I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 339

Camila adjusted the rearview mirror, her eyes searching for something. When she spotted the deep red mark on her neck, she flinched. Her hand flew up to cover it, panic flickering in her eyes. It only took a second before her composure cracked and she started to cry. “Eric, I didn’t have a choice. He… he’s like a nightmare I can’t wake up from.”

Eric’s brow creased. “Nightmare? What are you talking about?”

Camila’s eyes shone with tears, her voice barely steady. “His name’s Mike. He was friends with my ex-husband, Kenneth Torres. Even when Kenneth was alive, Mike kept bothering me. When Kenneth died, it got even worse. He started threatening me, said if I didn’t do what he wanted he’d tell Alexander about my past. I just… I couldn’t do anything but go along with it for now.”

Eric’s expression darkened. “Your past? Is there something else besides being with him?”

She took a shaky breath. “Kenneth’s death… Mike wanted me for himself. He told me how to… how to make it look like an accident, so no one would ever know.”

Eric stared at her, stunned. “Are you saying you had something to do with Kenneth’s death?”

“It wasn’t my idea. Mike told me what to do. Now he’s using it to blackmail me. Eric, I’m terrified…” Tears streamed down Camila’s cheeks, her whole body trembling.

Eric pressed his lips together, his eyes sharp with anger. Camila had kept so much from him. Yet as he looked at her, the anger faded, replaced by something softer. He still loved her, no matter what.

He reached out, his voice gentle. “Camila, you should have told me. I could have helped.”

She shook her head, looking so small and lost. “I was scared. I didn’t want you to know. I was more afraid you’d get hurt because of me. Eric, please, I never wanted any of this.”

He was quiet for a moment, then let out a long sigh and wiped her tears away with his thumb. “Don’t be scared. We’ll figure it out together. Mike won’t be able to threaten you anymore.”

Camila looked up, her voice barely above a whisper. “But how?”

Eric pulled her close, holding her tight. “We’ll make sure he can’t say another word. Ever.”

Her eyes went wide, her face draining of color. “You mean… do we really have to…? No.” She shook her head, panic rising in her voice. “I’m scared, Eric. Do we really have to get rid of him?”

Only one name popped into her head. Alexander Ramirez. If he wanted to help Camila get revenge, he could have sent people to keep tabs on her. Maybe he found out what she was up to.

Alexander had enough power to make even the underground think twice about crossing him.

Natalie’s hand curled into a fist until her knuckles turned white. Did he really hate her this much? Was he determined to ruin her completely?

A sharp knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned, sat at her desk, and said quietly, “Come in.”

Mike walked in. “Head office wants an update. Can you fill me in on what you’ve found so far?”

Natalie looked up, studying him for a moment, her mind still racing.