I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 101

Natalie Watson had just finished comforting Charlotte Roberts and was heading back to her bedroom when her phone rang.

Seeing Alexander Ramirez’s name on the caller ID, she paused in surprise.

She thought, "Hadn't he just left?"

Natalie swiped to answer, and as she brought the phone to her ear, she heard a muffled, distant voice.

“Take the ‘Starry Sky’ necklace to Camila White.”

It didn't sound like a normal call, almost as if the phone was covered by a piece of cloth, but she could still recognize Alexander’s voice.

Her hand tightened around the phone.

“Are you sure you want to give it to Ms. White?” Aaron Lee’s voice came through the receiver as well.

“Don't question me,” Alexander sounded impatient.

Natalie realized he hadn't called her intentionally; he must have pocket-dialed her number without knowing. She didn't listen any further and ended the call.

The air in the room felt stuffy, so she pushed open the window. A rush of fresh air flooded in, making her feel a little better.

As she went to wash up, Natalie suddenly felt something was off and rushed to the bathroom.

Just as she suspected, her period had started. It was always a difficult time for her, marked by severe cramps.

Natalie curled up on the sofa, wrapped tightly in a blanket, as a dull ache began to spread through her lower abdomen. She rarely took painkillers, afraid of becoming dependent on them, so she always tried to endure it if she could.

Back when they were first married, whenever she got her period, Alexander would make her a special soothing brew he'd learned about somewhere. After she drank it, he would hold her in his arms as they slept.

His body was always so warm, and being held by him would quickly chase away the chill, easing the pain in her stomach.

Alexander used to say he was her personal heater.

But six months later, her personal heater was gone.

Natalie buried her face in the blanket. She didn’t want to cry, but tears streamed down her cheeks anyway.

It seemed she was growing more sensitive to pain, so much so that even her tears felt like they were born from it.

Lying there like that, she eventually drifted off to sleep.

“But I’m hot…” she mumbled, and then her eyes flew open.

She looked down and saw an arm wrapped tightly around her from under her own, holding her close. She could feel a leg draped over hers, and the solid warmth of a chest pressed against her back, his warm breath fanning across the nape of her neck.

For a moment, Natalie thought she was still dreaming. She rubbed her eyes, but the feeling was real.

Alexander was definitely holding her from behind.

She felt a thin layer of sweat on her skin, but her stomach wasn't hurting anymore. She had to admit, she had slept remarkably well.

“You’re awake?” Alexander’s voice suddenly rumbled from behind her.

Natalie’s back went rigid. She didn’t dare move. “Mhm.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

“Then move a little,” he said.

Her back stiffened even more. Move a little? What did he mean by that? Did he want to… But she was on her period. Did he have a thing for that? When had he developed such a strange fetish? Besides, there was no way they could do something like that now.

“Alexander Ramirez,” Natalie declared righteously, “can you not be such a pervert?”