Chapter 399 Under New Management
Third Person POV:
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Chloe was only hesitant at first, but she hadn’t expected Liam to acknowledge it outright.
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She said, “What kind of joke is that? If you fake a mate bond with me, Mr. Matthew Scott would actually die of anger.”
Chloe laughed dismissively, but Liam stepped in front of her. The atmosphere around him settled, and he showed no sign of joking.
“Not a fake bond. A real one.” His words fell suddenly, stirring Chloe deeply.
Liam looked at her calmly, his gaze steady and composed.
In his eyes, Chloe’s cheeks were slightly flushed. She seemed flustered, unable to speak for a long moment.
Sunlight gradually filtered into the room, wrapping both of them in a warm glow.
But Liam leaned closer, bending slightly, blocking half the light in front of Chloe.
He was in the shadows-not as Chloe had always seen him, forever in daylight, untouched by shadows.
Chloe drew a sharp breath. Her eyelashes fluttered, her brow furrowed. “Liam…”
“A fake bond is lying. I don’t like that. If a real bond can solve your problem, then let’s do it.” Liam’s finger gently traced the corner of Chloe’s mouth.
The bruise from last night had faded considerably, leaving only a faint mark, still visible in the light.
“Do you know what you’re saying? Liam, you’re not still…” Chloe’s voice caught.
Her emotions were tangled, and for a moment, she couldn’t decipher Liam’s meaning.
Is he doing this to help me? Or is he…
Liam’s POV:
I smiled faintly, letting my hand fall slowly from her cheek.
Then I said, “Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to take advantage, and I don’t mean this to be forever.
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“It’s just that I don’t have anyone I like right now, and my father is eager for me to settle down. Since neither of us has found a suitable person for the time being, why not look after each other for now?”
After speaking, I turned away casually, but the smile vanished immediately.
Because my heart was already filled with bitterness.
Hearing Chloe talk about finding someone else to bond with had nearly shattered my
composure.
If I weren’t so good at controlling my emotions, I would have confronted her with a scowl right then.
All these years of feelings… if she had even a shred of conscience, she wouldn’t have dismissed. me without a second thought, without giving me even a chance!
I thought my feelings for Chloe were long gone.
No matter how much I protected her, thought of her, it shouldn’t have come to rekindling anything.
But Chloe’s words today caught me completely off guard.
I made the decision almost without thinking.
I didn’t even know what I was doing-it felt like sheer stubbornness. If Chloe was determined to go around me, then I simply couldn’t let her.
Even if it was just an act.
If she wanted a mate bond, it could only be with me!
Chloe’s POV:
After hearing Liam’s explanation, I felt a bit awkward. I really had overthought it.
Liam had spelled it out so clearly. If I read into it now, I’d be questioning his character.
But realizing his intentions were purely to help left me with an indescribable loss.
I quickly said, “Mr. Matthew Scott may want you to settle down, but not with me. This arrangement would benefit me alone. It’s not fair to you.”
Liam said, “My focus is entirely on work right now. I have no interest in a mate or an arranged marriage. You’d be helping me avoid those troubles-isn’t that a benefit for me? As for my
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Chapter 399 Under New Management
father, I’ll handle him.”
I stated, “Liam, you don’t have to do this…”
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But he interrupted me, “This is my decision. You don’t need to talk me out of it. Of course, I respect your choice. I’ll give you two days to think it over. If you’re willing, we’ll meet at city hall at 8 a.m., two days from now.”
He ended the topic with remarkable calmness, as if we were really discussing a business deal.
But for me, the lingering feeling of charity wouldn’t fade.
Since Liam asked me to consider it, I didn’t refuse on the spot.
Third Person POV:
After returning to the Scott Group, Chloe received a call from Natalie that afternoon.
Liam was very concerned about Chloe’s situation. He’d gone straight to Natalie after leaving.
Natalie promptly called Michael.
She was aware of Chloe’s circumstances. Even if Liam hadn’t asked, she would have contacted Michael and Hannah.
Samuel’s direct clash with Chloe had caused quite a stir in the company. The Kelly family was likely to use it as an excuse to pressure Chloe.
But Natalie had almost forgotten about Penelope.
Chloe had already crossed Penelope once over matters involving Liam.
Natalie explained the entire situation to the Kellys. Her goal wasn’t to make them like Chloe more, of course-it was to shut down their “disciplining their daughter” excuse by framing Chloe’s actions not as a mistake, but as acting in the company’s best interest.
Natalie applied subtle pressure. She was polite yet firm, without her usual deference.
The Moon-Shadowed Pack was under new management now.
Natalie’s people were not to be casually dealt with-not even by Penelope, let alone the Kelly family.
Michael and Hannah had met Natalie a few times before and thought she was inexperienced, green, unlikely to hold her own against Penelope, and that her position as heir might not last.
But Natalie’s attitude this time made Michael and Hannah reconsider.
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Ditch Fake Bond: She’s Tycoon Wolf Heiress
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.

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