Chapter 163 - 162: So Hard to Admit
"Hello, Mr. Lockwood."
"Mr. Lockwood, I’m..."
The scions of prominent families, all wealthy and influential, immediately stood to greet the man with deference as he entered.
One of them, a man with plain features but a tall build and an exceptional air about him, smiled and extended his hand.
"Mr. Lockwood, I’m afraid we’re intruding. I heard from Sean Grant that this resort belongs to the Southland Group and isn’t typically open to the public. We’re fortunate to have this opportunity."
The man’s attitude was frank, his words generous and natural. Simon Lockwood politely shook his hand. "Not at all. You’re too kind, President Valentine."
Liam Valentine, heir to Marinus’s number one enterprise. Southland Group had recently taken on a tourism development project, and the Valentine Family had been eager to invest and get a piece of the pie.
’This man is a deep one.’ Simon had not wanted to work with him, but considering the Valentine Family and the Grant Family were old family friends, he hadn’t outright rejected him.
He hadn’t expected the man to follow him all the way here.
Liam Valentine acted as if he didn’t find his own shameless persistence the least bit awkward. Instead, he glanced at the girl beside Simon and asked quizzically, "Mr. Lockwood, and this is...?"
"Joanna Kennedy, my wife." Simon’s tone was unchanged, his manner natural, as if stating a universally known fact.
Liam Valentine was a little surprised, but he kept a straight face. "So, Mr. Lockwood’s wife. It’s a pleasure, Miss Kennedy."
Joanna Kennedy still hadn’t snapped out of it, stunned by Simon’s declaration.
’This resort... is Simon’s?’
’When did he buy it? Why would he buy it?’
An answer was on the tip of her tongue, but Joanna didn’t dare to entertain the thought.
Liam Valentine called out her name again, a hint of confusion in his voice, "Miss Kennedy?" Only then did Joanna snap back to reality, forcing a polite smile in response.
After a few more pleasantries, Liam Valentine tactfully invited Simon Lockwood to dinner. Simon knew he was trying to lobby for the partnership deal, so he didn’t refuse.
"Well, I won’t keep you then, Mr. Lockwood. Why don’t you go back to your room and rest for a bit? We can talk in more detail later tonight." Having achieved his goal, Liam Valentine’s smile deepened as he spoke with perfect tact.
Simon Lockwood gave a polite nod and led Joanna Kennedy by the hand toward the elevators.
Everyone else was staying on the third and fourth floors, so the fifth floor was completely quiet. Opening the door to their room, they were greeted by the fresh scent of sea salt aromatherapy.
The room was spotless. Joanna opened the curtains. Several strands of seashell crafts hung on either side of the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking quite lovely. Beyond them was an endless expanse of blue ocean.
Many boats, large and small, dotted the sea.
Simon Lockwood took a fresh set of sheets and a duvet cover from the suitcase and began changing the bedding with brisk, efficient movements. Joanna sidled up to him hesitantly. "Let me help you with that..."
Seeing Simon looking down and not saying a word, Joanna coughed twice to break the silence. "So, you told him I was your wife?"
Simon Lockwood raised his eyelids and glanced at her, his meaning clear—’You heard me, so why are you asking?’
Joanna felt a little awkward. After a long internal struggle, she couldn’t help but ask, "This resort is yours, isn’t it?"
"Why are you asking about that?" Simon’s movements faltered for a moment as he straightened the sheets, but he didn’t answer directly.
The more he acted like this, the more she couldn’t hold back.
She wanted to ask Simon if he had built this resort for her, but she was also afraid of hearing a "yes."
But if she didn’t ask, with a personality like Simon’s, he could keep it to himself for a lifetime and never say a word.
"Simon... is it because of me?" Joanna asked softly. "Did you buy this beach and build a private resort... because of me?"
She left him no room for retreat, asking him so directly that he had no way to evade it.
Simon froze, his eyes lowered. His Adam’s apple bobbed once, but he didn’t answer.
People are so contradictory sometimes.
He always hoped Joanna could feel his love, but more often than not, he did his best to hide it, not wanting her to find out.
Love that was too intense could be suffocating, and he didn’t want Joanna to feel pressured.
"...No." Simon finally said slowly, going against his heart. After speaking, he resigned himself to await her judgment.
’Joanna might fly into a rage out of humiliation,’ he thought, ’or maybe she’ll just be disappointed.’
But to his surprise, the next second he heard her say, "Liar."
Joanna took a deep breath. "Simon Lockwood, I refuse to believe a word you say."
"You did it for me, and you won’t even admit it!" Joanna played dumb, indignant. "Is it that hard to admit you love me?! Am I not worthy?!"
Simon Lockwood: "..."
Simon didn’t feel like talking anymore. He felt his earlier worries were completely overwrought and melodramatic.
Joanna was still rambling on. Simon pinched her cheek, turning her face to the side. "Don’t talk to me," he said, his expression blank.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
’Alright, alright. He’s furious from embarrassment now.’
With her cheeks being pinched, Joanna couldn’t even speak properly. She shook her head and struggled like a slippery fish.
Simon felt a headache coming on as he watched her. He let go.
Freed, Joanna immediately rubbed her reddened cheeks. Her phone buzzed, pulling her resentful gaze away from Simon.
It was Anna Yates, asking if she had arrived.
Joanna asked where she was, and Anna replied that she was walking toward the villa.
So, Joanna glanced down from the floor-to-ceiling window and, sure enough, saw Anna Yates, who had just gotten off a boat.
"Simon, I’m going down to find Anna, okay?" Joanna’s moods came and went quickly. In an instant, she was carefree again.
Simon felt his headache worsen. The refusal on the tip of his tongue took a detour, and instead, he said, "Take your phone and a jacket. Don’t run off."
Joanna nodded emphatically.
On her way down, the elevator doors opened on the third floor. A fashionably dressed young man with his arm around a curvaceous woman entered, and the small space was instantly filled with the overwhelming scent of perfume.
Joanna didn’t like the smell and instinctively took a few steps back. When she inadvertently looked up, her gaze met the woman’s.
"Joanna Kennedy!" the woman cried out in shock, her tone almost an interrogation. "What are you doing here?!"
Charlotte Underwood.
After her own initial surprise, Joanna was amused by Charlotte Underwood’s indignant question. She raised an eyebrow. "What’s it to you?"
"You!" Charlotte was clearly furious, her pretty face flushing red. However, she had to maintain her gentle and sweet image in front of the man, so she could only shut her mouth resentfully.
The young man, however, suddenly spoke up. "You’re Miss Kennedy, right? I’m a fan of yours."
The man’s voice was flippant, his words lacking any real respect. He extended a hand as he spoke, his eyes glued to Joanna’s face.
Charlotte Underwood, of course, knew what that look in his eyes meant. This was the new backer she had worked so hard to find. A flicker of panic crossed her face, and she clung to the man’s arm, whining, "Mr. Warren..."
The "Mr. Warren" she addressed ignored her, his hand still extended.
Joanna grew impatient under his lecherous gaze and her expression turned cold. "Oh."
Ron Warren: "..."
The elevator doors opened at that moment. Paying no mind to the expressions on their faces, Joanna walked straight out, not deigning to give them so much as a single glance.