Chapter 299: Why Ivan Agreed To Marry

"What are you doing here?" Cathy asked in an annoyed tone, glaring at the two newcomers.

"Oh, we just entered the room we booked," Briena replied nonchalantly. "Are you three in the wrong room?"

Cathy glanced at Natalie. "Can’t you do something about this annoyance always showing up for no reason? Or do you want me to handle her?"

"Do as you wish," Natalie replied calmly, sipping her coffee.

Mia chuckled softly and whispered to Natalie, "Our girl seems to be on her period."

Meanwhile, Cathy warned Briena, "You two are in the wrong room, so get lost before I lose my temper." She looked like she was running out of patience. "You remember from our school days what happens when I get super mad."

"Cathy, we may be in the wrong room, but how can you talk like this?" Briena snapped angrily. "Forget about me, but my friend here is a Princess of Belvorn and a guest of our country."

"So?" Cathy replied in a bored tone. "Do you want us all to clear the way and bow down to our knees?"

"Cathy!" Briena raised her voice, acting offended in front of the Princess.

"Let it be, Briena. I can see some people here lack manners entirely," Charlotte remarked, her gaze fixed on Natalie who didn’t offer a single glance and instead focussed on hot coffee mug in her hands.

"I’m sorry, Charlotte, that you have to face insults like this," Briena said, though inside she was grinning.

Natalie looked up at her and said, "If you’ve gathered enough content to tarnish my image before Sephina Ford announces the CEO of Ford Group, you can leave."

Briena was momentarily taken aback, but Charlotte responded, "She doesn’t need to gather anything. Everyone can see clearly who is worthy and who isn’t. I wonder why my grandma even chose her for perfume event. I will return and tell my grandma the kind of a person your sister is."

Still sitting in her chair, Natalie leaned back and raised a brow at Charlotte. "Finally, you spoke. Must have been difficult to hold back for so long, wasn’t it?"

Natalie asked John and Ryan to stay out as she was waiting for Charlotte’s reaction as all she was doing was hiding behind Briena’s scheming act.

"Natalie, talk to her with respect," Briena interjected, acting as though she were protecting Charlotte. "And what she said is true. Everyone can see what you are. When I become CEO, just know that it’s because you are not worthy."

"Haha, what a joke," Cathy laughed as she stood up from her seat. "You and CEO? Damn! Can you take a look at yourself in the mirror first? To become a CEO, one needs a brain—which you clearly lack. Is Sephina Ford adamant about destroying the Ford Group?"

"Cathy, stay out of it," Natalie said.

"Shh!" Cathy interrupted, now facing Briena. "You’ve always wanted what Natalie had—her clothes, her jewelry, her place as the cherished daughter of the Ford family, and even her fiancé."

Mia stood up as well and added, "You’ve always coveted what belonged to Natalie. This isn’t news to us."

"Coveted?" Briena laughed and turned to Natalie. "Do you think I coveted your fiancé? Is that why he’s with me? But have you ever wondered if Ivan ever loved you?"

"I’m not interested in knowing anything," Natalie replied coldly. "You can keep that trash with you. You’re both perfect for each other."

Briena didn’t back down. "Don’t you want to know why Ivan was the only one always by your side when we were kids? Why he agreed to marry you even though he didn’t love you?"

Natalie glanced at her. She recalled how Ivan had once promised to explain, as per the deal they made, but later she dismissed it as unimportant and didn’t even want to talk to that man.

"Let me tell you, my dear sister Natalie," Briena said, a sly smile on her face, "why he was always with you when other kids avoided you. It’s because of our grandpa."

Natalie’s expression shifted. Mia and Cathy exchanged worried looks, unsure of what to do.

Mia hesitated but said, "Natalie, if you don’t want to hear her..."

Natalie raised her hand, stopping Mia. She fixed her gaze on Briena, ready to hear more. Finally, it was the day for the revelation.

"Natalie, you always thought Ivan was with you because he cared for you, loved you, and whatnot. But the truth is—after your mother died, you were lonely. Grandma started to despise you, Dad ignored you, and all the kids played with me while they hated you. These things made you sad.

"So, our grandpa came up with a solution. He used to bribe Ivan to play with you and be your friend. Not just that, he even bribed Ivan’s parents by offering them an important deal with the Ford Group so they wouldn’t oppose Ivan being your friend. Ivan never cared for you. He wanted to play with me and the other kids instead, but the bribing was more valuable to him and his family, so he continued the act."

Natalie sat there calm and composed, as if Briena’s words didn’t affect her at all. "That just shows Grandpa truly cared for me. You must feel truly jealous seeing how much Grandpa loved me."

Briena was momentarily taken aback by her calm response but pressed on. "Do you know why Ivan agreed to marry you?" she asked, laughing mockingly. "He didn’t love you at all. Grandpa bribed him again—with a five percent share of the Ford Group, on the condition that he married you.

"Not only that, but all the shares Grandpa owned would be transferred to your name once you were married. Think about it, Natalie. With five percent of the shares for himself and control over all of your shares, he would become one of the major shareholders of the Ford Group and gain control of it. He didn’t have to worry about the Brown Group at all. To him, you were nothing but a business opportunity."