I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 86

A flowerpot smashed onto the ground, shattering into countless pieces.

Natalie jumped, startled, and looked down at her feet.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Eugene's voice was close to her ear.

"No…" Natalie started to say, but before she could finish, a powerful force yanked her from Eugene's grasp and into another solid chest.

A cold, magnetic voice sounded above her. "Uncle, I'll take care of my own wife."

Natalie looked up. Alexander's dark gaze met hers for a second, as sharp and cold as an icicle, causing the temperature around them to plummet.

Eugene's hand, which had been at his side, twitched slightly. He was well aware of Alexander's hostility toward him and remained silent.

"Uncle saved me," Natalie said firmly, looking directly at Alexander. "I would have been hit by the flowerpot if it weren't for him." His attitude made it seem as if she and Eugene had done something improper, and it left a bitter taste in her mouth, a fire igniting in her chest.

Hearing the commotion in the garden, Charlotte and Savannah rushed over. Seeing the shattered porcelain and dirt scattered on the ground, Savannah asked, "How did the flowerpot fall?"

A maid hurried over, flustered. "I was cleaning on the second floor and noticed the plant stand on the terrace was wobbly. I was just about to check on it when it tipped over."

Charlotte, pale with fright, rushed to Natalie's side. "Were you scared? What if that had hit you?"

"I'm fine, Grandma. It's a good thing Uncle was here." Otherwise, she would have been the one lying on the ground.

Suddenly, someone gasped. "Natalie's foot is bleeding!"

Natalie looked down and saw a small, bright red stain blooming on her white sock. Only then did she feel a sharp pain in her instep.

"A piece must have cut you when the pot shattered."

Charlotte immediately told Savannah to call the family doctor.

Natalie wanted to say it didn't hurt and that some antiseptic would be fine, but before she could speak, she was swept off her feet and lifted into someone's arms.

She instinctively wrapped her arms around Alexander's neck as he carried her swiftly up to their third-floor bedroom.

The doctor arrived shortly.

"Mrs. Ramirez, I'll need you to take off your sock."

Alexander didn't reply. He leaned over, lifted her into his arms, and placed her on the bed. After pulling the comforter over her, he finally spoke.

"Get some rest," he said, his voice devoid of warmth or emotion.

Natalie knew why he was acting this way, but she had no desire to explain herself. She had done nothing wrong, and offering an explanation would only imply she had something to be guilty about.

Seeing that she had nothing more to say to him, Alexander left the bedroom, a dark cloud of pressure radiating from him.

Natalie lay in bed for a while before feeling thirsty. She got up and limped into the outer sitting area.

The bedroom door was ajar, and she could hear voices from the hallway. Curious, she moved closer.

"Still persistent, aren't you, Uncle? Or did you not get to hold her long enough in the garden?" Alexander's voice was laced with cold mockery as he faced Eugene.

"This flash drive contains legal documents for Billy Firth that require Natalie's review. I was just asking you to pass it on to her," Eugene replied, his expression serious and formal. "That's what I needed to speak to her about in the garden. The flowerpot was an accident. If you don't believe me, there's nothing more I can say. But I will say this: you can mistrust me, but you shouldn't mistrust Natalie."

Alexander glanced down at the flash drive in Eugene's hand, his own hands stuffed in his pockets. "So, what you're saying is, I was wrong to blame her?"