Chapter 49
Kenneth rushed over to find Josephine mid-negotiation with a potential client. "I just saw Gideon and Lorelei go into a room together."
Josephine's brow furrowed slightly. "You're sure?"
"Sure."
However stupid Gideon might be, he shouldn't mess around at an event like this—unless he had no choice but to go.
Kenneth asked, "What do we do? Should we go in?"
Barging in to catch them in the act would certainly be fitting.
But Josephine didn't see it that way. "Even if we go, what good would it do? It'd just be making a scene for nothing."
If this became public knowledge, she'd be the one who suffered—forced to play the understanding wife, stuck accepting the mistress and her child. The gracious, wronged original spouse.
"So we're just going to let it slide?"
He'd assumed that with Josephine's temperament, she'd march right up there and catch them red-handed, maybe even slap Gideon across the face.
Josephine mulled it over, not yet answering, when her phone buzzed.
Cedric: [Upstairs. Second room on the left.]
Josephine murmured the words.
Kenneth jumped in immediately. "Wait—isn't that the room Gideon and Lorelei went into?"
Well. Looked like they had no choice now.
...
When they reached the room, the door stood slightly ajar, and a harsh voice drifted out from inside.
"This is what you're bringing me? A stray dog wouldn't even bother sniffing at this. Get it out of here. Out of my office!"
"Why does that voice sound so familiar?"
Kenneth muttered.
But Josephine had already recognized it.
Of course, it sounded familiar—that was their professor, Oscar.
The door swung open from the inside. Gideon emerged with a cold expression, followed by Lorelei, her face flushed red.
Their eyes met.
Gideon glanced at Kenneth, his tone less than friendly. "What are you doing here?"
Kenneth shot back, "Whatever you're doing here, we're doing the same thing."
Josephine looked at Kenneth in surprise—she hadn't expected her usually reserved junior to go toe-to-toe with anyone.
Gideon didn't bother with Kenneth. He grabbed Josephine's wrist. "Come with me."
Josephine shook him off without hesitation.
"Why would I go with you? I've got things to do today." Her professor was here—of course, she had to see him.
Gideon's voice went cold. "The man inside has a terrible temper. He won't see you."
Lorelei chimed in, too. "That's right, Mrs. Getty. That old gentleman is especially fierce. If he yells at you, you'll definitely end up crying. Mr. Getty would feel terrible—you should just skip it."
The words were phrased as concern, but they landed like gasoline on a fire.
Josephine gave her a cold look. "You think everyone's like you?"
Back when she studied under her professor, she'd been chewed out countless times. If she'd cried every time, she would've run dry of tears long ago.
"What's all this racket outside? Are you people ever going to shut up?"
Oscar stormed out, unable to take it anymore. Seeing the crowd clustered at his door, his expression darkened further. "Can I get a moment's peace?"
Lorelei jumped in immediately. "I'm so sorry, Prof. Carter. We didn't mean to disturb you. Mrs. Getty, we should go—let's not bother the professor."
Josephine didn't even spare her a glance. "...Professor."
Seeing Lorelei and Gideon standing there, she'd deliberately changed how she addressed him.
Oscar nodded. "Come in."
Josephine and Kenneth walked straight inside. The door clicked shut behind them.
Lorelei stared in disbelief. "Why?"
Oscar had been harsh enough to kick them out—Lorelei had assumed there'd be no exceptions. So why was he letting Josephine and Kenneth in now?
Was he playing favorites?
"Mr. Getty..."
"Don't."
Gideon stared at the closed door, lost in thought.
Lorelei didn't dare say another word, but panic churned inside her. She couldn't let Josephine connect with Oscar. Gideon already loved her so deeply—if she could also lend him a hand in his career, then...
...
Inside the room, Oscar studied his two prize students.
"No wonder Mr. Cedric Getty said he had a surprise for me today. Turns out it was you two."
Josephine thought back to that text message. "Looks like you were the surprise he had for us too, Mr. Carter."
Last time, Cedric had mentioned bringing her professor in to help, but Josephine knew her mentor too well. He'd been contemplating retirement for ages—if he'd truly wanted to come, he would've returned with them then.
She'd genuinely believed her professor wouldn't help them after all.
"I won't hide it from you—I came back to help because of you." Oscar looked at Josephine. "You've let yourself slip these past six months. I believe in your talent, but hard work matters too. You know me. I'll be extremely strict with you. I won't tolerate a single mistake."
The weight of expectation settled on Josephine's shoulders—heavy, but reassuring.
"Mr. Carter, you know me just as well."
She couldn't promise she'd never make mistakes, but she'd own up to them and fix them when she did.
Oscar nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Keep that attitude. Moving forward, I'll be very strict with both of you. That goes for you, too."
He turned to Kenneth.
Kenneth nodded. "Don't worry, Mr. Carter."
Two hours later, the three of them emerged together, heading down to the parking garage to leave. The gala didn't matter anymore—Oscar was their biggest surprise and prize of the day.
Oscar represented everything. He was a legend in the scientific research community, with countless studies and more awards and honors than anyone could count.
At his age, neither fame nor fortune could sway him.
The only thing that could move him was his two beloved students.
Oscar got into the car. Josephine circled around to the back seat, but just as she opened the door, someone pressed it shut from behind.
"What are you doing?"
She turned to see Gideon.
Behind him, Lorelei asked with feigned curiosity, "Mrs. Getty, after talking for over two hours, you must've discussed quite a bit with Prof. Carter, right?"
"Is that any of your business?"
Lorelei didn't seem fazed. "It's not my business, but it is Mr. Getty's."
"You two are family. Whatever you discussed with Prof. Carter—couldn't you share it with Mr. Getty too?"
Josephine caught her meaning.
"Who the hell are you to talk to me?"
This time, Lorelei's expression faltered.
Gideon glanced at her, then asked Josephine, "You can't tell me?"
"Of course not."
Josephine answered without hesitation, her gaze devoid of any warmth—only cold scrutiny and calm indifference.
"Do I need to say it again? We're on opposite sides. If I tell you, I'd be betraying the company. I don't do things like that."
"You're the CEO's wife of Starlight Group."
What kind of CEO's wife undermines her own husband's company?
Gideon couldn't wrap his head around it. "You could leave the Getty Group and join my company. When I was building it from the ground up, you worked there too. Jojo, you poured your heart into it."
If he hadn't brought it up, Josephine might've almost forgotten.
Right. She'd had a stake in it too.
But after all his success, why was she supposed to stay home while he ran off with another woman?
Still, none of that mattered anymore. She didn't want to argue or demand answers—that would be beneath her dignity.
"May the best one win."
The white car carrying Josephine and Kenneth pulled out of the garage.
Lorelei studied Gideon's expression carefully. "Mr. Getty, why is Mrs. Getty acting like this? I thought you two were married. No matter how much you fight normally, when you really need each other, you should think of one another, put the company first..."
Gideon was already irritated, and her words only made it worse.
"Enough. Spare me the lectures. You think I don't know why you insisted on coming with me?"