I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 335

Natalie just nodded. “Alright, Grandma, I’ll stay and chat with you for a while.”

She stepped forward and gently took Charlotte’s arm.

There was a cozy tea house not far away, the air inside laced with the gentle fragrance of tea leaves. Charlotte ordered a pot of Longjing, and the server brought it over without much wait.

“Natalie, how have you been these days? Is your leg feeling better?” Charlotte asked, lifting her cup for a sip, her eyes warm as they met Natalie’s.

“It’s a lot better now. The doctor said the bone healed really well, so there’s nothing serious to worry about.”

Charlotte finally looked at ease, but she let out a quiet sigh, and for a moment, Natalie caught a glimpse of sadness in her eyes. “When you and Alexander divorced, my heart ached. I kept hoping you two might find your way back to each other, but… well, sometimes life just happens.”

She paused, her tone shifting. “But Grandma knows you would never push Camila White.”

“You… you believe me?”

Back then, when Camila lost the baby she was carrying for the Ramirez family, Natalie thought everyone blamed her, hated her even. She never expected Charlotte to stand up for her like this.

“I know what kind of person you are. You’re not that kind of child.” Charlotte smiled at her, kind and reassuring.

For a second, Natalie’s eyes stung and her throat tightened. She barely managed to hold back tears.

“Thank you… for believing in me.”

Charlotte reached over and patted her hand. “You’ve always been a good girl. Camila’s always been complicated, even as a child. When you two fell down those stairs, I’m sure she was just scared and put the blame on you.”

She smiled softly. “Some things in life can’t be forced, but I’ve always thought of you as my own granddaughter. If you ever need anything, please come find me.”

Only Natalie and Camila knew the truth about what happened on those stairs. Natalie doubted anyone would believe her if she told them Camila was the one who pulled her down, willing to risk her own baby just to set her up.

Charlotte squeezed her hand again, letting her know she didn’t need to thank her for anything.

“Well, I still need to visit another old friend at the nursing home,” Charlotte said, rising from her seat. She looked over at her grandson. “Since you’re here, why don’t you stay and sit with Natalie for a while?”

“I’ll take you there,” Alexander offered.

“No need, I have the driver,” Charlotte replied, waving him off.

Natalie got to her feet too. “Grandma, I should get back to the office…”

“The tea here is really good. It’d be a shame not to enjoy it,” Charlotte said to her, giving her a reassuring look.

Hazel came over to help Charlotte. As Charlotte passed Alexander, she leaned in close and whispered, “Even if you two can’t be together as a couple, don’t turn into enemies. I already think of Natalie as my granddaughter, so you’d better not treat her badly.”