I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 180

“I think it was Alexander Ramirez,” Natalie said.

Everything except spicy. The four basic tastes were all there. He knew she loved spicy food from the Silverpine dishes she’d ordered when she treated him to a meal once. So, he had deliberately left the spice out of these dishes. Plus, she knew he was here tonight. If he had seen her dining with Samuel, it would provide all the motive he needed. He already saw Samuel as a rival, and now he mistakenly believed she was involved with him.

If it wasn’t Alexander, she couldn’t imagine who else it could be.

Samuel looked at her, astonished. “Alexander Ramirez would do something this petty?”

Natalie sighed. “It seems petty, yes. But it might not seem so strange once you know the reason.”

“What reason is that?”

She was quiet for a moment before meeting his gaze. “Alexander Ramirez and I were married.”

Aside from Arianna, she had never willingly shared this with anyone. Her secret marriage and now secret divorce from Alexander were things she felt should remain private, but today's incident would cause trouble for Samuel with the club if she didn’t explain.

“You were married to Alexander Ramirez?”

“Yes. We finalized our divorce recently. He’s here tonight as well. He must have seen us dining together and… reacted.”

Samuel was stunned. “I suspected there was some connection between you two. I could tell you weren’t indifferent to him. I thought you had some history, but I never imagined you were husband and wife. How long were you married?”

“Six years,” Natalie replied.

The genuine surprise in his eyes was undeniable. Alexander Ramirez had been secretly married for six years, and not a soul in the outside world knew. Even he had never heard a whisper of it. Alexander had certainly kept it under wraps.

“Then why did you divorce?” Samuel asked.

Natalie lowered her lashes, a faint, sad smile on her lips. “You’ll probably hear about it in a couple of days.”

News of the engagement between the Ramirez and White families was bound to spread quickly.

Samuel recalled the rumors. “Everyone says Alexander will marry Camila White. They’ve appeared together at several events. Did you divorce because of her?”

Natalie hadn't considered that angle, but it was essentially true. She nodded.

Samuel fell silent, his eyes narrowing in thought.

“Alexander, I have something else to attend to. Could you take Camila home?”

Camila stood beside him, her face alight with anticipation.

Alexander’s expression was unreadable. But as he looked up, his gaze fell upon Natalie standing with Samuel Thompson a short distance away.

A sudden, gentle smile transformed his face as he turned to Camila. “Of course. It would be my pleasure.”

Alexander was devastatingly handsome, but he had barely shown Camila any kindness recently. This sudden, warm smile caught her completely off guard. She stared up at him, mesmerized. It was the same smile he had given Natalie in the hospital.

Natalie averted her eyes. “Mr. Thompson,” she said to Samuel, “I didn’t drive here. Would it be alright if I got a ride with you?”

“Don’t be such a stranger, Natalie. I’d be offended if you didn’t ask.”

Samuel placed a light, guiding hand on her back, and they walked toward his Bentley across the way.

Alexander watched, his eyes cold, as Samuel opened the passenger door for Natalie.