Chapter 232
After Josephine left.
Gemma tidied up the gauze and medicine on the coffee table, hesitating. "Are we really letting our daughter be alone with that man? The two of them..."
Ever since learning about Gideon's affair, Gemma had stopped trusting him.
But Preston said, "I trust our daughter's judgment."
Gemma asked no more.
Josephine looked at Gideon with complex emotions. "Why did you come here?"
Gideon's gaze swept over her wound, frowning slightly. "I heard about the demolition and came to check... Are you okay? Should we go to the hospital to have another look? That rebar might have had rust on it..."
Before he could finish, a familiar neighbor rushed over. "Josephine, thank you so much for today."
Josephine recognized her—the wife of the apple-selling neighbor. The couple had a good relationship and often sold fruit together in the neighborhood.
The neighbor was enthusiastic, insisting Josephine come upstairs, and pulling Gideon along too.
Josephine followed.
In the living room, the neighbor brought slippers. Josephine changed into them while the neighbor ushered them to sit, poured water, cut fruit, bustling about with great enthusiasm.
Josephine felt it was a bit much.
Though thanking them for helping the apple seller was one thing, this seemed excessive.
Gideon said quietly, "She wants something."
Josephine didn't respond, but she was thinking the same thing.
Soon, the neighbor stopped bustling and sat anxiously across from Josephine. She glanced cautiously at Gideon. "Mr. Getty, your Getty family has connections. Could you help us out and put in a word upstairs? We've all lived here for decades. We really don't want to move."
There it was. Her real purpose.
Gideon had expected this. He replied flatly, "I'm afraid I can't help with this matter."
Her eyes dimmed a bit. She couldn't help but look at Josephine. "Your parents have as much attachment to this place as we do. Can't you think of some way?"
Of course Josephine didn't want the demolition either, but she couldn't make promises about uncertain things. "I still don't understand the situation."
The neighbor sighed. "I know I'm grasping at straws out of desperation. The demolition office is so aggressive—we really have no choice..."
She was just venting. Josephine understood and listened quietly.
The neighbor looked at Josephine again, speaking earnestly. "Jojo, I know you're stubborn, but you can't fight city hall. Since they're determined to demolish, what can ordinary people like us do? Why not just sign, take the money, find a new place? Better than fighting with these people every day."
Josephine almost wanted to laugh. If this were a real demolition, she wouldn't say anything. But this was clearly David deliberately causing trouble, putting obstacles in her way. If she gave in like this, she'd truly lose.
Seeing her silence, the neighbor didn't know what else to say and sighed. "How can ordinary people like us fight them..."
Ordinary people...
A thought suddenly flashed through Josephine's mind, but before it could form clearly, it had already dissipated into nothing.
Leaving the neighbor's place, Gideon asked her, "What do you plan to do?"
Josephine asked back, "I want to see Mr. David Getty."
"You probably won't be able to." Gideon spoke honestly. "Grandfather's not feeling well and needs to rest for a while. He's not seeing anyone."
Too convenient.
Right after this incident, he goes to rest...
Josephine lowered her gaze, thinking.
Gideon's eyes stayed on her, the greed in them well hidden. "If you want to see Grandfather, I can help you."
Josephine narrowed her eyes. "Conditions?"
Gideon laughed dryly. "You really do know me."
He never did anything without benefit, even things concerning her. If he was going to do it, he had to get something out of it.
Like...
Her.
Josephine raised her eyes, looking at Gideon calmly. "Why would I agree to that condition?"
Her question made Gideon freeze slightly.
Josephine's gaze lingered on his face for a moment, her tone calm but her voice like a boulder hitting the ground. "Gideon, you owe me."
Gideon's expression instantly turned ugly.
Those words were like a knife, precisely stabbing the deepest guilt and unwillingness in his heart.
He took a deep breath, enduring the stabbing pain in his chest. "You're really ruthless with me."
No mercy in her words.
Josephine turned her head away, leaving him only a cold profile. "Gideon, this is a debt you owe. You have to pay it."
Gideon's Adam's apple bobbed. He wanted to say something but found he couldn't make a sound.
He really did owe her too much.
After a long while, Gideon finally managed to say, "I'll arrange it. You'll be able to see Grandfather soon."
The next day, Gideon had indeed made the arrangements.
He brought Josephine to a side hall of Getty Manor. The butler was already waiting there. His gaze swept over both of them, and he said expressionlessly, "Mr. David Getty is waiting for you in the study."
Pushing open the heavy black walnut door of the study, David sat in a rocking chair by the window, holding a book. Sunlight streamed through the glass window onto him, making him look like an ordinary old man. But Josephine knew what deep scheming and decisiveness hid beneath that appearance.
"Grandfather." Gideon called out softly.
David looked up. His gaze first fell on Gideon, then slowly moved to Josephine's face. He showed no surprise, as if he'd expected her to come all along.
"Sit." He waved his hand.
Josephine sat on the sofa, spine straight.
Before Gideon could sit, David looked at him. Gideon lowered his eyes and left the study.
The door closed. The study became silent.
David continued reading unhurriedly while Josephine couldn't remain completely calm. She got straight to the point. "Why?"
David put down his book, picked up the teacup on the table, blew on it gently, took a slow sip, then said, "I'm just making you understand which people you should get close to and which you should stay away from."
His tone was as casual as discussing the weather, yet it made Josephine's heart tighten.
"Ms. Kennedy, you're a smart person, but sometimes being too smart isn't good." David continued, "Cedric needs someone suitable by his side. That person is Sloane. I'm already preparing their engagement for next month."
Josephine's fingers tightened slightly.
"As for Gideon... you should give up too. The child in Lorelei's belly can't be without status or name." David spoke almost cruelly. "Ms. Kennedy, you just need to know—there's no place for you in the Getty family."
The air in the study seemed to freeze.
Josephine slowly stood, no expression on her face, but her eyes cold as ice. "You seem accustomed to controlling others. Let me tell you—my life is mine alone to decide. Whatever you want to do, please do as you wish. I'll walk my own path in my own way."
She turned and walked out, steps steady, spine straight.
At the door, Gideon saw Josephine's cold face and felt something was wrong. He wanted to chase after her but was stopped by David.
"Let her go. This is the last time you'll see each other."
"Grandfather, you can't..." Gideon panicked.
David said coldly, "You're a Getty. Your marriage must bring benefits to the Getty family. Though Lorelei's temperament is somewhat uncultured, her background is clean and her personality gentle. She's worthy of you."
Gideon stood there, watching helplessly as Josephine disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Was he really going to give up?
Josephine drove away from Getty Manor. Her speed wasn't fast, but her fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly, knuckles white.
Suddenly, the car made a strange noise and stalled.
Josephine tried to restart it, but it wouldn't start no matter what.
She got out and walked around to check, but she knew nothing about car repairs. This road was sparsely traveled. The occasional passing car showed no intention of stopping.
And now, the sky was gradually darkening.
Josephine pulled out her phone only to discover it was dead too.
Just then, headlights approached from far away, gradually piercing the darkness. Josephine had to cover her eyes but could sense the car stopping not far away.