I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 219

Natalie couldn’t believe she was getting grief not just from Alexander but from his whole family. Arianna was fuming. “Do they really think you don’t have anyone on your side? Don’t worry, Natalie. If I have to, I’ll take them on myself.”

Arianna could put up with a lot when it came to herself, but if someone messed with Natalie, she lost it.

“Arianna, please, let’s not do anything rash…” Natalie tried to calm her down, but Arianna was already pulling her toward the door.

“Alexander doesn’t even know his mom came to talk to me,” Natalie said, trying to reason with her. “I know you’re just looking out for me, but I don’t want you getting mixed up with the Ramirez family because of me. Seriously, Arianna…”

The two of them made it to the entrance, still arguing, when a familiar voice chimed in.

“Well, what’s going on here?”

Natalie looked up. It was Bruce Ward.

The Ward family owned the mall, and Bruce was there to check up on things for his dad. He just happened to spot Arianna dragging Natalie out the door, her face set like she was ready for a fight.

“Mr. Ward,” Natalie greeted, polite but distant. Because of Alexander, she knew Bruce, but they’d never really talked alone before.

Arianna just glared at him, her eyes practically spitting fire. Bruce was Alexander’s friend and Camila White’s childhood buddy, so to Arianna, he might as well have been part of the problem.

“Did I do something to upset you, Ms. Mitchell?” Bruce asked, raising an eyebrow. She looked like she wanted to rip him apart.

“I’m sorry, it’s not—” Natalie started, but Arianna cut her off.

“So being rich means you get to treat people however you want? Natalie has done everything she can to stay away from Alexander, but his mom and fiancée still come after her. Why don’t you tell Alexander for me? Natalie is not alone. She’s got me.”

Bruce stood there, caught off guard by Arianna’s outburst, but he managed to piece together what was going on. Alexander’s mom and Camila White had been giving Natalie a hard time.

He knew what Alexander was dealing with. He knew the whole story. But looking at Natalie, he could tell she had no idea that Alexander suspected Camila’s baby might not even be his. Since Alexander hadn’t told her, Bruce figured it wasn’t his place to spill the secret. He couldn’t help but sigh. Just when it looked like things might get better for those two, Camila’s pregnancy had blown everything up again.

Natalie remembered Alexander begging her not to leave him at the hospital, how he’d disappeared without a word, how the next time she saw him he was with Camila, who was pregnant. If he really had a reason, why hadn’t he told her? Why had he just forced her to accept it?

She took a breath. “It’s over between us. We’re really just strangers now.”

Later that night at BlueNight, Bruce found Alexander and told him about running into Natalie at the mall.

“Maybe you should just tell her what you think is going on,” Bruce said. “It’s hard seeing you two like this.”

Alexander didn’t answer. He just finished his drink and stared at the glass. “How can I tell her something I’m not even sure about myself?”

Bruce sighed, poured them both another drink, and clinked his glass against Alexander’s. As he was about to take a sip, Alexander spoke again.

“Any news on that other thing?”