeyed softly. “You’re my husband.”

My self-control snapped. I tilted her chin up and kissed her deeply. The kiss was all release, possession, the reassurance of having her back, and the lingering fear of how close I’d come to losing it. I drank in her scent and felt her response, using the kiss to wash away the unpleasant scene I’d witnessed.

I only pulled back when she pushed gently against me, needing air. The driver arrived just then, and Natalie quickly pulled me toward the car.

Once inside, she started questioning me about why I’d left my rest to come out. This time, I felt no guilt at all.

“Because you were ignoring me,” I said bluntly, watching her. I’d sensed her low mood ever since she kept delaying her return home. So I’d had someone bring me to the Scott Group to see what she was doing. Her office lights were off. Then she went out drinking with Chloe. Even I could tell she didn’t want to come home. The house was empty with just me in it. If she wasn’t coming home, she must be upset with me.

“When was I ignoring you?” She seemed caught off guard, trying to deny it.

I took her hand, not letting her evade the question. “What exactly are you upset about? Did I do something wrong? Tell me. I’ll fix it.”

I had to know. I would clear away any shadow that came between us.

Natalie’s POV:

His directness and honesty, putting the question so plainly, made my tangled worries seem trivial by comparison. A wave of tenderness and guilt washed over me.

I pressed my lips together and decided to be honest. Hiding things would only make it worse.

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21:02 Wed, Jan 21

Chapter 285 His Honesty

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“Leonardo, tell me the truth. Do you still have feelings for Victoria?” It took courage to ask. I watched his eyes closely, not wanting to miss a single flicker of emotion.

Clear surprise flashed in his eyes, followed by a frown. His voice held a hint of displeasure. “Why would you think that? Was it those old rumors? You didn’t actually take them to heart, did you?”

“No.” I shook my head. I took a deep breath and voiced the source of my anxiety. “It was last night. You talked in your sleep.”

“What did I say?” His voice went tight and dry. His expression darkened instantly. His lips pressed together, and his hand clenched suddenly, fingers digging into his own palm.

“You called out… Victoria’s name.” Saying it aloud made the weight in my chest feel a little lighter. But then I noticed the intense strain in his hand. As the light shifted, I caught a glimpse of small, scattered red marks on the side of his palm.

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Ditch Fake Bond: She’s Tycoon Wolf Heiress.