I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 164

Alexander strolled in, looking striking even in a loose-fitting hospital gown, its collar slightly open to reveal his elegant collarbones. A few strands of hair fell casually across his forehead, and his tall frame couldn’t be concealed by the patient uniform.

“If I remember correctly, Uncle, your expertise is in financial law. Have you switched to criminal cases now?”

Alexander walked to the side of the bed and gently ruffled Natalie’s hair. “I’ll have them move your room to the top floor as well.”

His voice was soft, laced with affection.

Natalie’s cheeks warmed. With Eugene in the room, she felt flustered. “There’s no need. It’s just my hand. It’s too much trouble.”

Moving rooms would cause another commotion and draw unwanted attention. She preferred to keep a low profile.

“If you don’t move, we’ll have to keep running up and down the stairs just to see each other. Unless, of course, you’d rather share a room with me. Or I could move in with you.”

He grinned at her, his suggestive words hanging in the air, completely unconcerned by the other person in the room.

His comment made Natalie blush. She shot him a glare before clearing her throat and turning to Eugene.

“Thank you, Mr. Ramirez. But they’re already in police custody. I don’t want to complicate things further. The law will ensure they receive the punishment they deserve.”

The Byron and Gates families were influential, and she had merely been caught in their crossfire. She had people she cared about in this city and didn’t want to bring any more trouble upon herself or her friends.

Eugene understood the meaning behind her words and nodded. “Alright, I respect your decision. But if you change your mind, you can call me anytime.”

“Okay, thank…”

Before Natalie could finish, Alexander cut in. “Natalie is still my wife. I will see this through to the end. Uncle, you should focus your energy on Billy Firth’s case. After all, she’s the one who hired Veritas Legal. You wouldn’t want to mess that up.”

When Alexander first learned she had hired Veritas Legal, he had been vehemently against it, for no other reason than Eugene Ramirez himself. He hadn’t wanted her getting too close to his uncle.

But now, he seemed to have changed his tune, no longer minding Eugene’s involvement in her legal affairs.

Natalie glanced at Alexander, noticing the old hostility in his eyes was gone.

Eugene studied him for a moment, then broke into a faint smile. “Don’t worry, I will.” He checked the watch on his wrist. “I’m relieved to see you’re both okay. I have a meeting to get to, so I’ll be going.”

After leaving the room, he paused and looked back through the glass window. Alexander was sitting beside Natalie, gently twirling a strand of her long hair.

In that moment, he understood with chilling clarity that if anything happened to Natalie Watson, he would lose his mind.

And he certainly couldn't bear the thought of letting her leave him.

Alexander took Natalie’s right hand, his thumb gently caressing the back of it. “Everything in the past was my fault. You can punish me however you want, just… please don’t divorce me.”

Natalie watched him in silence.

Her mind was filled with the image from the warehouse, of him shielding her from the iron bar. He had been in so much pain, yet he had smiled at her and told her not to worry.

Who else in this world would risk their life to save her?

Suddenly, all the past hurts and misunderstandings seemed to shrink in significance.

Did she still want to go through with the divorce?

If she didn’t, would the child she had lost ever forgive her?