Chapter 99
The butler then entered, pouring David a cup of tea and murmuring, "Mrs. Josephine Getty is really stubborn..."
He glanced carefully at David. He knew David had actually wanted to persuade Josephine to stay when he asked to see her today.
"Haven't you always disliked her?"
David sipped his tea, his voice tinged with weariness. "Josephine is stubborn, but her background is clean. Gideon's judgment... has really gotten worse and worse."
He thought of Lorelei, whose shallow vision and barely concealed greed...
David's head throbbed.
...
The corridor outside the study was long, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Getty family's meticulously maintained gardens. Josephine walked along it at an unhurried pace.
Reaching the main hall, she ran head-on into two people—Briana and Lorelei.
Briana had obviously been lying in wait. Seeing Josephine, her face immediately twisted into a smile, mixing contempt and triumph.
Lorelei stood beside her, one hand resting on her belly in a deliberately conspicuous gesture.
"Well, well, if it isn't Mrs. Josephine Getty?" Briana deliberately emphasized the title. "Here to tattle to my father? Won't work. Gideon's already promised to marry Lori."
Lorelei smiled too, her expression sweet and false. "Ms. Kennedy, I'm truly sorry... but feelings can't be forced. Gideon's heart isn't with you—making a scene won't change that."
Josephine stopped and looked at them.
She suddenly remembered so many similar scenes.
Past New Year's when Briana had publicly berated her for not producing children. Family dinners where relatives "concerned" themselves with when she'd have a child. When Briana played bridge with wealthy ladies and summoned her to serve tea while listening to gossip about how such an excellent Gideon ended up with a wife from nothing...
What had she done then?
Stubborn by nature, unable to bow and scrape with fake smiles, she'd endured silently, telling herself: For Gideon, just bear it.
Even when it earned her Briana's curses and abuse, she'd restrained her temper and stayed quiet.
But now she didn't have to endure anymore.
Josephine smiled faintly. "Done?"
Briana froze, clearly not expecting this reaction. "You—"
"If you're finished, let me say something." Josephine stepped forward, her gaze pausing briefly on Lorelei's belly. "Lorelei, you schemed so hard to get pregnant with this child, using it to trap Gideon, to secure the position of Mrs. Getty... You really think your happy ending has arrived?"
Lorelei's smile stiffened. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Josephine's voice was soft but sharp as needles, "your suffering has only just begun."
The sweetness Lorelei was tasting now—Gideon's compromises, Briana's fawning, even standing here mocking everything Josephine had lost—all of it was fleeting. Soon, it would all become her nightmare.
"Stop trying to drive a wedge between us! You're clearly just jealous!" Lorelei blurted out. "Jealous that I can give Gideon children, jealous that he loves me!"
"Love?" Josephine looked like she'd heard the world's biggest joke. "Lorelei, you really think Gideon loves you? Does he love you, or your utility? When your value runs out, what then?"
She'd probably be kicked to the curb like trash.
Briana's face went ashen. "Josephine! How dare you—"
"I'm speaking the truth." Josephine turned to Briana. "Ms. Hughes went through the same thing—you have the most experience. How many women does your husband keep on the side? You know better than I do. You think swapping in an obedient daughter-in-law will change anything? No. You're just repeating your own tragedy, making another woman suffer in your place."
"You! Get out!" Briana trembled with rage.
"I was already leaving."
Josephine turned toward the exit. After two steps, she stopped and looked back.
"I spent several years of marriage confirming one thing: I shouldn't have been consumed by marriage, staking my entire life's value on one man. My talents, abilities, the bright future I should have had—I wasted them for far too long. Now I'm taking them back. And you're rushing headlong into the cage I just escaped."
"Pathetic."
With that, she left without looking back.
The moment she stepped out of the Getty Manor's main residence, the sunlight was perfect. November's wind felt cool on her face, but for the first time, Josephine found it refreshing.
She got in her car but didn't start it immediately—just sat quietly for a moment.
Her phone buzzed. Message from Leonard: [Mr. David Getty just contacted me. Says he'll ensure the divorce agreement is fair. Tomorrow, 9 AM, courthouse.]
Josephine replied [OK].
She opened her phone calendar and checked off tomorrow's date.
...
The next morning at 8:50, Josephine was already outside the courthouse.
She'd arrived early. The late autumn morning was chilly—she wrapped her scarf tighter. The courthouse hadn't opened yet. A few people stood scattered by the entrance, all glaring coldly at each other, eyes full of resentment.
Josephine found a corner bench and sat down, pulling out her phone to review the NGRAS project progress report.
Kenneth had messaged yesterday—initial test data exceeded expectations, misdiagnosis rate already below 8%. Cedric was advancing clinical partnerships with hospitals. If all went well, they could launch large-scale clinical trials next spring.
She read intently, not noticing someone approach.
"Ms. Kennedy."
Josephine looked up to see Leonard in a sharp business suit, briefcase in hand.
"Mr. Gideon Getty isn't here yet?" Leonard checked his watch.
"No." Josephine put away her phone. "Probably traffic."
Leonard sat beside her, speaking quietly. "On my way here, I got word that Gideon was drinking at a nightclub until early morning. His assistant had to pick him up."
Josephine showed no reaction—just nodded.
At nine sharp, the courthouse opened.
They walked in. Staff confirmed their appointment and gave them a number. Two couples ahead of them—they'd have to wait.
Josephine found a seat. Leonard went to confirm details with the staff.
Time ticked by.
9:10.
9:20.
9:30.
Gideon still hadn't arrived.
Leonard had called three times, each answered by Gideon's assistant: "Mr. Getty will be here shortly."
Josephine watched the numbers on her phone screen, feeling nothing inside. She almost wanted to laugh. This was so Gideon—always using tardiness, broken promises, and making others wait to demonstrate his importance.
9:40.
Leonard made his fourth call, tone icy now. "If Mr. Getty doesn't intend to come today, please inform us in advance. Ms. Kennedy's time is valuable too."
Vague acknowledgment from the other end.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the courthouse entrance.
Gideon had arrived.
But he wasn't alone. Two people accompanied him—his lawyer and Lorelei.