Chapter 215
"What a coincidence." Lorelei sat down in her seat, carefully supporting her belly with one hand. "I just went to the restroom and actually ran into Ms. Kennedy."
Hearing this, Briana immediately looked disgusted. "Can't shake off that bad omen no matter where we go."
Lorelei said helplessly in a soft voice, "You shouldn't say that. This restaurant is open for business. If we can come, so can others."
"I think she's haunting us. What's she doing at a restaurant by herself!"
"She's not alone."
Briana perked up at this. "Then who's she eating with? Don't tell me it's a man?"
But Lorelei seemed hesitant to speak.
This attitude was clearly off. Even Gideon, who hadn't been particularly suspicious before, now looked at Lorelei.
Lorelei hesitated. "...Ms. Kennedy is with Mr. Cedric Getty. I saw them enter a private room with my own eyes. Their relationship seems quite good—they were laughing and chatting."
Briana snorted coldly and looked at David. "I told you about this situation before. You didn't believe me then, said Cedric would never do such a thing. And how did that turn out? The moment we're not paying attention, they're already out on a date. Who knows where they'll go after dinner tonight."
Gideon's expression was icy. He rebuked quietly, "Mom."
"At a time like this, you're still stopping me?" Briana felt her son was too spineless. She glared at him, then looked at David and said sharply, "You can't ignore this anymore. If you keep letting it go, tomorrow they'll dare to secretly get a marriage certificate! Then he'll bring your granddaughter-in-law straight home. What will you do then even if you disapprove? What if they have a child..."
At this point, Briana froze and quickly corrected herself. "This woman can't have children, but I'm afraid she'll bewitch Cedric completely. Then we won't be able to stop them!"
Lorelei said softly, "Maybe they're truly in love..."
"Can love put food on the table? Their identities mean they can never be together! If they got together, it would become a laughingstock!"
Lorelei fell silent.
David glanced at Briana. "Enough. You're more worked up than I am."
Briana's fire dimmed slightly. "I'm doing this for the Getty family's reputation. Actually, reputation is secondary. Our family is so large and established—even if outsiders talk, it won't affect us much. But Cedric is so outstanding. Josephine is divorced and can't have children. If Cedric gets with her, his whole life will be ruined."
These words struck at David's heart. If there was one thing David most urgently wanted, it was undoubtedly a great-grandchild born from his most trusted and favored grandson.
Unfortunately, he'd urged, he'd asked, tried every method in rotation, but nothing worked. He'd been forced to propose that whoever had a child first would gain inheritance rights.
The result...
Cedric didn't take it seriously at all, while others took it extremely seriously.
David stood, looking somewhat regretfully at the dishes on the table. "What a shame."
At his age, he was particular about food, clothing, and necessities. He never ate out, basically staying home with a dedicated nutritionist. Today, on a rare occasion when he was in the mood, he encountered this situation.
He turned toward the door. "Let's go. Let's see what these two young people are up to."
Briana immediately followed, secretly pleased. Now there would be quite a show.
In another private room, Josephine and Cedric were eating. Josephine poured Cedric a glass of red wine. Cedric took a sip, his expression showing some pleasure.
"How is it? Taste okay?" Josephine asked.
"Not bad."
Getting these few words from him was already high praise. Perhaps he'd eaten too many fine foods, making him particularly discerning.
"I have a good relationship with this restaurant's owner. If you like it, I'll have him reserve a private room for you."
Cedric readily agreed. "Good."
This restaurant's price point was far below his usual dining standard, but he didn't believe price determined whether food was delicious.
Quality at reasonable prices was sometimes a virtue too.
Just then, someone knocked on the private room door.
Josephine: "Come in."
The door opened.
Seeing who stood outside, Josephine's heart sank.
David slowly entered, his cane tapping the floor rhythmically, seeming to merge with one's heartbeat. An invisible pressure permeated the air.
The previously warm atmosphere instantly froze.
Gideon stepped forward to pull out a chair. David sat directly across from Cedric—what had been Josephine's seat. Now she had nowhere to sit.
Cedric stood, simply took her place setting, and moved it beside himself, then beckoned to Josephine. "Sit here. Keep eating."
He was completely unaffected by David's presence.
Josephine truly admired him. She sat down.
David glanced at her, seeming somewhat surprised. But Josephine remained utterly composed and steady.
She had nothing to feel guilty about. She'd fulfilled David's request. She was no longer a Getty family daughter-in-law. There was no reason to fear David.
Briana snorted coldly. "Ill-mannered thing. The elders haven't sat down yet, and you've already seated yourself."
Cedric looked up, speaking deliberately. "So in Ms. Hughes' eyes, I'm ill-mannered."
Briana stiffened. "I wasn't talking about you..."
How would she dare speak of Cedric that way?
Cedric said flatly, "Only I've been sitting this whole time. If you're not talking about me, who are you talking about?"
Usually reserved and quiet, today he was suddenly aggressive. Briana couldn't handle it. David said nothing. Gideon didn't speak either.
Briana could only bite the bullet and explain. "How could I possibly be talking about you... I was saying..."
"Not talking about me?" Cedric interrupted her, his expression somewhere between a smile and not. "I thought this must be a misunderstanding. I grew up at Grandpa's side from childhood. My manners and education were personally cultivated by Grandpa. I won't say they're excellent, but they shouldn't be too poor."
Briana's expression was practically frozen. How could she admit she'd been talking about Cedric? Saying Cedric was poorly behaved meant David hadn't taught him properly.
Cedric had dug a trap for her.
"I meant..."
She urgently wanted to shift blame to Josephine, but Cedric still didn't give her the chance. "Ms. Kennedy also lived in the Getty family for many years. Everyone outside says the Getty family teaches well. I really don't understand who you mean by 'ill-mannered.'"
Briana nearly ground her teeth to powder. She'd long known Cedric was hard to deal with, but she hadn't expected him to be so relentless even in speech.
No wait—what reason did he have!