I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 226

Alexander paused for a moment, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

“Having second thoughts about saying goodbye?”

“Don’t talk.” Natalie’s voice was barely above a whisper. She kept glancing to the side, like she was trying to watch someone without being noticed.

So it wasn’t about him after all. Alexander’s smile disappeared.

He followed her gaze. There, under the glow of a streetlight, a good-looking guy was holding hands with a woman whose long hair nearly reached her waist. The couple didn’t notice they were being watched. As they walked past, Natalie’s eyes narrowed, confirming what she’d already suspected.

Alexander could practically feel the anger rolling off her. “Does he owe you money or something?”

“Not me. Arianna.” Natalie didn’t take her eyes off Steven Wright. Running into him here was already a surprise, but seeing him with another woman? That was something else. They were holding hands, and the woman rested her head on his shoulder, looking every bit the close couple.

“I recognize that guy. He’s a junior manager in marketing at Robinson Properties Group.” Alexander remembered him because of a scene he’d witnessed at BlueNight. The Robinson family’s heir had gotten caught cheating, and Mr. Robinson, scared of his wife, had bailed, leaving Steven Wright to deal with the fallout. Mrs. Robinson wasn’t the type to let things slide. She’d gone off on Steven, yelling and even smacking him around, furious that a ‘mere manager’ would dare cross her. Alexander had watched it all happen from a private room upstairs.

“I remember now,” Alexander said. “That woman with him tonight is the same one who was with him then. You said he owes Arianna money?”

Natalie stared at them like she could burn holes right through Steven. Alexander had never seen her look so furious, not even when Camila White tried to start something with her.

“He’s Arianna’s boyfriend. They met on a blind date.” Natalie’s voice was cold. “Arianna’s been planning a surprise birthday for him, thinking he’s this great guy. Meanwhile, he’s here with someone else.”

She pulled out her phone and snapped a quick photo. Then she turned and started toward Steven.

She barely made it two steps before Alexander grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

Steven glanced over. “That silhouette looks kind of familiar.”

Alexander kept his back to them, holding Natalie close. He heard their footsteps grow closer. Natalie tensed up immediately. Alexander’s words had sunk in. If she wanted to get real evidence, now wasn’t the time to let Steven know he’d been caught.

Steven clearly knew how to play a part. He’d fooled Arianna this long. A couple of direct questions weren’t going to get him to confess. If he realized Natalie had seen him here, he’d just come up with some excuse for Arianna.

Natalie pressed her face deeper into Alexander’s chest, her fingers gripping his suit jacket.

“Excuse me… are you Mr. Ramirez?”

Steven had walked up right beside them, close enough to see the woman in Alexander’s arms. His gaze dropped, landing directly on Natalie.