I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 30

Natalie went through with the sale of the old house. By the time she returned to the villa, her fever felt even worse. She went straight to the kitchen counter to pour a glass of water for her medicine.

“Where have you been?”

Alexander’s voice, sudden and sharp, echoed from the living room. She jumped, nearly spilling the water. She hadn’t noticed him when she walked in, nor had she expected him to be there, not now that Camila was pregnant.

“Nowhere special. Just out for a walk,” she said, turning to face him.

“Is that so?” Alexander strode toward her, his narrow eyes blazing with a terrifying coldness. With every step he took, the temperature in the room seemed to plummet. “Or were you at the hospital for a follow-up appointment?”

The air grew still, thick with a dangerous tension. His gaze was so intense it made her skin crawl. The doctor had told her to come back for a check-up two weeks after the procedure, but with everything happening, she had completely forgotten. He knew.

Her heart skipped a beat. But then she remembered—he had never wanted this child. What was there to be afraid of? She feigned ignorance. “What follow-up?”

He was on her now, his dark eyes burning with a rage that threatened to consume her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant? Why did you get rid of it?!”

At the hospital, he had thought he’d misheard. He had snatched the registration form from the nurse’s hands. There it was in black and white: Natalie Watson, her age, her home address, and the date of the procedure. It had happened over two weeks ago, and he’d had no idea. The paper had crumpled in his fist. Blind with rage, he had forgotten all about Camila in the ultrasound room and had sped home.

It was over. She was getting a divorce and leaving the country. Natalie saw no point in telling him now, but the secret was out. Seeing the pure hatred in his eyes, she paused, then looked away, her voice cool and steady. “You didn’t want it, and as it happens, I didn’t want to have it. It was my body. I had the right to decide. Telling you wouldn’t have made a difference.”

“You didn’t want to have it?” Alexander’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around her neck. His eyes were bloodshot, his fury twisting into a grim smile. “Or did you just not want to have my child?”

His fingers pressed against her unnaturally hot skin, but he was too enraged to notice. Forced to tilt her head back, Natalie struggled for breath. The fever-induced aches in her body made it hard to stand. Her face was ashen, paler than the white-knuckled grip she had on the counter’s edge.

“Mr. Ramirez, let go! You’re going to kill her!” Susan cried out, dropping her groceries as she ran in from the doorway.

When she woke up, she was in a hospital room. A nurse came in to change her IV drip. “You’re awake. You collapsed on the street. Someone saw you and brought you here.”

Natalie lay there for a moment, disoriented, before the memories of what had happened came rushing back. “You should call your family and let them know you’re okay, so they don’t worry,” the nurse said kindly.

Staring at the sterile white ceiling, Natalie answered softly, “I don’t have any family.”

A few days later, she was discharged. The visa center called to let her know her passport was ready for collection. Madelyn also confirmed that everything was set for her to start her new job.

Outside the hospital entrance, Natalie tilted her face to the sky. The sun was brilliant. She held up her hand, letting the light stream through her fingers, warming her skin.

It was finally over.