Chapter 249
Josephine and Cedric got out of the car. Josephine immediately rushed to the officers and took the child from them.
Seeing her, Felix's face turned deathly pale.
"Thanks." Cedric offered the lead officer a cigarette.
The captain accepted it, lit up, took a deep drag, then turned aside to avoid the baby in Josephine's arms. "Let's have dinner sometime."
"No problem."
With police present, Felix couldn't dare snatch the child back, no matter how anxious he was. He couldn't even control his own freedom anymore.
Because he was being taken to the station.
But before leaving, Josephine saw Cedric pull the captain aside for a brief, low conversation. Then the captain called over two young officers, gave them some instructions, and left them behind while taking the rest of his team.
Cedric returned to Josephine's side and reached out to tickle the infant, frowning. "He's really ugly."
Josephine choked. "This baby was just born a few days ago. He's weak and thin. Of course he's not going to be pretty."
Cedric withdrew his hand after one poke and didn't look at the child again.
Before getting in the car, Josephine asked him, "What exactly did you tell the captain?"
"Of course I asked if we could settle things first before sending him to the station." Cedric smiled at her.
That smile carried a few shades of ice.
Josephine had been holding back her own anger.
"But before we see them, there's something else we need to do."
Something very important.
They drove straight to the hospital. As they reached the ward, before even entering, they heard Gideon and Lorelei arguing inside.
"Why won't you let me call the police? Isn't this your child who was stolen?"
Lorelei was demanding answers.
Compared to her fury, Gideon's emotions were unusually calm. "Josephine said she didn't do it."
"You believe her that much?"
"You have no proof."
"Who says I don't have proof? I already asked—Felix was on duty yesterday. He's my attending physician. Today he'll come testify for me!"
Just as she finished speaking, Felix walked through the door.
Lorelei immediately rushed up. "Felix, didn't you tell me yesterday you saw Josephine leaving the hospital carrying something..."
Felix gave her a deep look.
That gaze made Lorelei's heart race with panic.
What did that look mean? Was he regretting helping her testify?
"Because Felix doesn't want to cooperate with your story."
Josephine stood holding the child, Cedric and two young officers behind her.
When Lorelei saw the baby in her arms, there wasn't a trace of joy on her face—only pallor.
"You betrayed me?" She glared furiously at Felix. With all these people appearing together and the child in Josephine's arms, there seemed only one possibility.
Felix smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry."
He didn't explain. In Lorelei's eyes, this was an admission.
"You bastard!" She nearly ground her teeth, enunciating each word. The plan had been flawless. Even if they couldn't send Josephine to prison, it would have driven a wedge between her and Gideon.
But Josephine said, "Actually, you should save those words for yourself."
Lorelei bit her tongue and said nothing.
Gideon stepped forward. "What's going on?"
He was asking Josephine.
Josephine said flatly, "I never imagined a mother could personally hand her own child to someone else just to frame me."
Gideon looked at Lorelei, his eyes searching. "Is what she's saying true?"
"Of course not." Lorelei wouldn't admit it—not even if she died. "I have no reason to do that. My child is naturally weak. Doing this would only make him sick faster. I'm his mother. How could I do something to harm my own child?"
Her words sounded sincere.
Even the two young officers seemed somewhat moved.
Josephine scoffed. "I think you got one thing right—everything requires evidence. The parties involved aren't necessarily credible. Why don't we hear what the witness has to say?"
All eyes turned to Felix.
He kept his head down, silent.
Cedric said coolly, "What's the sentence for stealing a child?"
One of the young officers behind him said, "He's a doctor. Doing this violates both the law and professional ethics. If the child's parents don't press charges, maybe he won't have to go to prison. But he'll never practice medicine again."
Felix's body trembled. He closed his eyes.
Gideon glanced at Lorelei. "Of course I'm pressing charges. Not only that, I'm suing him. I have plenty of money, and Starlight Group's legal department isn't for show. I'll make him pay."
He intended to push Felix to the brink.
Lorelei's fingers trembled slightly, but she still didn't speak.
Felix suddenly looked up. Seeing Lorelei's cold indifference, he felt disappointment—though he'd expected it, so it wasn't surprising.
This woman had always been ruthless.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have broken up with him back then just to be with Gideon.
Because he came from an ordinary family. He was just a doctor—a junior doctor who'd only been at the hospital a few years.
His annual salary was barely enough to support himself, let alone provide a better life or help her family's company.
Cedric stepped forward. "I heard you have a younger sister you're supporting?"
Felix's body shook. "Don't touch my sister! This has nothing to do with her!"
"Relax. I'm not saying I'll touch your sister." Cedric's lips curved slightly. At first glance, his smile seemed almost gentle.
However, just mentioning his sister was enough to terrify Felix.
If it were only about himself, he could bear any punishment—prison or death, he'd accept it willingly.
But he couldn't drag his sister down.
He closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, Lorelei."
"What are you apologizing to me for? Don't talk nonsense!" Lorelei had already sensed what was coming. Her voice turned shrill.
"She asked me to secretly take the child away and frame Ms. Kennedy." Felix admitted it.
The officers immediately asked, "Why did you listen to her? Did she pay you?"
"She's my ex-girlfriend."
Now everyone understood.
An unforgettable ex-girlfriend—he'd risk his career and future for her.
How deeply devoted.
"Felix!"
Lorelei shrieked.
But Felix had already confessed, explaining that their phone conversations contained chat records that could serve as evidence.
Lorelei had no defense.
"Fine, I admit it. I asked him to take the child. So what? I was forced into it! This woman keeps clinging to my child's father. To protect my family, I took some action. Is that so wrong?" Her skin was thick. Even backed into a corner, she wouldn't surrender. She even turned it around and accused Josephine.
Josephine was almost amused. "You were indeed protecting your family, but I think you did this not just to frame me. You had another hidden purpose."
Lorelei's face tightened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm saying you see this child as a burden." Josephine pressed forward.
Lorelei kept backing away, her face pale.
She knew?
No, impossible.
Besides her, no one else could know about this!
Including the child's biological father!
Josephine enunciated each word. "Because this child isn't Gideon's blood at all. You had him with another man."
As her words fell, the ward became deathly silent.
An incredulous, trembling voice came from the doorway. "What did you say?"
The person who'd just arrived was Briana.