I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 158

His face was pale, a white bandage wrapped around his head. Alexander was still unconscious.

Gabriel and Savannah rushed forward anxiously. Natalie tried to move closer, but Camila White beat her to it, leaning over the gurney. "Alex… Alex? It's me, Camila…"

A crowd had formed around him, and Natalie couldn't get near, but her heart was twisted in knots.

"Mr. Ramirez is stable," the doctor announced. "He has a concussion and hasn't regained consciousness yet, but he should wake up within 48 hours."

Hearing this, Natalie finally felt a wave of relief.

Arianna, who had been supporting her, felt Natalie's tense body relax. "You're so focused on Alexander, but what about your hand?"

Her left hand was swollen to a frightening size. Arianna immediately called for a doctor.

An examination revealed a minor fracture in her fingers. They put it in a cast and a splint, but she would need to be admitted for IV treatment.

The hospital director, though unsure of Natalie's exact relationship with the Ramirez family, could see how much Alexander cared for her and arranged a VIP room for her.

After the nurse had set up her IV drip, Natalie quickly stopped her. "Excuse me, could you tell me which room Mr. Ramirez is in?"

Normally, that information was confidential, but seeing as she was a special patient of the director's and had been brought in with Alexander, the nurse didn't hide it. "Mr. Ramirez is in a room on the top floor."

Arianna returned after completing the admission paperwork and heard her question. Once the nurse left, she said, "This is The Ramirez Hospital. Alexander is surrounded by the best specialists. Stop worrying about him. It's your hand I'm concerned about. I hope it heals properly. And my God, when I got that call, it scared me to death!"

Natalie was still shaken. If Alexander hadn't arrived when he did, she might have…

Thinking of the two blows he had taken for her, a fresh wave of pain washed over her heart.

"Arianna, he was hurt because of me. It's all my fault," she said, her eyes downcast. She had never felt so foolish.

Seeing her friend consumed with guilt and sadness, Arianna hugged her. "Don't be so hard on yourself. Nobody wanted this to happen. Besides, you took a hit for him, too. If you're going to blame someone, blame Prestige Properties and those thugs."

Natalie suddenly remembered Gabriel's question about whether she knew the owner of Prestige Properties. Could she have been deliberately targeted?

Arianna stayed with her through the night and planned to take a few days off work to care for her. Natalie wouldn't allow it. A hand injury was no reason for Arianna to miss work.

Seeing her persistence, Arianna relented. "Alright, but I'll be back after work."

"Whether I have the right to see him isn't for you to decide. You're not his wife yet, either," Natalie said, her gaze turning cold. She didn't entirely deny Camila's accusation, but it wasn't Camila's place to decide who could see Alexander.

Her words struck a nerve, and the animosity in Camila's eyes deepened. She stepped closer to Natalie and whispered provocatively in her ear, "Don't get too comfortable. One day, I will take back everything that belongs to me!"

Natalie didn't flinch, merely glancing at the woman beside her.

The elevator chimed again, and footsteps approached. "Savannah, you're here," Camila said, her expression instantly shifting from hostile to sweet and obedient.

Savannah Davis saw Camila, and a flicker of displeasure crossed her face. Then she saw Natalie, and her expression soured even more.

"Alexander needs to rest. He is not to be disturbed by anyone."

With that, a bodyguard opened the door, and Savannah walked in.

Camila hurried to follow. "Savannah, the doctor came by this morning. He said Alexander should be waking up soon."

The door swung shut, leaving her outside as well.