Joanna Kennedy replayed what she had just done, and the thought made her want to die. Clinging to a final shred of hope, she asked, "You... were you drunk or awake?"

"What do you think?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"..."

She could no longer deceive herself. She had to make one last gamble. "...Then when did you wake up?"

Simon Lockwood’s gaze darkened. "The moment you pinched me."

"..."

His words were blunt and crude, completely unfiltered.

Joanna Kennedy’s heart seized. She felt her entire body ignite, her face so hot it felt like it would explode. She squeezed her eyes shut and played dead.

Joanna Kennedy was beautiful. When she was baring her teeth and claws, she was bright and dazzling, but the moment she grew quiet, she seemed incredibly docile.

As Simon Lockwood gazed at her, a sadistic urge rose within him, swelling to a breaking point before he forcefully pushed it down.

’Simon Lockwood, don’t go crazy.’

He warned himself over and again, yet he couldn’t calm his heart.

’Whose fault is this?’ he wondered.

’Joanna Kennedy’s, of course.’

Cruel when she should be tender, yet tender and affectionate when she should be cruel.

Why should he restrain himself for someone like her? Joanna Kennedy had brought this on herself.

Darkness completely consumed Simon Lockwood’s gaze. He lowered his head and pressed an undeniable kiss onto the lips he’d longed for day and night.

"Mmph..."

Joanna Kennedy’s eyes flew wide open. Filled with shock and disbelief, she tried to push the man off her.

But her strength was like that of a small animal; the man easily subdued her with a single hand.

Their breaths mingled, charging the air with intimacy. Nightfall brewed with unspoken desires.

Simon Lockwood’s kiss was anything but gentle—it was downright savage. A faint taste of blood filled her mouth, and the base of Joanna Kennedy’s tongue throbbed with pain. Tears welled in the corners of her eyes.

Just as she was about to run out of air, Simon Lockwood finally released her mouth, only to sink his teeth viciously into her neck.

The tears she’d been holding back finally fell. Joanna Kennedy cried until her eyes were red, cursing at him through her sobs, "Are you a damn dog...?"

’Even a dog wouldn’t keep biting the same spot.’

Joanna Kennedy was stunned by the pain. She tried to push him away with all her might, but her body was completely limp, and she couldn’t muster any strength.

Frustrated with her own weakness, Joanna Kennedy turned her face away and wept in silence.

She was aggrieved and pitiful, utterly bullied, yet she could only hide in her tormentor’s arms and weep quietly.

Simon Lockwood couldn’t resist and lowered his head to bite her again.

Joanna Kennedy: "..."

The overlapping pain, now itchy and numb, was more than Joanna Kennedy could take. She had only pinched Simon Lockwood’s face—she hadn’t bitten him!

How could Simon Lockwood be so cruel? A mix of anger and grievance washed over Joanna Kennedy as tears streamed down her face. She sobbed, gasping for breath, looking as if she had just lost the will to live.

Simon Lockwood’s heart melted into a pool of warm water. Gently and patiently, he wiped away her tears. "Don’t cry..."

She only cried harder. A sharp, sour pain pierced Simon Lockwood’s heart. Half-coaxing, half-threatening, he said, "Cry again, and I’ll bite you again."

Joanna Kennedy’s sobs stopped abruptly, her tear-streaked, crimson face a mask of shock and fear.

’Is that something a human being would say?!’

’She was going to die at Simon Lockwood’s hands tonight.’

"You can bite me back," Simon Lockwood suggested earnestly.

Joanna Kennedy glared at him, her meaning obvious: she wasn’t capable of such a perverted act.

Seeing this, Simon Lockwood had no choice but to state his case plainly. "You started it."

"But I didn’t bite you!" Joanna Kennedy finally burst out, her voice still thick with sobs.

"..."

He had no comeback for that.

Simon Lockwood fell silent for a moment before deciding to change the subject. "How did I end up here?"

Joanna Kennedy retaliated by yanking his shirt to wipe away her tears. Hearing his question, she snorted twice and said sarcastically, "Mr. Lockwood got drunk and was dumped on me."

"You could have refused," Simon Lockwood said, narrowing his eyes. "Why bring me home?"

That was some nerve, acting innocent after getting his way.

Unwilling to let him have the upper hand, Joanna Kennedy said, "I’m a kind person."

It was unclear whether Simon Lockwood believed her or not. He stared at Joanna Kennedy for a while, but didn’t press the matter, reverting to his usual poised and detached manner. "Thank you."

Joanna Kennedy had been afraid he would keep questioning her, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The intimate tension in the air hadn’t dissipated, and the lingering, strange sensations on her neck and tongue were a constant reminder of what had just occurred.

"You... you should go home now that you’re sober," Joanna Kennedy said, taking a deep breath and trying to keep her voice even.

Her thoughts were a mess, and Simon Lockwood’s presence was only making them more chaotic.

To her surprise, Simon Lockwood said, "I can’t."

His tone was calm, but Joanna Kennedy grew agitated. "What do you mean?"

"I don’t have my car, and I didn’t bring my phone."

"..."

’Oh, right. Simon Lockwood’s assistant had driven his car away.’

’Besides, even if he had the car, Simon Lockwood couldn’t drive it. He’d been drinking.’

Joanna Kennedy felt her spirits sink. She thought of another solution. "I can call you a car?"

’She’s that desperate for me to leave.’

Simon Lockwood’s expression grew cold. "I can sleep on the sofa," he said.

"The sofa is tiny..." Joanna Kennedy said, meaning it sincerely.

’A man as tall as Simon Lockwood would be miserable spending a night curled up on that sofa. His legs would be completely numb by morning.’

But to Simon Lockwood’s ears, it sounded like just another attempt to get rid of him.

Having already made it clear once that he didn’t want to leave, Simon Lockwood couldn’t bring himself to say it a second time. His voice turned cold. "Do whatever you want."

"So, I’ll call you a car?"

Joanna Kennedy was hurt by his sudden coldness and silently picked up her phone.

The moment her fingers touched the phone, Simon Lockwood shot to his feet as if he couldn’t bear it another second. He walked toward the exit, stumbling slightly as he reached the bedroom door.

Joanna Kennedy’s heart clenched, and she was just about to say something.

But Simon Lockwood was already in the living room. With his back to her, he said in a voice devoid of emotion, "You really can’t stand the sight of me, can you? Joanna Kennedy, sometimes I suspect you don’t even have a heart."

His wavering resolve hardened once more. ’A person like Joanna Kennedy doesn’t respond to sincerity,’ he thought. ’To keep her, you just have to slowly tighten the leash. Once she can no longer escape, you cage her for good.’

"...I’m not—"

Her confused voice was drowned out by the heavy slam of the front door.

After a long moment, there was only silence. The faint smell of alcohol still hanging in the air was proof that what had just transpired was not a dream.

Joanna Kennedy stood rooted to the spot, her eyes downcast, her expression lost.

She didn’t understand how things had turned out this way again.

’This isn’t what she wanted...’

Joanna Kennedy wasn’t a fool. She could sense that Simon Lockwood still cared for her, a realization that brought her both joy and an irrepressible sense of dread.

Because she couldn’t be sure if what Simon Lockwood felt for her now was love, or merely obsession.

Joanna Kennedy was open-minded about most things, but when it came to love, she was stubborn. If she weren’t, she never would have fallen for Simon Lockwood in the first place.

The Simon Lockwood from six years ago had given her a love so pure and passionate that she hadn’t been able to forget it, even after all these years.