I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 81

Alexander Ramirez was at a loss for words.

"Grandma, I was working. It's not that I don't care about you."

Charlotte Roberts took the medicine from Hazel. "Never mind. I'm tired. You two go upstairs and rest."

Having accidentally upset Charlotte, Natalie Watson felt a bit uneasy and wanted to watch her take the medicine before leaving.

"I'm not a child. I know I need to take my medication. You should go rest. Don't you have a client meeting in the morning?" Charlotte forced a weak, strained smile.

Hazel also urged her to go upstairs with Alexander, assuring her that she could handle things here.

Only then did Natalie leave with Alexander.

Once the door was closed, Charlotte tossed the pills into the trash can. "Didn't I tell you to swap the medicine with vitamins? If Natalie had insisted on watching me take them, would I have had to swallow this actual medication?"

To make the act convincing, Charlotte had specifically asked Dr. Main to prescribe real medicine.

"They were both here, I just didn't get a chance," Hazel said as she opened a bottle of vitamins and started swapping out the pills.

"They didn't seem to notice anything, did they?" Charlotte asked, a little worried. Alexander was incredibly difficult to fool.

Hazel thought for a moment. "I don't think so. Otherwise, Alexander would have exposed you, wouldn't he?"

Charlotte agreed that made sense, then sighed. "This is exhausting."

Alexander and Natalie's bedroom was on the third floor. They had rarely used it since their wedding, but everything was still arranged as it had been.

Natalie's eyes fixed on the king-sized bed in the center of the room, with its two pillows and single comforter. "You take the bed. I'll sleep on the sofa."

"Do you think I'm that frail?"

Natalie remained silent.

Alexander walked to the bed, picked up a pillow, and went out to the adjoining sitting area, placing it on the sofa.

Natalie opened the armoire and found only a throw blanket inside.

She was puzzled. Savannah had specifically warned her not to overstep, so why would she have only prepared one comforter?

She took out the blanket.

Alexander was already lying on the sofa. He was tall, and the sofa was short, forcing him to rest his long legs over the armrest.

"This is all there is. You should take it," Natalie said, handing him the throw. She then returned to the bedroom.

Hazel walked in respectfully and stood at the entrance to the inner bedroom, repeating her question.

Natalie was sitting on the bed. The comforter on the other side was half turned down, revealing a slightly rumpled pillow.

"Anything is fine with me. Tell Grandma not to worry about me."

Hazel smiled discreetly. "Charlotte is thinking of you, and you of her. I'll go let her know."

With that, Hazel left, seemingly reassured.

She returned to Charlotte's room and reported everything she had seen.

Charlotte nodded. "Good thing we were quick and had the staff remove the other comforters before they went upstairs. Otherwise, they probably would have slept separately."

"You knew they were just acting?"

"What else? Eugene already gave Natalie the divorce papers. Did you really think they'd suddenly reconcile? Still, acting is better than not acting. If they keep up the pretense long enough, they might just fall back into their roles for real."

Alexander closed the door and picked up his pillow again, preparing to go back to the sofa.

"Do you think Hazel will be back?" Natalie asked.