I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 229

A heavy sense of humiliation crept up from deep inside Natalie. Her nose prickled and her eyes stung, but she held back her tears. Biting down on her lip, she refused to make a sound.

“Ronald Main invited a bunch of reporters today. That crowd heading our way probably has a few in it. You can say no, but if you do, both of us will be trending news tomorrow. I’m fine with that. Are you?”

Alexander had a fiancée, and their engagement was about to be announced. If something scandalous came out now, nobody would dare say he was cheating. All the blame would fall on the woman. And once people figured out it was her, and dug into her background, Billy Firth’s reputation in Asia would be the first to take a hit.

The noise from the crowd grew louder. They weren’t far away now.

“Hey, is someone up ahead carrying a woman?”

“Looks like it!”

Natalie’s hands clenched tighter and she tasted blood from biting her lip too hard.

“Or,” Alexander said, seeing she was still silent, “I could turn this all around. Make Arianna the one everyone blames, make Steven look like the victim. What do you think about that?”

Natalie’s whole body shook. She could feel the veins at her temples throbbing. Closing her eyes, she finally muttered, “Fine. I’ll do it.”

Alexander could spin the truth however he wanted. All she wanted was for Arianna to see who Steven really was and stop being fooled. She never wanted Arianna to end up at the center of a media circus.

The crowd was just a stone’s throw away now. They were about to spot them.

Suddenly, Alexander turned and quickly slipped into a side path, pulling Natalie into the shadows with him. Behind them, she heard the group’s disappointed voices.

“I wanted to see who it was.”

“I was hoping to get a good photo for tomorrow’s news, but they disappeared.”

“There are a ton of rich guys here tonight. Bet that was one of them sneaking off with his secret girlfriend…”

Alexander caught up in a few quick steps. “Your foot’s hurt. Let me take you to the doctor.”

He reached for her wrist, but she pulled away before he could touch her. Her face was frosty. “No. I can do it myself.”

She walked a few steps, then turned back to face him. “And please, stop following me.” Her eyes were bright and full of warning.

Alexander paused for a moment, then tilted his head, signaling he’d stay back. Only then did Natalie turn and keep walking.

She made her way to the infirmary. The doctor checked her ankle and said it was just a mild sprain, then gave her some ointment.

The next morning, Natalie was startled awake by loud banging on her door.

She opened it to find Isabella Ward and Camila White pushing past her, rushing straight into her bedroom.