Chapter 49: Chapter 48
166: [...]
’Damn, what an accurate guess.’
It quickly reviewed Joanna Kennedy’s life over the past six years and said, [Why are you an actress again?]
[I had no choice. No other job would pay the bills,] Joanna replied wearily.
was silent for a moment before saying, [I told you not to donate everything. I told you to keep some for yourself, but you just had to refuse. Serves you right.]
’She’s usually so calculating, but she was so quick and decisive when it came to donating money. Why is a villainess trying to build a noble, righteous persona?’ 166 was incredibly frustrated with her failure to live up to expectations.
It didn’t understand human emotions, and Joanna Kennedy had no interest in explaining them to it.
A shadow fell over her, and Joanna assumed Charlotte Underwood had returned.
’Tsk, this woman just doesn’t quit.’ Without even looking up, she said impatiently, "Do you really want me to go find President Lawson?"
"President Lawson?" The man’s voice was gentle and pleasant, tinged with confusion.
Joanna looked up, her brow furrowing. "Charles Jennings?"
This was the first time she had seen Charles Jennings in two years.
Two years ago, after inheriting the Jennings family business, Charles Jennings had, for some inexplicable reason, found her apartment. He had acted strangely, asking her, "I’m thinking of sending Serena to a school in Meridia for advanced studies. What do you think?"
Meridia. The same place Simon Lockwood was.
To think that after four years, Serena Sutton was still hung up on Simon Lockwood, and Charles Jennings was still just as unconditionally in love with her.
’But why did he have to come and tell me of all people? Did he find it satisfying to see me looking so lost and heartbroken?’
Joanna Kennedy didn’t understand what he was thinking. She just smiled. "Whatever makes you happy."
Charles Jennings didn’t reply, just stared at her intently for a long moment. When he saw no trace of sadness on her face, he finally let out a soft laugh. "Of course I’m happy."
He then asked, "Why did you come back to Aethelburg?"
His accusatory tone amused Joanna. "This is my hometown. Do I need to check in with you before I come back?"
"Joanna, the entertainment industry is a tough business. If you need money, you can just tell me."
He just kept rattling on, saying whatever he pleased. Joanna found it utterly baffling. "If you have so much money you don’t know what to do with it, donate it to the government."
After that unpleasant conversation, Charles Jennings never contacted her again. And since they moved in completely different social circles, she had never seen him again either.
Charles Jennings asked again, "Who is President Lawson? What do you need him for?"
Joanna Kennedy pretended not to hear.
Charles Jennings said, "Joanna Kennedy, answer me."
’Heh, so he really did inherit the family fortune. Now that he’s President Jennings, he’s a completely different person. Everything he says has an accusatory edge.’
Joanna Kennedy sneered. "What does it have to do with you?"
She enunciated every word, making no attempt to hide her irritation. "President Jennings, we’re not close. Can you please stop appearing in front of me for no reason and spouting nonsense? It’s creeping me out."
"..." Charles Jennings’s expression flickered for an instant, though a closer look revealed nothing had changed. He softened his tone, remaining polite and gentle. "You don’t need to be so hostile toward me."
Joanna Kennedy immediately waved her hands dismissively. "No, no, no, don’t read too much into it. We’re practically strangers, where would any hostility come from?"
Charles Jennings fell silent for a moment, then said,
"Joanna, I came to tell you today that Simon Lockwood... he’s..."
Suddenly, a commotion erupted, cutting off Charles Jennings’s unfinished sentence.
Many of the evening’s most prominent guests began moving in unison toward the entrance of the banquet hall, their movements accompanied by a chorus of fawning compliments.
"I’ve heard so much about you, Mr. Lockwood, but we’ve never had the pleasure of meeting. Seeing you today, I can tell the rumors are true—a truly brilliant young talent!"
"Indeed, indeed! Each generation brings forth its own great talents. Mr. Lockwood, we hope you will guide us in the future."
"Mr. Lockwood, hello, I’m..."
These wealthy tycoons of Aethelburg’s high society, normally so proud, were all shaking his hand and exchanging pleasantries. Most were in their forties and fifties, yet they carried themselves like his subordinates.
More often than not, absolute power transcends age, inspiring an awe that prevents anyone from daring to be disrespectful, let alone pull rank.
The man at the center of this adoring crowd was half a head taller than anyone around him. His figure was tall and imposing, with a sharp jawline and lips curved in a perfectly calibrated smile. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the high bridge of his nose, obscuring his coolly handsome eyes.
Joanna’s breath hitched. She stared, transfixed, for a long time. In a daze, she was transported back to that old alley from six years ago—under the moonlit sky, in front of the rose bushes, with the boy who was still so green...
After passing through layers of misty dreams, his face was finally, clearly, in front of her once more.
Simon Lockwood had changed, and yet he seemed the same. He used to be completely expressionless, keeping everyone at a distance, but now he responded to the flattery and small talk with practiced ease.
The cold arrogance in his expression was gone, replaced by a calm, steady maturity.
Charles Jennings followed her gaze and also saw Simon Lockwood, surrounded by the crowd. He’d known six years ago that Simon was no ordinary person, destined for bigger things.
But he was still shocked when he learned that Simon Lockwood was the president of Southland.
"...He’s very impressive," Charles Jennings said.
Joanna, still looking in that direction, replied with firm conviction, "Of course he is."
Her tone held an unmistakable pride, as if she were the one being complimented.
Charles Jennings gazed at her slightly reddened eyes and, after a moment, asked, "Do you regret it?"
’If only she had known Simon Lockwood would become this successful, she would have stuck it out with him through the hard times.’
Joanna Kennedy didn’t answer.
Charles Jennings regretted the question as soon as he asked it. ’What answer was I even hoping to hear?’ he thought.
The Jennings family’s current situation wasn’t great, and he had also come tonight hoping to connect with the president of Southland. He was already a step behind and couldn’t delay any longer.
Charles Jennings left. Joanna was still thinking about his question. It wasn’t that she was being overly sentimental; she just found his question laughable.
’Regret what?’
Joanna had never felt she’d done anything wrong. Others could only see Simon Lockwood’s current success, but she had known the answer from the very beginning. She had always chosen the path she believed was right.
Perhaps her stare was too intense, or perhaps Charles Jennings had said something when he went over, but Simon Lockwood’s gaze slowly drifted in her direction.
Joanna’s breath caught in her throat.
Simon Lockwood’s gaze was placid, utterly devoid of emotion. It rested on her face for a mere second before moving on, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
...
’That’s right. Six years... It’s a long time. Long enough for a person to forget a less-than-perfect young love.’
She had prepared herself for this, and yet... the pain still caught her completely off guard.
A gentle, elegant-looking heiress walked up to Simon Lockwood’s side and said something to him. Joanna watched as a soft smile touched his lips.
The small cake no longer tasted sweet. Joanna suddenly felt suffocated. She asked a waiter for the location of the balcony, and as she got up to leave, she felt a familiar gaze on her back. When she turned to look, it was gone.
To avoid disturbing the other guests, she deliberately used a side door. She hadn’t expected to be followed.
Joanna’s expression was cold, her tone distant. "President Lawson, what are you doing out here?"
