Chapter 162 - 161
An hour later, Joanna Kennedy was sprawled motionless on the desk, unable to even straighten her back. She felt like her body was completely wrecked.
Was this a sign of humanity’s decline or moral decay? It was a question worth pondering.
She felt she could never face her dear little desk with a clear conscience again. This was simply sinful!
"I’ll take you out in a bit..." Simon Lockwood’s voice was deep and sated as he held her, idly kneading the soft flesh of her waist.
The kneading left Joanna Kennedy feeling groggy, her scalp tingling. "Where are we going?" she asked listlessly.
’All I want to do right now is sleep.’
"You’ll know when you wake up," Simon Lockwood whispered in her ear.
His warm breath brushed against the back of her ear. Joanna Kennedy yawned, her head dropping unguarded onto his shoulder as she fell asleep.
It was a little past 4 PM, and the sun was sinking in the west. The car drove smoothly along the highway, the world outside a constant blur. The setting sun’s afterglow, however, remained fixed on the car window, filtering through the glass to land on her long eyelashes.
As if sensing the light, her long lashes fluttered a few times, and then she slowly opened her eyes.
Joanna Kennedy rubbed her eyes and looked out the window, still dazed from sleep. "Am I dreaming?"
’I take one nap, and where on earth does he drag me?’
In the front seat, Simon Lockwood drove with his eyes fixed on the road. Hearing her, he replied in an even tone, "Yes, you’re dreaming. Go back to sleep."
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Before Joanna Kennedy could call him out on his half-hearted lie, she was interrupted by a call from Anna Yates.
As soon as she answered, Anna Yates’s voice came through. "Jo, have you and Mr. Lockwood arrived yet?"
’Arrived? Arrived where?’
Joanna Kennedy looked utterly baffled, and she voiced the question aloud.
Anna Yates sounded puzzled. "Marinus Holiday Beach, of course. Didn’t Sean Grant say you guys were coming too?"
’If not for that, there’s no way I’d hang out with that guy Sean. His stupidity is contagious.’
"Oh, right, right," Joanna Kennedy said, finally catching on.
She finally put the pieces together. Shooting a glare at a certain someone who was sitting there, silent and unperturbed, she said to the still-puzzled Anna on the other end, "We’ll be there soon. You go on and have fun without us for now."
"Alright, I’ll scope out all the good food and fun stuff. When you get here, we can go check it all out together," Anna Yates said enthusiastically.
Joanna Kennedy was touched. "Anna, you’re the best~~"
She always thought of her. Girls really were the most wonderful creatures in the world! Having just been "bullied" by that dog of a man, Joanna Kennedy was now so touched by Anna Yates’s words that she could have cried.
"So now you appreciate me, huh?" Anna Yates said haughtily.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Joanna Kennedy faked a couple of sobs, then murmured a few more cheesy endearments before hanging up.
The way she so reluctantly hung up, you’d think she was talking to a long-lost lover she’d been pining for.
Simon Lockwood’s face darkened at his own sudden thought, his lips pressing into a thin line.
Joanna Kennedy was still babbling in the back, thinking Simon Lockwood had had a sudden change of heart. "Simon, you invited Anna? Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I didn’t," Simon Lockwood said, his voice tight.
Joanna Kennedy was confused. "Huh?"
Simon Lockwood briefly explained the situation. Joanna Kennedy’s eyes widened in realization. No wonder. This was exactly the kind of thing Sean Grant would pull. He loved nothing more than a big, noisy gathering.
When they arrived, the car pulled into a neat parking lot built right by the beach, and they were greeted by a cool ocean breeze.
Looking at the familiar ocean before her, Joanna Kennedy fell silent.
Joanna Kennedy would never forget this seaside city. This was the very place she had fled to all those years ago to escape Simon Lockwood!!
During the two years she lived in Marinus, she would come to this very beach to feel the breeze whenever she was in a bad mood. Back then, it was completely open to the public.
But now, looking at the beach fenced off as far as the eye could see, Joanna Kennedy fell into a long silence.
’Can someone please tell me why this place has been turned into an expensive resort!!!!’
’Who has nothing better to do than buy up a piece of the coastline!! Is that even something you can buy?!!’ Joanna Kennedy was screaming on the inside.
Simon Lockwood’s cool voice sounded from above her head. "What are you spacing out for?"
Although they were perfectly normal words, Joanna Kennedy somehow read a hidden meaning into them.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’Is it my imagination?’
"Um, why the sudden idea to come here?" Joanna Kennedy asked tentatively.
Simon Lockwood glanced down at her, his tone chilly. "Yes, why *did* we suddenly think to come here?"
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’Okay, I’m sure now. It wasn’t my imagination.’
Feeling a little guilty, and not caring how Simon Lockwood knew, Joanna Kennedy stealthily reached for his hand. One finger, then two, wormed their way between his own.
The moment their fingers intertwined, a familiar, high-pitched voice called out from the distance, "Simon! Sis-in-law!"
Joanna Kennedy jumped, startled, and hastily pulled her hand away. The movement was so fast he was caught off guard, his fingertips suddenly empty. The slight upward curl of Simon Lockwood’s lips froze, and his expression darkened.
The big idiot who was about to be in for a world of hurt was completely oblivious. Clad in loud floral swim trunks, he kept running toward them, waving his arms frantically and yelling, "Simon~~ Sis-in-law~~~ Come play with us~~~~~"
There was some freshly washed-up seaweed on the beach, and Sean Grant was running too fast.
SPLAT. Right before their eyes, Sean Grant went down spread-eagled on the sand. His hand rose slowly, then fell limply back down, making him look for all the world like he was dead.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Simon Lockwood: "..."
Jack Warren, who was running up behind him: "..." ’Damn it. What a moron.’
It was a nasty fall. Sean Grant clung to Jack Warren for dear life, wincing in pain but still babbling nonstop, "I caught a huge jellyfish earlier! I’ll make you guys some cold jellyfish salad myself!"
Simon Lockwood said nothing, simply taking Joanna Kennedy’s hand and quickening his pace, his face cold. Joanna seized the chance to turn and give Sean Grant a thumbs-up. "Great! Simon says he loves your cooking!"
Sean Grant’s eyes lit up instantly. "In that case, I’ll make an extra plate!"
Simon Lockwood: "..."
His face dark, Simon Lockwood said, "Jo. Ann. A."
Joanna Kennedy made a zipping motion across her lips, the corners of her mouth twitching as she tried to suppress her laughter. Finally, she couldn’t hold it in anymore and collapsed against Simon Lockwood, laughing hysterically.
Simon Lockwood: "..."
Simon Lockwood pinched her cheek, applying a little pressure. His voice was low and pleasant. "None of that now."
’Uh oh. Change of subject: failed.’ Joanna Kennedy pouted, letting out a small sigh. "Simon, why are you so petty..."
She was turning the tables on him. Simon Lockwood laughed in exasperation, but he kept his expression neutral, his tone flat. "Oh? And how am I being petty?"
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
Joanna Kennedy’s mouth moved, but no words came out. She fell silent, feeling deflated.
The five-story beach villa had already been cleaned spotless, and people had moved in. Many of them had gone out to have fun, leaving behind a few scions of prominent families who had been waiting for their arrival.