I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 83

One of the Ramirez family rules was that everyone had to be seated for breakfast by 7:30 AM sharp. It was now half an hour later. Keeping the elders waiting was clearly a breach of etiquette.

As Natalie was about to apologize again, Alexander suddenly spoke up. "I'm coming down with a cold. I got up a little late."

She turned to stare at him, stunned. Just moments ago, he had denied being sick.

And now…

Hearing that Alexander was ill, Savannah immediately grew anxious. "A cold? What happened? You were fine yesterday!" She frantically ordered the staff to prepare a remedy and insisted on calling the family doctor.

"It's just a minor cold. There's no need to make a fuss," Alexander said, pulling out a chair and gesturing for Natalie to sit before taking the seat beside her.

"How are you taking care of Alexander? He gets sick the moment you come back!" Savannah redirected her blame toward Natalie.

"What does my cold have to do with her? Is she a virus?" Alexander leaned back nonchalantly. "I'm hungry. If you keep this up, we might as well skip breakfast."

At that point, Charlotte Roberts interjected, "Everyone gets sick. It's just a cold. Is it worse than what I have?"

Gabriel Ramirez replied, "Mom, this isn't a competition about who's sicker."

"Exactly, Mom. We all want you to live a long and healthy life. Don't say such gloomy things," Savannah added.

Charlotte's eyes widened. "Then why are you blaming Natalie? Are you trying to upset me on purpose?"

Savannah was speechless, knowing she could never win an argument with Charlotte. She shot Natalie a final glare and fell silent.

Alexander glanced at Charlotte. For someone supposedly ill, she had plenty of fire in her voice.

"Grandma, please don't get upset. It's not good for your heart."

As Charlotte met Alexander's gaze, she felt something was off. There was a strange look in his eyes.

Since Alexander had effectively saved her, Natalie discreetly took out her phone and sent him a message under the table: [Thanks.]

Then she began eating quietly.

Two minutes later, her phone vibrated.

[Who is this?]

Natalie blinked. She glanced at Alexander, who was eating his breakfast with perfect composure, as if he had genuinely received a message from an unknown number and dismissed it.

But how could he not know it was her? He had seen her take out her phone.

"In that case, I won't trouble you. I'll ask Grandma if I can borrow one of her cars."

She turned to leave. She had only taken a few steps when his car pulled up beside her. "Get in," Alexander said flatly.

"I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea."

Natalie kept walking.

"Do you want Grandma to find out?"

They were still on the estate grounds. If he drove alongside her like this, someone would see them and get suspicious.

Natalie let out a heavy sigh, opened the passenger door, and got in.

"Three years, and you haven't changed a bit," Alexander remarked with a slight laugh as they drove off the estate. "Though your temper has certainly gotten worse."

Natalie pressed her lips together and stared straight ahead, saying nothing.

After a moment, she turned to him and held out her hand. "Give me your phone."

Alexander glanced at her. "What for? Are you going to take your frustration out on my phone?"