Chapter 45
"Make way, make way!"
A nurse rushed past pushing a gurney. The person on it was covered in blood, a doctor straddling them doing chest compressions.
They passed right between Josephine and Cedric.
Josephine stepped back. She suddenly felt lightheaded at the sight of all that blood—the scene was too gruesome. She kept her head down and quickly left the hospital.
Cedric caught a familiar figure in his peripheral vision. He turned to look, but saw nothing.
"Mr. Getty, what is it?"
Cedric looked away. "Nothing."
In the hospital room, Anissa was still lost in regret. The moment Cedric walked in, he heard his mother sighing.
"What are you worrying about now?"
Anissa glared at him. "Is that how you talk to your mother? What do you mean 'now'? I don't worry every single day, you know."
"Fine. What are you worrying about today?"
Cedric had bought plenty of fruit. He took an apple to the bathroom to wash it, then sat by the bed peeling it.
His hands were steady. The peel came off in one long, unbroken strip.
Those elegant fingers holding the knife, turning it gently—even that was a beautiful sight.
Anissa looked at her son's handsome profile and couldn't help sighing.
"Look at you. You're not getting any younger, and you don't have a wife or kids. Hell, you don't even have a girlfriend. Even your assistant is married, right?"
Noah was suddenly called out. He grinned awkwardly but caught Cedric's glance.
"I'll go grab some drinks." Noah bolted.
"Why are you being mean? Aren't I stating facts?" Anissa wasn't pleased, though her naturally gentle tone softened even her scolding. "I'm not asking for much. Just want you to find a wife. But you refuse to look. Are you not into women or something?"
"Eat your apple."
Cedric handed over the peeled fruit.
Anissa took an indignant bite. "Why won't you get it through your head? Your grandfather made it clear—whichever of you and Gideon has a child first becomes the future head of the Getty Group. That's basically just him wanting you to hurry up and get married and have kids!"
"I'm already in charge without a kid."
"But right now you're in charge under your grandfather's thumb."
Cedric was nominally in control, but the real power still rested with David.
"What's mine will be mine. Having a kid or not won't change anything."
Did he really need to rely on a child to secure his position? That would be pathetic.
Seeing the unconscious pride in his expression, Anissa felt both comforted and exasperated. "I don't care. If you won't find someone yourself, I'll find someone for you. I met this wonderful girl today."
Cedric sighed. "Mom."
"Too bad she's married. But that's okay—married people can get divorced. I'll do some digging. If she's happily married, we'll wish her well. But if she's unhappy... you'll have your chance."
Anissa was already making plans, talking to herself.
Cedric had no say in the matter, not even a chance to interrupt.
"Do whatever you want. I'm not meeting her."
"Cedric!"
Anissa swatted at him in frustration. Cedric stood to dodge, and something glinted in his peripheral vision.
He looked closer. A bracelet.
He picked it up.
Anissa gasped. "That's the girl's! She left in such a hurry, the bracelet must've fallen off without her noticing. She rushed out so fast I didn't even get her contact info! How am I supposed to return it?"
"It's not valuable. If she hasn't come back for it, it probably doesn't matter much to her."
The bracelet wasn't gold or silver—just a couple's bracelet.
A style from years ago. Cedric only recognized it because a secretary had worn one once. Sitting in his position, he had plenty of women trying to get close to him.
All types—curvy, slim, innocent, sexy, you name it.
Some even tried to play the "I'm not a gold digger" card with their pure girl act.
Of course, Cedric felt nothing for any of them.
The only woman he couldn't let go of, he still hadn't found.
He sighed and slipped the bracelet into his pocket.
Anissa rarely saw her son sigh. "It's been years. Are you still looking for her?"
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Cedric wasn't a player like his father, but in some ways he was just as ruthless. The person he cared about, he couldn't forget. But people he felt nothing for? He wouldn't spare them a second glance.
"Maybe just let it go. Three years have passed—maybe you two weren't meant to be."
"Who decides fate?"
"Heaven does."
Cedric smiled. "I don't know about other people's fate, but mine? I decide that myself."
---
In the elevator going down, he dangled the bracelet from his finger. "Find out who helped my mother."
Noah responded, "Yes, sir."
"Once you find them, return the bracelet and send some money as thanks."
"Understood."
Noah was about to take the bracelet when the elevator doors opened.
Gideon walked past with Lorelei. None of them expected to come face to face.
Cedric's gaze swept over Gideon's face, then slowly landed on Lorelei.
Lorelei instinctively tried to fix her appearance. This was the future head of the Getty family—winning his favor was like getting one foot in the door.
"Terrible taste."
Cedric said it and strode out.
Lorelei froze in place.
"Wait."
But Gideon had spotted the bracelet in Cedric's hand. He chased after him and reached to grab it, but Cedric dodged.
"Having money problems? Resorting to robbery now?"
Gideon ignored the jab. "Why do you have that bracelet?"
"How's that your business?"
Gideon's voice was low. "Answer my question. Why do you have my wife's bracelet?"
Cedric raised an eyebrow slightly. "What did you say?"
Gideon snatched the bracelet. He'd already noticed the crack in one of the beads—from when it had been dropped. Josephine had been upset about that crack for days.
To cheer her up, Gideon had the bead repaired and engraved with letters.
J&G.
Their initials.
Making it a one-of-a-kind bracelet.
Josephine treasured this bracelet more than anything. Even though it wasn't gold or silver, wasn't particularly valuable, she'd worn it for years.
Because it was a token of love Gideon had given her when he had no money.
"Cedric, what's your intention with my wife's bracelet?"
Cedric slipped his hands in his pockets. "Found it by chance. No intention whatsoever."
"How convenient. I'm at the hospital too, but I didn't find any bracelet. Yet you, Cedric, somehow pick up my wife's things with perfect accuracy."
Gideon's words dripped with accusation.
Cedric laughed lightly. "You're overthinking it. I've heard of people having romance on the brain, but today's the first time I've learned conspiracy brain is a thing too."
With that, he strode away.
Noah followed. Looked like they didn't need to search for Anissa's savior after all.
---
Gideon's expression was stormy. Lorelei carefully approached. "Don't get worked up yet. I think Mr. Cedric Getty has a point—maybe it really was just a coincidence. You said Mrs. Getty hurt her hand today and was at the hospital too, right? Maybe she took the bracelet off while getting treated and forgot to take it with her..."
"She wouldn't forget."
Gideon's face was dark as he repeated, "She would never forget that bracelet."
He turned and walked away.
Lorelei stared blankly at his retreating figure.