The Comatose Billionaire's Shotgun Bride: Now They Kneel to Me

"Ms. Fuller, you're pregnant."

The words slammed into Natalie Fuller so hard her mind went completely blank. Meeting the doctor's eyes, she blurted, "What do you mean I'm pregnant? That can't be true."

For three years, she and her boyfriend had barely gone beyond innocent kisses and holding hands. Sleeping together had never happened. Not even once. How the hell could she be pregnant?

"Doctor, there has to be some kind of mistake."

The doctor calmly slid the lab report across the table. "Your results are very clear. You're approximately one month pregnant. Come back next Wednesday for another checkup."

With fingers wrapped around the report, Natalie walked down the stairs in a haze. Her thoughts felt scrambled, as if her entire world had tilted sideways.

Then her phone suddenly rang, yanking her out of the fog.

"Natalie, Mark's birthday party already started. Where are you?"

The moment she heard her boyfriend's name, a memory crashed into her mind.

Nearly a month ago, she and Mark Barton had attended a business dinner together. The event had dragged on late into the night, and she had drunk far too much, eventually staying at the hotel afterward.

Natalie vaguely remembered Mark supporting her as he escorted her to a room, but everything after that was completely blank. The alcohol had wiped the rest of the night from her memory.

A cold shiver ran through her chest. Could something have happened that night? Had she and Mark actually slept together?

Anxious panic clawed at Natalie's throat. She needed to find Mark immediately and get the truth out of him.

Located in the center of the city's busiest financial district, the Lakeside Club buzzed with nightlife and luxury. The instant Natalie pushed open the private room door, deafening music and drunken laughter slammed into her from every direction.

She froze at the entrance, her fingers tightening around the doorknob as her gaze locked onto the scene inside.

Across the crowded room, Mark sat at the center of the party with a woman clinging sweetly to his side while their friends cheered around them.

Curving her arm possessively through Mark's, the woman practically shimmered beneath the warm golden lights. A streak of cream lingered on her cheek from the birthday cake, somehow making her look even more charming.

A crease appeared between Natalie's brows.

The woman was Marissa Dixon-Mark's childhood sweetheart. Four years earlier, Marissa had left the country to chase both her ambitions and the man she loved.

Conversations and laughter filled the room until someone suddenly called out teasingly, "Mark, now that Marissa's finally back, what are you planning to do about Natalie?"

"Natalie? Come on. Let's be real. If she hadn't been chasing after Mark this whole time, do you really think he would've even noticed her?"

Heads turned toward Mark in unison.

Sprawled lazily across the sofa, the man swirled the wine in his glass with his long fingers, looking completely at ease.

"We were only friends," Mark said with a careless shrug. "It was never anything serious."

An icy chill swept through Natalie from head to toe.

So in the eyes of Mark and his friends, all the love and devotion she had poured into him had been nothing more than her embarrassing one-sided obsession.

And the man who had once held her hand so gently and promised he wanted a future with her had apparently never seen her as anything beyond a casual friend.

A stabbing ache twisted through Natalie's chest so hard it nearly stole her breath. Unsteady on her feet, she staggered backward and accidentally slammed into the door behind her.

The noise instantly drew everyone's attention. One by one, their gazes locked onto her.

The second Mark recognized Natalie, the relaxed look in his eyes cracked for just a split second.

Frozen in the doorway, Natalie felt every ounce of color drain from her face.

Looking into Mark's eyes, Natalie found nothing there except cold indifference.

Curling her hands into tight fists, she forced the words out through trembling breaths. "What you said just now... was that actually true?"

Catching the shocked look on her face, Mark huffed without a trace of sympathy. "What do you think?"

Around them, the crowd traded amused looks, openly savoring her humiliation.

"Did she seriously believe tagging along after Mark all day made her his girlfriend?"

"Someone should've told her sooner-people in our circle care about status and family when it comes to marriage."

"But honestly, Ms. Fuller, with a pretty face like yours, finding a rich guy willing to fool around with you shouldn't be hard at all."

Those cruel words cut straight through Natalie, sharp enough to leave her shaking with rage.

Tears burned at the corners of her eyes as she fixed her stare on the smug, careless grin sitting on Mark's face.

Biting down hard, she drove her nails into her palms, using the sting to keep herself from completely falling apart.

Every moment from the past three years rushed through her head in messy, painful flashes.

After standing there in silence for a few seconds, she suddenly snatched a wine glass off the table and hurled it straight at Mark.

Red wine splashed across his face and soaked his hair instantly. The easy smile he wore disappeared on the spot, replaced by raw anger. Around them, the entire room went dead quiet.

An ear-piercing shriek escaped Marissa before she could stop it. "Natalie, have you lost your damn mind?"

Without answering, Natalie smashed the empty glass against the floor. The violent crack of shattering glass made several people jump in fright.

"Mark, it's over between us. Starting today, we mean absolutely nothing to each other anymore."

Though the betrayal had blindsided her, Natalie knew dragging things out would only hurt more. It was better to cut ties cleanly and walk away now.

Without another glance, she turned on her heel and strode out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind her with a deafening bang, and the noisy private room instantly fell into an uneasy silence.

Disbelief darkened Mark's face as he stared at the closed door.

Who the hell did Natalie think she was, talking to him like that?

Sensing the dangerous mood around him, one of Mark's friends carefully broke the silence.

"Women get scary when they're jealous. Relax, Natalie will come running back before long. Everybody knows she's been obsessed with you for years, Mark."

"Seriously, don't give in too easily when she comes begging this time."

Upon hearing that, the icy anger on Mark's face eased just a little.

They had a point. Natalie had always been hopelessly devoted to him. She probably lost control for a moment and said those things out of spite.

With a worried look, Marissa reached for his sleeve. "Mark, you're drenched. You should go change before you catch a cold."

Brushing her hand aside, Mark forced down the restless irritation clawing at his chest. "It's nothing."

Deep down, he remained convinced Natalie would calm down soon enough and call him first.

...

Out in the hallway, Natalie leaned heavily against the wall, her body trembling faintly.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined the relationship she treasured so deeply would fall apart in such a humiliating, ridiculous way.

Minutes quietly slipped by.

A faint cramp suddenly twisted through her lower abdomen, making her freeze. Only then did she remember the baby growing inside her.

Everything had spiraled out of control so quickly that she had completely forgotten to ask Mark what had really happened that night.

Almost instinctively, she lowered a trembling hand to her stomach. Her thoughts tangled painfully together as she stared numbly at the polished floor beneath her feet.

This child couldn't have arrived at a crueler moment.

Dragging her exhausted body out of the club, Natalie walked unsteadily into the cold night, her mind drowning in confusion.

By the time she reached home, she still felt detached from reality. Crossing the front yard, she pushed open the heavy doors of the mansion.

A dazzling crystal chandelier glimmered overhead, scattering warm light across the luxurious living room while cheerful laughter drifted through the air.

"Mom, one of my friends specially brought back this imported supplement for you," Joslyn Fuller, Natalie's adopted sister, said sweetly with a bright smile. "They say it's amazing for your skin. You should definitely give it a try."

"Oh, sweetheart, you're always thinking about me," Rhonda Fuller, Natalie's mother, replied with a pleased smile.

The conversation flowed easily between them while Natalie's three brothers lounged nearby, watching the scene with amusement.

Standing by the entrance, Natalie swept an indifferent gaze across the family gathering.

Her father Greg Fuller noticed her first, and his brows immediately furrowed. "Why are you only getting home now?"

At the sound of his voice, Rhonda and Joslyn both turned toward the doorway, and the previously cheerful atmosphere instantly stiffened.

The warmth faded from Rhonda's face almost at once, yet she didn't say a word.

Natalie's eldest and second brothers offered curt acknowledgments, while her youngest brother barely lifted his eyes from his phone before dropping his attention right back to the screen.

By now, she had long since grown accustomed to the icy indifference. "Something came up," she explained.

Greg didn't bother asking further. Instead, his stern gaze hardened as he steered the conversation elsewhere.

"You still remember the marriage agreement between our family and the Gilberts, don't you? The time has come to fulfill it. But with Wesley's situation the way it is now, Joslyn can't possibly marry into that family. So you'll take her place."

Natalie felt those words tear through her like sudden thunder. Her thoughts froze completely, leaving only a sharp ringing in her ears.

"A month ago, Wesley Gilbert-the head of the Gilbert family-got into a serious car accident. He's been in a vegetative state ever since. Even the best specialists in the world haven't been able to wake him up. And now you expect me to marry him?" she demanded sharply.

Natalie found the entire situation so ridiculous that it was almost laughable.

She and Joslyn had been switched at birth by accident. It wasn't until Natalie turned thirteen that her biological parents, the Fullers, finally brought her back home.

Yet even after Natalie returned, Joslyn was never sent back to her own biological family.

The Fullers had grown too attached to Joslyn to let her go.

To spare Joslyn from feeling abandoned, the family sent Natalie, their real daughter, who had only just come home, to live with her grandfather, Jeff Fuller. She wasn't allowed to move back into the family residence until after she graduated from college and secured a job.

At the same time, the Fullers constantly reassured Joslyn that blood ties meant nothing and that she would always remain part of the family.

But when Natalie first arrived, she had been warned repeatedly not to covet what didn't belong to her. She was told from day one that the marriage arrangement between the Fuller and Gilbert families had always been meant for Joslyn and Wesley, and that she had no place in it.

The irony was almost cruel. Now that Wesley had become trapped in a vegetative state, the Fuller family suddenly insisted that Natalie marry him instead.

Greg frowned at her resistance.

"Marrying Wesley is a blessing for someone like you," he said coldly. "If your grandfather hadn't once saved Carl Gilbert's life, do you really think you would ever have a chance to marry his grandson?

Natalie let out a mocking laugh. "If it's such a wonderful opportunity, then why not let Joslyn marry him?"

Greg's expression darkened, but before he could answer, Rhonda sharply cut in from beside him.

"Natalie, I know you've never liked Joslyn, but I didn't think you could be so heartless."

Natalie blinked in confusion.

"Joslyn isn't like you," Rhonda continued angrily. "She was raised with love and care. She can't suffer the way you can. If she marries Wesley in his condition, her entire life will be ruined."

Meeting Rhonda's furious stare, Natalie lowered her eyes as a bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Joslyn's biological father had been a butcher, while her mother sold vegetables at a roadside market. Natalie, who had been raised by them in Joslyn's place, had grown up in crushing poverty.

From the time she was a child, Natalie handled nearly every household chore. Her adoptive parents were harsh and demanding, and punishment was a regular occurrence.

While Natalie's hands became red and cracked from washing clothes and dishes through freezing winters, Joslyn was pampered by servants in the luxurious Fuller household.

By the time Natalie finished scrubbing clothes, washing dishes, and completing every household chore assigned to her, it was often late into the night before she could finally sit down to do her homework. Meanwhile, Joslyn grew up in comfort and luxury, spending her days surrounded by private tutors while attending piano and ballet lessons like a true young lady of a wealthy family.

Natalie had learned to endure hardship simply because life had never offered her another option.

Her fourth brother, Stefan Fuller, stared at her with obvious annoyance.

"What's with that attitude?" he snapped. "Do you really think marrying into the Gilbert family is beneath you?"

Natalie didn't even bother hiding her indifference toward him.

Stefan, a chart-topping pop star, had always doted on Joslyn while treating Natalie like an outsider.

"What exactly does this have to do with you?" Natalie replied coolly.

Stefan's expression darkened with impatience. "Even lying in a coma, Wesley is still a man countless women would dream of marrying. Stop acting so dissatisfied."

Natalie almost laughed at the absurdity of it all.

Stefan spoke as though marrying Wesley were some priceless reward.

"Then let one of those women marry him," she said flatly. "I'm not interested."

She had never even met Wesley before, much less developed any feelings for him. Why should she sacrifice her future for a stranger?

At that moment, her second brother, Kevin Fuller, an internationally known fashion designer, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses and spoke in a gentler tone. "Nattie, you should think beyond yourself."

Natalie frowned slightly, unsure what he was implying.

"Natalie." Greg's voice turned stern. "You're a member of the Fuller family. That means you have responsibilities. Everything this family has done for you wasn't for nothing."

Before Natalie could respond, Joslyn's soft voice drifted across the living room. "Dad, please don't pressure her anymore. If Natalie truly doesn't want to do it, then I will."

She stood there in a pale pink dress, her fingers tightly intertwined as though she were gathering all her courage just to say those words. Her delicate, hesitant appearance instantly stirred sympathy in everyone present.

Jeremy Fuller, the eldest of the Fuller boys, reacted immediately. "No, Joslyn," he said firmly. "How could we possibly let you marry him?"

He quickly guided Joslyn to the seat beside him before turning a cold gaze toward Natalie. "Are you satisfied now? Are you really going to push Joslyn into this?"

Greg's face became increasingly grim. "Natalie, you know very well what kind of crisis the Fuller Group is facing right now. Without the Gilbert family's backing, the company could suffer devastating losses."

Natalie's eyes turned icy.

She had joined Fuller Group before even graduating from university. Officially, she worked as Jeremy's secretary, but behind the scenes, many of the company's major decisions had relied on her judgment.

Over the years, she had helped the company recover from decline and even rise far beyond its former rivals.

As for the current crisis? It existed solely because Jeremy had ignored her warnings and insisted on investing in an enormous long-term project despite her objections.

The project demanded an enormous amount of capital, nearly draining the company's cash reserves and pushing the Fuller Group into chaos.

What Natalie never expected was that, when the crisis came, the family would choose to sacrifice her without hesitation.

For years, she had foolishly believed that if she worked hard enough and gave everything she had to the family, they might eventually accept her the same way they accepted Joslyn.

Now Natalie finally understood how naive that hope had been.

No matter how much she contributed, the moment something went wrong, she was the first person they were willing to throw away.

Natalie slowly drew in a breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "The Fuller Group is in this mess because of your own bad decisions," she said coldly. "Why should I be the one paying the price?"

A flicker of unease crossed Greg's face at her unwavering attitude. After a brief pause, his tone softened noticeably.

"Don't you still want to save that maid?" he asked. "Wesley's medical team is the best in the world. If you marry him, you'll have access to those doctors."

Natalie stiffened instantly.

Back when she had first returned to the Fuller family, she had been sent away to live with her grandfather.

He was elderly and rarely involved in household matters, so most of the time, it was the maid, Esme Fowler, who had cared for Natalie with genuine warmth and patience. To Natalie, Esme had been more like family than anyone in the Fuller household ever was.

But two years earlier, Esme had fallen down the stairs and slipped into a coma.

Since then, Natalie had searched tirelessly for specialists and treatments, sparing no effort or expense, yet Esme's condition had never improved.

Now Wesley was also lying unconscious after a car accident, and the Gilbert family had gathered the world's leading neurologists to treat him.

Even if there was only the faintest possibility that those doctors could help Esme, Natalie couldn't bring herself to walk away from the opportunity.

Her gaze slowly swept across the room. Her mother looked at her with impatience. Joslyn stood there, wearing a pitiful expression. Greg's face was filled with calculation, while her brothers watched her with silent pressure and judgment. The sight of them made her feel cold to the bone.

At that moment, the last traces of hope she had held for this family were completely shattered.

After a long silence, Natalie finally spoke. "Fine," she said quietly, the words almost forced through clenched teeth. "I'll marry him."

It wasn't only for Esme's sake. This marriage also offered Natalie a chance to escape the suffocating prison the Fuller family had become.

The tension in the room immediately eased. Greg visibly relaxed, while Rhonda finally smiled again, "I knew you'd make the right choice," Rhonda said warmly. "From now on, the entire family will be relying on you."

The Gilbert family had dominated the business world for generations. Their wealth and influence were beyond measure.

To the Fullers, this marriage was far more valuable than a few business collaborations Carl had offered them. Simply becoming connected to the Gilbert family was enough to elevate their status completely.

Just as Greg was basking in satisfaction, Natalie spoke again. "But I have one condition."

Greg's smile widened. "We're family. If there is something you want, just say it."

Natalie looked directly into his eyes, her nails pressing deeply into her palm as she spoke each word with deliberate clarity. "I want three percent of the Fuller Group's shares."

The Fullers wanted all the benefits that came with an alliance to the Gilbert family, yet none of them were willing to let their precious Joslyn marry Wesley. Natalie had no intention of sacrificing herself for their gain without getting anything in return.

Over the years, she had pulled the Fuller Group back from the edge of collapse more than once. The profits and opportunities she brought to the company were worth far more than a mere three percent of the shares.

The instant her demand left her mouth, the atmosphere in the room changed.

Rhonda was the first to react, her expression tightening with displeasure. "What would you even need company shares for?" she asked sharply. "Haven't we already provided everything for you?"

Stefan gave a mocking laugh from the side. "You really have some nerve. The moment you agree to marry Wesley, you start plotting for shares? How ungrateful can you get?"

Kevin merely glanced at Natalie quietly, remaining silent.

Jeremy, however, quickly stepped in to ease the tension. "Nattie, don't rush into this," he said in a soothing voice. "The company shares will eventually be divided among all of us siblings anyway. There is no need to fight for them now."

Greg also smiled, adopting the tone of a loving father, "That's right. We're family, Nattie. We would never mistreat you."

Natalie almost found it laughable.

"No shares, no marriage," she replied without hesitation. "If that doesn't work for you, then find someone else."

If they could force her to marry a comatose man for the sake of their own interests today, how could she trust a single promise they made for tomorrow?

When Natalie had first returned to the Fuller family, they had at least made an effort to treat her kindly.

But that goodwill disappeared faster than she had imagined.

No matter what happened, they instinctively assumed she was trying to compete with Joslyn.

As long as Joslyn looked even slightly upset, every accusation immediately fell on Natalie. No one cared whether she explained herself or not; in their eyes, any defense she offered was simply another excuse.

Perhaps years of shared memories truly mattered more than blood.

Natalie had once been heartbroken over that realization, yet deep down, she still clung to the hope that one day she could earn their love and acceptance.

But today, she finally saw the truth clearly. To her, they were family. To them, she had never truly belonged.

Maybe she was simply never meant to have the warmth of a real family. And perhaps, she no longer needed it.

Seeing that Natalie refused to yield, Greg changed tactics once again, softening his voice with deliberate patience.

"Nattie, Wesley may be unconscious right now, but the Gilbert family still stands behind him," he said. "Their influence and wealth are far beyond what ordinary people can imagine."

After a brief pause, he added reassuringly, "Even after you marry into the Gilbert family, you'll still be one of us. Your place in the company won't change."

Natalie let out a faint, mocking laugh.

Did they really think that repeating the words "we're family" would be enough to convince her to throw away the rest of her life for their benefit?

"I'll marry him after the shares are transferred to me," Natalie said calmly. Then, without another glance at anyone in the room, she turned and headed upstairs.

"Natalie, are you so full of yourself now that you think you can ignore us?"

Rhonda suddenly slammed her coffee cup onto the table, her face dark with anger. "I knew this would happen! A child who wasn't raised by our side would never learn what gratitude means!"

Stefan let out a scornful snort. "Mom, it's not like this is your first day knowing her. She walks around with that miserable expression all the time as if everyone owes her something. What else did you expect?"

Kevin said nothing. His gaze lingered on Natalie's retreating figure, his brows slowly drawing together.

For reasons he couldn't explain, the look in Natalie's eyes just now left him feeling strangely unsettled.

Even Jeremy looked troubled as he murmured, "What exactly is Natalie planning?"

Greg remained silent, his face dark and unreadable.

Standing nearby, Joslyn quietly observed everyone's reactions. A faint glimmer passed through her eyes before she lowered her head and spoke softly. "Dad, Mom, why don't you just let me marry Wesley instead? I'll be alright."

Rhonda rejected the idea immediately, "Absolutely not! Wesley is still unconscious, and the Gilbert family is already in chaos. How could we possibly let you marry into that situation?"

After all, Wesley was not the Gilbert family's only heir.

Now that he lay in a coma, rumors were spreading everywhere. Some said he might never wake up again, while others claimed that even if he survived, he could be left permanently disabled.

The branches of the Gilbert family that had once been suppressed by Wesley were already beginning to move in the shadows, each waiting for a chance to seize power.

If Wesley regained consciousness, the storm would settle naturally. But if he never woke up, he would become nothing more than a discarded pawn in the Gilbert family's brutal internal struggle.

Greg's expression softened slightly as he looked at Joslyn's concerned face. "It's alright, Joslyn," he comforted gently. "You don't need to worry about this. We'll persuade Natalie somehow. Your career is at an important stage right now-we can't let anything interfere with it."

Meanwhile, Natalie returned to her room at the far end of the third floor.

The space was small and dim, with a north-facing window that barely allowed any sunlight inside.

She had once overheard the household staff gossiping and learned that the room had originally been used as a storage space.

When Natalie first came back to the Fuller family, she had actually been assigned a bright bedroom beside Joslyn's.

But later, Joslyn casually mentioned that her piano room was too far away. Without hesitation, Rhonda ordered Natalie to switch rooms so the original bedroom could be turned into a private piano studio for Joslyn.

Natalie had never argued about it.

Compared to the cramped room she once had in her adoptive parents' home, this place was already an improvement.

Not long after she sat down, Jeremy entered her room with his usual warm and refined smile.

"Nattie," he began gently, "we truly never wanted things to come to this. But Carl suddenly brought up fulfilling the marriage arrangement now, and we really had no way to refuse."

Natalie found his expression unbearably hypocritical.

"Oh?" she said with a cold laugh. "You mean you didn't want me to marry Wesley, or you didn't want Joslyn to marry him?"

Jeremy coughed awkwardly before continuing, "You've always been understanding and considerate of the family. Joslyn's popularity in the entertainment industry is rising rapidly right now. If she got married at this stage, it would seriously damage her career."

Natalie looked at him thoughtfully. "But the engagement was originally arranged between Wesley and Joslyn," she pointed out. "Since Carl brought it up himself, does he really not care who ends up marrying Wesley?"

Jeremy hesitated briefly before answering, "Carl never specifically said it had to be Joslyn."

Carl's intention had been simple-he wanted to move forward with the marriage arrangement and asked whether the Fuller family agreed, as well as what conditions they might have.

"Besides," Jeremy continued, "if we're being completely honest, the engagement was originally meant for you and Wesley. Joslyn was only involved because of the mix-up."

Natalie looked at him quietly for a few seconds before suddenly laughing. "When I first returned to this family, every single one of you warned me not to entertain any thoughts about Wesley. You made it very clear that the future Mrs. Gilbert could only ever be Joslyn."

Jeremy touched his nose awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable. "Well, things are different now."

Natalie's brows drew together slightly.

She truly couldn't understand how the Fullers could act so shamelessly while holding such obvious double standards.

Back when Wesley was powerful, admired, and untouchable, the engagement had belonged to Joslyn.

Now that he lay unconscious, with his future uncertain, they pushed Natalie forward without the slightest hesitation-and didn't even bother disguising their true intentions.

In the end, the truth was painfully simple. The Fuller family had never truly regarded her as one of their own.

Yet Natalie had once sincerely believed they were her family. She had even tried to help Stefan countless times, despite the fact that he had always treated her the worst.

The mockery in her eyes was so clear that Jeremy instinctively looked away.

"Nattie," he said after a pause, "just think about it carefully. If you marry into the Gilbert family, everyone benefits."

After saying that, he quickly left the room.

Outside the door, Stefan was leaning lazily against the wall with both hands in his pockets, his face full of contempt.

"There's no point talking to her," he scoffed. "Natalie's nothing but an ungrateful opportunist. She is nowhere near as thoughtful as Joslyn."

In Stefan's eyes, Joslyn had always been the perfect sister. Back when he was struggling to establish himself in the music industry, Joslyn had stayed up countless nights helping him revise lyrics and polish melodies. Stefan firmly believed he would never have achieved fame without her support.

"Besides," he continued coldly, "Wesley is already lying in a coma. Marrying him doesn't actually cost Natalie anything. She gets to become Mrs. Gilbert without doing a thing. How exactly are we treating her unfairly?"

Jeremy sighed quietly. "Maybe she has her own reasons."

Stefan let out a mocking laugh. "What reasons could she possibly have? I heard from some friends earlier that she was dumped by that Barton guy. She's probably just miserable and taking her anger out on the family."