Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 176: Lie To Someone Else

John came out and there he met Ryan, who hurried to him happily as if he was waiting for John to come out and meet him.

"John!" Ryan exclaimed, pulling him into a hug and patting his back enthusiastically, almost as if he’d feared he might never see his friend again.

"Ugh..." John winced in pain rather than joy. "Can you... get away from me?" His voice was strained with discomfort.

Realizing his mistake, Ryan quickly released him, his expression turning apologetic. "I’m sorry, man. I was just so happy that I forgot you’re hurt."

John was like a rock, who rarely showed he was in any kind of pain, but if he showed, that meant it was truly beyond the limit his limit of tolerance.

"It’s nothing," John said, straightening up and quickly composing himself. His expression became neutral, masking any sign of pain.

"I’m just glad to see you alive and not deported back to where we came from," Ryan remarked. "Seeing you here feels like Mr. Harper showed you some mercy."

John didn’t respond directly and instead said, "I’m working for Ms. Natalie from now on."

Ryan looked surprised. "Mr. Harper...?"

"She called him, and he said he had nothing to do with me," John said, a trace of sadness flickering across his face. Hearing it from Justin was truly hurting.

Ryan understood John’s feelings. For them, Justin was like a god—someone they held in the highest regard. To hear Justin say he had "nothing to do with" John had to be painful.

"He didn’t oppose you working for Ms. Natalie, which means he doesn’t really mean what he said. You know how strict and cold he can be," Ryan tried to reassure him. "Mr. Harper can’t break the rules, but he also made sure you are by Ms Natalie’s side. It shows he still trusts and value you the same. He didn’t send you back. Isn’t that proof enough?"

John nodded, though he still seemed unsure of what to say.

"Also, Ms Natalie insisted on having only you as her bodyguard and, he fulfilled her wish," Ryan added. "You know what that meant. He is trusting you to protect the woman most important to him. You will always be his most trusted man, John."

John hummed this time, finally reacting to something.

treated your

"Noah took

be out for a week in this condition," Ryan remarked, shaking

Ms. Natalie; otherwise, I

wounds heal. Until then, I’ll

left. As soon as he was out of sight, Ryan quickly typed a message and sent it

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his way to inspect his new home after Natalie had messaged him that it was ready. He had received

could tell it was about John, though he didn’t know the details. His expression grew somber at the thought of John

Noah felt a sense of relief. At least he’s alive. I should be

short while later, Noah received a

be Ms. Natalie’s

couldn’t help but feel cheerful and immediately glanced at Justin with a

tone cold, noticing Noah’s

allowing John to work for Ms.

echoed in the car. "Keep in mind he’s no longer one of us, so maintain your boundaries with him—or it won’t take me long to relieve you of your

replied quietly, looking straight ahead, while he thought, ’You allowed John to stay by Ms. Natalie’s side, the woman most important to you, yet you claim he’s not one of us

arrived at the new home. Justin looked around and found everything to his liking.

entering, he was pleased with what he saw. The

us. I’ll have her move in with me

where Justin seemed lost in his own world,

Justin replied, still scanning the master

received another message from that

asked, an

kept him waiting. He mentioned a change in plans," Noah replied. "He says he’ll go directly to Ms.

a smirk. "If he could meet her directly, he wouldn’t have requested a meeting with me in the first place. He wants to use me

why would he go to

needs me," Justin explained. "We’ll find out