I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 148

Natalie hugged her knees, tilting her head to glance at the phone.

The screen displayed a message from Alexander Ramirez:

[You barely ate anything tonight. I brought you some food and left it at your door.]

It was true she had only picked at her food. Only now did she hear her stomach rumbling.

Natalie stood up and walked to the door again.

Whatever her issues with him, she shouldn't waste food.

She opened the door. There was no one there, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw something hanging on the doorknob—an insulated food container.

Natalie took it down. As she was about to close the door, a sudden force blocked it.

Alexander had reappeared from out of nowhere.

Her face hardened. "What do you think you're doing?"

"I wanted to see you. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?"

Alexander braced his hand against the door. Natalie was no match for his strength. Annoyed that he had tricked her into opening the door, she thrust the container back at him.

"I'm fine. I don't want your food. Take it back."

"You're angry at me, but there's no need to punish your body. Susan made your favorite dishes."

After leaving the restaurant, Alexander remembered Natalie hadn't eaten and had called Susan, the housekeeper, to prepare a few dishes, which he then went to pick up himself.

Even with the lid tightly sealed, she could smell the familiar, fragrant aroma.

Natalie took the container back. "I'll accept this for Susan's sake. Now you can leave."

With that, she shoved the door hard, trying to slam it shut.

Suddenly, Alexander stumbled backward and collapsed onto the floor.

Natalie was stunned for a second. Even if she had used all her strength, she wasn't that strong. How did he fall?

Not stopping to think, she put down the container and rushed over. "Are you okay?"

As her hands went under his arms to help him up, she could feel an intense heat radiating from his body through his jacket.

Only then did Natalie notice the unnatural flush on his face.

She touched his forehead. It was burning hot.

"You have a fever?"

Alexander struggled to his feet. "I'm fine. Go on and eat."

He turned and started walking toward his own apartment door.

She helped Alexander lie down, then went to get him some water. Realizing she hadn't checked his temperature, she quickly found a thermometer.

Seeing him on the sofa, she said, "Let me help you to the bedroom. You'll get colder if you lie here."

She helped him from the sofa to the bed, took his temperature, which confirmed the fever, and then gave him medicine and water.

Alexander thought to himself that having a fever wasn't so bad.

It felt just like the old days, before their rift, when Natalie would care for him with such devotion.

After watching him take the medicine, Natalie said, "Get some sleep. You should feel better by morning."

She stood up to leave, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Don't go," Alexander said, looking at her.

His gaze was pleading, and his grip was tight, as if she would disappear if he loosened it even slightly.

He was, after all, sick. At The Apex Residences or the Ramirez Estate, there was always someone to look after him, but here he was alone.

Natalie's heart softened. "I won't go. I'll be just outside. If you feel worse, just call me."

"Can't you stay here? I can't do anything to you in this state."

At that moment, Alexander looked less like the decisive titan of the business world and more like a petulant child.