Married To My Billionaire Stepbrother

Chapter 249: You Were Always Right

There was a silence on Natalie’s end, but she wasn’t as shocked as she might have expected.

Since Justin had entered her life, and said those bitter and hurting words about her gratitude toward Ivan, she had already started to doubt her assumptions.

But she needed to hear it from Ivan himself.

"Why didn’t you correct me back then?" Natalie asked.

"Back then, I didn’t give it much thought and left it. I assumed it meant you were probably in love with me and held on to the thought of coming back to me one day, which must be the reason for what you claim as your strength," Ivan answered.

"As you weren’t the one who messaged me and became my strength, then there’s no reason for me to feel any gratitude toward you or indebted to you," Natalie said coldly, her tone and eyes devoid of emotion, as though she were speaking to a stranger. "If you had said it was you, I might have considered listening to your request. But now, there’s no need."

Just as she was about to hang up, she heard him say, "Don’t you want to know why I agreed to marry you?"

"Because I was a slaving cow meant to turn your company profitable," Natalie said, her voice icy.

"No. There’s something you still don’t know, but you should," Ivan said. "The people you trusted aren’t what you think they are. You don’t know how they’ve been deceiving you."

about?" she

agree to what I’ve asked about my mother. She needs to be in a

as cold as her earlier tone,

you for anything in return. Today, I’m

gaze turned icy, but she kept her calm. "Remember your words, Ivan Brown. After this matter, what we owed each other is settled, and we are

you

that, she hung up the call and immediately sent a message

in bed, her gaze blankly fixed on the

his laptop aside and walked over to her. He gently took the phone from her hand and placed it

were always right. I invested my gratitude and time in the wrong person. How could you see it, even without knowing him or

no point in thinking about it. Now that you know the truth, you’re free from that burden of gratitude,"

were right. I was clinging to the only hope I saw in my lonely life. I ignored it even when I felt something was off—that this Ivan wasn’t the same as

loser, Natalie. You were incredibly strong. Despite having nothing, you still tried to repay the gratitude you thought you owed. It’s

heavy

speak the truth," he replied, holding her tightly. "I will always treasure you. All

asking softly, "But then, who was the person who

her. Then, in a firm yet gentle tone, he said, "Now rest, and leave