Fake Mate Beta Rises to Alpha Heiress (Natalie) novel Chapter 55

**Chapter 55: Rest**

**Natalie’s POV:**

A moment of silence stretched between Justin and Hugh, their eyes locking in a shared understanding. The glow of the supplementary terms in the contract I clutched shimmered under the dim lights, almost ethereal in its brilliance. After what felt like an eternity of contemplation, they each reached for a pen, their movements deliberate and resolute as they inscribed their names onto the paper.

As the ink settled, a wave of relief surged through me, washing away the tension that had coiled tightly in my chest. This victory, though just the first of many, was monumental. It wasn’t merely about securing the funds necessary for the project; it was a resounding declaration to Samuel and all those who doubted me that I was more than capable of rising to the occasion.

Just as I began to bask in that moment of triumph, the door to our private dining room swung open with a force that startled me. Lily burst in, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and before I could fully comprehend her presence, she was at my side, catching me just as my knees threatened to give way beneath me.

“Hey, Natalie, are you okay?” Her voice was laced with genuine concern, a thread of panic weaving through her words.

“Here,” I managed to whisper, thrusting the contract into her hands as a wave of dizziness crashed over me like a rogue tide.

Before we could escape the grandeur of the hotel’s entrance, a group of guards clad in stark black emerged seemingly from thin air, their movements sharp and practiced, reminiscent of a well-rehearsed military unit. The air grew thick with tension, and I could feel the chill of unease creeping over me.

Lily’s complexion drained of color, transforming her into a specter of fear. Assuming the worst, she instinctively stepped in front of me, her voice quaking with defiance. “Who the hell are you? What do you want? Don’t you dare lay a finger on her!”

A deep, commanding voice sliced through the mounting tension like a knife. “What’s going on with her?”

Struggling against the fog of dizziness, I forced my heavy eyelids to part. Through the haze, I spotted Leonardo striding towards us, his dark overcoat billowing like a storm cloud in his wake. He was an imposing figure, towering at least 6 feet 3 inches, and his mere presence seemed to suck the oxygen from the room. The aura of an Alpha surrounded him, compelling those around him to instinctively yield. What on earth was he doing here?

“S-She’s plastered,” Lily stammered, her bravado crumbling beneath his formidable presence.

Leonardo’s brow furrowed as his piercing gaze locked onto me. I felt the weight of his scrutiny, taking in every detail of my disheveled appearance: the wild strands of my hair, the flush of my cheeks, and my trembling legs. It was a deeply embarrassing moment, exposing my vulnerability before him.

“Give her to me,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for dissent.

Before Lily could muster a response, I found myself swept off my feet, cradled in his arms as if I weighed nothing at all. His embrace was both firm and secure, and despite my height, I felt like a child enveloped in the strength of his hold. The cool, intoxicating scent of his Alpha essence enveloped me, offering a strange comfort amid the chaos.

“Wait a sec…” Lily began to protest, her voice rising in alarm, but Aaron stepped forward, gently blocking her path.

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