Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

Jasper Sinclair didn’t care who Simon Lockwood married or ended up with. He just wanted to figure a few things out.

For example, how exactly did Simon Lockwood survive that car crash? And where did Simon Lockwood get so much money?

The house in Sinclair Gardens wasn’t cheap. He’d had someone look into it and found that Simon Lockwood had paid in full. On top of that, the bank card he used had a hefty balance.

For a college student who hadn’t even graduated to have such a huge sum of money, Jasper Sinclair couldn’t help but wonder: had Simon Lockwood done something illegal to get rich so quickly?

If his suspicions were true, then his dear half-brother was finished. He wouldn’t even have to lift a finger.

Simon Lockwood was too guarded and not someone to be trifled with. It would be better to start with Joanna Kennedy. He just hadn’t expected Joanna Kennedy to be so difficult to "invite."

"Dad, I’ll have someone ask where they are," Jasper Sinclair said.

Old Master Sinclair’s expression was already dark. He didn’t say anything, which was a tacit agreement. He was over fifty and had been respected his entire life. This was the first time someone had made him wait so long—and a young woman in her twenties, no less!

’No manners, no courtesy.’ Old Master Sinclair’s disgust had reached its peak. So when he heard footsteps at the door, he didn’t even turn his head, just snorted, "Putting on such airs. Do you really think you can rest easy just because you’ve latched onto my son?"

His mockery and contempt were undisguised. But when his words fell into silence, the old master of the Sinclair family frowned. Just as he was about to say more, he noticed his eldest son’s expression was off.

Following his son’s gaze, Old Master Sinclair saw his younger son standing expressionlessly at the door.

Old Master Sinclair: "..."

A server in a cheongsam braced herself and entered with tea and snacks. After pouring the freshly brewed tea and completing her duties, she scurried out without daring to lift her head.

The teahouse was unnervingly quiet. The oppressive silence made it hard to sit still. A bodyguard took the hint and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

The bamboo door clicked softly shut. In the spacious and bright teahouse, the four of them sat facing each other. No one spoke.

Old Master Sinclair’s initial embarrassment had now faded, replaced by resolve. ’So what if Simon Lockwood knows? He was bound to find out sooner or later!’

’A son must listen to his father!’

With that thought, the last trace of guilt vanished from Old Master Sinclair’s heart. He put on a stern face and began to scold him. "You don’t go to the office, you don’t come home, and you spend all day mixing with unsavory characters. What kind of behavior is that?!"

"Maybe my brother just wants to rest for a while. There’s an acting manager at the magazine company, so there won’t be any major problems."

"It’s normal for someone so young to not have their mind on their career," Jasper Sinclair added lightly.

Just as he intended, Old Master Sinclair’s face immediately turned ashen.

’If his mind isn’t on work, then where is it?’

With Simon Lockwood appearing here at this very moment, the answer was self-evident.

"Miss Kennedy, you should be well aware of why you were ’invited’ here," Old Master Sinclair said, his voice low and his tone unfriendly.

The head of a great family could be quite intimidating when he put on airs. Most young women would at least turn pale under such a display of authority, if not tremble in fear.

But Joanna Kennedy showed no fear. She gave the man’s hand a reassuring squeeze, signaling that she could handle this herself.

Perhaps it was from spending so much time with Simon Lockwood, or perhaps it was the thick skin she’d developed from acting, but her tone was calm. She even smiled very politely. "Chairman Sinclair has such a... unique way of inviting people. I’m overwhelmed by the honor."

She emphasized the words "inviting" and "overwhelmed by the honor," and everyone could hear the sarcasm. Yet her expression remained a perfect, faultless smile.

Old Master Sinclair’s face changed. It was infuriating not to retort, but yelling would make him look petty, like he was bickering with a young girl. In the end, he could only roar, "Insolence! Who taught you to talk back to your elders like that?!"

Old Master Sinclair’s face was a mottled canvas of purple and green with rage. "Simon Lockwood, you will break up with her immediately!"

"Do you hear me?!" Old Master Sinclair blurted out recklessly. "If you choose to be with her, then don’t you ever come back to the Sinclair Family! I’ll act as if I never had you as a son!"

It was an imperious, textbook command, as if he weren’t speaking to his own son but to an insignificant subordinate. That was how he could be so reckless with his hurtful words.

Joanna Kennedy instinctively checked the man’s reaction. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw no sadness on Simon Lockwood’s face, but at the same time, her own heart ached even more.

’Just how many hurtful things has he had to hear to be able to accept them so calmly, without even a change in expression?’

Simon Lockwood didn’t know what the girl was thinking. He was getting impatient. He didn’t want to stay here for another second and just wanted to get this over with quickly.

"Fine," Simon Lockwood uttered a single word, his attitude cold, his tone indifferent.

Old Master Sinclair’s follow-up threats caught in his throat. The anger froze on his face, which gradually darkened. "What did you say? Say that to me again."

The air in the room seemed to freeze. Old Master Sinclair looked so angry he seemed about to strike, his face dark and terrifying. Even Jasper Sinclair, who had been stirring up trouble just moments before, consciously tried to fade into the background, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

Simon Lockwood didn’t even lift his gaze. "In that case, I will not return to the Sinclair Family."

He said, "Besides, my surname isn’t Sinclair to begin with."

"Since you didn’t care for the first twenty-odd years of my life, there’s no need to start now." Simon Lockwood said these words on behalf of the "Simon Lockwood" who had died in the car crash.

Even Joanna Kennedy was stunned by his resolute attitude, to say nothing of Old Master Sinclair’s expression, which could no longer be described as merely "dark."

As they walked out of the teahouse, Joanna Kennedy swallowed hard, still in disbelief. "You just... left? Like that?"

"What else?" Simon Lockwood’s tone was frank. "The matter is resolved. There was no need to stay."

Joanna Kennedy: "..."

’The matter is resolved.’ Joanna Kennedy had no idea where Simon Lockwood got the confidence to say that so naturally.

’How is this resolved?! This is him just flipping the whole table over!’

She had been trying to think of a solution that would satisfy everyone. Joanna had even thought it through: worst-case scenario, she and Simon could have a secret relationship while he went back to the Sinclair Family first. She never expected...

Joanna Kennedy sighed deeply. ’Fine, this works too. If it comes to it, I’ll just support Simon Lockwood from now on!’

’Anyway, I have plenty of money. And Simon Lockwood is handsome, young, innocent, and a great cook. No matter how you look at it, I’m the one who’s winning here!’

Joanna Kennedy’s expression shifted rapidly, from sighing to looking deeply troubled. Finally, as if having made a great resolution, she lifted her face, her tone firm. "I have a supplementary card. I’ll give it to you when we get back. You can use it for now. If it’s not enough, just let me know."

Seeing her righteous and determined expression, Simon Lockwood froze for a moment. When he realized what she was doing, he couldn’t help but let the corner of his lip curl up. He leaned in closer, his voice low. "Does this count as you keeping me?"

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