Chapter 234
In the Getty Manor living room.
David sat at the head seat, Gideon on one side, Sloane across from David, with the Mitchell family parents beside her.
David's face rarely showed a smile. "I really like this girl. When she marries into the Getty family, we'll be one family. I absolutely won't let Cedric bully her."
Sloane's father, Soren, also smiled. "Of course I trust you."
Sloane seemed hesitant. "Dad, I don't think we should just decide this ourselves..."
She hadn't even asked Cedric's opinion.
What if Cedric wasn't willing?
Vesper patted her daughter's hand. "Don't worry. If Mr. David Getty brought it up, there's definitely no problem."
David said warmly, "Rest assured, I still make the decisions in this house."
Sloane fell silent.
But inwardly she disagreed. What era was this? Besides, from what she could tell, Cedric didn't seem like someone who'd obey his parents.
Most importantly, the man didn't even like women!
Ignoring Sloane's concerns, the atmosphere was quite harmonious. Just then, the butler came from outside. "Mr. David Getty, Mr. Cedric Getty has returned."
David said warmly, "See, speak of the devil."
Everyone looked up, their gazes gradually freezing.
Cedric hadn't returned alone—he was with Josephine, their tightly clasped hands impossible to ignore.
David slowly stood. "How did you two come together?"
Cedric said flatly, "I brought my wife home to meet you."
"Say that again." David's body swayed before he barely steadied himself, eyes locked onto Cedric.
Cedric's expression remained calm. "Josephine and I have registered our marriage."
David slammed the table, cups and plates jumping at the sound. "This is absolute nonsense! Cedric, you can't joke about something like this."
Josephine had never seen David so furious.
But there was another gaze she couldn't ignore.
Gideon.
From the moment he heard those words, Gideon stared at her fixedly, his gaze almost tangible.
Facing David's fury, Cedric remained composed. "Legally, we're a married couple. You'll give us your blessing. Won't you?"
David breathed heavily, gripping his cane tightly to keep from passing out in rage. "No. I don't approve."
"Grandfather, we're already registered." Cedric was calm but firm.
David felt his breathing growing more difficult. He clutched his chest. The butler quickly moved to support him, but David pushed him away, glaring at Cedric. "You come with me to my room. I have questions for you."
His eyes blazed with towering fury.
Josephine was somewhat worried but didn't dare intervene, afraid of adding fuel to the fire.
Cedric, however, wasn't flustered at all. He even reassured her. "Wait for me downstairs. If anything happens, shout loudly. I'll come down immediately."
Josephine nodded slightly.
Nearby, Sloane's mouth twitched. She didn't know what could possibly happen—the Mitchells weren't thugs who'd attack Josephine.
She was just a bit angry that Cedric had lied to her!
Soren and Vesper's expressions weren't good either. They'd just been enthusiastically discussing marriage, and now this happened—the Mitchell family had become a laughingstock.
Sloane quickly stopped her father from speaking. "Mom, Dad, let's go. Let them handle their family matters."
As she left, she winked at Josephine without malice and led her parents away.
Josephine smiled wryly.
But she hadn't forgotten—there was still another problem nearby.
Gideon stepped forward, eyes locked onto Josephine. "Jojo, you did this on purpose, didn't you? To get revenge on me, you chose to marry him. You know perfectly well how bad my relationship with him is."
Meeting Gideon's nearly blazing eyes, Josephine only said flatly, "You're overthinking it."
Gideon pressed closer. "You're taking revenge. You don't even like Cedric. You're not someone who changes feelings that quickly. You still have feelings for me. Doing this... it's meaningless. You're just ruining your own life."
He spoke rapidly, urgently.
Josephine said flatly, "I told you, you're overthinking it. You're not worth this kind of revenge."
Gideon slowly walked up to Josephine, his eyes churning with undercurrents she'd never seen before. "If not revenge on me, then revenge on Grandfather. Are you satisfied now? Making Grandfather this angry, throwing the Getty family into chaos—do you feel particularly accomplished?"
As he approached, his presence became overwhelming.
Josephine stepped back, creating distance. "It's none of your business."
"None of my business?" Gideon laughed bitterly, enunciating each word. "You're my wife."
"Gideon." Josephine frowned slightly, not expecting to hear those words from him. "We're already divorced."
"But in my heart, you'll always be my wife!"
Josephine looked at him expressionlessly. The more agitated he became, the calmer she was. "That's just what you think."
Gideon suddenly grabbed her wrist, the force making her wince in pain. "I'm telling you, even if you've registered with Cedric, you're still my wife! You, Josephine, will never escape me in this lifetime!"
Recklessly, he pulled Josephine to leave. His madness truly startled her. She immediately struggled to break free, but Gideon was strong, and an irrational man couldn't be reasoned with.
Josephine couldn't shout loudly either—she'd just registered with Cedric. If someone saw her struggling with Gideon like this, it would embarrass Cedric.
In her hesitation, Gideon pulled Josephine to the back garden.
It was secluded and empty. Gideon pressed Josephine against the wall, trapping her between his arms, his hot breath as scorching as his gaze.
"I divorced you only because you wanted it. You didn't want me close, so I tried to stay away—just to let you think things through. But I won't allow you to marry someone else, especially not Cedric!"
"So if it were someone else, it would be okay?" Josephine countered.
"No!" Gideon couldn't imagine Josephine living with any man, kissing, embracing, sleeping together...
They would do everything couples do.
Just thinking about it drove him insane!
Josephine's lips curved coldly. "So you never planned to let go."
All the previous distance and silence had just been pretense.
Gideon admitted frankly, "Yes. I didn't pressure you because I didn't want to scare you. But if you insist on forcing me, I don't know what I might do."
Josephine pressed her lips together. "What do you want?"
"Divorce!" He didn't hesitate, enunciating each word. "Divorce Cedric immediately."
"Impossible." Josephine answered just as unhesitatingly.
The rejection and denial in her eyes made Gideon's heart plummet. He gritted his teeth to suppress the near-insane jealousy and grabbed Josephine's hand. "If you won't go, I'll take you!"
Josephine raised her other hand and slapped Gideon hard across the face.
The air seemed to freeze for an instant.
Josephine asked coldly, "Are you clear-headed now?"