Playing the Villainess, He Fell for Me

The man leaned in close, his warm breath tickling Joanna Kennedy’s lips as he spoke.

Joanna Kennedy instinctively pursed her lips, feeling a little uncomfortable. "Not really..."

"Oh, I thought you were going to keep me," Simon Lockwood said.

For some reason, although the man’s tone and expression were perfectly normal, Joanna Kennedy thought she heard a hint of disappointment in his voice.

She shook her head. ’I must have heard him wrong.’ How could Simon Lockwood possibly be that sort of person?

As Joanna Kennedy was lost in her thoughts, a soft yet firm bite on her lip snapped her back to reality. She met the man’s dark, unreadable eyes and froze. But when she looked closer, Simon Lockwood had already resumed his calm, gentle expression.

Perhaps it was her stunned expression, but the man pursed his lips, looking a little guilty. "Sorry, I couldn’t resist..."

"You don’t like it?" Simon Lockwood asked, his voice tinged with unconcealable disappointment.

Joanna Kennedy: "..."

’What am I supposed to say? Telling him I don’t like it would be too harsh. Besides, Simon Lockwood is my boyfriend now. A little kiss is no big deal.’

’But to say I liked it? I... I just can’t get the words out!’

Joanna Kennedy’s face was burning, and she was intensely aware of her bitten lip. She quickly took a step back, putting a safe distance between them. But just as disappointment began to cloud his features, she took the initiative and grabbed his fingers. "Let’s go. Time to head back."

It had all happened so suddenly. It was nearly dark, and she still hadn’t eaten; she was starving. Joanna Kennedy regretted not having a few of the tea cakes earlier.

The feel of her hand was warm and soft. Simon Lockwood couldn’t resist sliding his fingers between hers to interlace them. His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "Alright..."

After a few steps, she saw several bodyguards waiting on the periphery—the same ones who had come to "invite" her earlier.

Seeing the two of them emerge, the bodyguards lowered their heads and tried to make themselves as small as possible, but there was no escape.

A heavy THUD—the sound of someone being kicked to the ground, followed by a cry of pain. It was impossible to tell how much force he used, but the other bodyguards thought they heard the sickening CRACK of a bone breaking.

Simon Lockwood’s kick was a single, fluid motion. Even while committing an act of violence, he remained elegant and aloof, almost impossibly handsome. A flicker of savagery crossed his eyes, and it looked like he wanted to strike again.

"Young Master!" the lead bodyguard cried, moving to intervene, but he faltered when he met the man’s icy glare.

If Ricky Lawson weren’t his own cousin, he wouldn’t have bothered. Steeling himself, he said, "Ricky Lawson... he was just being impulsive. Sir, please don’t hold it against him."

The man remained silent. The lead bodyguard was no fool; he immediately turned and said respectfully to Joanna, "Miss Kennedy, I apologize on his behalf. Please, be the bigger person and don’t hold a grudge."

The phrase "be the bigger person" was often just a way to guilt-trip someone. By humbling yourself first, you made the other party look petty if they refused to forgive.

"An apology has to be sincere," Joanna Kennedy said, narrowing her eyes. The image of the baseball bat swinging down without a second thought flashed in her mind. Her tone remained even. "Like I said, just compensate me for the damages."

It hadn’t been a light hit, and on a luxury car, no less. The compensation wouldn’t be cheap. The bodyguard fell silent, his expression conflicted. Gritting his teeth, he finally said, "Rest assured."

Finally, after a sum of money was paid to send the two terrifying figures on their way, the lead bodyguard looked down at Ricky Lawson, who was still wailing on the ground. His face was as black as thunder. "Take him to the hospital."

"Yes, sir."

Two others helped Ricky Lawson to his feet, their expressions scornful. A person shouldn’t be so arrogant. It was one thing to resent the rich, but if you were going to deliberately smash someone’s car, you had to be ready to face the consequences.

On the path through the bamboo grove, Joanna Kennedy’s earlier elation faded. A belated wave of worry washed over her as she thought about what had just happened. "There were so many of them," she said. "Why did you have to start a fight?"

"What if they got desperate and ganged up on you?" Joanna Kennedy said. "You can’t be so impulsive next time."

Streetlights lined the bamboo path. In their dim, yellow glow, the worry on her face registered in his eyes and settled in his heart. Simon Lockwood’s features softened, and he slowly answered, "Alright."

Since Simon Lockwood had agreed, Joanna Kennedy nodded, quite satisfied.

’I remember the way he looked when he kicked that man,’ she thought. ’Those long legs, just kicking out so gracefully... It’s really true, handsome people look good no matter what they’re doing.’

Joanna Kennedy’s heart gave a sudden, hard thump, and her eyes crinkled as she smiled. Her pretty face held an infectious grin. Simon Lockwood glanced at her and found himself unable to stop the corners of his own lips from turning up.

They had arrived in a stretch Lincoln, but there was no car to take them back. Luckily, Joanna Kennedy had sent her location to Mindy Morgan in advance.

The dent on the Porsche’s roof was glaring. The car looked like it had been in a nasty accident, and it earned a one-hundred-percent head-turn rate on the road.

Mindy Morgan took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then she took another, and let it out again. She had to repeat this several times before she could finally compose her expression.

’I was terrified, and utterly shocked. Especially when I saw Jojo stand on her tiptoes to kiss that man. If my legs hadn’t turned to jelly from sheer terror, I would have marched right over and dragged her away.’

’Of all the men Jojo could have picked, why did she have to find one with such a powerful background?! Just look at that entourage! By the time he’s done with her, she’ll be left with nowhere to even cry!’

Mindy Morgan was furious but dared not speak, feeling as though her own sweet, innocent darling had been targeted by some sinister, powerful force.

From a distance, she saw a tall figure and a petite one approaching, nestled close together. Mindy Morgan felt her blood pressure spike. Driven by an instinctive fear of power, she forced a smile, got out of the car, and opened the door. "Jojo, and, er... this is... um..."

She only knew this tall man had a powerful background, but she had no idea of his actual identity or what to call him, making the moment incredibly awkward. Thankfully, while the man seemed aloof, his manners were impeccable.

"Simon Lockwood," the man said with a polite nod.

"Oh, oh, oh, right, Mr. Lockwood."

Once in the car, Joanna Kennedy expertly retrieved a bag of cookies from a small side compartment. The moment she opened it, she fed a piece to the man. "Blueberry. Is it good?"

"Mmm, it’s good."

"Hee hee, then have another one..." Joanna Kennedy said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

That was just how she was. As soon as she committed to a relationship, she threw herself into it completely, with virtually no adjustment period.

Joanna Kennedy saw nothing wrong with her actions—it was perfectly normal for a couple to feed each other. But just as she was about to offer him another cookie, she felt two scorching gazes that could kill.

The moment she turned her head, she met Mindy Morgan’s fierce glare in the rearview mirror.

Joanna Kennedy was speechless. ’Uh-oh,’ she thought. ’I forgot we weren’t alone.’

"Ahem..." Joanna Kennedy said, touching her nose sheepishly. "Mindy, you want one?"

"Thank. You," Mindy Morgan ground out, her teeth clenched. "I don’t want any."

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