Chapter 111
Gideon left.
Josephine stood there for a long time, unable to figure out why he would say something like that.
When she turned around, she saw Chloe standing not far away, quietly watching her.
A strange feeling welled up inside Josephine.
Chloe spoke first: "Why are you standing here all alone? Mr. David Getty said the flowers in the garden are beautiful. I was just thinking of going to see them. Can you come with me?"
She could just go by herself. Why ask her to come along? They weren't that close, were they?
All sorts of messy thoughts ran through Josephine's mind, but she kept her expression neutral: "The garden is pretty big. If you're worried about getting lost, I can have a servant go with you."
Chloe was very forward, directly walking over and linking her arm through Josephine's: "No, actually, I like you. I think we could be friends - maybe we'd really hit it off."
Josephine glanced at her. This woman was being unusually warm for a first meeting, which made her a bit uncomfortable.
But with things put that way, it would be rude to refuse. "Of course."
Chloe held her arm as they walked shoulder to shoulder toward the garden. Along the way, Chloe kept talking to her, "Ms. Hughes mentioned your name to me. Josephine... such a beautiful name."
She showed a bright smile, genuinely complimentary.
Josephine's lips curved slightly: "My father gave me this name. I really like it too."
"What do your parents do?"
If it were anyone else asking, Josephine definitely wouldn't answer, but Chloe looked cute and kept smiling, so she wasn't off-putting.
"Just an ordinary family. They're both retired now."
Josephine's parents weren't in this city, and she hadn't been back in a long time.
"Ordinary families have their own advantages. Like my parents are really strict with me, always worried someone will trick me. I think I'm old enough not to be that stupid." Chloe sighed deeply.
But from the smile on her face, you could tell that when she mentioned her parents, she looked really happy.
As they talked, they reached the garden entrance. To the left was a beautiful flower bed, the garden filled with all kinds of flowers.
Blooming in the wind, their fragrance was pleasant.
But right next to the garden stood a person, tall and slender from behind, holding a watering can, watering the flowers.
Cedric.
This was the first time Josephine had seen him looking so peaceful, as if he'd suddenly shed much of his usual distance.
Chloe suddenly leaned close to Josephine's ear, like girlfriends sharing secrets: "Don't you think Cedric is really handsome?"
Josephine didn't know how to answer for a moment.
To say he wasn't handsome... would be insincere.
But if she said he was, it wasn't really her place to compliment him.
So she could only stay silent.
Chloe didn't seem to wait for her answer, continuing on her own: "I think he's really handsome, and he has a great presence. He'd make a good boyfriend."
Josephine froze, slowly turning to look at her.
Chloe's eyes were still smiling: "What do you think?"
Josephine was silent for a long time before saying with some difficulty, "I'm not in a position to comment on other people's romantic matters."
In the garden, the breeze was pleasant. Josephine clearly heard Chloe's voice in her ear.
"Then if I want to pursue Cedric, will you help me?"
Silence spread through the air. After a long time, or maybe just a minute, Josephine heard her own voice: "I'll try."
"Thank you, you're such a good person."
Chloe released Josephine's arm and walked toward Cedric. Her steps were light but quick, her retreating figure showing her eagerness.
She went over to take Cedric's watering can, but Cedric easily dodged. "What are you doing?"
"Helping you." Chloe put her hands behind her back, not trying to grab it forcefully, looking up at him with a slight smile. "Watering flowers all by yourself must be tiring, and you'd be bored with no one to talk to."
"No need." Cedric refused coldly.
But clearly they knew each other - their exchange showed familiarity. Josephine stood not far away, silently watching.
It was strange. When she'd seen Luna before, she hadn't felt anything was wrong, but today, seeing Chloe with Cedric, something seemed to stir in her heart.
But she couldn't quite figure it out for the moment, just felt that these two standing together... looked well-matched.
Chloe suddenly looked back at Josephine and winked at her.
Josephine understood - it was time for her to exit, staying here would just make her a third wheel.
Just as she turned around, Cedric noticed her. "Where are you going?"
Josephine's steps halted. Now she couldn't leave or stay, so she could only turn back and answer: "I'm a bit hungry, wanted to go to the kitchen to get something to eat."
"You didn't eat before coming?" Cedric frowned slightly.
"No."
Cedric set down the watering can, rolling up his sleeves methodically as he walked toward her, reaching Josephine's side and saying naturally: "Let's go."
"Where?"
"Aren't you hungry?" Cedric's gaze fell on Josephine's flat stomach.
Josephine was a bit confused, instinctively looking toward Chloe.
Chloe still wore a smile, showing no signs of unhappiness. She even took the initiative to come over: "How about I come with you? I didn't eat before coming either. Mr. David Getty said he prepared my favorite dishes for today, but we can't eat yet. I'm a bit hungry, too."
Cedric glanced at her, looking thoughtful, then looked at Josephine. "What do you think?"
What could Josephine say? She couldn't very well say not to bring Chloe along - she had that much self-awareness. "I'm fine either way."
Cedric lowered his eyes in thought.
Chloe pretended to be unhappy, "Cedric, we grew up together as childhood friends. What's wrong with you keeping me company for a meal? It's been so long since I came to your house, I'm not even familiar with it anymore. As the host, shouldn't you take care of me a bit?"
Cedric nodded lightly: "If you want to go, then go."
He walked ahead first. Chloe quickly followed, still complaining, "Really, how many years has it been since we've seen each other? And you're this cold to me! And here I came to find you first thing after returning to the country! So disrespectful."
You could tell she wasn't really angry.
Cedric remained silent the whole time.
Josephine silently followed behind. So they were childhood friends.
No wonder Cedric seemed so patient with her.
In the kitchen, Cedric smoothly retrieved a cake from the cupboard. "Dinner isn't ready yet, have some dessert first to tide you over."
Before Josephine could move, Chloe took it, smiling at Cedric: "Thank you, Cedric!"
Cedric glanced at her: "You don't like strawberry-flavored cakes, do you?"
Chloe's eyes lit up. She took a bite of the cake - even the strawberry she usually hated tasted especially delicious now: "So you still remember what I like. After all these years apart, I thought you'd forgotten all about me."
Cedric glanced at her lightly, then looked toward Josephine.
Only to find that Josephine had left at some point.
He paused, and Chloe beside him noticed his reaction, turning to block his view of the doorway.
"Cedric, Mr. David Getty told me that all these years you've refused to marry and have children. Why is that? There are rumors going around that you have a first love in your heart. Is it true?"