Chapter 211
Though she knew he might be trying to comfort her, she had to admit his words did relieve some of her psychological pressure.
She tugged at the corner of her mouth, revealing a slight smile. "Then I'll have to trouble you today."
Cedric smiled too. His usual expression was serious—he wasn't one to smile often. When he did, it was particularly striking. "Of course. I guarantee you won't be disappointed."
Though they'd left one after the other, they returned to the private room side by side. Gideon watched them expressionlessly. After they were seated, he poured a glass of juice and handed it to Josephine. "Your favorite orange juice."
Josephine glanced at it and casually pushed the glass to Cedric beside her. "Orange juice is delicious. You should try it."
Cedric accepted with a smile and took a sip. "Very sweet."
"When I'm in a bad mood, I like eating sweet foods or drinking sweet beverages." Josephine spoke softly. "You could try it too. It helps with emotions."
Gideon lowered his eyes, his grip on his utensils tightening slightly.
The second time.
The first was the office chair, the second was orange juice.
She kept pushing away things he'd given her. But even throwing them in the trash would be better than giving them to Cedric.
That piercing gaze made one's skin crawl, but Cedric remained remarkably composed, as if he felt nothing. He picked the largest shrimp onto his plate, put on gloves, and slowly peeled it.
His hands were slender with distinct knuckles. The unhurried peeling motion was quite elegant.
Josephine watched until the perfectly peeled shrimp meat was placed on her plate. She paused. "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Peeling shrimp is troublesome. I happen to be good at it." Cedric's movements weren't particularly fast, but they were clean and efficient.
As the shrimp on her plate accumulated, Josephine quickly called a halt. "That's enough, enough. I can't finish all these."
Earlier at the business dinner, she'd focused entirely on eating since she didn't need to participate. Her stomach was still full.
Gideon watched this scene and silently put on gloves to take a crab.
The crab was large, its roe fragrant.
Just as he was about to place it on Josephine's plate, whether intentionally or not, Josephine picked up her plate and handed it to Cedric. A few shrimp still remained on it.
Josephine rubbed her stomach. "I really can't finish. Since you peeled these shrimp yourself, you won't mind, right?"
Gideon's hand froze mid-air. That tender, delicious crab roe seemed to slowly lose its warmth.
Though Cedric had peeled the shrimp, once they were on Josephine's plate and she gave them to Cedric, it took on an intimate undertone.
Cedric picked up a shrimp and put it in his mouth. "Very fresh."
Gideon placed the crab roe on his own plate but had no appetite. Hearing this, he countered, "Cedric grew up with fine food and clothing. What delicacy haven't you tasted? Among all the seafood you've eaten, these shrimp's texture must rank rather poorly."
Cedric glanced at him sideways. "The meaning is different."
Gideon laughed lightly, mockery hidden beneath. "How strange. I remember Cedric once saying that people eat only to maintain bodily functions, to stay alive. Appetite doesn't matter. Food isn't important to you."
Now he was eating shrimp with relish. Did he really find this food delicious?
"The food isn't important, but how it came to me is." Cedric picked up the orange juice and took a sip under Gideon's gaze, then gently swirled the glass, the juice rippling with the motion.
The sweet scent of orange juice mixed with seafood aroma, spreading through the air.
"Like this orange juice. You know I didn't eat many sweets before, but today I suddenly realized there's a reason so many people like them. For instance, they can improve your mood."
Whether it was because of the orange juice or the person who gave it, Gideon had his own judgment. A flame burned inside him—both anger and jealousy. He took a deep breath and said with a fake smile, "I've often heard people say Cedric has a silver tongue and is eloquent. I didn't believe it at first. Today I've finally witnessed it."
"You'll witness much more in the future." Regardless of the other's sarcastic tone, Cedric remained unmoved. "Gradually, you'll get used to it."
Josephine kept her head down, suppressing a laugh.
If she'd had some regret in the corridor earlier, now she was immensely glad of her decision.
This was actually one of the main reasons she'd planned to use Cedric initially. Though Gideon was scum, she had to admit this man's methods were extraordinary.
Others would find him hard to handle.
If today's performance went poorly, Gideon wouldn't just doubt their relationship—he might become even more entangled.
But with Cedric here, the effect was surprisingly good.
Gideon pressed his lips together tightly, not wanting to say another word.
After barely finishing this torturous meal, Gideon went directly to the counter to settle the bill.
Josephine and Cedric walked behind.
Cedric sighed. "This is the first time my dear brother has treated me to a meal."
In the past, he wouldn't have deigned to eat with Gideon. This was his superiority as the Getty family's legitimate eldest son. He didn't like Gideon, but he wouldn't stoop to targeting him either.
Not for any other reason—simply because he didn't want to do such lowly things.
He'd never considered Gideon a rival.
Josephine naturally caught his subtext and couldn't help silently sighing: Cedric, seemingly steady and reserved, occasionally sharp-tongued, actually had an arrogance in his bones identical to Gideon's.
Should she say, as expected of Getty blood?
Lost in thought, the three walked out of the restaurant. Gideon grabbed Josephine's wrist. "Let me take you home."
He wanted this chance to talk alone.
But Cedric took Josephine's other hand. He didn't apply force, just lightly circled her wrist. "You decide. You can take either car."
His advancing by retreating put Gideon instantly at a disadvantage.
Two luxury cars were parked one after another by the roadside, right before Josephine. Choose left, and it was Cedric. Choose right, and it was Gideon.
Both men waited for her to speak.
Josephine first pulled free of Cedric's hand. Gideon's lips immediately curved slightly upward. He applied a bit more force to the hand holding Josephine's, trying to pull her to his side.
But the next second, Josephine pushed him away.
Without hesitation.
The smile on Gideon's lips rose halfway then fell. "You can relax. I won't force you to go anywhere or do anything. I just want to talk."
Josephine said flatly, "We have nothing to talk about. Whatever needed saying was said before the divorce. Mr. Getty, drive safely."
With that, she walked toward the car on the left.
Gideon's expression darkened. He looked at Cedric. Though he'd reached the extreme of anger, he still had to pretend calm. "Sometimes I really want to ask—how did you manage, in just a few months, to make her so devoted to you?"
Cedric mercilessly struck at his heart. "Ask yourself."