Chapter 209
Josephine smiled. "Of course not. But I think you said something right—temporary retreat is for a better counterattack later."
David wanted her to put on a show, didn't he? Wanted her to make Gideon back down?
Fine. She'd perform.
Only the consequences of this performance were anyone's guess.
Night.
Gideon was handling business in his study when Briana walked in carrying a cup of coffee. Seeing him still busy, she set the coffee on the desk. "I know work is all you think about, but you can't ruin your health over it."
Gideon acknowledged with a sound, not lifting his head.
Clearly, he hadn't listened.
Briana simply pulled him up and pushed him toward the study door.
"Work will never be finished. It's too late tonight. Go rest. Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow."
She closed the study door directly.
Gideon had no choice. Under his mother's urging, he returned to his room to rest. Opening the bedroom door and turning on the light, he saw someone sitting by the bed.
Lorelei wore a white nightgown, her pregnant belly prominently visible. Seeing Gideon, she looked flustered. "I didn't know you were coming back... I was feeling exhausted. Ms. Hughes told me to come rest..."
"I believe I said I didn't want you appearing in this house." Gideon loosened his tie and casually tossed his jacket on the sofa, walking toward the bathroom without looking back.
As the door closed, his voice came from the bathroom.
"When I come out, I expect you to be gone."
But when he finished his shower and emerged, Lorelei still sat by the bed. Gideon didn't bother saying more and headed straight for the door.
Lorelei caught up and grabbed his wrist. "I really wasn't trying to get close to you. I'm just not feeling well... I can sleep on the sofa. Could you please stay with me tonight? If something happens to the baby, you could take me to the hospital..."
She looked truly pitiful, but Gideon was unmoved. "The apartment I gave you has a nanny."
If she stayed there obediently, she'd naturally be taken care of. Yet she insisted on coming here.
Lorelei slowly released his hand. "But you're the child's father... Having you here makes me feel secure. I don't know if it's because my belly's getting bigger, but lately I'm not just physically exhausted—I feel anxious inside..."
Gideon's gaze dropped to her swollen abdomen. His feelings about this child were extremely complicated.
His initial anticipation had turned to equal rejection.
In his fantasies, this child's arrival could help relieve the pressure on Josephine from demands for grandchildren and help Starlight Group rise to the next level.
He might even become the person in charge of the Getty family.
However...
He was silent for a long moment before looking away. "I'll sleep on the sofa."
Lorelei immediately brightened. "Don't worry, I won't disturb you at night. I sleep very quietly."
She climbed into bed carefully, sneaking glances at the man lying on the sofa. She quietly took a photo with her phone and found Josephine's number.
Send.
So what if he hated her? As long as this child existed, they'd marry eventually.
On the other end, Josephine received the photo. Already irritated, now someone was deliberately provoking her.
She smiled coldly and forwarded the photo to Gideon.
On his end, Gideon saw the photo and compared the angle. His icy gaze immediately turned to the person on the bed.
He wouldn't do anything to a pregnant woman, but he threw off the blanket, grabbed his phone, and walked straight out of the bedroom. This time, no matter what Lorelei said, he wouldn't stay.
Lorelei didn't understand why.
Just then, her phone rang.
It was Josephine calling.
Lorelei answered, gritting her teeth. "Was this your doing?"
Josephine's voice carried a lazy tone. "Seems that photo worked pretty well."
"Are you cheap?" Lorelei gripped her phone tightly, her voice venomous. "You're already divorced. Why do you still have his contact information?"
She distinctly remembered Josephine had blocked Gideon, which was why she'd dared send that photo to irritate her.
"You're pretty desperate yourself. You finally got him to stay in the room, then you just had to send me a photo. That eager to show off your hard-won happiness?"
What kind of happiness was this!
If anyone else said it, Lorelei might have taken it as a blessing. But from Josephine's mouth, it was pure mockery. Only Lorelei knew how much effort it had taken to make Gideon stay.
She laughed bitterly. "At least I'm better off than you. At least now I can legitimately stand beside him. Plus, his grandfather has accepted me. He doesn't want you having any connection with Gideon anymore. Otherwise, your parents' house won't be safe, will it?"
Josephine slowly sat up in bed. "Your methods have improved."
"Right back at you. Actually, I learned from you. But don't worry—I won't target you anymore. Because you're already defeated." Lorelei stroked her belly, sitting down on the sofa and lazily leaning against the blanket. "I'll give you some advice. If you don't want your parents sleeping on the streets, you'd better not have any contact with Gideon. And Cedric too—you don't really think Mr. David Getty just wants to keep you away from Gideon, do you?"
"To make Mr. David Getty detest you, I put in considerable effort and really had to work my tongue. But looking at the results now, they're pretty good."
"We'll see about that." Josephine hung up.
Lorelei looked at the words "call ended" on her phone screen and smiled triumphantly.
Just thinking about Josephine overwhelmed and frantic right now made her happy.
Josephine was so two-faced—clearly couldn't let go of the Getty family's wealth and status, but had to put on a show of divorce. Then she turned around and hooked up with Cedric.
She absolutely would not allow Josephine to marry back into the Getty family!
Today was a rare beautiful day in winter. Abundant sunshine dispelled some of the cold. Josephine stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows in her office.
Noah walked in. "Ms. Kennedy, at eleven o'clock, Mr. Getty is meeting a client and wants you to accompany him."
"I have something today. I probably can't go. Please arrange someone else for Mr. Getty."
Noah nodded helplessly. "All right. Mr. Getty had actually scheduled it at Harvest Table Restaurant. Their signature dishes are especially delicious..."
Of course, he didn't say what came next.
This restaurant's flavors particularly suited Josephine's taste. Even if Cedric hadn't said it aloud, Noah understood perfectly well.
He'd nearly walked out the office door when Josephine suddenly called him. "Wait! I've changed my mind. Please let Mr. Getty know."
Noah froze but didn't ask why she'd changed her mind. He just nodded and turned to leave.
Josephine glanced at her phone. On it was an image her friend Sophia had sent her.
The background was Harvest Table Restaurant. The subject was a man's back.
No matter what, Josephine couldn't mistake this person.
—Gideon.
Josephine slowly put away her phone.