GiGi

Hi Sharonm745, You are one seriously lucky lady! Every single friend of mine, which was pregnant, had the worst morning sickness. It was the same way for my Aunts and cousins. None of them was lucky enough to go through a pregnancy without running for the restroom or trying to find a bush so they could throw up behind it.  Your comment about Jean Francois not paying attention to Corinne was my point exactly. I think that he wasn’t paying attention from the very beginning. He would have seen a very wounded woman who had hung her hopes on a man who didn’t love her (she just didn’t know it at the time).  I have to believe that Jean Francois knew this fully before he proposed. Nothing else would have made sense to me.  As the years progressed I cannot believe that Mr. didn’t notice that his sex life had waned, or that Corinne was complaining or exhibiting signs that something was wrong in the marriage. It goes against a woman’s nature. Many women often complain quietly well before they ever walk out of a marriage. Men just ignore it and then can’t figure out why their wives have left.   You are absolutely correct in saying that what Corinne did was not nice. I know what Corinne did was not nice. I have never disputed that. What I find interesting is that absolutely no one has ever stated that Gideon had a modicum of responsibility for helping to create the Corinne monster. It has become very clear that Corinne was/is mentally fragile and now is also unstable.  What I have difficulty in understanding is some people’s utter hatred of a character, but for the fact of having met a man would never have been in this entire predicament to begin with. I completely understand that Gideon was one seriously screwed up individual (I think Sylvia mention something to that effect elsewhere). What I don’t understand is why everyone thinks that what Gideon did to Corinne is acceptable. Does what Corinne did to Eva (said nasty unkind things to a fully grown woman) equal Gideon never being truthful to a woman who had openly blamed herself for the demise of her relationship with Gideon? Does what Gideon did to Corinne by inadvertently leading her on to believe that there may be a relationship (when he knew that she was openly throwing herself at him and degrading herself in the process) mean that Corinne should have to pay with her life?  Many justify their glee about Corinne’s predicament by comparing what Corinne said to Eva was some sort of payback. Both Corinne and Eva were both adults. Corinne never picked on a child. Corinne never physically struck or tried to kill Eva. She never threatened her with a weapon.  She said some really nasty things to a woman who had self esteem issues, but really isn’t Corinne the one who has worse issues?  Eva received counseling and treatment for her past abuse and self abuse issues. In some ways could it not be possible that Eva was far more mentally prepared than Corinne would ever be? Again, I do not condone or justify Corinne’s nasty words. Corinne did attempt to get help with her problem (and got scre*** in the process) but no one seems to notice that.  Thus far, all the speculations and suppositions about Corinne being a stalker and such have not been proven true. What we know for a fact as the reader is; Corinne was/is a woman who became depressed, desperate and then in the end tried to kill herself because of the situation (it could be inferred that Corinne may have been in the process of having a mental breakdown). The attempt was absolutely serious enough that she ended up losing a baby over it. That is a serious medical attempt. I am absolutely sure that there may be a member or two in this forum (perhaps even a psychiatrist) that could attest to that.  How can someone feel glee when they look where Corinne has wound up? She has tried and failed to kill herself,  is in the hospital, most likely locked up in the psychiatric ward (where she may be for some time because she is beating herself up for leaving a man whom “supposedly†loved her), has lost a baby that she may or may not have known about (I suspect not because she was taking medication that could potentially harm the fetus and may have ruined her marriage because her husband was indifferent or didn’t pay attention or didn’t want to pay attention to a woman who was clearly struggling.  Doesn’t marriage mean that at least, even if you no longer love the person with, do you not owe them the courtesy of getting help when they are in need? I have never been marriage but I would like to think that at the very least, even if my marriage fell apart, I would do my best, to help the person that I once loved, to get help.  I had to put this out there for people to ponder in the hopes of maybe helping in balance perspectives out there just a bit. It is just something that people may want to think about before they make up their minds. Thanks.

 Hi Mam2e, There are oodles of GiGi's in this world but we have met before. Welcome. I hope you enjoy yourself.

 Hi Mam2e, I find it really interesting to see what other opinions are on the subject. When you said that you felt a sense of betrayal, I saw as an opportunity on Eva's part to protect her boyfriend/husband. I was reading those passages from the perspective of Eva knowing that Gideon had killed for her and that they both were unsure as to whom was a suspect. I get the feeling that the only reason Eva ever agreed to see Brett was to keep up apprearances.  I think that because Gideon killed Nathan for Eva and she doesn't have the luxury of taking the time to digest that information (which would be overwhelming to say the least), I think that she was forced to confront her past memories with Brett because she needs Brett as alibi of sorts (she is trying to keep up appearances so that the police won't be too suspicious). Other than that, I think that time would have healed this wound and Brett would have wound up a distant unpleasant memory. Eva didn't honour herself or her body back when she was sleeping with Brett and she didn't honour Gideon when she used Brett (by kissing him) to make Gideon suffer. I just saw the entire scenario as a lose/lose situation. What do you think? What does everyone think?

 Hi Shan and Kirsten, You both make good points. I think that Angus was in the hospital at the time. I know that he was detained by hospital security because of the fight with Jean Francois. Perhaps while Gideon was being carted off by security he made a quick mention to Angus to go and get Eva. What do you think? What does everyone think?

 Hi Nrock, Your scenario is plausible. It could be that Elizabeth Vidal nee Cross was planning to divorce her husband and it could also be that Geoffrey Cross saw the wolves at the door (the authorities) couldn't handle the prospect of spending the next 100 years or so in prison and decided to make his exit (i.e. his suicide). Look at Bernie Madoff's son and his wife. Everything seemed fine, everyone found out what a fraud Madoff Sr. was, Jr. had to deal with facing the public everyday, could't handle the pressure and then decided to hang himself. By all accounts Jr. was never involved in his father's schemes or scams. Jr. killed himself one day, leaving his wife to potentially find his body. How horrific!! The woman had no idea her husband was planning to kill himself.  I can see your point of saving your ring for your daughter. I guess we will have to wait and see what Sylvia decides to write.Â

 Hi Fayeth,S Something else just occurred to me, Gideon could have been left the ring in his father's will. Since Gideon was still a minor when his father passed away, his mother may have been holding on to that ring, but when he begam legal age he may have received a part of his inheritence so to speak (i.e. the engagement ring). What do you think? What does everyone think?Â

Hi Donnad, Thank you for the response. What I was getting at is that can the government just seize everything? Wouldn't the government have to prove that Geoffrey Cross bought Elizabeth's engagement ring with ill gotten gains? I know that there was somehthing similar with Bernie Madoff (sorry if the spelling is off) regarding one of the properties. The government couldn't prove that his wife or her family didn't purchase the property with her family's money and as a result the government couldn't seize that asset.  I would have to think that Geoffrey Cross had money before he married Elizabeth and would have purchased that ring with that money and not the money from the Ponzi scheme. I guess the real question will be how long was Cross running that scam? Pre-Elizabeth and marriage or post-marriage?Â

Hi Donnad, That was one of the songs played in the movie "Footloose" and I mean the 1984 version. Am I dating myself too? Either way, I think it is a beautiful song. The lyrics seem to really suit how Gideon feels about Eva. Do you know what I mean?Â

Hi everyone, Chapter 3 was an interesting one. It is in this chapter we the readers find out that Gideon has the apartment next door to Eva’s. We start to get a deeper verbal understanding of just how much Eva affects Gideon. He is verbalizing what he has been showing her from their first se**** encounter. We are actually starting to see Gideon let down his guard and is starting to let Eva see into his heart; insecurities and all. Favourite line from page 32…â€We are totally dysfunctional.â€â€¦ “I prefer selectively deviant.†  It added some much needed levity to a very serious and tense situation.

Hi Nrock, Do you mean that by Gideon's father killing himself that is what was an unhappy demise to the marriage? I just want to make sure that I understand. Your clarification is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 Hi Nrock, I have been saying that over and over and over and over and over again (well you get my drift)! That entire situation was disgusting!Â

 Hi Kirsten, I am lost here. Could you please explain? How could an engagement ring be part of ponzi scheme? Wouldn't the authorities have to prove that ring was purchased with ill gotten gains?Â

Hi Julie, I was thinking about what you and others have said about Jean Francois and I wonder how much of a role he played in the demise of his marriage. It takes two to make a marriage and two to break a marriage. Could it be that Jean Francois neglected Corinne on the most elemental level or had foolishly deluded himself into thinking that everything was fine in his marriage? Could he have been sticking his head in the sand all along?  If your perspective is that Corinne was an evil so and so and everyone who came into contact with her should be pitied (just paraphrasing from postings that hate the character) then that’s fine. I won’t discuss this topic with you further. Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  No matter what a pancake and every situation has two sides.  P.S. If Corinne was four months pregnant, how on earth did Jean Francois not know his wife was pregnant? Did he not notice anything? No swollen nipples? No morning sickness? No sensitivity to smells? Nothing? That doesn’t sound like a man who was very attentive to his wife. Corinne was in New York for only a short period of time. The rest of that pregnant time she would have been with Jean Francois (perhaps even having sex on occasion).Â

Hi Shan, Welcome to the forum. I hope you enjoy yourself.

Good insight. It would be a sad way to live always waiting for the other  shoe to drop...

Hi Kirsten, I think that has to be one of Cary's best lines ever!

A woman is always entitled to change her mind or so the saying goes. I think this scenario would be a good time for Eva to consider that. Wink!Â

 No wonder Gideon is so angry!  His hands have been tied literally and figuratively; family, the medical profession, friends, the medical professions.....the list goes on. Wow!

 So my instinct of being grossed out is on the level. I just need to leave out the whole attractive part. No wait, I have to say that photo is then extremely disturbing on so many levels that I wouldn't even know where to begin. Maybe others feel differently. I don't know that I want to see a re-enactment of what was done to Gideon. Â

   Hi Kirsten & Mam2e, That is so interesting. I never thought about Eva’s thoughts about Brett other than a fancy that passed a long time ago. Eva was a different person back then. The Eva of yesterday and today are like night and day.  I only ever thought that Eva saw Brett to keep up her cover. Other than that I think that Brett would have wound up on the discard pile. I don’t really think that Eva even owes Brett any kind of explanation. She is now married to the love of her life. What else is there to say?Â

 Hi Kirsten, I am sure that I am in the minority here but dirty fingernails are a huge turn off! HC, Superman, GC....I don't care...yuck!!

 Hi Kirsten, Is there a legal loophole that Gideon could have availed himself of? What about the supporting cast of despicable characters? Is there a Statue of Limitations for them too? From a healthcare perspective, a patient could lodge a complaint at any time regardless of when the abuse took place. The complaint wouldn't be any less valid.

Hi Fayeth, I don’t think that Gideon would have stolen Elizabeth’s engagement ring. I just wondered what he may have said to his mother to get his hands on it. I don’t think that he would have asked her when he and Corinne were engaged. Gideon describes that time in his life with a lot of distress and panic. Somehow I don’t think that if what everyone has said is true and that that ring represented a really positive time in his life with his mother and father, I don’t think that Gideon would have given Corinne that ring.  Whether Gideon was willing to admit that to himself or not, on some level, he knew that a marriage with Corinne would have been a disaster and in the end he would have lost himself and a very precious rare memento of a happy time in his life. What do you think? What does everyone think?

Hi Kirsten, Everything that you said is completely plausible. I agree, I just think that parents surely have to know their own children or at least have some idea about what is going on in their lives but perhaps that is a matter of perspective. My background is European and I am sure that many who have European parents (Italian, Polish, Greek, French, Russian-yes I know not part of Europe but you get my point) can attest to the fact of having close relationships with their kids regardless of age. Everyone is in everyone else's business (now I am sure that there must be at least a few forum members if not more) who can testify to that fact. I just think that there is more to the situation than meets the eye and I would hope that given time, each of these individuals would go back and look from an objective perspetive. Who knows..people are different and all people react differently.Â

Hi Fayeth, I would have thought that the adult guardian would have been using those shares on Irelands’ behalf. Why wouldn’t Elizabeth Vidal look after her own daughter’s shares? Is she not competent as an investor or share holder? Does she not trust her husband with her daughters’ shares? That entire scenario is odd, strange and odd to say the least! I think that there has to be something more going on there.  There are several titans of industry who run into financial trouble and they don’t sell their children’s share of the company to relieve the financial distress. I get the feeling that Gideon may have done a little arm twisting. Maybe it is just me, but I think there is more to that story. What do you think? What does everyone think?