Chapter 204
Everyone's gaze fell on Josephine in unison. That feeling of being out of place grew even more pronounced. Josephine narrowed her eyes slightly. But surprisingly, it was Briana who took the initiative to greet her. "You're finally here. We've been waiting for you."
The warmth was excessive.
Josephine was pulled by the arm into the living room.
David sat in the main seat on the sofa, with Gideon and Bentley on either side of him.
Briana pulled Josephine to sit beside her, directly across from Gideon. Lorelei stood and gave up her seat, then sat down next to Gideon, smiling at Josephine. "Long time no see, Ms. Kennedy."
Josephine smiled back, though her eyes were cold. "It seems my arrival has interrupted something."
"Not at all. Though today is a family dinner, I thought since you were once part of our family—even though you and Gid are divorced—we can still stay in touch." Briana smiled, as if there had never been any conflict between them, acting as though they were on good terms.
This was bizarre in itself.
Josephine glanced at her. She had no interest in their so-called family dinner and looked directly at David. "I wonder why you asked me to come..."
"No rush. Stay for dinner, and after we eat, we'll talk in the study." David waved his hand dismissively. So the group moved from the living room to the dining room.
From the moment Gideon saw Josephine, he'd been frowning. Walking to the dining table, he pulled her aside. "You can sit here."
He wanted Josephine to sit beside him.
But Briana inserted herself between them. "No need, no need. You should sit with Lori—it's easier to take care of her. Jojo, you can sit with me."
Her words were warm, but her eyes held no warmth at all. Josephine let herself be pulled along and sat across from Gideon. Since she was already here, she wasn't in a rush to leave.
She just wanted to see what these people were up to.
Once everyone was seated, Briana said to Gideon, "Lori's heavily pregnant and it's inconvenient for her. Help her with her food. Be more attentive. Don't be like a block of wood."
Gideon's face was cold. "She has her own hands."
"Why are you so stubborn? Is it the same when she serves herself versus when you do it for her?" Briana glared at him. Knowing her son wouldn't cooperate, she didn't give him another chance to speak. Instead, she turned to the silent David. "Mr. David Getty, when do you think these two should have their wedding?"
At those words, everyone's expressions varied.
Lorelei lowered her head slightly, hiding the joy on her face.
Gideon instinctively looked at Josephine. But she only kept her eyes lowered, casually eating from her plate, not looking up at him at all.
As if this news meant nothing to her.
Gideon pressed his lips together tightly and said nothing.
David took a bite of food, then slowly set down his utensils. He didn't answer the question immediately but turned his gaze to Bentley. "You're his father. What do you think?"
Bentley was a force to be reckoned with in the outside world, never lacking for female companions. Yet facing David, he adopted an extremely respectful attitude. "I'll follow Father's arrangements entirely."
Briana quickly echoed, "Yes, yes. Though we're Gid's parents, your guidance of him has long surpassed ours. Of course we'll defer to you on this."
David nodded, his face expressionless, impossible to read. "Then set a date soon. Don't wait until after the child is born."
Everyone present understood his meaning.
Holding the wedding after the child was born would invite suspicion and gossip. Even though Gideon's divorce was fact, the affair still had to be concealed.
The Getty family's reputation mattered more than anything.
Josephine chewed her food, wanting to laugh. Throwing a fig leaf over a scandal—did that erase the scandal's existence?
This wasn't just deceiving others; it was deceiving themselves.
"I don't agree." Gideon suddenly spoke.
The previously harmonious atmosphere shattered instantly. David's expression remained unchanged, impossible to read. But Briana's heart jumped, and she glared at Gideon. "Stop talking nonsense!"
"My marriage should be my own decision." Gideon had no appetite. After two bites, he set down his utensils and pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth.
His movements were elegant, but his tone was icy. "Besides, I'm busy with work right now. I don't want to think about marriage."
Lorelei's face darkened.
Bentley thought for a moment, then asked gravely, "Have you considered what happens to the child after it's born? Do you want him to be illegitimate?"
The word "illegitimate" was a sore spot for Gideon. He was illegitimate himself and naturally didn't want his child to be. But...
He glanced at Josephine, then quickly lowered his head, still holding to his position. "That's his fate."
Just like his own fate. Despite countless struggles, he'd still become a pawn of the Getty family, a tool in David's hands.
Lorelei wanted to question him, to lose her mind. She didn't understand why, even at this point, Gideon still wouldn't compromise. He'd already divorced Josephine!
But this was Getty Manor. She hadn't completely lost her reason. She knew better than to make a scene now.
She simply stood quietly and wiped her tears. "If Mr. Getty is unwilling, don't force him."
How understanding.
Briana pulled her close sympathetically and said angrily, "Gideon, you can't be this selfish. You can't only think of yourself. You should consider this woman's future and this child's."
She looked at Josephine and suddenly turned the attack on her. "Jojo, what do you think? Should Gideon give the child in Lorelei's belly legitimacy?"
Josephine had been watching the show from the sidelines with great interest. Suddenly called on, she calmly set down her utensils. "The child isn't mine. You shouldn't be asking my opinion."
Briana choked. "The child may not be yours, but you and Gid had something once. Don't you have any compassion at all?"
Josephine laughed.
"What are you laughing at?"
"You want me to have compassion for a child carried by the woman who destroyed my family?" Josephine's words were blunt and harsh, even carrying a hint of resentment.
She shouldn't have been involved in this matter at all. But these people insisted on dragging her in.
Did they really think she couldn't see what they were trying to do?
"The fact that I can sit here calmly proves how well-bred I am." Josephine sighed. "Sometimes I admire myself. If I were you—"
She glanced at Lorelei. "I definitely wouldn't dare show my face. Too easy to get beaten up."
Lorelei shrank back, frightened by her cold gaze. She believed this wasn't a simple threat. Josephine would actually do it!
David spoke. "Enough. Stop arguing about this useless stuff. We'll discuss the wedding later. You, come to my study. I have something to say to you."
He looked at Josephine, then left the dining room with his cane, accompanied by the butler.
Josephine followed right behind him.
Gideon didn't say another word and followed in her footsteps. Briana and Lorelei couldn't stop him.
Briana clutched her chest in frustration. "This man is... truly hopeless!"
They were already divorced. Why couldn't he let go?
Bentley stood up and glanced at Lorelei, as if evaluating her. "If I were Gid, I wouldn't want her either. Something that can't be presented in polite society—if we really brought her into the Getty family, who knows how outsiders would laugh at us."