Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 398

Chapter 398 What About Me?

Chloe’s POV:

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“Why so quiet?” Liam waited for an answer. “Do you need my help? If you ask, I’ll do everything I can.”

I believed he would. If I asked-even for a fake mate bond-Liam would agree.

But Liam’s gaze was too gentle. The words on the tip of my tongue faltered, and I swallowed them back.

The connection between us, forged over the years, ‘was stronger than I’d thought.

Time and again, Liam had charged into battle for me, even knowing the insecurity in my heart might never be filled.

My heart ached and swelled in my chest. Before, I couldn’t bear to lose him either, but it was a different kind of pain-afraid getting closer would mean losing him, afraid distance would make us strangers.

I couldn’t return Liam’s feelings. I was terrified of becoming his lover.

I was so torn up, miserable, even to myself.

So I knew, no matter how good Liam was, what I couldn’t bear most was hurting myself.

I couldn’t bear to let myself be wounded.

But now, it was different.

I wanted to be with Liam, not just… to escape the Grayclaw Pack.

But because something in my heart had been stirring for too long and could no longer be contained.

I knew this wasn’t a whim. It was the first time I wanted to be with someone, even if it meant getting hurt.

But looking at Liam’s gentle face, reason still edged out emotion slightly.

Did I really want to drag Liam down?

He could clearly have a better, more suitable mate.

With Liam’s character and integrity, he could be happy with anyone.

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Chapter 39e What About Me?

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Why would he choose to burden himself just to save me, for the sake of old feelings and promises?

I couldn’t bear to see him do that.

I couldn’t bear to see him hurt because of me again.

“Was that message Natalie sent me earlier real?” The question that came out was a different kind of test. I remembered the message Natalie had accidentally sent.

Liam’s POV:

I froze for a moment before realizing Chloe meant the confession Natalie had sent on my behalf

But… hadn’t Natalie taken it back?

Had Chloe actually seen it?

My ears warmed up. I quickly looked away, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

I murmured, “That… that was a misunderstanding. Natalie mistakenly thought I… Anyway, it was a mistake. Just pretend you never saw it.”

I didn’t know how to explain. I was really nervous, afraid Chloe would think I was being clingy.

I quickly steered the conversation back to what Chloe hadn’t finished saying.

Chloe gave a slight smile. “The other way is… I need to find a mate.”

My pupils flickered slightly. I opened my mouth, but before I could speak, Chloe patted my

arm.

She said, “So, could you do me a favor and keep an eye out? See if there are any suitable candidates you could introduce me to?

“My standards aren’t high. Just one condition: they need to have some standing in Maritime City. At least someone the Grayclaw Pack can’t easily touch.”

Chloe smiled as she spoke, but her words felt cold and struck my heart.

I hesitated before understanding. “So all those relationships you had… were for a mate bond?”

“Yeah. Chloe shrugged casually, turning away with a wave.

“Then… you had no feelings for those men?” I pressed.

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15:21 Sat, Feb 14

Chapter 398 What About Me?

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“Of course not,” Chloe said flatly. “I’m not some lovestruck fool. How could you have feelings for someone you just met? Besides, someone like me would never find true love.”

I clenched my jaw. It was like a weight lifting off my chest.

But the feeling that followed wasn’t good.

I asked, “Then why haven’t you looked for a mate these past years?”

Ever since my accident, I hadn’t heard about Chloe having a boyfriend.

I’d almost really believed she’d turned over a new leaf.

Chloe’s POV:

Hearing him repeatedly emphasize it was a “misunderstanding” chilled my heart completely. I could only push down the disappointment and tell him in a lightly self-mocking tone that I needed to find a mate.

He asked why I hadn’t looked all these years.

I replied, “Never found the right one. I was naive before. I didn’t realize all those guys were so… flimsy.”

Either they were too green, scared off by a few words from the Kellys, or they were too weak, disappearing from Maritime City at the first sign of pressure.

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