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."

snapped back to her senses, feeling as if the heavy weight that had been

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

his usual vitality faded. His aura felt weaker, and

and led him to her office, John

seat at her desk and

"I only came to apologize for failing in my duty to protect you. I believe

really believe you failed to protect me?" Natalie asked, her voice calm but

hesitation, John nodded.

room for mistakes in their world, even if they had been

was worried you were dead or

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

farewell gesture, and

called after

looked back at her.

you go after this?"

decided

work for me then?"

in surprise as she continued, "Be my personal bodyguard. I’ll

might not like it. I’ll

no control over my decisions. He freed you from his service, which means you’re free to do whatever you

working for him, my life still belongs to

"I wonder what kind of weed he feeds

is, you’d feel the same, Ms. Natalie. We’re all willing to die for him, follow

tell you that you’re

he didn’t," John

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