Chapter 8

"Are you leaving or not? If not, I'm calling the police!"

Sophia held up her phone threateningly. Knowing this wouldn't intimidate Gideon, she added, "Maybe you're not scared, but what about the Getty Group?"

Gideon froze in place.

"Just go," Josephine said coolly. "I need some time alone to think. Don't bother me, or..." she paused. "I don't know what I might do."

She took a breath. "You know my personality. Push me too far, and neither of us will come out of this well."

After a tense standoff, Gideon finally conceded, "I'll leave, but you have to take back what you said about divorce."

Sophia was so furious she could barely contain herself. How could Gideon be so shameless?

Josephine gave a self-mocking smile. "If you don't agree or cooperate, how far do you think my wishes alone will get me in a divorce?"

This response seemed to restore some of Gideon's confidence. His gentle smile returned. "Fine. Get some rest, and I'll come see you after I handle some company business."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "Stop with the devoted husband act. You weren't thinking about Jojo's feelings when you were with your mistress."

Gideon's expression turned cold. "Don't mention that woman in front of Jojo. She's not worthy."

Sophia was dumbfounded. Even after Gideon left, she couldn't make sense of his logic. "Seriously, what's wrong with him? If he looks down on the other woman so much, why cheat in the first place?"

"I don't know." Josephine suddenly realized she didn't recognize him anymore. That Gideon who once held her tight during dangerous times had become a stranger.

"You can't stay here alone," Sophia insisted, hugging her pleadingly. "What if Gideon comes back to harass you? Come stay with me. I get lonely living by myself—keep me company?"

Josephine wanted to, but seeing Gideon's attitude, she knew this battle was far from over. Better not to drag Sophia into it. "I'm fine here. I lived here before we got married. If you miss me, come visit. There are plenty of spare rooms if you want to stay over."

"...You sly fox." Sophia knew perfectly well that as a doctor, she never had time for extended stays.

Just then, Sophia's phone rang. The hospital needed her—they were short-staffed for surgery. Her break cut short, Sophia rushed back to work.

Josephine took stock of her assets and discovered a disturbing reality: She had almost nothing besides this house.

Back when Gideon had nothing and was building from scratch, she had secretly assembled a team, working tirelessly to develop products. She'd transferred those intellectual property rights to Gideon at below-market prices, helping his company flourish.

This had earned Gideon his grandfather's favor. His assets grew while she focused on their home life. She'd never calculated these things before, but now she realized she had nothing. If they divorced, she would walk away empty-handed.

Just then, her phone rang. The screen displayed: [Mom]

Seeing that name, Josephine lost all desire to answer. It was her mother-in-law, Briana Hughes. The phone rang persistently until she finally answered, taking a moment to change the contact from [Mom] to "Briana Hughes."

She connected the call and set the phone aside. Briana's voice filled the room.

"Josephine! What good are you? Why weren't you watching my son when he was driving? He got into an accident and he's lying at home right now! Get over here immediately and take care of him! You useless thing, you bad luck charm! All you do is live off my son, and now that he's sick, you're nowhere to be found!"

"Finished?" Josephine had gathered her bank cards before lazily picking up the phone.

Briana had never liked her, thinking her humble origins couldn't help Gideon. But Gideon had insisted on marrying her, while Briana's lifelong wish was to marry into the Getty family.

Unfortunately, even as Gideon's mother, she couldn't secure that position. Her family background was even less impressive than Josephine's. David Getty wouldn't give her the time of day, and as for Gideon's father, Bentley... If that womanizer had been reliable, Briana would have been the Mrs. Getty long ago.

"Should I call 911 for you?" Josephine asked.

Briana's voice turned shrill. "Your husband has injured his leg! And you won't even come see him?"

"I'm neither a doctor nor God. My presence won't heal him." Josephine hung up.

Briana's face went pale with anger. Looking at Gideon lying in bed with a minor scrape on his leg, she fumed, "Look at the kind of wife you found! She has absolutely no respect for me as her elder!"

Gideon gave her a cold look. "With your attitude, I wouldn't come either."

"I was just worried!" Briana usually concealed her true nature in front of her son, but this time was different. "Besides, you're with Lorelei now. Just dump Josephine already."

Gideon's face instantly darkened. Briana didn't dare say more and stormed out with her car keys.

Josephine, after careful consideration, decided she couldn't just wait for trouble. Knowing Briana's personality, she might come drag her there by force. Better to take the initiative.

When Briana's car pulled up, she found Josephine already waiting. She had to swallow all her prepared accusations.

It wasn't until they reached Evercrest Manor and entered the house that Briana could no longer contain her fury. "You disaster! My son was so unfortunate to marry you! What use is a woman who can't bear children? Walking around with that miserable face—who are you trying to impress? You can't even produce an heir for the Getty family! Our bloodline will end because of you!"

She took a breath before continuing, "You have no family background, no talents—if my son wasn't so kind-hearted, a woman like you would only be fit to work as a prostitute!"

She unleashed everything, certain Josephine wouldn't dare talk back. To her surprise, Josephine replied lightly, "Ms. Hughes, you may have given birth to a son, but you never made it into the Getty family yourself. At least I'm a legitimate Getty wife with a marriage certificate. You're hardly in a position to lecture me."

Briana's position was awkward. Publicly, she was called the lady of Getty Manor, but without a marriage certificate or wedding, she lived there on uncertain terms. Bluntly put, if Gideon's father ever decided on a whim to marry someone else, Briana would have to leave immediately.

Struck at her most vulnerable point, Briana froze momentarily before exploding with rage. Her entire body trembled, eyes practically shooting flames. "You insolent creature! How dare you!"

She swung her arm to slap Josephine. Anticipating this, Josephine nimbly stepped back.

Briana's full-force slap, unable to stop its momentum, connected with a sharp crack—landing squarely on the smiling face of Lorelei, who had just walked up behind Josephine!

Lorelei screamed, staggering back with a clear red handprint forming on her cheek, completely stunned.

"I—I wasn't trying to hit you," Briana stammered, equally shocked.

Awakened by the commotion, Gideon stood on the stairs surveying the chaotic scene. He glanced coldly at Lorelei clutching her face, then looked at Josephine. "Come upstairs with me."

"Mr. Getty..." Lorelei tried to speak but was silenced by his cold gaze.

Upstairs in the bedroom, Gideon sat on the edge of the bed, radiating tension as he stared at Josephine. "I apologize. I was impulsive and shouldn't have suspected you and Cedric."

She remained silent, stopping five steps away from him.

Gideon disliked this distance, desperately wanting to do something to ensure her presence. He suddenly stood up, cornering her against the wall. The light cast shadows across his face as he spoke in a husky voice: "I will never divorce you, Jojo. For this lifetime, you will always be my wife."