Chapter 21
Was he finally going to admit that Camila White was the one he loved?
Though she already knew the answer, the thought of hearing him say it aloud made Natalie’s heart feel like it was tied to a stone, sinking endlessly. She looked up at him, the rims of her eyes red.
Alexander opened his mouth. “You p>
He’d only managed a single word before his phone rang. It was the hospital. “Mr. Ramirez, Ms. White has collapsed p>
“She just has a cold. How could she have collapsed?” Alexander’s brow furrowed as he walked toward the foyer, phone pressed to his ear. After a brief, muffled exchange, he hung up. Pausing at the door, he seemed to remember he hadn’t finished his sentence to Natalie.
He didn’t turn around, just tilted his head, his chiseled profile sharp as he said, “I have to go out. You should get some sleep p>
“You haven’t answered my question,” Natalie said, standing up. She needed to hear it from him.
Alexander finally faced her, hesitating for a few seconds. “Even if I don’t say it, you should know. The things you’ve done, the words you’ve said… they can’t stay hidden forever p>
The things she’d done and said p>
Natalie wanted to ask what he meant, but when she looked up again, he was gone.
The only thing she could think of was the night she found out about his first love. She’d drunk too much, and when Susan had tried to stop her, warning her that Alexander would worry, she had laughed with a bitter, tear-streaked face. “He won’t care. He doesn’t love me, and I don’t love him p>
It was just words spoken in anger. If that was it, shouldn’t he have at least asked her why?
“Even if I don’t say it, you should know p>
Yes, she knew. He had never loved her. And yet, she had still foolishly wanted to hear his answer.
From the moment he chose to save Camila, it was over between them. Irrevocably. This was the real end.
Natalie downed the rest of the soup in front of her and dialed Arianna Mitchell. “Send me the address of that lawyer you mentioned p>
She wasn’t going to wait for The Ramirez Group’s legal team. Either party could draft the divorce agreement, and since he clearly didn’t have the time, she would. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ.net
Arianna, who was in the middle of a
face mask, answered on
speakerphone. “Sure. But isn’t Eugene Ramirez back? With his standing in the legal world, he could
find you someone much better After all, divorcing Alexander
Ramirez meant going up against a
formidable corporate legal
department.
“I’m divorcing his nephew,” Natalie reminded her. “Whose side do you think he’d be on p>
“Right. I forgot about that p>
“Besides, it’s just a simple divorce agreement. I’m not asking for anything. A regular lawyer will be fine p>
Seeing her point, Arianna immediately sent the address. Just before hanging up, Natalie asked, “Do you know of any intensive swimming courses p>
“What for? You’re terrified of water; you never go near it p>
“Self-rescue,” Natalie said, heading upstairs. If she ever found herself drowning
again, she wouldn’t wait for a savior. She would save herself.
The next day, Natalie met with the lawyer. He was professional and didn’t ask any prying questions, even after learning who she was. Her decision to not ask for a single penny of their assets, however, clearly impressed him. Countless couples ended up in court fighting over property division, especially in high-society divorces where even one percent of the fortune was worth a bitter fight. The Ramirez
family was at the pinnacle of wealth, with Alexander at its very peak.
To walk away with nothing… just how desperate was she to divorce him? How badly
did she want to leave the man every socialite in the city dreamed of marrying?
After leaving the law firm, Natalie stopped by a few shops selling local delicacies. Madelyn was in the UK and rarely got a taste of home, so she wanted to bring her as much as she could.
It was afternoon by the time she returned to the villa. As she stepped into the living room, she saw Savannah Davis sitting on the sofa, her face a mask of displeasure.
“You don’t even have a job. What are you doing running around all day? I’ve been waiting here forever.” Savannah barely glanced up, her eyes filled with disapproval.
Natalie offered a polite greeting. “You could have called me p>
“A housewife’s place is at home, taking care of her husband. Do I need to call you to get you to come back? Are you some kind of big shot? Savannah snapped. “Never mind that I want to know why yo haven’t been taking any of the supplements I sent p>