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

45 /100

**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.”