Chapter 127
"We've already discussed this question many times." Josephine's lips curved slightly, her tone light but unusually firm. "My answer has never changed."
Gideon smiled bitterly, that smile carrying self-mockery. "I know. About the divorce, I'll consider it."
"Make it quick. I don't have that much time for you."
After speaking, Josephine stopped looking at him and started the car, entering Clearwater Ridge. In the rearview mirror, Gideon's figure grew smaller and smaller before finally disappearing around a corner.
Gideon stood in place, eyes dim.
A white sedan drove along the road. No one spoke inside, only Lorelei's soft sobbing, which annoyed everyone for no reason.
Briana was driven to distraction by her crying and said impatiently, "Stop crying! What's the use of crying?"
Lorelei wiped her tears, her voice choked. "He doesn't want to divorce at all."
"So what?" Briana was also furious, her eyes full of gloom. "Things are already set. No matter how long he drags it out, it's useless. Whether he wants to or not, he has to divorce!"
Lorelei lifted her head, eyes still containing tears. "What about Josephine's side..."
"What is she?!" Briana's voice was full of contempt. "Even if she's entered the Getty Group now, she's just a dog of the Getty Group. Does she deserve to fight with the Getty family?"
She pulled out her phone, opening the video Lorelei had secretly recorded earlier.
In the video, Lorelei cried miserably while Josephine looked on coldly. The angle was chosen well—it looked like Josephine was bullying a pregnant woman.
"Release this video." Briana's lips curved in a cold smile. "Say Josephine bullied a pregnant woman. Ruin her reputation first."
Lorelei hesitated slightly, her finger rubbing against the phone screen. "But what if Gideon finds out..."
Briana thought of how Gideon defended Josephine and hesitated for a moment, but that hesitation quickly vanished. As long as she could drive Josephine away, she'd use any means necessary.
"If you want Gideon to completely give up, do as I say."
"I'm just worried Gideon will be angry with me..."
"I'll take responsibility."
Briana had that confidence. Gideon was a filial child. She wasn't worried he'd truly become estranged from her.
Lorelei secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as someone would take the blame, that was fine. "Alright, I'll listen to you."
Briana nodded with satisfaction, patting the back of her hand. "Don't worry. Once Gideon divorces Josephine, I'll make sure you marry into the Getty family with great fanfare."
Lorelei lowered her head, a trace of smugness flashing in her eyes.
She knew Briana seemed to like her but was actually just using her—using her to drive away Josephine, and using the child in her belly to secure inheritance rights for Gideon.
But it didn't matter.
Who was using whom remained to be seen.
The car entered Getty Manor. Lorelei helped Briana out of the car. They'd just walked into the living room when they saw Gideon's car arrive as well.
Gideon walked into the living room, his expression icy as he looked at Briana and Lorelei. Finally, his gaze fell on the documents in Briana's hands.
"Give me the agreement." His voice was cold.
Why had he returned so quickly? Briana had no time to destroy the agreement.
Seeing Gideon's tense expression, Briana knew she couldn't avoid it and reluctantly handed it over.
Gideon took it and opened the first page. It was indeed formatted as a divorce agreement, but when he flipped to the second page, his expression changed drastically. He gripped the paper's edge, his knuckles turning white from the force.
"What is this?" He pointed at the paper sandwiched in the middle, his voice suppressing fury.
It was a declaration.
It read: I, Josephine, admit to having inappropriate relationships with others during the marriage, voluntarily relinquish all marital property, and promise not to seek any form of compensation from the Getty family in any way...
The signature line at the bottom remained blank.
Briana had anticipated his anger upon discovery and calmly sat on the sofa. "I'm doing this for your own good."
The fury in Gideon's eyes nearly erupted. "You're hurting me!"
Briana wasn't unaware of how much he loved Josephine, yet she'd still acted so willfully. Hadn't she considered what would happen to him without Josephine?
Briana was startled by the fury in his eyes, but forced herself to say, "I just wanted her to sign this so she wouldn't keep pestering you."
Gideon's voice was cold as ice. Having reached the peak of his anger, he instead calmed down, stating coldly, "I'm the one pestering her. The person who can't leave has always been me."
"So what?" Briana also lost her temper, her voice shrill. "She's a woman from an ordinary family—marrying into the Getty family was already climbing above her station! Now she wants to divorce and take the Getty family property? Dream on!"
Gideon could hardly believe his ears. He suddenly felt that Briana was a stranger. All these years, he'd known his mother was somewhat snobbish, somewhat vain.
But doing something like this was too much.
"We've been married for years. Can't you see what she's sacrificed for me, for this family?"
"Sacrificed?" Briana scoffed, her eyes contemptuous. "What did she sacrifice? Wasn't she just a housewife at home? The Getty family supported her, fed her, clothed her—what more could she want? You just found a woman outside, and she can't handle it? Your father has so many women outside—did I say anything?"
Gideon's face twitched—from anger. He'd desperately tried to delay, not wanting to lose Josephine, but his mother kept dragging him down. "From now on, don't meddle in my affairs."
Briana's expression changed. "I'm your mother. If I don't look after you, who will?"
Gideon said coldly, "I'll handle it myself. If you're so idle, go find my father. He recently got another young starlet. How long do you think his interest in you can last?"
Briana bit her teeth furiously. "That old pervert!"
"You're my mother. I can only guarantee you'll live comfortably and worry-free, but I can't guarantee getting you married into the Getty family."
Briana's face immediately paled. "How can you say such things?"
He knew full well that her only obsession was marrying into the Getty family!
Previously, whenever Gideon saw his mother like this, he'd feel heartache. Having grown up with her, knowing the difficulties of a single mother, he was especially considerate, even when he knew she didn't like Josephine, always advising Josephine to accommodate his mother.
Now it seemed all wrong.
With a cold expression, he tore up the declaration and divorce agreement.
"Don't interfere in my and Josephine's affairs again. If you dare do something like this again, I'll send you back to Getty Manor and have Grandfather watch over you."
Briana's face turned deathly pale, her body trembling slightly. "Gideon, you...how can you speak to me like this? I'm your mother!"
"Precisely because you're my mother, I'm giving you this warning." If it were anyone else, Gideon didn't know what methods he might use.
He turned toward Lorelei. She'd kept her head lowered, not daring to look at him, but Gideon's gaze fell on her like a knife.
"And you." Gideon's voice grew colder. "Lorelei, this is my final warning. Stay in your place and focus on your pregnancy. Don't pull any more stunts. Otherwise, I won't mind making you and your child permanently disappear from my sight."