Chapter 10
Josephine couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Have you lost your mind? You know my body isn't suitable for pregnancy!"
Was that all he saw her as? A baby-making machine?
Gideon gripped her hands tightly. "You're forcing my hand."
He could face any man without fear—except Cedric. With him, there could be no compromise. Ignoring Josephine's struggles, his burning kisses descended. They had been intimate countless times before; nights of passion had made them intimately familiar with every inch of each other's bodies.
His technique was skilled, his experience extensive. Her body quickly responded with waves of unwanted pleasure. Josephine despised this physical response. She clenched her teeth and fought hard—with her hands restrained, she kicked with her legs, bit with her teeth, and thrashed her head. She would do anything to escape him.
Gideon grew more determined, pressing his lips forcefully against hers. Josephine bit his lip until it bled.
"Gideon," she said, breathing heavily. "I don't want this."
"I'm your husband."
As he pressed down on her, all Josephine could think about were images of him and Lorelei naked together. She couldn't lose herself in what should have been passion.
"I said no! You can't force me!"
"You don't have a choice."
He arched his body over hers, still refusing to release her.
Josephine's eyes filled with resolve. "Gideon, you know my nature."
Gideon's descending lips suddenly stopped. No one knew better than he did—Josephine loved and hated with equal intensity, always calm and decisive.
He suppressed his breathing. "You're my wife. You have a responsibility to fulfill your wifely duties."
"Have you fulfilled your duties as a husband?"
Looking into Josephine's angry eyes, Gideon felt an inexplicable chill. He sensed her words had a deeper meaning, but in that moment, he didn't dare explore further.
After a moment, he rose and sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her, blood still on his lips. "Don't leave the house these days. Stay home and rest."
Josephine slowly fixed her torn collar, clearly seeing two bodyguards standing below the window. He really thought highly of her—enough to have her watched.
---
For the next two weeks, Gideon didn't return home. Josephine didn't care where he'd gone. Though she couldn't leave, she maintained contact with the outside world. Sophia regularly texted to check on her wellbeing. She remained still, waiting for the right opportunity to leave.
Until one day, when the house downstairs became unusually busy. Briana was directing people to decorate the living room with cake, wine, candles, and flowers—preparations for a party.
As Josephine pondered this unusual display, Briana pushed open the door and tossed a new dress onto the bed. "There's a party today to announce some good news. Put on the dress and make yourself presentable. Stop looking like a cold, bitter wife."
She looked with disdain at Josephine's bare face and loose hair before slamming the door shut.
When Josephine stepped out of the room, she was stopped at the end of the hallway. The bodyguard said, "Mrs. Getty, Mr. Getty has instructed that you may only come down wearing the dress."
"Where is Gideon?"
"Mr. Getty is busy."
No matter how she asked, the bodyguard wouldn't say more. Josephine had no choice but to return to her room, though she had no intention of attending the so-called party.
An hour later, the party began. The guests were all friends and relatives of the Getty family—not many, but everyone who mattered in their circle was present. Briana and Gideon entered together.
"Today I want to announce some wonderful news. My daughter-in-law is pregnant."
Briana's plan was clever—announce that Josephine was pregnant, then have Lorelei secretly give birth to the child. When the baby arrived, Josephine would have no choice but to accept it!
The guests offered their congratulations.
"Congratulations!"
"Wonderful news! Don't forget to invite me to the baby shower."
"Josephine hasn't been able to get pregnant for years. I thought there might be a problem, but it seems it was just a matter of timing."
Briana looked triumphant. With a child, Gideon would be the Getty family heir, and she would rightfully become the family matriarch. "Thank you all for your kind words."
But observant guests noticed Gideon's unusually cold expression. He showed no joy and kept glancing upstairs.
"Why hasn't Mrs. Getty come down?" someone asked.
"I'll go check." Gideon freed himself from his mother's grip on his arm and headed upstairs.
---
At that moment, outside the bedroom door, Josephine stared at Lorelei standing in her doorway. "Get out," she said coldly.
"I know you don't like me. I'll leave after I've said my piece. I'm pregnant."
In front of her, Lorelei never bothered with pretense. A woman who couldn't bear children was destined to be cast aside eventually.
"If you're smart, you'll step aside. I might even convince Gideon to give you some money so you can live comfortably."
Josephine stared at her stomach, saying nothing. She had already let go of Gideon and their years together, but faced with this ugly reality, she still felt grief and anger.
"Gideon was thrilled when he found out about my pregnancy. He threw this party specifically to celebrate, eager to tell everyone I'm carrying his child. Do you know how passionate he is with me in bed? He doesn't want to come home to you anymore. Gideon stopped loving you long ago!"
While Lorelei rambled on, Josephine slapped her hard across the face! Lorelei clutched her cheek, her high heel twisting as she fell to the floor.
Gideon, climbing the stairs, witnessed the entire scene.
"Jojo." His voice was cold as he rushed forward to help the silently weeping Lorelei. He instinctively glanced at her stomach before positioning himself protectively in front of her. "How could you hit her?"
Josephine looked at him, her heart turning to ice. "She deserved it."
"Go back to your room."
Gideon wanted to contain the situation, but it was too late. Briana had brought the other guests upstairs, and everyone had seen what happened.
Lorelei covered her face, sobbing. "Ms. Hughes, I just came up to tell Mrs. Getty to come downstairs, and she hit me..."
Briana immediately became concerned, worried about the baby. "Josephine, have you no manners? How could you hit someone without reason? Have you gone mad?"
"I heard Mrs. Getty was a virtuous wife, but today she seems more like a shrew."
"No matter what, you shouldn't resort to violence."
"Poor girl, getting slapped for no reason."
Lorelei sniffled. "I know Mrs. Getty doesn't like me. I won't dare appear before her again..." Her act of submission made Josephine look monstrous by comparison.
Gideon's expression grew icier. "Jojo, apologize."
Josephine ignored everyone's stares and whispers, giving Gideon only a cold glance. "I refuse."
"Josephine." He was barely containing his anger.
She remained defiant.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Gideon clenched his jaw and called for the bodyguards. "Even if you are my wife, when you're wrong, you must admit it."
The bodyguards moved to force Josephine to apologize, but retreated when she fixed them with a cold stare. "Try to touch me."
The bodyguards hesitated.
Lorelei added fuel to the fire. "It's okay, Mr. Getty. It's my fault..."
Briana's voice turned shrill. "Gideon, look what you've spoiled her into! If something happens to the baby because of this tantrum, who will take responsibility?"
Everyone assumed she meant Josephine's baby. But both Gideon and Josephine knew she was referring to the child in Lorelei's womb.
Gideon stepped forward slowly, gripping Josephine's shoulders. "Today, you will apologize."
Josephine grabbed his arm and bit down hard. This bite channeled all her resentment and anger, as if to exhaust every last feeling she had for him.
Gideon, in pain, instinctively pushed her away. As Josephine staggered backward, Briana, who had witnessed everything and felt for her son, rushed forward and shoved Josephine hard!
Josephine fell to the ground, her abdomen twisting painfully. A sharp pain shot through her. Something flowed from inside her body. Looking down, she saw her thighs stained red with blood.