Chapter 88
Josephine's eyes narrowed as she studied Luna. "You seem awfully interested in me."
Luna smiled faintly. "Not 'interested' exactly. Just curious."
She turned and leaned against the sink.
"I heard you and Gideon have a good relationship. So why didn't you join Starlight Group?"
"What's next—are you going to ask if our marriage is falling apart?" Josephine's tone was teasing, but her expression was cooling rapidly.
She didn't appreciate people prying into her private life, especially someone she barely knew. They'd met what, a handful of times? Barely knew each other's names.
"If things are good between you, what's there to hide?" Luna seemed oblivious to her displeasure, asking with apparent curiosity, "I genuinely want to know. If it were me, I'd keep my distance from my husband's brother. To avoid suspicion, you know—prevent unnecessary misunderstandings. But you don't seem to mind at all. Aren't you worried about causing trouble for Cedric?"
Josephine's phone buzzed in her pocket. A message from Cedric.
[Everything okay?]
Josephine replied, [Almost done.]
She looked at Luna coolly. "Cedric is my boss. Going on business trips with him doesn't require anyone's permission or explanation. If people want to make assumptions, that says more about their dirty minds than anything else."
Luna's smile vanished. "Don't you care what your husband thinks?"
"Why are you so concerned about him? Do you two know each other?"
Luna's expression stiffened briefly. Of course, she didn't know Gideon—but everyone had heard of him. President of Starlight Group, the second Getty grandson.
"I'm just worried for you."
"Thanks, but I don't need your concern." Josephine turned toward the door.
"What about Cedric?" Luna's voice turned cold. She stared at Josephine's back, enunciating each word carefully. "You don't want your presence to interfere with his love life, do you?"
Josephine's brow furrowed. She turned back. "How exactly does my existence interfere with his love life?"
They had a simple superior-subordinate relationship. If anything, there was a family connection—which would disappear once she divorced Gideon anyway.
"You haven't noticed?"
"Noticed what?"
Watching Josephine's genuinely confused expression, Luna studied her for a long moment, finally confirming that she truly hadn't picked up on Cedric's different treatment of her.
Then again, maybe Josephine was just playing dumb.
Luna checked the time. She couldn't linger in the restroom much longer, or it would seem suspicious. As she brushed past Josephine, she delivered a warning.
"If you really don't have those kinds of feelings, then stay away from him. Outside of work, I don't see why you two need to interact. If you're truly not interested in him, why not help me out instead?"
She left.
Josephine stood there, laughing in disbelief.
Luna wasn't even Cedric's girlfriend yet, and she was already marking territory. Who did she think she was?
Back at the restaurant, Cedric looked at Josephine. "What took so long?"
He'd almost thought she'd been kidnapped.
Josephine's expression was bland. "Red wine's hard to get out."
The white fabric still showed faint wine stains. If left untreated, they'd be nearly impossible to wash later. Cedric stood. "Let's head back then."
Josephine agreed wholeheartedly.
Luna looped her arm through Josephine's. "You haven't forgotten our little agreement, have you?"
Cedric raised an eyebrow. "What agreement?"
"Girl talk. You don't need to know." Luna's tone was playfully chiding as she squeezed Josephine's arm. "Right, Jojo?"
Josephine met her gaze. After a moment, she extracted her arm. "I'm tired tonight. I want to go rest."
Cedric studied her closely. "Alright."
After settling the bill, the three headed out. Josephine walked ahead while Cedric and Luna followed behind. Josephine went straight back to the hotel.
Cedric was about to call after her when Luna spoke up. "Jojo's exhausted. Let her rest. Even in the bathroom earlier, she looked unwell."
Cedric frowned slightly. Josephine looked unwell? But during dinner, she'd seemed perfectly fine.
Josephine had already entered her room.
As the door closed behind her, Cedric turned to leave, but not before saying to Luna, "I don't appreciate people making decisions for me."
It was a warning.
Luna forced a smile. "Don't worry, I didn't do anything. I know you two are related. Besides, I wouldn't dare."
Cedric walked away.
The next day, Cedric went downstairs first. When Josephine wasn't at the restaurant, he messaged her. No reply. He called—she finally picked up.
"I'm not coming down for breakfast. I already had the staff bring food to my room."
Maybe it was his imagination, but Cedric felt her attitude had grown distant. "Still not feeling well?"
"A little. Period stuff. Gotta go."
Josephine hung up abruptly and threw herself onto the sofa, feeling inexplicably irritated. Back home, there was Gideon and Lorelei.
Now abroad, there was Luna?
Josephine was fed up. She didn't want to get tangled up in their drama. Scrolling mindlessly through her phone, she spotted a recommendation for a scenic park.
She decided to check it out—clear her head, avoid unnecessary complications.
The moment she opened her door, she found a staff member standing there.
"Ms. Kennedy, here are the items you requested."
Sanitary products, a heating pad, and chicken soup. Josephine blinked in confusion. "I didn't order any of this. Wrong room, maybe?"
"Mr. Getty asked us to deliver them."
Josephine hesitated. Then she caught Luna approaching from the corner of her eye. The unpleasant bathroom conversation flashed through her mind. "Thank you, but I don't need them."
She closed the door.
The server stood there looking bewildered. Luna sidled over with a question. The server answered honestly.
Looking at those items, Luna's mood soured. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Ms. Kennedy and I are friends. Give them to me—I'll take them to her later."
"Of course."
After collecting everything, Luna glanced at Josephine's closed door before walking away. Passing a trash can, she casually tossed it all inside.
Josephine deliberately waited a while to make sure the hallway was empty before leaving. The lake wasn't far—she could walk there.
The fresh air and open scenery temporarily lifted her spirits. Standing by the water's edge, even her breathing seemed to carry the lake's crystalline moisture.
"You're not feeling well, yet here you are sightseeing."
Cedric's calm voice came from behind. Josephine spun around.
Cedric walked to her side, giving her a cool glance. "You ran off alone to give me space for a date?"
Josephine studied his expression, unable to read whether he was pleased or annoyed. She decided on honesty. "I'm doing this for your sake. Your grandfather's been pushing you to marry and have kids... I shouldn't get in the way."
Maybe it was her imagination, but the air seemed to chill the moment those words left her mouth.
Cedric laughed softly. "How thoughtful of you."