Chapter 13
Sophia couldn't hold back anymore. "Aren't you being completely unreasonable? Your son was caught cheating with another woman, and now you want us to help clean up his mess?"
Briana ignored her completely, knowing that Josephine was the real decision-maker here.
"Just tell me your price," Briana said.
"Money really does solve everything, doesn't it?"
Hearing the mockery in Josephine's voice, Briana's expression soured, but she had no other options. "Are you going to help or not?"
"One million dollars."
"One million?! Why don't you just rob a bank while you're at it!" It was outrageously expensive. Though Briana lived in the Getty Manor now, she wasn't married to Gideon's father Bentley, which meant she only had access to whatever allowance he gave her. The last time she'd paid Josephine a million dollars, she'd had to secretly save up for it.
"Half a million," Briana countered.
Sophia let out a derisive laugh. "Do you think this is a flea market? You're actually trying to haggle with us?"
Briana gritted her teeth. "That's all I have!"
"Fine." Josephine agreed.
With the deal struck and the money transferred, Sophia showed Briana out without Josephine having to say a word.
As soon as Briana returned home, she rushed to find Gideon, only to discover him staring thoughtfully at his phone. She peered over his shoulder to see that the PR department had released a statement.
From "Gideon Getty's Wife": [This is all a misunderstanding. The woman is my husband's assistant. We were both hospitalized at the same time, and I felt sorry for her, so I asked my husband to give her a ride. Thank you for your concern, but please stop speculating.]
Throughout their marriage, Gideon had protected her carefully, never letting her appear in public. In his words, he had made too many enemies in the business world and feared for her safety. He often had sweet public interactions with the "Gideon Getty's Wife" account.
Everyone knew he loved his wife deeply, but no one knew his wife was actually Josephine.
This account speaking up was the best possible clarification. Even those who tried to keep the rumors going were shut down by Starlight Group's PR team. The rumors quickly died down.
---
In the morning, Josephine ordered breakfast, planning to eat in her hospital room. But the delivery person wasn't a courier.
Gideon walked in with the food bag, casually locking the door behind him.
"Why are you hiding here?"
Josephine couldn't be bothered to answer him. She eyed the breakfast with hesitation, wondering if she should eat it. It felt tainted somehow, but she was hungry. Whatever. Food isn't guilty of anything.
She ate in silence while Gideon stared at her hungrily. Since their marriage, they had never been apart for this long.
He remained quiet until she finished eating. Then he cleaned up and sat beside her, taking her hand in a grip that allowed no resistance.
"Why are you ignoring me? Why did you agree to release that statement? Are you still mad that I made you apologize that day?"
He had come today planning to tell her that Lorelei was pregnant and that they would raise the child together. But seeing her, he couldn't bring himself to say it. He only wanted to ask if she'd missed him.
"Jojo, I've missed you so much..." He'd been unable to eat or sleep properly, but looking at her... she seemed to have gained weight. So heartless. He wanted to hold her.
Josephine stood up, avoiding his touch. "That night, when I was in the hospital, where were you?"
Gideon lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't be with you then."
He'd rather apologize than tell the truth.
Josephine said coolly, "Then there's no need for you to be here today. I don't need your company."
"You didn't answer my question."
"Why did I release the statement?" Josephine gave a slight smile. "You're my husband. I released a statement to prove your innocence, to protect your reputation and your career. Isn't that right?" She had always been a dutiful wife. This was what she always did.
Gideon embraced her from behind. "Jojo... let's have a good life together from now on. I won't ever let you hear those awful rumors again."
Josephine didn't struggle against his hold, her gaze steady on the floor. She suddenly realized that the tenderness she once felt for Gideon no longer stirred any emotion in her.
But Gideon refused to leave. Josephine had to coax him, "You're so busy with work. Why are you wasting time here?"
"I can work from here."
"I'm a patient. I need peace and quiet."
"I won't make a sound. I won't disturb you."
Josephine took a deep breath and said gently, "Go take care of your business. We'll have plenty of time together once I'm discharged. Let me rest properly now, okay?"
Gideon gave her a long look, then his phone buzzed with a text. She clearly saw the hesitation that flashed across his face. He eventually left.
Josephine had seen it. The name on the screen was—Lorelei.
---
At a luxury apartment, the moment Gideon walked in, Lorelei's face lit up with joy. "I went for a prenatal checkup today. The doctor said our—"
"Lorelei." Gideon cut her off. He handed her an envelope.
Lorelei opened it to find property deeds for the apartment where she was currently living.
"What... does this mean?" Was he breaking up with her? Lorelei panicked. "I'm not trying to trap you or anything. I just wanted to share news about the baby... it's healthy. If you don't want to be involved, I can handle this alone..."
Gideon watched her panic with cold eyes. "I won't have time to visit you for a while."
"What?" So it wasn't a breakup?
"I need to be with Jojo. Stay put and have the baby. You'll get everything I promised you."
With that, Gideon turned and left without a backward glance.
Lorelei collapsed onto the sofa, staring at the document on the table. "You think this is all I want?" she murmured. "No. I want your wife's position. If you won't give it to me, I'll take it myself."
She would definitely get what she wanted.
---
"Why are you back again?" Josephine hadn't expected Gideon to return. He'd brought loads of food and a suitcase.
"You're moving in?"
Gideon set the suitcase aside and took her hand. "Yes, I'm staying to take care of you. Jojo, I've been neglecting you because of work. From now on, I'll always be by your side."
All he needed was to end things with Lorelei after the baby was born, and everything would get back on track.
Josephine watched him coldly as he rambled on. Unfortunately, he didn't understand one simple truth: once something breaks, it can never be perfectly mended.
She stopped trying to make Gideon leave, but her attitude remained frosty. Gideon didn't seem to mind, busying himself with taking care of her, causing all the nurses on the floor to gossip about the devoted husband. Whenever Gideon was mentioned, the nurses would speak with envy.
Sophia would snort in derision every time she heard it, and couldn't help asking Josephine: "Doesn't he annoy you?"
Josephine replied coolly: "Creating a scene right now wouldn't benefit me." Otherwise, she'd have slapped him across the face already.
For ten straight days, Gideon stayed in the hospital room, dividing his time between work and doting on Josephine. He showered her with endless gifts—jewelry, clothes, flowers—never the same thing twice.
Josephine just watched coldly, wondering how long he could keep up this act.
---
Lorelei couldn't sit still anymore. Two weeks had passed. She couldn't see Gideon. He wouldn't answer her calls or texts.
When Briana came to visit, Lorelei broke down sobbing. Hearing this, Briana was outraged and immediately went to the hospital to confront Gideon.
"Gideon, what are you doing hanging around here all day? Have you forgotten what's really important?"
"Taking care of my wife is what's important." Gideon was sitting by the bed, blowing on a bowl of hot oatmeal to cool it for Josephine. He gently handed it to her, looking every bit like a CEO who'd pushed aside crucial meetings for the woman he loved.
The sight made Briana's blood boil. "Do you really think she's some kind of saint? Do you think she helped you out of the goodness of her heart? She wouldn't have cleared your name if I hadn't paid her! Do you know how much she demanded? Five hundred thousand dollars! She's only with you for your money!"