Chapter 309 - 308

Before he’d started dating Joanna Kennedy, Simon Lockwood had only hoped she wouldn’t hate him.

Now that his wish had come true and he was living in Joanna Kennedy’s home, he wanted to take things a step further.

Simon Lockwood was like an insatiable beast. All his desires, all the contemptible thoughts he could never show anyone, were stirred by Joanna Kennedy and her alone.

"I’m sorry, if you don’t like it, I—"

He couldn’t even finish his apology before she cut him off, a hint of urgency and embarrassment in her voice. "I didn’t say I don’t like it. Just... don’t always be like this."

She hated that Simon Lockwood was always apologizing to her.

"I... I just thought you were... you..." Joanna Kennedy racked her brain for the right word, but couldn’t find it. Finally, she gave up in frustration. "I guess I was wrong. You’re not any different from what I imagined."

"You’re the same blockhead either way," Joanna Kennedy added.

Simon Lockwood: "..."

Simon Lockwood didn’t know whether to be happy or sad, but the most important thing was that Joanna Kennedy wasn’t angry.

The roads were clear, and they quickly arrived at Sinclair Gardens. Joanna Kennedy adamantly refused to let Simon Lockwood carry her, afraid that if someone saw, her entire reputation would be ruined.

Simon Lockwood glanced at their silent surroundings. "There’s no one here."

"You never know, someone could be hiding in some nook or cranny." Joanna Kennedy lectured Simon Lockwood with the air of an expert. "Plenty of people come home late from work. Or they might be coming down to take out the trash."

Seeing her earnest expression, it was clear she really didn’t want him to carry her. Simon Lockwood pursed his lips and didn’t insist. Instead, he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. His movements were gentle, yet left no room for refusal. "It’s cold outside. Wear this."

"Oh..."

’The overbearing pretty boy is in love with me.’

The phrase suddenly popped into Joanna Kennedy’s head, and she couldn’t help but chuckle at her own silliness. A smile she couldn’t contain spread across her lips, and she even felt the pain in her heels begin to fade.

"So, what are you going to make for me? I want Sichuan boiled beef, and mapo tofu, and a spicy dry pot..."

Joanna Kennedy ticked them off on her fingers, completely disregarding whether she’d gain weight or break out.

Just talking about it made her mouth water, and she wished she could have it all right that second.

Eating such heavy food this late at night would be hard on her stomach. Simon Lockwood wasn’t one to spoil her blindly; when it came to Joanna Kennedy’s health, he was more serious than anyone.

"No. It’s too late. Everything you listed is spicy; you shouldn’t eat it at night."

When Simon Lockwood finished, he saw her head droop in disappointment. He sighed helplessly, his voice softening as he tried to coax her. "I’ll make them for you tomorrow, how about that?"

"Really?"

"Really."

Joanna Kennedy reluctantly agreed. Tomorrow was only a few hours away. She could wait. It’s not like she was some kind of fiend for food.

"Then what are we eating tonight?"

"I made stewed pig’s trotters with soybeans, and steamed egg custard," Simon Lockwood said.

Joanna Kennedy’s eyes lit up at the mention of meat. But when she heard "steamed egg custard," her heart gave a sudden, heavy thud.

She instinctively pressed a hand to her chest, confusion clouding her eyes. She didn’t understand the source of that sudden, dull ache, that pang of sorrow. She had to rub the spot firmly before the feeling subsided.

’Maybe I’m just so hungry that hearing about food is making me emotional,’ Joanna Kennedy thought. Feeling even more attached to the man who provided her with such delicious meals, she leaned in and nuzzled her forehead against his arm, saying sweetly, "I love steamed egg custard."

Fried, boiled, or steamed—Joanna Kennedy loved eggs in any form. Simon Lockwood had discovered this long ago, so her words didn’t come as a surprise.

He naturally leaned over and kissed her on the forehead in response.

They walked side by side through the spacious parking garage. The crisp click of her high heels echoed in the quiet as the man’s large hand held her steadily by the waist. As they walked, Joanna Kennedy found herself unconsciously leaning against him.

Under the lights, their two silhouettes merged into one—at times seeming to drift apart, yet always coming back together, as if they would never truly be separated.

From a dark corner, a grim-faced man in a black car took in the entire scene. He stared intently at the couple, but the moment he got a clear look at the man’s face, he instinctively ducked down.

It was a fear carved into his very bones. Even knowing the man couldn’t see him, his instinct was to hide.

A single kick had broken three of his ribs. God only knew how he’d gotten through his time in the hospital. The injuries hadn’t fully healed yet, and even this simple movement of ducking down sent a wave of excruciating pain through him.

Jax gritted his teeth in agony. Remembering First Young Master Sinclair’s orders, he forced himself to pull out his phone, snap a few photos, and send them off.

If Joanna Kennedy had been there, she would have recognized him immediately. It was Jax, the bodyguard whom Simon Lockwood had kicked half to death that day.

After he sent the photos, no reply came, just an implicit order to keep watching and not to make any rash moves.

When wealthy brothers fight, it’s the hired help who suffers. The more Jax thought about it, the more resentful he felt. Only when the couple was completely out of sight did he dare to slam his fist on the steering wheel in frustration.

「Meanwhile, at the Sinclair estate.」

Old Master Sinclair had been furious the last time this came up and had only just recovered his composure. Now, hearing the butler’s report, he was so enraged he looked ready to start throwing plates and smashing bowls all over again.

The family doctor had to plead and reason with him just to get him to calm down. But his voice was still a furious, teeth-grinding hiss. "They’re living together?! He moved into *her* house?!"

"Yes..." the butler replied, trembling.

"Fine... just fine..." Old Master Sinclair practically spat the words, clenching his jaw so hard it felt like his teeth would shatter.

At his side, Jasper Sinclair added unhurriedly, "I hear my dear younger brother is using Joanna Kennedy’s supplementary credit card now."

"It seems Joanna Kennedy is quite genuine in her feelings for him. This marriage might not be a bad thing after all."

Before the words had even faded, another teacup was sacrificed, smashing against the floor. Watching the cup shatter into a thousand pieces, Jasper Sinclair’s lips curled into an imperceptible smirk.

Old Master Sinclair’s face was livid with rage.

He never imagined Simon Lockwood could have such audacity. Moving into the woman’s house was one thing, but to also... to also—

No wonder he didn’t want the family’s money! He had someone else footing his bills!

Starlets might be vulgar, but they certainly made a lot of money. That Joanna Kennedy girl had quite a name for herself; she wasn’t hurting for cash.

The son of Sheng Jianli, kept by some little starlet! If word got out, he’d be a laughingstock. At the mere thought of being mocked behind his back, Old Master Sinclair’s heart began to hammer in his chest.

In all his years, no one had ever dared to defy him like this. If Simon Lockwood was opposing him now for some little starlet, who knew what he would do in the future.

This sense of crisis, this feeling of losing control and having his authority challenged, took Old Master Sinclair’s opposition from a seven to a ten.

He absolutely could not allow Simon Lockwood to be with a woman like that.

If the soft approach didn’t work, he would have to resort to force. She was just a celebrity. No matter how famous she was, she was nothing more than a plaything.

Old Master Sinclair narrowed his eyes and whispered something to the butler. His voice was hushed, but if one listened closely, the words were still discernible.

A triumphant glint flashed in Jasper Sinclair’s eyes.

The butler was surprised by Old Master Sinclair’s orders, but he knew better than to comment. It wasn’t until he had left the room that he heaved a sigh, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy for the young starlet.

Of all the people to cross, she had to cross the Sinclairs. Her promising career was likely about to come to an abrupt end.