I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 357

Six months slipped away before Natalie even noticed.

She’d been busy, throwing herself into work, growing Billy Firth’s business all across Asia. Most days, she barely had time to breathe, let alone rest. It felt like she was always in the air, one city blending into the next.

She’d just gotten off another flight and was making her way through the airport when she noticed a crowd gathering around a huge screen. The news was playing, and people stood frozen, eyes glued to the report. Out of habit, Natalie looked up too.

“…a sudden malfunction caused the plane to crash. France has launched a full-scale search and rescue effort. According to the passenger list, eight Kaston citizens were on board. Our country has also sent experts and rescue teams to help…”

Another crash. Natalie let out a quiet sigh, her heart heavy. She closed her eyes for a second, silently wishing for everyone on that plane to be safe.

Her phone rang, snapping her out of it. Arianna’s name lit up the screen.

“Hey, your timing is unreal. I just landed. If you’d called a minute earlier…”

“Natalie.” Arianna’s voice cut in, shaky and serious. “Alexander’s plane crashed.”

Natalie didn’t respond. The world seemed to freeze around her.

“Natalie? Hello? Are you there?”

She pressed her lips together, trying to steady herself. It took a moment before she could speak. “What did you just say? Say it again.”

“For the past six months, wherever you went, Alexander followed you. Quietly, without telling anyone. You went to France, so he went too. But then the plane… there was an accident. Don’t panic yet. The Ramirez family sent people over, and Bruce is there too.”

Arianna spoke slowly, carefully, but the words just wouldn’t sink in. Natalie felt hollow, confused, and scared all at once. So Alexander had been with her this whole time, shadowing her across the world, and she hadn’t noticed anything. She’d been working nonstop, on purpose, trying to keep her mind off him, hoping that eventually she’d be able to let him go for good.

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