Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 326

Chapter 326 The Real Selfishness

Natalie’s POV:

“Who’s making a scene here? Is it me, or is it you?” I stared straight into his eyes, not letting him retreat.

“I don’t want this to get ugly. Let’s part on good…” Leonardo didn’t get to finish. I pulled harder, yanking him down even further. His lips brushed against my cheek, cutting off whatever else he was going to say.

“Fine. Have a nice, clean breakup with me, then go find Victoria? Get her to love you instead?” I said mockingly.

“Natalie, I told you, this has nothing to do with Victoria!” Leonardo finally snapped. His voice was cold, but I could feel him trying to restrain the storm of emotions inside him.

“You’re right. It doesn’t,” I said, a faint smile touching my eyes, as if I couldn’t see the anger gathering in his. I kept prodding the exact spot that would anger him most.

“But with her around, you have a backup plan, don’t you? She already knows what you’re like. You spent years together. Going back to her wouldn’t be a big deal, right? As long as someone gives you security, would anyone do? At least if something happened, you wouldn’t push her away like you’re pushing me.”

Leonardo’s POV:

Pushing Natalie away hurt me too. She knew I wasn’t that kind of person, so why did she have to say things that deliberately hit my sore spots?

“Natalie!” I growled, momentarily too angry to speak. My eyes tinged with red. Before she could say another word, I reached up and gripped her chin, stopping her from continuing.

Even furious enough that my breath felt painful, I still held back my strength. I couldn’t bear to hurt her.

I said, “I’ll say it again. Even if we separate, I have no intention of settling for second best or being with someone I don’t love. I wanted to bond with you. It was never about seeking some stupid sense of security!”

Hearing my words, the coldness in Natalie’s eyes instantly melted away, revealing a hint of softness. But a trace of a smirk still played on her lips as she pressed on, “You and Victoria broke up… Was it because you stopped loving her?”

“Yes.” My answer was immediate and absolute. My gaze grew intense. I was completely focused, lost in her.

She had to believe me.

From the moment I opened the door and saw her, I knew all my struggling had been pointless.

“Leonardo,” Natalie continued, ignoring my protest. Her voice was soft but stubborn. “Am I important to you?”

This time, I was silent for a few seconds. Finally, I relaxed some of my tense muscles. I stopped running from my deepest fear and answered quietly, “Yes. Very important.”

“You are, too, to me,” she said, looking up. Her fingers gently traced my neck, brushing through the hair at my nape and touching my ear. “You’re the most important person to me.

“In my heart, you’re someone who wouldn’t leave me in a crisis. But I never thought that in your eyes, I’m just someone who can share the good times but not the bad. I never thought that at the first sign of trouble, I should be pushed away.”

“That’s not it!” I denied immediately, my eyes lifting to meet hers, filled with profound

tenderness. “It’s because I know you’re not like that that I can’t… I can’t selfishly tie you to me and make you face potential danger.”

She retorted, “Selfish? You think pushing me away now is some noble act? You’re using ‘what’s best for me’ as an excuse, but you’re really just focused on your own guilt and anxiety. You’re only thinking about your own inability to handle the pressure of possibly hurting me. You’re afraid of facing my rejection, so you’re running away first. That is the real selfishness.”