I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 178

Alexander turned, his tall frame impeccably dressed in a tailored black suit, his handsome face a cold, unreadable mask. His eyes held a distant, indifferent quality.

“Mr. Ramirez?” Samuel said, surprised. “What are you doing here?” He glanced at the open apartment door opposite Natalie’s, and something seemed to click. “Don’t tell me you live across the hall?”

“Mr. Thompson, with your penchant for gossip, you should have started a tabloid,” Alexander retorted, his gaze sweeping past Samuel to land on Natalie. His eyes were cold, filled with a biting sarcasm, as if mocking her for moving on with another man so quickly after the divorce, even bringing him to her home.

Natalie felt a spark of anger ignite within her as she registered the meaning in his stare. He had slept with Camila while they were still married, had a child with her—what right did he have to judge her? It didn’t matter that there was nothing between her and Samuel. Even if there was, what business was it of his?

She straightened her back, meeting his icy, mocking gaze without flinching. After a moment, she turned to Samuel. “Drive safe, Mr. Thompson.”

“You get some rest too. I’ll be waiting for your call,” Samuel replied with a warm smile, his tone deliberately ambiguous, almost intimate.

Natalie noticed his intent but, with Alexander watching, she simply returned a polite smile.

Samuel then turned to Alexander with a playful smirk before stepping into the elevator. As the doors closed, his smile vanished.

He had known Natalie's address for a while and had originally planned to call her instead of coming up. But as he was about to dial, he’d noticed a Rolls-Royce parked nearby. Through the lowered window, he saw Alexander Ramirez, head tilted back, staring up at a lit window in the building. He followed his gaze and saw it was Natalie's apartment. Then someone approached the car and said, “Aaron says they’re almost done cleaning. He asks if you could please wait a little longer.”

Samuel had overheard and, after a moment’s thought, decided against calling. Sure enough, Alexander had come up. He was, however, surprised to learn he lived directly across from Natalie. Thinking back on their tense interaction, they seemed like a couple who had just broken up. “Well, this is interesting,” Samuel murmured to himself.

…

With Samuel gone, Natalie turned to close her door.

“Found a replacement already? I have to say, I’m impressed,” Alexander’s voice dripped with scorn as he blocked the door with his hand.

Natalie’s face hardened. She looked up at him. “And what if I have? At least I waited until after the divorce.” Unlike him, who had an affair and a child while still married.

Alexander let out a cold laugh. “Who’s to say you weren’t with him during our marriage too? You’re quite something. I thought there was something between you and Eugene Ramirez, but it turns out Samuel Thompson is the real one. Tell me, Natalie, have you been sleeping with him all this time?”

A sharp crack echoed in the hallway as Natalie slapped him across the face.

The stinging pain radiated across his cheek. Alexander turned his head, his tongue probing the inside of his jaw. He chuckled.

…

For the next few days, Natalie slept poorly, either waking in the middle of the night or unable to fall asleep until the early hours of the morning.

“Nora, are you feeling unwell? You don’t look like you’ve been resting,” Ava said with concern.

Natalie shook her head. “Just a bit of insomnia.”

She then called Samuel Thompson to let him know that Billy Firth Headquarters had approved the partnership.

“Great. Let’s meet to discuss the details,” Samuel suggested, giving her the address of a place where they could talk over dinner.

When Natalie arrived, the manager led her toward a private room. As they walked, she overheard a voice from another room they were passing.

“Alexander wants to get engaged first. I’ve agreed.”