I Refuse to Be Your Second Choice novel Chapter 353

“Arianna…”

Natalie Watson’s eyelids fluttered as she slowly woke up. Her vision cleared, and she saw Arianna Mitchell sitting right next to her bed. Natalie’s voice was barely more than a whisper.

Arianna’s eyes filled with tears. Her voice trembled. “Natalie, you’re finally awake. I was so scared. You were out for days, you know that? I thought I was going to lose you.”

Natalie frowned, her mind foggy. She tried to remember what had happened before she blacked out, sifting through the hazy memories until everything finally clicked into place.

Arianna looked at her, her frustration bubbling through her worry. “Why did you do something so reckless? Jumping in front of that knife for Alexander… What if something happened to you? You need to think about yourself too, you know.”

Natalie gave her a weak, almost apologetic smile. Truthfully, she hadn’t really thought about it at all. She’d just acted, pure instinct, not even a second to consider the consequences.

“I’m sorry I made you worry.”

Arianna’s frustration melted away as soon as she heard the apology. She reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Natalie’s ear. “Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

Natalie glanced over at the nightstand. There was a men’s watch sitting there, unmistakably Alexander’s. Arianna followed her gaze, then rolled her eyes and quickly grabbed the watch, stuffing it into the drawer.

“He left that here, but don’t even start thinking about him,” Arianna muttered.

Natalie hesitated, then quietly asked, “How is he?”

Arianna let out a little sigh. “You’re still worried about him? He’s fine. Totally unharmed. He stayed here all night one night, and then he just disappeared. I have no idea where he went.”

Natalie didn’t press further. She asked Arianna to help adjust the bed so she could sit up a bit, then asked for a glass of water. She sipped slowly, letting the coolness soothe her dry throat.

Arianna’s phone buzzed. She pulled it out and frowned at the screen. Bruce Ward had sent her a video.

The clip showed Alexander, alone, climbing the endless steps up to the Cloud-Kissing Pagoda. He wasn’t walking. He was on his knees, moving step by step, his back straight but his whole body radiating regret. Each movement looked painful, each step a kind of penance. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world.

Natalie’s eyes fell to the blanket in her lap. She was quiet for a long moment, then shook her head. “There’s nothing to forgive, Arianna. I’m done. There won’t be anything between us again. I’m tired. Can I sleep a bit more?”

Arianna nodded gently. “Of course. Let me lower the bed for you.”

She tucked the blanket around Natalie, watched her close her eyes, and slipped out of the room.

When Natalie woke again, the sky outside was already growing dark. Her mouth was dry, and she reached for the cup on the nightstand. Just as she moved, a warm, familiar voice broke the quiet.

“You’re awake. Want some water? Let me help.”

Alexander Ramirez stood up from the armchair by her bed. He walked over and checked the cup, making sure it was the right temperature. He raised the bed a little, then held the cup out for her, waiting for her to take a sip.

“It’s okay. I can do it myself,” Natalie said, her voice steady and distant.