I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 173

In the hospital, Aaron had witnessed the entire exchange. He felt Alexander’s behavior had been excessive, which was why he couldn't help but speak up. After he said it, he glanced at Alexander’s expression and immediately regretted his words.

He braced himself for an angry outburst, but instead, a quiet question came from the back seat. “You think I was too harsh?”

What did that mean? Was Alexander actually reconsidering his actions because of what he’d said?

Aaron cleared his throat. “It was obvious that Ms. White was provoking her on purpose, yet you indulged her. That must have been incredibly hurtful for Mrs. Ramirez.”

Alexander replayed Natalie's expression in his mind. When she heard Camila was pregnant, he saw the shock and pain in her eyes. His heart had clenched instantly. Then, he watched as she forced the storm of emotions down, her gaze becoming calm and detached. He knew then that there was no going back for them.

“If I don’t hurt her, do you want her to keep holding on to hope for me?” Alexander looked out the window, a self-mocking curve to his lips. “Only by making her utterly disappointed, by making her hate me, will she be able to move on quickly.”

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After being discharged, Natalie threw herself back into work. Her left hand was still a bit clumsy, but it didn't stop her. She even had Ava Thompson bring her documents that didn't require her approval.

“Nora, you just got out of the hospital. You should really take a few more days to rest at home.”

“There’s nothing for me to do at home anyway. There’s another auction early next month, so we can’t afford to relax,” Natalie said, her head bent over a file.

Ava walked closer to the desk. “Nora, at the Prestige Properties Group charity auction… when you told us to leave first, did you already suspect something bad was going to happen? We should have stayed. Then you wouldn't have gotten hurt.”

Only after the incident did Ava understand Natalie’s intentions that day. She felt a mix of gratitude and guilt, convinced she shouldn't have let Natalie face the danger alone.

Natalie finished marking the document and looked up with a gentle smile. “I’m not a fortune teller, how could I have known what would happen? I just knew about Prestige Properties Group’s background and sensed that the auction wasn't straightforward. That’s why I asked you all to leave. If you had stayed, things might have been even worse. It's not that I'm some noble hero; I was just afraid I’d be held responsible if any of you got hurt.”

Her words sounded pragmatic, almost jokingly so, but Ava knew Natalie was just trying to ease her guilt. She knew Natalie wasn't the type of person who feared responsibility.

But the more she acted this way, the more Eugene knew she was suppressing her pain.

“I’ve heard about Alexander and Camila White. Since it happened while you were still married, if you want to seek further compensation, I can help.”

After all, Alexander had wronged her. It was only right for her to demand more if she wanted. As a member of the Ramirez family, he felt obligated to help if she asked.

Natalie lowered her gaze, hiding the sorrow in her eyes. When she looked up again, her smile was still in place, her eyes clear as water. “He already gave me compensation when we filed for divorce. I don’t want anything more. I just want to get the final papers and move on. I know you mean well, and I appreciate it, Mr. Ramirez.”

Eugene nodded, respecting her decision, and said no more. As he was about to leave the conference room, Natalie couldn't stop herself from asking, “Alexander and Camila White… they’ll be getting married soon, won’t they?”

The moment the words left her mouth, she was taken aback. Why was she still concerned with Alexander’s affairs? She shouldn’t be.

Eugene replied, “Alexander will be visiting the White family soon to formally ask for her hand.”