Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

In the first-floor dining room, Simon Lockwood sat at the table, a pair of gold-rimmed glasses perched on his high-bridged nose. Dressed in dark gray loungewear, he had an inexplicably noble and refined air, managing to make even eating a simple fried dough stick look like a French gourmet experience.

He was truly a feast for the eyes.

Joanna Kennedy sipped her soy milk, secretly glancing his way.

’Why is he suddenly wearing glasses?’ Joanna Kennedy found it strange; she remembered he wasn’t wearing them when he went upstairs just a moment ago.

But to be honest, Simon Lockwood looked really good in glasses. It gave him a unique charm, and every time he wore them, Joanna Kennedy couldn’t help but steal glances at him.

After breakfast, Simon Lockwood left for Southland Group, leaving two bodyguards stationed outside, ostensibly for her protection.

Joanna Kennedy angrily tried to slam the door, but Simon Lockwood caught it firmly. His tone was flat. ”What’s all the fuss about?”

”Shouldn’t I be making a fuss?!” Joanna Kennedy threw her head back and puffed out her chest, her voice full of righteous indignation. ”Simon Lockwood, what’s the meaning of leaving two people here to watch me? I’m not a child!”

”You’re right, you’re not a child.” Simon Lockwood’s expression remained unchanged, but his tone grew colder. ”A child wouldn’t know how to order male models.”

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

She immediately felt a pang of guilt, but she had to stand her ground. Stiffening her neck, she mumbled, ”In any case, I don’t want those two following me...”

Simon Lockwood stared at her, his gaze cold. Joanna Kennedy forced herself to glare back.

After a long moment, Simon Lockwood spoke. ”Fine, they don’t have to follow you. Move into the villa.”

He was bringing up that old subject again.

’He just can’t be without me, can he?’

Joanna Kennedy felt a small thrill of joy, but on the surface, she feigned reluctance and nodded. ”Fine, then...”

Simon Lockwood left for Southland Group, and the two bodyguards went with him.

A delighted Joanna Kennedy returned to her bedroom and flopped onto the bed, planning to catch up on some sleep. Something underneath her dug into her back, and she rolled over to see what it was. It was the necklace, gleaming coldly.

The moment she saw the necklace, Joanna Kennedy immediately remembered why he had unfastened it, and her face flushed hot.

’Hmph. Pervert. Hooligan...’

Deciding not to wear it again, she tossed it onto the nearby table and closed her eyes to sleep. But just then, her phone rang.

It was Anna Yates.

Joanna Kennedy sat up cross-legged and answered the call. ”What’s up, Anna?”

There was a two-second silence on the other end before a voice asked, ”Simon Lockwood isn’t there with you, is he?”

”No, he went to the office.”

Anna Yates breathed a sigh of relief, automatically ignoring the mention of a major company. Then she quickly grew serious again. ”Spill it. How did you two get back together? When did it happen? How far have you gone? Did he do anything to you last night?!”

Joanna Kennedy: ”...”

The barrage of questions left Joanna Kennedy’s head spinning, but she couldn’t help but find it a little funny. ”Well... it’s a long story.”

”I don’t care how long it is, you’re telling me!” Anna Yates wasn’t putting up with any excuses and gave a direct order. ”Send me your address. I’m coming to get you.”

Joanna Kennedy had no choice but to send her the address.

On the other end, Anna Yates’s eyes widened when she saw the address was in an ultra-exclusive villa district where land was worth its weight in gold.

Based on what happened last night, she knew Simon Lockwood was doing well for himself, but she never imagined he’d become *this* successful!

’Maybe it’s just a rental,’ Anna Yates thought to herself.

But soon enough, that thought was completely shattered.

「Riverbend」

Anna Yates was stunned. ”What? He’s *the* Mr. Lockwood from Southland Group?!”

”Uh-huh.” Joanna Kennedy nodded meekly. ”He is.”

Anna Yates: ”...”

She was starting to regret all her days spent just eating, drinking, and having fun; she’d completely missed such a crucial piece of information.

After a brief silence, Anna Yates’s tone turned serious. ”So, are you with him willingly now, or is he forcing you?”

Their breakup back then had been such a sorry affair. Now Simon Lockwood was rich and powerful, while Joanna Kennedy was just a minor actress. Anna Yates couldn’t help but suspect the worst.

She then remembered what Joanna Kennedy had said at the bar.

”Whatever’s fine?!”

What was that ”whatever’s fine” supposed to mean?! ’Don’t tell me Simon Lockwood is keeping Joanna as his sugar baby?’

Seeing the look on Anna Yates’s face grow darker, Joanna Kennedy knew her friend had gotten the wrong idea. She quickly explained everything, emphasizing at the end, ”He really isn’t forcing me.”

”Alright, then...” Anna Yates said, reluctantly convinced.

It wasn’t lunchtime yet, so they ordered some desserts. As the waiter served them, the two chatted while they ate. For a moment, Joanna Kennedy felt as if she were back in high school.

Anna Yates then remembered something else. A troubled look crossed her face, but she asked anyway, ”By the way, does Simon Lockwood... know that you took money from Charles Jennings?”

Joanna Kennedy froze for a second, then shook her head.

She had completely forgotten about that.

...

They looked at each other, speechless. Both realized this was a huge problem.

In Simon Lockwood’s mind, Joanna Kennedy had left him back then because she was tired of poverty and wanted to pursue a better life.

There was nothing inherently wrong with that—everyone is selfish, after all. At worst, it just made her seem a bit heartless.

But if Simon Lockwood were to find out that Joanna Kennedy had taken money to leave him, what would he think?

Joanna Kennedy felt a pang of regret. Back then, she had only wanted to squeeze some money out of Charles Jennings; she never imagined she and Simon Lockwood would ever be together again like this.

Anna Yates said, ”You’d better pray that psycho Charles Jennings doesn’t go running his mouth to Simon Lockwood.”

Charles Jennings was a weird one. Nothing he might do would be surprising.

Seeing her friend’s dejected expression, Anna Yates sighed and tried to offer some comfort. ”Relax. Maybe Charles Jennings has forgotten all about it?”

’How could he possibly forget?’

In the reception hall of Southland Group.

Charles Jennings stood up, a gentle smile on his face. He extended his hand. ”Mr. Lockwood, I look forward to our future cooperation with your esteemed company.”

Simon Lockwood rose as well. He was slightly taller, his presence imposing. His tone was indifferent. ”Southland will, of course, choose a suitable partner.”

The implication was clear: there might not be a future for this partnership; further observation was required.

The smile on Charles Jennings’s lips didn’t waver. He stopped just as he was about to leave the reception hall, as if he had suddenly remembered something. With a hint of guilt in his voice, he said, ”Speaking of which, there is something I must apologize to you for, Mr. Lockwood.”

Simon Lockwood frowned.

Charles Jennings sighed. ”Back then,” he said, ”if I hadn’t given Miss Kennedy that money, perhaps she would have found life too difficult and would have returned to you on her own accord.”

”Miss Kennedy was probably just used to being pampered and didn’t want to live in poverty.”

His tone was apologetic and his expression was remorseful, but his words were calculated to twist the knife.

Simon Lockwood’s expression didn’t change.

An almost imperceptible flicker of disappointment crossed Charles Jennings’s eyes. ”Well, I’ll be on my way—”

”President Jennings is truly a kind soul.” Simon Lockwood finally spoke, cutting him off. His voice was calm and his tone was neutral. ”The charity will have to thank you for your donation.”

The color drained from Charles Jennings’s face. ”What do you mean by that, Mr. Lockwood?”

”You didn’t know?” Simon Lockwood scoffed, looking down at him with a cold glare. ”The money you gave her? Joanna Kennedy donated every last cent to charity.”

”...”