Chapter 219 - 218
This deeply satisfied his possessiveness, so the thought that another person might have done the same to Joanna Kennedy was unbearable. The mere thought of it made him want to chop off both of Charles Jennings’s hands.
Though Simon Lockwood did his best to appear calm, Joanna Kennedy could see the suppressed emotion in his tense expression.
"He did!" Joanna Kennedy’s voice was crisp. As Simon Lockwood’s expression suddenly darkened, she huffed, "He’s spreading dirty rumors about us!"
............
?
"He said that you... you..." Joanna Kennedy’s face flushed, and her eyes darted away, but she couldn’t stop herself. "He said you taught me... taught me to eat... *that*..."
Simon Lockwood’s brain short-circuited. He didn’t process it at first and asked subconsciously, "Eat what?"
Joanna Kennedy’s face grew even redder. Her shimmering, almond-shaped eyes flicked downward before she quickly averted her gaze.
Simon Lockwood: "..."
Simon Lockwood never, ever would have expected this. He froze like a statue as several R-rated images flashed through his mind. A deep crimson blush instantly spread from his neck to the tips of his ears.
But Joanna Kennedy, completely oblivious, just muttered under her breath, "You would never do that. It’s not like you’re some kind of pervert..."
Simon Lockwood: "..."
After a few seconds, though the thunderous look on Simon Lockwood’s face had faded somewhat, his expression was still grim.
He couldn’t even bring himself to say such crude things in front of Joanna Kennedy for fear of scaring her, yet Charles Jennings actually dared...
A blaze of anger ignited in his chest. Simon Lockwood fought to suppress it, focusing his gaze on her as he promised, "He will never appear before you again."
Joanna Kennedy nodded vigorously, then shook her head. Seeing his expression darken again, she rushed to explain, "It’s not that I want to see him! I just have something I need to ask him."
"What is it?" Simon Lockwood’s expression didn’t soften.
Joanna Kennedy explained everything as concisely as she could. With his sharp mind, Simon Lockwood quickly grasped what she was saying, but he didn’t relent. In a grave voice, he said, "I’ll make him talk."
"But I’m worried he’ll do something to you!" Joanna Kennedy said anxiously.
Her intuition told her that Charles Jennings had a bigger scheme in motion. Otherwise, why would he have made it so easy for Simon Lockwood to rescue her? With the power of that advanced system of his, Charles Jennings could have taken her away effortlessly. The fact that he left her behind meant his objective had already been achieved.
Perhaps she was just a test subject, and Charles Jennings’s ultimate target was Simon Lockwood.
The fact that "protagonist energy" could be transferred forced Joanna Kennedy to wonder if Charles Jennings was after Simon Lockwood’s. That was why she couldn’t allow Simon Lockwood to have any contact with him whatsoever.
Joanna Kennedy explained her concerns. While Simon Lockwood found it all a bit absurd, seeing the earnest worry on her face, he promised, "I’ll be careful."
The man’s expression was serious. There were dark, tell-tale circles under his handsome eyes, revealing a haggardness he couldn’t completely hide. His short black hair was still slightly damp.
Joanna Kennedy grew quiet for a moment, then slowly snuggled into his arms, wrapping her own around his lean, firm waist. Her voice softened. "Why didn’t you dry your hair? What if you catch a cold?"
Simon Lockwood instinctively pulled his cashmere coat around her. She was a small, incredibly docile bundle nestled in his embrace. "I won’t," he said, his tone gentle.
"I have a strong constitution." No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he turned his head and let out a soft sneeze.
Joanna Kennedy: "..."
"There’s a hairdryer in the bathroom. Go dry your hair, now!" Joanna Kennedy ordered, puffing her cheeks.
Simon Lockwood lowered his gaze, his damp black bangs falling naturally across his forehead. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched the corners of his lips as he let out a soft "Mm."
As Joanna Kennedy watched his retreating back, a thought occurred to her and she pressed her lips together.
That afternoon, a full-body examination showed that she was perfectly fine. Joanna Kennedy wanted to be discharged, but Simon Lockwood wouldn’t hear of it, insisting she stay for a few more days of observation.
Unhappy with this, Joanna Kennedy started to act up. She declared a craving for cream puffs and cupcakes, insisting that Simon Lockwood himself had to be the one to go and buy them for her.
Naturally, Simon Lockwood couldn’t refuse. Fussing like a mother hen, he told her not to wander off and to wait for him to return. Joanna Kennedy waved a hand impatiently. "I know, I know..."
She was bold, knowing she was cherished. Simon Lockwood pinched her soft cheek, reluctant to leave. "I’ll go get them, then?"
"Hurry up, hurry up! You’re dawdling..."
Simon Lockwood: "..."
The moment Simon Lockwood left, Julie arrived. She peeked her head in furtively, and upon seeing Joanna Kennedy was alone, she pushed the door open. "Joanna, you were looking for me?"
"Mr. Lockwood isn’t here?"
Normally, when Mr. Lockwood was at the hospital, there was no need for her to be there. She had only come because Joanna Kennedy had texted her.
Joanna Kennedy didn’t answer her question, instead saying, "I need you to find me a female caregiver. Someone experienced, who knows how to look after people."
"What for? Feeling sorry for Mr. Lockwood? Worried he can’t handle the strain?" Julie teased. "Mr. Lockwood’s an iron man! He’s the kind of guy who can go three days and three nights without sleep..."
Joanna Kennedy: "?"
Joanna Kennedy furrowed her brow, confused. "What do you mean, three days and three nights without sleep?"
"You didn’t know?"
Now it was Julie’s turn to be surprised. "For the past few days, while you were unconscious, Mr. Lockwood never left your side. Tsk, tsk. Sometimes I wonder if he’s some kind of android."
No normal person could handle that.
As Julie’s words sank in, Joanna Kennedy froze. She remembered his damp hair, the way he had seemed to rush to her side... he’d been watching over her for that long?
Why didn’t he tell her? Why did he just let her throw a fit?
She couldn’t quite describe the feeling—a pang in her heart mixed with a bubbly warmth. A wave of regret washed over her for making Simon Lockwood run so far just to buy her snacks.
She suppressed her emotions, took a deep breath, and continued, "The caregiver isn’t for me. Have them go directly to the patient in room 402."
"402?" Julie’s memory sparked. "Oh, is that the patient you mentioned before? Serena Sutton?"
"Mhm," Joanna Kennedy nodded.
"You’re paying for it?"
Joanna Kennedy nodded.
So Julie naturally asked, "Joanna, are you two really close? Are you friends? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention her."
Joanna Kennedy pursed her lips. "Not exactly."
Julie: "..."
"Don’t tell her it was me," Joanna Kennedy said after a moment’s thought. "Just say... say the hospital assigned a caregiver, or that it’s a volunteer."
Julie: "...??"
*They aren’t friends, yet she’s hiring a caregiver for her, paying for everything, and doesn’t even want the other person to know? What kind of complicated relationship was this?*
Julie was dying to gossip more, but seeing the look on Joanna Kennedy’s face, she wisely held her tongue. "Alright, I’ll go arrange it right now. Don’t worry, she won’t find out."
"Thank you," Joanna Kennedy said.
Julie waved a hand dismissively. "Don’t mention it."
Joanna Kennedy offered a small smile and said nothing more, her gaze drifting to the window.