Chapter 129 - 128: Double Standard
Paul Pemberton’s reflexes were quick. He caught her and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Joanna Kennedy shook her head and subtly took a step back, avoiding his touch.
Sensing her distance, Paul Pemberton’s arm froze in mid-air for a moment before he let it drop a few seconds later. He picked up the juice from the table and sniffed it. There was a very, very faint smell of alcohol.
’I grabbed the wrong one.’ He frowned, a little annoyed with himself.
Just as he was about to say something, he followed her gaze to her phone, which was still buzzing nonstop. Being tall, he could clearly see the caller’s name on the screen—"A_Lockwood_the_Dog".
"..."
’That must be Simon Lockwood,’ he thought. ’Pinned to the top. And that nickname... it’s definitely Joanna Kennedy’s style.’
When Joanna Kennedy saw the nickname, she was happy at first. She was about to answer when something suddenly occurred to her. Her fingertip stopped just a centimeter from the screen.
’The loud music, the chatter of men and women... The background noise is so chaotic. He’ll know immediately I’m not at home.’
The phone was still ringing. She looked around, jogged over to the balcony, cleared her throat, and answered, "Are you done with business?"
The other end was silent for two seconds before a low, pleasant voice replied, "No."
"Oh..." Joanna Kennedy’s voice fell. "Then when are you coming back?"
"...Not sure." Simon Lockwood’s voice, coming through the cold screen from thousands of miles across the ocean, was still very clear. "Where are you right now?"
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
"Ahem, I’m at home."
"At home?"
"Yeah." Joanna Kennedy tried her best to hide the guilt in her voice, even forcing herself to ask back, "What’s wrong?"
"..." Simon Lockwood was silent for two seconds, then said in a neutral tone, "Joanna Kennedy, you’re not a good liar."
"You’re at a bar." Simon Lockwood’s tone left no room for doubt.
"..."
Joanna Kennedy hung her head, deflated. "How do you even know that...?"
"It’s late. I’m sending someone to pick you up." Simon Lockwood didn’t answer her question. His tone was flat, like he was issuing a command—impartial and strict, without a trace of personal emotion.
The phone screen showed the time was 7:40 PM. The chat window still showed the unanswered video call invitation. Simon Lockwood hadn’t offered a single word of explanation, yet here he was, immediately trying to control her.
Joanna Kennedy suddenly felt sullen, and her tone became a bit stiff. "It’s only seven o’clock. That’s not late. I can get back by myself."
Simon Lockwood naturally heard the displeasure in her voice. He closed his eyes, suppressing the inexplicable irritation rising within him, and tried to soften his tone. "Joanna Kennedy, be good. You can’t handle your alcohol well."
"I haven’t been drinking," Joanna Kennedy said stubbornly.
Simon Lockwood said no more. Silence spread between them, with only the sound of steady breathing.
Joanna Kennedy forced her eyes wide, trying to push back the moisture gathering there. After a moment of sullen silence, she said, "If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up..."
"I’m sorry." Simon Lockwood’s voice came through clearly into her ear.
It was a gentle tap on her heart. Joanna Kennedy felt her heart ache with a sour, bitter feeling. In a muffled voice, she said, "Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do anything wrong..."
’I’m the one being too emotional.’
"I made you unhappy," Simon Lockwood replied.
...
Joanna Kennedy froze, and her eyes instantly turned red.
’Simon Lockwood is always like this, able to break down her defenses so easily.’ Joanna Kennedy wiped the corner of her eye, her voice thick with nasality. "I’m not unhappy..."
"Mm," Simon Lockwood acknowledged softly.
"Then... why didn’t you answer my video call?" Joanna Kennedy’s voice was very soft, sounding a little sad and cautious. "Were you busy?"
As soon as she said it, she felt she was being petty. ’It was just one missed video call, is it worth holding onto for this long? Everyone has things they need to do.’ She felt deflated again. "Forget it, I—"
But Simon Lockwood suddenly spoke up. "When did you call?"
Joanna Kennedy paused, then answered honestly, "Right after your plane landed."
She had checked the flight schedule and knew when his plane was supposed to land.
There was a time difference between the two countries. 11:00 PM in Aethelburg was 2:00 PM in Dresland.
After waiting for a while with no response from his end, Joanna Kennedy was a bit confused. "What’s wrong?"
"...I didn’t turn on international roaming." Simon Lockwood’s voice was stiff.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
The bitter, aching atmosphere from moments ago completely dissipated. Joanna Kennedy deeply regretted the two "little golden beans" she had shed.
She had thought it was the effect of "Emotional Reversal" that made Simon Lockwood ignore her, but it turned out to be his international roaming.
’This is just...’
"Then turn it on!" Joanna Kennedy was both speechless and annoyed.
"Mm," Simon Lockwood agreed, completely unfazed.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’He’s not even a little bit embarrassed, is he?’
Joanna Kennedy gritted her teeth. Just as she was about to tease him a little more, a woman’s not-so-clear voice suddenly came through the phone.
"Lockwood! Why aren’t you done yet? We were supposed to go out to eat together." The woman was speaking less-than-fluent Celestria with a hint of petulant complaint. As she seemed to get closer, her voice became clearer. "I ordered this place’s new dishes, you’ll definitely like them! Take a look, is there anything else you’d like?"
Joanna Kennedy froze, not saying a word. She heard the man’s cold, distant voice reply, "Thank you, Miss Kim can just order. I’ll be there shortly."
That "Miss Kim" said something else before leaving.
Joanna Kennedy remained silent. Simon Lockwood paused for two seconds, then, sensing something, explained, "My business partner’s sister."
’A business partner’s sister, speaking so intimately? Her voice was practically overflowing with sweet happiness.’
Joanna Kennedy’s heart soured with jealousy, but it wouldn’t be right to criticize the other girl. Simon Lockwood’s attitude had been clearly distant, so she couldn’t find any obvious fault with him.
Joanna Kennedy pouted. She still couldn’t help herself and was just about to say something.
Simon Lockwood’s voice came through clearly. "Someone will be there to pick you up soon. Don’t throw a tantrum."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’He’s about to have dinner with some Dresland beauty, but he’s controlling her curfew. Could he be any more of a hypocrite?’
Joanna Kennedy hung up the phone in a huff.
「On the other end」
Simon Lockwood heard the busy signal from his phone and furrowed his brow. He looked at the location indicated by the red dot on his screen—a bar in Aethelburg.
His well-defined fingers tapped the screen, sending the address out.
At the dining table, Heidi Kim was still studying the menu, occasionally asking the waiter questions.
She had a slim waist and long legs. In the twenty-degree weather, she wore a wine-red miniskirt and black stiletto heels. Long, curly blonde hair cascaded down her back. She had green eyes and red lips.
A stunning, eye-catching beauty.
Inside the restaurant, many men’s gazes were fixed on her, but Heidi Kim just tucked her blonde hair behind her ear, her eyes and heart only for the man who was walking toward her.