Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

The panic and lingering fear in his chest hadn’t completely faded. Simon Lockwood wanted nothing more than to hold her tighter, and tighter still, just to be sure Joanna Kennedy was truly in his arms.

The pressure on her waist was tight, and his rapid, warm breaths ghosted across her neck. The man’s low, hoarse voice echoed in her ear, and a delayed sense of fear finally washed over Joanna Kennedy.

The man was still in his loungewear, his feet in black slippers that were the same style as her pink ones. His short black hair was a mess from the wind, and his back was slick with sweat. He looked nothing like his usual cool, aloof, and noble self.

’Just how frantic must he have been to run out like this, with no regard for his image?’

Joanna Kennedy felt a sharp ache in her heart, so intense it almost hurt. It was as if the man’s hands on her waist were reaching right through her, squeezing her heart directly. It was a stifling pain, so... hard to breathe.

"I’m okay. I was waiting for you." Joanna Kennedy let the man hold her tight, not struggling even when the embrace started to hurt. Instead, she burrowed deeper into his arms. "I knew you would come..."

This kind of blind trust was something she had only ever given to Simon Lockwood. Because she was certain he was worthy of her reliance, she could entrust him with everything.

When she finally felt the man’s emotions calm down a little, Joanna Kennedy patted his arm, signaling for him to let go. In a soft whisper, she said, "There’s still something we need to deal with. Simon Lockwood, you said you wouldn’t let the Sinclairs bother me."

"...Mm," Simon Lockwood responded slowly. The calm in his eyes was almost eerie, like the prelude to a storm. He didn’t let go. His voice was a bit hoarse. "Just a little longer..."

Joanna Kennedy: "..."

Several bodyguards were watching from a distance. Joanna could feel a gaze from the car—one filled with shock, disbelief, and murderous intent. It was Mindy Morgan.

Joanna Kennedy: "..." ’Well, that’s just great. I’ve completely blown my cover.’

Joanna could practically picture Mindy Morgan about to explode with rage. After this fiasco, she’d have to hide at home for a few days.

She didn’t know how much time had passed. Joanna’s legs were sore from standing, and her neck was flushed red from the warmth of his breath. The man finally, reluctantly, loosened his arms, his hands sliding down to intertwine their fingers.

"I’m sorry. I scared you," Simon Lockwood said, his eyes lowered.

Joanna didn’t offer any comfort. Instead, she nodded. "Yes, I was scared. And it’s all your fault for not handling things properly."

The girl’s beautiful, clear almond eyes spelled out her fear word by word. The guilt in Simon Lockwood’s heart was immeasurable. He pressed his lips together. "This is the last time. I promise."

A dark, vicious glint flashed through the man’s eyes, and it didn’t escape Joanna’s notice. She proactively tightened her grip on his hand.

Meeting his stunned gaze, Joanna sighed and said, "Simon Lockwood, I don’t know if this will be the last time. So, I’m going with you to solve this."

’The Sinclair Family’s affairs run deep, and with a dirty schemer like Jasper Sinclair involved, things will be very difficult for Simon Lockwood in the future if this isn’t handled well.’

’In wealthy families, they don’t really kick you out. They just force you to compromise. Today’s incident is a perfect example.’

’Simon Lockwood is just a college student who hasn’t even graduated yet. She’s different. Although she can’t win a head-on fight with the Sinclair Family, she’s still a top-tier celebrity. Even the Sinclairs have to be a little wary of her.’

"Don’t you dare say no, and you’re not allowed to refuse."

Joanna Kennedy cut off the refusal the man hadn’t even had a chance to voice. The sight of the tall, imposing man wanting to speak but not daring to was rather comical.

A smile played on Joanna’s lips, and her eyes danced with amusement. She reached out and smoothed the furrowed lines between his brows. "You take me with you, and I’ll be with you."

...

The dream he’d longed for day and night had suddenly come true, without the slightest warning. The place was wrong, the occasion was wrong. When faced with such an overwhelming surprise, people often can’t react at all.

Simon Lockwood felt his throat go dry. It took him a long moment before he could speak. "What?"

He was afraid he’d misheard, afraid he’d misunderstood her meaning. He raised a hand to adjust the hearing aid by his ear. If you looked closely, you could see his fingers were trembling slightly.

"Say it again." Simon Lockwood could hear his own heartbeat, a frantic, unrhythmical pounding. "Joanna Kennedy, say it again, okay?"

His gaze was scorching, his eyes filled with nervousness, anxiety, and an expectation he couldn’t hide. This was Simon Lockwood with all his pretenses stripped away, so stubbornly desperate for her love.

The smile in Joanna Kennedy’s eyes deepened, crinkling their corners. In front of everyone watching from a distance, she stood on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to the corner of the man’s lips. Her voice was very soft. "I said... I accept your pursuit."

"Boyfriend," Joanna Kennedy said, "now, take me to meet the parents."

"..."

Fireworks exploded in his mind. Looking down, he saw the girl’s eyes, brimming with a smile. They held a familiar emotion, one called "love."

Was he in Aethelburg or... Jornheim?

He didn’t know how much time had passed before Simon Lockwood finally, barely, figured out where he was. Then, an unprecedented flood of emotions surged through him, all tangled together.

He had finally found his Joanie again. She was his.

Simon Lockwood’s eyes were bloodshot, a glint of moisture visible within them. He ducked his head as if to hide it, and a single tear fell onto the asphalt, staining it a dark, round dot.

"...Don’t look at me."

The man’s voice was muffled and hoarse. It made Joanna Kennedy want to cry, too. She blinked rapidly, forcing her tears back, and obediently turned around. "Oh..."

Love is truly a strange thing. It brings joy and sorrow, moments of moonlit spring blossoms, and moments of bitter-sour disarray.

*

The bodyguards didn’t dare to stop them, so in the end, the two of them got into the stretched Lincoln together. The vehicle stopped in front of a very private teahouse.

It was surrounded by a garden, which was in turn encircled by a bamboo forest. The scenery was beautiful, and the air was fresh. From the teahouse on the left side of the first floor, one could take in the entire view.

The teahouse was quiet. Calming incense was burning. The only sound was the soft CLINK of jade game pieces being placed on the board.

As the last black stone was placed, it signaled Black’s defeat. Jasper Sinclair sighed. "Dad, I lost again."

Old Master Sinclair, despite winning the game, was not happy. He checked the time for what felt like the hundredth time. "What time is it? Why haven’t they brought the person here yet? They’re getting slower and slower at everything."

Jasper Sinclair tidied up the game pieces. Upon hearing his father’s complaint, he said, "They’re probably on their way. Joanna Kennedy is a celebrity, after all. They have to be mindful of the public image."

"Hmph. A celebrity? What’s that worth? In the old days, they were the lowest of the low." Hearing this, Old Master Sinclair was reminded of the information his people had dug up, and his anger flared all over again. "A lowly actress who can’t even be presented in public, and she wants to marry into my Sinclair Family? Not a chance in hell!"

"Jasper, it’s a good thing you were sharp enough to look into it," Old Master Sinclair said. "Otherwise, your younger brother’s soul would have been completely bewitched by that actress!"

Jasper Sinclair didn’t say anything, only smiled. A flash of pride and disdain passed through his eyes.

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