Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 334

Chapter 334 The Final Blow

Natalie’s POV:

Leonardo didn’t move an inch. Instead, his arm came around my waist, pulling me securely against his solid frame. The warmth of his body seeped through his clothes, a calming feeling.

“Leonardo…” I whispered.

“What’s this? A run-in with the ex? Am I not good enough, or do you still have feelings for him?” His voice was calm in my ear, giving nothing away, but the teasing tone gave him up.

“Of course not!” I shot back immediately, my voice urgent, worried he might misunderstand. I spoke through gritted teeth, “I just… find him annoying.”

That was the truth. My gut reaction to avoid Landon came from the bad memories he brought up-and a sick feeling in my stomach.

Plus, the fact that he kept pestering me now was just embarrassing. But with Leonardo holding me, my reason returned, overriding my instinct.

Landon was the one who’d done wrong. He should be the one feeling ashamed.

Leonardo’s breath was warm against my ear. “Do you know how to deliver the final blow?”

Before I could react, his fingers gently tilted my chin up. He planted a brief but undeniably possessive kiss on my lips.

“Natalie!” Landon’s growl came, filled with pain and anger. He tried to rush forward, but Leonardo didn’t even look back. He just casually pushed the heavy shopping cart sideways with one hand. The cart slammed into Landon’s shins, making him double over in pain.

Instantly, Leonardo shielded me completely, using his broad shoulders and back to block me from view. “Honey, there’s nothing good on that aisle. Let’s go over here.”

Landon’s face was ghostly pale. He looked at me, his eyes rimmed with red, his voice terribly hoarse. “You really… completed a bond with someone?”

I ignored him. Landon’s act of affection and self-pity had played out too many times. I was totally immune to his little tricks by now. I looked up at Leonardo with a soft smile and answered clearly, “Sure. Whatever you say, honey.”

We turned to leave. Landon’s voice exploded behind us. “Natalie! I regret it!” He was actually confessing. A small crowd was gathering in the supermarket, looking on with curiosity or pity.

He shouted at our retreating backs, “Natalie, I know I’m nothing now… but I’ve seen the truth in my heart. I can’t live without you! Please, don’t do this to me. Forgive me, just this once, okay?”

I didn’t stop, but Leonardo did. While everyone else was frowning, immersed in Landon’s dramatic plea, I hadn’t even been listening.

I only noticed because Leonardo’s gaze shifted to a shelf beside us.

Natalie was standing intimately close to a man by a shopping cart.

Her arm was wrapped around his waist. Her smile was incredibly soft and sweet. The guy looked back at her, his eyes just as soft. His tall, sturdy frame pressed close to hers, holding her protectively.

They were completely absorbed in each other, their attention shifting from the cheese roll in their hands to each other’s faces.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Natalie was laughing, her cheeks glowing. She looked so beautiful that it made me doubt my own eyes.

She was even more beautiful than the day I first saw her at university-radiant, dazzling.

The man seemed delighted by her, taking the cheese roll from her hand. Then, a whole row of them tumbled into their already full cart.

Natalie grabbed his hand, as if to stop him, but neither of them could stop smiling.

The man ruffled her hair, then bent to briefly nuzzle her cheek. The whole time, Natalie gazed up at him, her eyes sparkling.

One doted affectionately, the other blushed coyly.

In their eyes, there was no one and nothing else.