Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 175: Natalie’s Offer

"Ryan, will John never return?" Natalie asked after a moment.

"He won’t," Ryan replied without hesitation.

Natalie fell silent. Since John was one of Justin’s people, she had no choice but to accept his decision.

Ryan glanced at her through the rearview mirror and said, "Ms. Natalie, more than anyone else, Mr. Harper must be upset with John would no longer be by his side. John was his most trusted and cherished man—sometimes more like a brother. But there are things even Mr. Harper can’t change. I hope you won’t hold it against him."

Natalie stayed quiet.

Ryan continued, "Mr. Harper may not show it, and he has to keep his kindness in check, but he cares about all of us. Please don’t judge him just because of the situation with John. Even John would never blame him. If I were in John’s place, I’d do the same and accept my punishment without any word asked."

"I wonder if you people are working for businessman or a underworld Don to have such rules," Natalie mumbled to herself.

Ryan kept quiet, focussed on the driving.

After inspecting the home, she sent a message to the owner, confirming the house was ready for move-in, and then returned to her office.

As she stepped into the lobby on her office floor, someone was waiting there.

"Ms. Natalie."

A familiar voice caught her attention, and she turned quickly toward the source. Stunned, she froze in place, unable to believe her eyes.

John.

He stood there, alive and well, looking just as she remembered.

He approached her and bowed his head slightly. "I came to visit you one last time. I hope you don’t mind."

the heavy weight that had been suffocating her had finally been lifted, allowing

words. All this time, she had thought the worst—that he had been killed—based on the way Justin

his face looked pale, his usual vitality faded. His aura felt weaker, and she could sense that whatever

led him to

at her desk and gestured to him. "Have a

your time," John said politely. "I only came to apologize for

you failed to protect me?" Natalie asked, her

hesitation, John nodded. "Yes, I

was no room for mistakes in their

sighed softly. "I was worried you were dead or worse. But

But... failure is a heavier burden." He paused, then straightened. "I’ll take my leave now.

a farewell gesture, and turned to

called after

stopped and looked back

will you go after this?"

decided yet," he

for me

she continued, "Be my personal

like to, but Mr. Harper might not like it. I’ll have to decline your offer, Ms.

no control over my decisions. He freed you from

I’m no longer working for him, my life still belongs to him. I’ll always do

then mumbled, "I wonder what kind of weed he

the kind of person he is, you’d feel the same, Ms. Natalie. We’re all willing to die for him, follow him blindly—even if it leads us off a cliff to

realized there was no way to shake John’s loyalty. "Did he tell you that you’re not allowed to work for me or warn you to

he didn’t,"

a number, and put it on speaker. Soon, a deep, magnetic voice