Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie and Landon) novel Chapter 45

**Chapter 45: Reclaim What Was Rightfully Mine**

**Aaliyah’s POV:**

Without a moment’s hesitation, I snatched my laptop and stormed toward the study, leaving Landon behind in a haze of confusion. My heart raced, fueled by a potent mix of anger and sorrow. I needed my own space, a sanctuary where I could wallow in my emotions, and where he could truly grasp the weight of my pain.

Barely had I settled at the desk when I heard his footsteps thundering up the stairs, each step echoing in the silence of the house. Instinctively, I buried my face in my arms, feeling the tremors of my shoulders as I fought to contain the storm brewing within. The atmosphere around me felt heavy, saturated with a blend of heartache and sheer exhaustion. Tears began to cascade down my cheeks, pooling on the polished wood of the desk beneath me.

“Sorry, it’s on me,” Landon’s voice floated to me, thick with regret.

His words struck a chord deep within, a confirmation that my small act of defiance had resonated. For far too long, I had been the silent partner, the one who had sacrificed my own dreams to nurture our son, while lurking in the shadows of our lives. My struggles and heartaches dwarfed whatever trivial grievances Natalie had claimed as her own.

In this moment, I realized I was left to clean up the chaos that Natalie had created. We were bonded at the soul, destined to face this tempest together.

“Aaliyah, once we get through this turmoil and the dust settles, I promise I’ll convince the pack to accept you. I’ll get my parents and grandma on board,” Landon declared, wrapping his arms around me. His familiar embrace was meant to soothe, and he gently rubbed my back while wiping away my tears.

But the truth loomed large in my mind: Landon’s grandfather, the former Alpha of Thorn Pack, had left behind a will that felt more like a prison sentence for me than a legacy. It outright forbade me from stepping foot on pack territory. To make matters worse, he had entrusted the majority of the Richardson family fortune to Louisa Richardson, Landon’s grandmother. If Landon ever dared to reveal our bond to the world, the pack’s wealth would be funneled into the communal fund, leaving every Richardson, including Landon, utterly destitute.

This meant that Landon had to transform the Richardson Group into a formidable powerhouse, take it public, and amass wealth and influence. Only then could he withstand the pack’s pressure. And perhaps, when Louisa’s mind began to falter with age, our fortunes might finally shift.

I could see the sincerity in his eyes, which eased the knot of anxiety in my stomach. I lifted my gaze to meet his, my eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Landon, please, don’t let me down, okay?”

“Absolutely,” he replied, his voice steady as he cupped my face and pressed a soft kiss against my lips.

That kiss felt like a promise—a vow of comfort and commitment. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the moment and kissing him back with all the affection I could muster.

But suddenly, I sensed a shift. His body tensed, and he pulled away abruptly, his gaze darting around the room as if searching for an escape.

“What’s wrong?” Alarm bells rang in my mind, and a chill coursed down my spine.

“Nothing,” he muttered, avoiding my eyes. His tone was dry and distant. “I just remembered there’s this huge project meeting tomorrow. Natalie was supposed to take care of it.”

As I watched Aaliyah’s serene face in slumber, sleep eluded me. With my eyes closed, visions of Natalie analyzing the project during our kiss flickered in my mind. Her intense focus made it seem as if only she and the data existed in that moment.

I tossed and turned in bed, grappling with the absurdity of my thoughts. Why was I fixating on her now? Was it because the project tomorrow was so crucial that I subconsciously doubted Aaliyah’s ability to fill Natalie’s shoes?

No. Aaliyah was my destined mate, our souls entwined. Natalie was merely a fleeting distraction, now out of the picture. I had to trust Aaliyah.

The next morning, I personally escorted Aaliyah to the client’s firm. Despite the project manager’s insistence that they preferred Natalie to oversee the deal, I was confident that once they witnessed Aaliyah’s skills and dedication, they would be won over.

“I’ve reviewed the plan. Your revised version is actually more comprehensive than Natalie’s initial draft,” I whispered to Aaliyah as we waited for the client, trying to dispel the unease gnawing at me.

Aaliyah nodded, taking several deep breaths to steady herself. She was determined not to be outshined by Natalie.

But as the minutes dragged on, the meeting room door finally swung open. To my dismay, it wasn’t the project manager but a mere assistant.

“Mr. Richardson, I’m really sorry, but Mr. Pynchon has encountered an unexpected emergency. We need to reschedule the meeting,” the assistant said, her tone a mix of regret and firmness.