I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 344

"This is Natalie. Who's calling?" she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

"It's Nicholas's neighbor. He rents the place right next to mine. You gave me your number and asked me to let you know if he ever came back."

Natalie sat up straighter, suddenly alert. "I remember. So Nicholas is back?"

Eugene, who had been quietly watching her, leaned in closer, waiting.

"I heard some noise next door, so I checked through the peephole. It was him. He's home."

Natalie was on her feet in an instant. "Thank you so much. I'm heading over right now. Please keep an eye out, and if he leaves, let me know right away."

Once the call ended, she grabbed her bag and rushed for the door.

Eugene stood up too, ready to follow her.

"Professor Ramirez, I should go alone," Natalie said quickly. "If too many people show up, Nicholas might get nervous or refuse to talk."

Eugene looked uneasy. "It's not safe for you to go by yourself. What if something—"

"I'm just trying to help him. For the sake of his wife and daughter, he won't do anything reckless."

Before Eugene could protest again, Natalie was already out the door.

The second she got into her car, her phone buzzed with another message from the neighbor. Someone else had just shown up to see Nicholas. A man.

Natalie gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing. Was this someone Nicholas was working with? Or someone sent to keep him quiet?

Without thinking, she floored the gas. The white Cayenne shot out of the parking lot, her urgency barely contained.

When she arrived, she crept quietly up the stairs, every step making her heartbeat pound faster. She clutched her phone, debating whether she should call the police first. She had no idea what she was walking into. If the man was there to hurt Nicholas, there was no way she could handle it alone.

While she was still hesitating, the door to Nicholas's apartment swung open.

Natalie ignored him and went right to Nicholas. "Did he threaten you?" she pressed, her words quick and urgent. "Is he using your child's illness to force you into this? Don't be scared. I can help."

Nicholas froze for a second, then shook his head. "Ms. Watson, you've got it all wrong. Mr. Ramirez isn't threatening me. He's actually helping me."

Natalie stared at him, completely thrown. "Helping? What do you mean?"

Nicholas swallowed. "He found out about my kid's illness. He offered to pay for the best treatment, no strings attached. All he asked was for me to tell the truth. I never imagined someone would help me like this."

Natalie was stunned. She turned to Alexander, her eyes sharp and suspicious. "What are you up to?"

Wasn't he the one behind the whole counterfeit mess for Camila? Now he wanted Nicholas to come clean?

Alexander saw the confusion in her eyes and spoke calmly.

"Let's go somewhere and talk."