I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 8

A heavy silence fell after Natalie’s words.

Then, the weight beside her was gone. She heard the sound of him getting out of bed.

“Divorce? So you finally said it. What’s the matter? Tired of putting up with it, or did he finally give you the backbone to do it?”

Alexander picked up his shirt, his voice low and cold, each word laced with thick sarcasm.

Natalie didn’t understand what he meant. She sat up, clutching the duvet to cover herself as it slipped down. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but a divorce is the best thing for both of us. There’s no point in continuing like this.”

“And you feel wronged?” Alexander sneered.

Shouldn’t she? He had married her while his heart belonged to someone else. He had given her unparalleled adoration only to snatch it all away without warning. Her heart wasn’t made of stone; she felt the pain.

Natalie’s grip on the duvet tightened, then slowly relaxed. “Think whatever you want. I don’t want any of your assets. Let’s just part amicably. I don’t want to make things ugly.”

Whatever he thought of her, it didn’t matter anymore. All that mattered was finalizing the divorce before she left.

“Not a single penny? You sound pretty confident. It seems you really are planning to be with him. Makes sense, I guess. His money is more than enough to support someone like you.”

Alexander buttoned his shirt with slow, deliberate movements, the smirk on his lips deepening.

Natalie frowned. “What are you talking about? This divorce is between the two of us. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”

“And you expect me to believe you don’t know what I’m talking about?” he shot back mockingly. He tossed her clothes onto the bed, his dark, icy eyes devoid of any warmth. “Get dressed and get out.”

Then he strode into the adjoining study.

Natalie couldn’t understand why he was so resistant to a divorce. He didn’t love her.

She fell into a restless sleep and woke the next morning to find Alexander gone. Downstairs, Susan was placing a bowl of soup on the dining table.

“Did Alexander leave again last night?” she asked.

After discussing the paintings, she led a group of collectors toward the meteorite display. As she did, she caught a glimpse of someone entering through the main doors out of the corner of her eye.

Her gaze froze, and she stood rooted to the spot.

Camila White was on Alexander Ramirez’s arm.

She leaned against him like a delicate vine, a triumphant smile gracing her lips. Natalie’s chest tightened with a mix of anxiety and panic. It wasn’t fear, but a desperate desire to keep Alexander from discovering too much.

They were already heading in her direction.

Thinking fast, Natalie remembered the face mask in her pocket. Her allergies had been acting up lately, so she had started carrying one. She quickly pulled it out and put it on.

“Hey, why the mask? Don’t tell me this meteorite is radioactive,” someone in the group asked.

Hearing the question, Alexander’s deep, captivating eyes turned toward Natalie.