Chapter 5

In those hardest years, Josephine had managed everything in their home. Later, as they became wealthy, Gideon couldn't bear to see her exhausted and hired help, but he insisted that only Josephine handle his personal affairs. The housekeeper was responsible solely for meals.

His pressed clothes, his medications... Gideon frequently drank at business dinners, which damaged his stomach. She'd prepared numerous stomach-friendly recipes for him. When he couldn't sleep well at night, she'd arranged aromatic oils to help him rest.

Gideon had grown accustomed to this life, and Josephine had never thought it strange. Until now.

She wasn't born to be a servant. Why should she wait on him?

"Take your medicine if your stomach hurts," she said.

She gently removed Gideon's hands and guided him to sit on the sofa, then went to get him some warm water.

Gideon watched her walk away, feeling unsettled. She hadn't shown concern for him, and even their embrace had been brief.

His phone chimed with a message from Lorelei: [I bought new clothes. Do you like them?] It was a set of sexy lingerie.

Gideon glanced at it before setting the phone face-down. He got up and walked behind Josephine. "Jojo... can I stay with you tonight?"

"Aren't you busy with work?"

"Work is important, of course, but you're more important," he replied. He wouldn't get his priorities backward.

"Jojo, trust me." He held her tightly, feeling strangely uneasy about the recent events slipping beyond his control. "I love you. Only you."

Josephine felt like laughing, but mostly she felt sad. He clearly knew she'd been to the hospital, yet hadn't asked a single question about her health.

To get rid of him, she forced herself to maintain her composure. "Didn't your phone just ring? It must be something urgent from the company. You should go. I'm tired today anyway."

Gideon gazed at her deeply, reluctantly letting go after a long moment.

"Alright. Wait for me at home."

Before leaving, he kissed her forehead as usual.

As he walked out the door, he looked back to see Josephine wearing a serene smile, which reassured him. Once the dust settled, they could return to their good life together.

Watching his eager departure, Josephine's smile instantly vanished. She'd come home to pack her belongings and sort out their assets in preparation for divorce.

Every item in the bedroom had been carefully arranged by her. The cosmetics and jewelry were all gifts from Gideon. Throughout their seven-year marriage, he'd always insisted on personally selecting gifts for her.

Only in the past six months had his gifts become more numerous and expensive, but they lacked that personal touch. Now she understood why—he'd been busy with his mistress and had no time to choose presents for her. His assistant had probably bought them.

All these arrangements and objects had once been filled with their mutual love. Now they seemed ironic.

She left the obvious items untouched, only packing a few of her clothes, and realized most were gifts from Gideon. Not wanting to touch those, she packed just a couple of items from before their marriage. The clothes she'd bought herself were simple but clean.

After packing her suitcase, she sat on the bed to rest when her phone rang—her lawyer, John.

"Ms. Kennedy, shall we meet to discuss the divorce proceedings?"

"Yes."

---

At the law firm, John poured her a glass of juice. "Thank you," she said, sliding the prepared divorce agreement across the desk.

John's expression darkened as he read the terms. "Ms. Kennedy, are you trying to ensure he gets nothing in the divorce?"

"Yes." People who cheat and betray deserve punishment.

John's response was a single word: "Difficult."

"Even with evidence?"

"Yes."

John wasn't exaggerating. He carefully explained the challenges she faced. Gideon's current status and position were formidable. Throughout the legal community, no one would dare take this case. No lawyer wanted to make an enemy of someone as powerful as Gideon.

Josephine had anticipated difficulty, but her heart still felt heavy at the confirmation.

"Perhaps if you were willing to compromise, you might part on better terms," John suggested.

He'd seen many unfaithful men who simply grew tired of their wives. If she allowed for an amicable separation, Gideon might agree, but expecting him to walk away with nothing was nearly impossible.

"He cheated, yet I should compromise?" Josephine countered. "Do you think that's fair?"

"Even if you find evidence, that doesn't mean you can leave him with nothing." John pushed the divorce agreement back toward her, clearly unwilling to take the case. "You should seek help elsewhere."

"You're one of the top lawyers in the field. If you won't take it, who will?"

He was the most formidable lawyer Josephine could find, and only through Sophia's connections had he agreed to meet her.

"I'm sorry, but my abilities are limited," John said helplessly.

"It's alright. Thank you for seeing me anyway."

John wasn't the first lawyer she'd approached. Others had refused outright at the mention of Gideon's name, not even granting her a meeting.

Seeing her haggard appearance, John felt sympathetic. "Actually, it's not entirely hopeless. Finding evidence for this case isn't the challenge—the problem is finding someone willing to take it. I know a lawyer who's famous in legal circles for his eloquence and toughness. He never fears powerful figures and has rarely lost a case, regardless of who the opponent might be."

Josephine's heart sank. The more formidable the lawyer, the harder they would be to persuade.

"Darren Williams—have you heard of him?"

Of course Josephine had heard of him. His reputation was legendary. He excelled in both divorce and financial cases—a versatile attorney with his own law firm. But she'd never considered seeking his help.

"If you'd like, I can give you his card and put in a word for you. Whether you can convince him will be up to you."

Josephine received the card but couldn't bring herself to make the call. Darren worked for the Getty Group, but he wasn't just anyone's lawyer. He exclusively represented Gideon's older brother, Cedric Getty. Darren wouldn't take orders from anyone but Cedric—not even their grandfather, David Getty.

Cedric, the legitimate heir to the Getty family, had always been at odds with Gideon, who was born of an affair. By extension, Cedric greatly disliked Josephine as well.

The message history on her phone stopped five years ago. Their few exchanges had always been initiated by Cedric, typically about Gideon getting drunk somewhere and needing to be picked up.

The last message was her reply. At the time, Cedric had offered a gentle warning, but influenced by Gideon, she'd thought Cedric was deliberately causing trouble.

[Gideon is smart and hardworking. He's no less capable than you. He'll achieve great things, and we'll be happy together forever.]

Righteous and confident words. Looking at them now, she found them childish and ridiculous.