Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

At the dining table, following Sean Grant’s gaze, everyone turned in unison to look at the man with the impassive expression.

Even Joanna Kennedy, who was beside him, felt an unprecedented sense of pressure.

’How will Simon Lockwood respond?’

Joanna Kennedy wasn’t actually someone who cared much about what others thought, but at this very moment, she was genuinely curious about how Simon Lockwood would answer.

The target of everyone’s attention, Simon Lockwood lifted his gaze. In his peripheral vision, he saw the girl’s fingers unconsciously clench—a sign of nervousness and unease.

Simon Lockwood was silent for two seconds before giving a cool, noncommittal "Mm."

The girl’s clenched fingers abruptly relaxed, then curled up again, just slightly.

The tycoons exchanged glances and quickly changed the subject with a smile. They began probing about what projects Southland was looking to get involved in, beating around the bush with all sorts of small talk.

Joanna Kennedy understood it all. Translated, it basically meant: ’Mr. Lockwood, do you have any profitable projects lately? Let’s collaborate. We have money and we’re willing to invest, but when it comes to profits, it’s best we split them fifty-fifty. Southland can’t just take all the benefits, can it? That’s not conducive to long-term corporate development...’

It was a veiled threat. No matter how powerful Southland was, it was still just one company. It was best not to be too arrogant.

But Simon Lockwood acted as if he hadn’t understood, his attitude detached and his expression cold. He replied with just a few curt words.

He was like a fortress of steel, leaving them no opening to exploit.

Frustrated by his cold, cutting remarks, the group turned their attention to the "star" of the day, Sean Grant.

Simon Lockwood was inscrutable and difficult to talk to. This one was different. He looked like a fool with a bit of petty cleverness.

But alas, they had misjudged again. In response to their verbal traps, Sean Grant rambled on about everything and nothing, spouting nonsense about this and that, but he never took the bait!

Throughout the entire meal, only Joanna Kennedy ate from start to finish. Afterward, she licked her swollen red lips, marveling at how incredible the chef’s boiled beef in chili oil was.

Suddenly, the warm pad of a man’s finger pressed against the corner of her lips. Joanna Kennedy froze, looking up with a completely bewildered expression. "What is it?"

In the bustling banquet hall, people were gradually making their way out. The girl lifted her small face, her expression full of trust, her lips plump and red, swollen almost to their very edges.

They looked very... soft, and very supple.

They had lingered for too long, and some people were starting to look their way. Simon Lockwood expressionlessly withdrew his hand. "It’s nothing. I thought it was chili oil."

Joanna Kennedy: "..."

’So hilarious.’

Less than an hour after returning from the Grant Estate, Simon Lockwood was quickly packing the clothes and documents he needed for his business trip.

Joanna Kennedy sat on the edge of the bed, watching him pack. Seeing he wasn’t taking many clothes, she breathed a sigh of relief, then said, a little unhappy, "Didn’t you say your trip was tomorrow? Why are you leaving tonight...?"

"A last-minute dinner meeting came up," Simon Lockwood explained coolly.

Jack Warren was waiting outside. Joanna Kennedy followed the man out, step for step, and said with pleading eyes, "Simon, let me take you to the airport..."

Simon Lockwood’s hand paused as he was opening the car door. For a split second, Joanna Kennedy almost thought he was about to turn and say something.

However, the man merely stood with his side to her, his handsome, cold eyes cast downward. "No need."

Joanna Kennedy was a little disappointed.

The man seemed to realize how perfunctory and cold he had sounded, and stiffly added a few more words: "Go back inside. It’s cold out."

Joanna Kennedy shook her head. After a moment of subdued silence, she said, "I’ll watch you leave."

Simon Lockwood fell silent for a moment, then opened the car door.

The black Maybach started up slowly and soon vanished from sight. Joanna Kennedy sluggishly pulled her gaze back. She stood in place for a long while before pulling her cream-colored cardigan tighter and heading back toward the villa’s courtyard.

On the road, the car drove steadily.

The interior of the car was silent, almost eerily so.

Jack Warren kept his eyes on the road and his thoughts to himself, not knowing what to say.

In the rearview mirror, the girl’s figure grew fainter until it disappeared completely. Only then did Simon Lockwood slowly draw his gaze away from the mirror.

Jack Warren couldn’t help but say, "Honestly, I think if you told Miss Kennedy about this, she definitely wouldn’t leave you. In fact, she’d go with you to Meridia. Why are you shouldering this alone? Is it really right to keep her in the dark like this?"

A few days ago, Simon Lockwood had suddenly asked him to investigate a drug called "Emotional Reversal."

Jack Warren had been astonished at the time. To think such a strange drug actually existed in the world.

But on second thought, why had Simon Lockwood suddenly asked him to look into it? When a possible answer occurred to him, a chill ran down his spine.

Simon Lockwood had fallen victim to it. Jack Warren had confirmed this answer through his observations over the past few days.

This "business trip" to Meridia was because there was a top-tier pharmaceutical research institute there. He’d heard they were recently researching psychotropic drugs and might have some leads.

The air was thick with silence. After a long while, just when Jack Warren thought the man wouldn’t answer, Simon Lockwood slowly spoke. "What could I say? She would worry."

’Emotional Reversal? The more you love, the more distant you become? It’s not that I don’t love you, but that I can’t love you, that I don’t know how to love. How ironic. How absurd...’

’Who would believe it?’

’Even if she did, it would only cause her needless sadness and worry. It would be meaningless.’

’No one can help me. Not even Joanna Kennedy.’

"..."

There was no discernible emotion in the man’s voice, yet it made one feel an inexplicable sadness, a groundless sense of helplessness.

Jack Warren was two years older than him, but he had no idea how to offer any comfort.

For a moment, Simon Lockwood looked just like he had when Jack first met him all those years ago.

Taciturn, cold, and unfeeling. As chillingly mechanical as a perfect machine.

And yet... he had been so close to happiness.

The weather in Aethelburg changed quickly. The plane tree leaves of late autumn had turned yellow, spiraling down to the ground. In the darkness of night, a villa stood quietly.

Uninhabited for years, its yard was covered in dead leaves and branches, and weeds had sprouted from the cracks in the earth along the walls.

’It actually hasn’t been sold yet.’ She had thought it would have been auctioned off by the bank. If Anna Yates hadn’t mentioned it by chance, she would have almost forgotten about it.

Joanna Kennedy gazed at the villa, an indescribable feeling in her heart.

Her emotions weren’t particularly rich; as Simon Lockwood had once commented, she was a bit carefree and heartless.

However, she had lived here for more than two years. It was impossible to say she had no attachment to it at all, but it was just a little—the same way she felt about the "Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy" of this world.

From the very beginning, she had only seen herself as someone completing a mission. Everything in this world, in her eyes, was just a background character, an NPC meant to cooperate with her task.

Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy had rarely appeared before her, which made her feelings toward her "parents" even more indifferent.

So, when Mrs. Kennedy finally passed away, she had only felt a sense of pity, along with a deep-seated disgust for Mr. Kennedy, who had absconded with their money.

Two bodyguards stood watch at the door, their black clothes melting into the night. Seeing her arrive, they bowed their heads respectfully. "Miss Kennedy, the person is inside."

Joanna Kennedy nodded. "Thank you. The final payment will be transferred to your account shortly."

"Thank you, Miss Kennedy."