Chapter 90
Josephine answered. Gideon's voice came through.
"Jojo, where are you?"
Why the sudden question? Josephine hesitated before answering half-truthfully, "The company sent me on a business trip."
"Why haven't you replied to my messages?"
"I've been busy with work."
Gideon countered, "Really? Is it truly just work, or do you not want to talk to me?"
Josephine was somewhat distracted. "Work's busy."
"Are you traveling alone?"
Josephine's guard went up. Why ask that? Did he know she was traveling with Cedric?
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm worried about you." Gideon stepped out of the club's private room, phone in hand, heading toward the restroom. Remembering that phone call he'd received earlier, his expression was inscrutable. "I'm on a business trip too. I'm concerned."
Gideon hadn't cared about her before—why suddenly care now? Something felt off. Josephine made a noncommittal sound. "No need to worry. I'm with Cedric."
Cedric's head snapped up to look at her.
He hadn't expected her to be so direct.
On the other end, Gideon fell silent. Josephine knew how much he resented Cedric and expected him to lose his temper.
But after the silence, Gideon said gently, "That's good then. With Cedric there, I can relax. When does your trip end?"
Since when did Gideon's temper improve so dramatically?
Josephine felt almost flattered, her first thought being: What's the catch?
"Hard to say. Still busy with work..."
Gideon's voice was tender and attentive. "Alright. Call me when you're heading back—maybe we can return on the same day."
She definitely didn't want to return the same day as him. Josephine forced a smile, deflecting, "We'll see. I can't say for sure right now."
Before hanging up, Gideon called her name. "Jojo..."
Josephine paused. "What?"
"I love you."
Faced with this sudden confession, Josephine felt nothing. After this trip ended, she'd throw herself completely into the project, and then...
Then came divorce negotiations.
She responded flatly, "Hanging up now."
After ending the call, Gideon stared at his phone screen as Aaron's taunting messages kept popping up.
[Can you even handle this? Your wife's on a business trip with another man, and you're not dragging her back?]
[That's Cedric we're talking about. What woman could resist?]
[Letting Josephine work at Cedric's company makes zero sense. Gideon, don't tell me you actually enjoy being cuckolded?]
Gideon blocked the number outright. Truth was, during that phone call, he'd wanted to explode. Jealousy and suspicion made it impossible to stay calm.
But ultimately, he didn't dare.
Somehow, he felt their relationship had become precarious lately, like walking a tightrope.
He gripped his phone, eyes dark.
It didn't matter. Just wait a bit longer. After this trip, he'd discuss adopting a child with Josephine. They could return to their loving relationship.
...
In the dimly lit club, music pounded deafeningly, the air thick with the scent of alcohol.
Discovering he'd been blocked didn't anger Aaron. He casually tossed his phone aside, called others over for drinks, and pulled a model into his arms.
The seed of jealousy had been planted in Gideon's heart. Sooner or later, it would explode.
Seeing Gideon unhappy made Aaron happy.
...
At the restaurant, after hanging up, Josephine accidentally opened her messages and suddenly noticed the anonymous text message.
She still didn't know who the kind soul was that had informed her about Gideon and Lorelei's affair.
But whoever it was, she was grateful.
So she sent a message to that number.
[Thank you.]
Cedric's phone suddenly buzzed.
Josephine looked up. Cedric was checking his phone—apparently, he'd received a message too.
No way...
Josephine couldn't help glancing at his screen, but sitting face-to-face, she couldn't see the contents.
Cedric noticed, flipping his phone face-down on the table. "Curious about my phone?"
Josephine quickly shook her head. "No, not at all."
She checked her own phone. No reply. That thank-you message had sunk without a trace.
Could the anonymous tipster really be Cedric?
But that didn't make sense.
If it was him, he'd just say so openly. Why bother with anonymous messages?
Probably just a coincidence...
...
Night fell. The room was brightly lit. Cedric sat on the sofa, his phone displaying an image—the background showed a hotel hallway.
The center of the image captured a woman's back.
At one moment, the woman turned her head.
It was Josephine.
Noah: [Mr. Getty, this photo was taken by a guest resting on Paper Moon Bar's second floor that night.]
Unfortunately, three years ago on that night, the second-floor surveillance at Paper Moon Bar had been broken. The woman had left before dawn, leaving no evidence behind.
[Well done. You're getting a raise.]
Cedric hit send.
On the other end, Noah grinned. He swore this was the most beautiful sentence he'd ever heard.
The next day.
Josephine sat in the lobby drinking coffee when Cedric emerged from the elevator and sat across from her. "Our flight back is at 2 PM today."
"We're leaving so soon?"
The disappointment in Josephine's voice was obvious.
Cedric asked, "Don't want to go back?"
"Not really." Josephine was candid. "Here, even though work's busy, at least I don't have to deal with certain headaches."
Or certain annoying people.
Cedric's lips curved slightly. "You dislike him that much? Then why not divorce?"
Josephine's fingers traced the rim of her coffee cup. She pressed her lips together. "Divorce isn't something you can just do. You know Gideon's personality better than I do."
She never forgot that child who'd left before being born. She'd definitely divorce—with the Getty Group's legal team, that wouldn't be difficult.
But she wanted more than just a divorce.
She wanted Gideon to suffer. Wanted him to taste the pain she'd experienced.
What mattered most to Gideon now? Obviously, the Starlight Group, he'd exhausted himself maintaining.
Cedric said flatly, "You wanted to borrow lawyers for divorce proceedings?"
Caught, Josephine didn't deny it. "Yes. Starlight Group's legal team has never lost. My chances alone probably aren't great."
Starlight Group's lawyers were like Gideon himself—attack dogs raised for one purpose. Their fearsome reputation came from being ruthless and willing to stoop low.
As long as they could win, they'd use any method.
"No one's undefeated forever. Legal teams included."
They won because they hadn't encountered serious opposition. Most people who encountered these attack dogs would avoid or retreat rather than waste time engaging.
Others feared them. Cedric didn't.
Josephine picked up on the implication. "You're willing to help me?"
Though he'd already agreed to lend her lawyers, Cedric personally offering help was an entirely different concept.
She could manage on her own, but with Cedric's support, her path forward would be much smoother.
Cedric stood with his phone, giving her a sidelong glance.
"Why wouldn't I help? Don't forget—you're my employee. Your divorce only benefits me. If it damages Starlight Group? Even better news for me."