I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 314

Natalie felt lightheaded, but she was still aware of everything around her.

When she heard Alexander speak, her heart dropped. She gripped the edge of the table so hard her fingers went white.

“What… what do you mean?”

Alexander slid the half-empty bottle far away from her. “You think a single bottle of alcohol is enough for me to let this go? Natalie, are you really that naive?”

Natalie’s face drained of color. Her stomach twisted and churned, and it was all she could do to stay upright.

She forced herself to steady her voice, though it came out rough. “Then what do you want from me?”

Alexander’s eyes lingered on her for a beat before he straightened up and stepped closer, looking down at her from above.

“You killed my child. You really think it ends here?” He paused, then went on. “You’ll copy the scriptures fifty times. And you’ll kneel and ask for forgiveness in front of the Buddha.”

Natalie’s head shot up. He wanted her to repent for Camila White’s baby?

“What, you don’t want to?” Alexander’s tone was icy.

Natalie’s hands curled into fists at her sides. “Fine. I’ll do it.”

She didn’t know if she was truly at fault, but the child was innocent. In the end, that baby lost their life because of the mess between her and Camila. She could do this, copy the scriptures over and over. She’d take it as a way to pray for her own lost child too, hoping that in another life, they’d be loved.

“Vesper Ridge. The Cloud-Kissing Pagoda,” Alexander said. “They say it’s the best place for a woman with a cruel heart to repent. That’s where you’ll go.”

The Cloud-Kissing Pagoda wasn’t a popular spot.

It sat way up on a mountain, with nine hundred and ninety-nine steps from the bottom to the top.

Most people couldn’t handle the climb and went to easier temples instead.

But Alexander wanted her to kneel her way up every single step, and then kneel again inside the pagoda.

Natalie just stared at him, stunned.

Did he really hate her this much?

Alexander’s face didn’t change at all. “I’ll have the scriptures delivered to you tomorrow morning. Fifty times, Natalie. Every word. Don’t miss a single one.”

A wave of pain swept through her chest, but she understood. This was the only way Alexander would finally stop coming after her.

He walked closer and the smell of alcohol hit him.

“You’ve been drinking? How much?”

Bruce was confused. He could guess what their meeting was about, but he definitely hadn’t expected it to turn into a drinking session.

And it was obvious Natalie had had more than just a little.

Her stomach still felt queasy, but she managed to rinse her mouth at the sink.

Bruce handed her a paper towel.

Natalie took it, wiped her lips, and answered quietly. “Half a bottle.”

“Half a bottle?” Bruce’s eyes widened. “You finished that on your own?”

She nodded.

Bruce stared at her, shocked. He gently helped her to a sofa in the lounge so she could sit down and catch her breath. “Did Alexander give you a hard time?”