With a deathly pale face and red-rimmed eyes, Serena Sutton was just about to step into the elevator when she caught sight of her out of the corner of her eye.

She had just been rebuffed by Simon Lockwood, and now she’d run into Joanna Kennedy. A wave of raw hatred washed over Serena Sutton.

’Pathetic imitation... pathetic imitation...’

Serena Sutton’s fingernails dug into her palms so hard they nearly broke the skin. She struggled to compose herself, trying not to look so wretched.

Joanna Kennedy glanced at her, not wanting to engage, and raised her hand to knock on the door.

Serena Sutton quickly approached, stopping her with a low, stiff voice, "What are you doing here?!"

Joanna Kennedy lowered her hand and tilted her head to look at her. "What’s it to you?"

"This is Southland, not your Kennedy Company!" Serena Sutton said through clenched teeth.

The top floor housed only the CEO’s office, so no employees would be walking through the hallway. This was why Serena Sutton dared to be so confrontational.

Joanna Kennedy’s tone was level. "You said it yourself, this is Southland. I’ll stop coming when Simon Lockwood tells me to."

Joanna Kennedy hated Serena Sutton’s proprietorial air.

’Serena Sutton was the "heroine," and that was all. It didn’t mean Joanna had to defer to her.’

If everything had gone according to the script, Serena Sutton would have been Simon Lockwood’s fiancée, and her words would have mortified Joanna.

But as things stood, Serena Sutton wasn’t Simon Lockwood’s fiancée, or even his girlfriend. At most, they were just boss and employee.

Hearing Joanna’s retort, Serena Sutton’s expression turned ugly for a moment. Then, as if remembering something, she lifted her chin and said, "I know all about how you forced Simon Lockwood to be with you."

Joanna Kennedy froze.

Serena Sutton continued, "Simon Lockwood and I were together abroad for nearly three years. Back then, Southland Group was just a tiny company."

She paused before continuing, "Simon Lockwood had classes during the day, and he’d rush to the office the moment he was free. He often worked past midnight. During the most difficult time, he drank himself into a stomach hemorrhage. A business partner had to send him to the hospital straight from a dinner."

Serena Sutton’s tone turned accusatory. "You only see his success now, so you’re desperate to latch onto him. But do you have any idea what he’s been through to get here?"

Joanna Kennedy was completely frozen to the spot.

’All of this... Simon Lockwood had never mentioned any of it.’

Joanna Kennedy knew the past six years couldn’t have been easy for Simon Lockwood. Building a business empire from scratch must have come with immense hardship.

’But she had always held onto a sliver of wishful thinking. Simon Lockwood was the "male lead," after all. He was so smart and driven; how could he have suffered so miserably? She had forgotten that when he first started his business, he was just a young man in his early twenties.’

’The six years the novel had just breezed past were the thorny path that transformed a young man into the head of Southland Group. He had been battered and bruised every step of the way...’

"Simon Lockwood is incredible." Serena Sutton’s voice swelled with pride. "He was always number one, even back in school. And when he went abroad, surrounded by geniuses from all over the world, he was still number one."

Serena Sutton’s tone suddenly turned disdainful. "And you? You didn’t even finish high school. Now you’re just scraping by in the entertainment industry on your looks. What makes you think you have any right to be with Simon Lockwood?"

.........

After she finished speaking, Serena Sutton waited to see Joanna looking guilty and humiliated.

But Joanna didn’t retreat in shame as expected. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, her gaze was cold. "So? I’m not worthy, but you are?"

Serena Sutton’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Joanna said, "Simon Lockwood is a normal person. He has his own feelings and doesn’t need you making decisions for him. He’s not some perfect trophy for you to flaunt."

"So, now, can you leave?" Joanna’s tone was calm.

It was a question, but it left no room for argument.

Serena Sutton glared at her for a long moment before leaving, defeated.

After Serena Sutton left, Joanna Kennedy stood there for several minutes, her gaze lowered and unfocused on the cold tiles of the floor.

’A bleeding stomach... sent to the hospital... working past midnight...’

’And that was just the tip of the iceberg—only what Serena Sutton knew...’

’What else had Simon Lockwood endured during those first few years abroad?’

’Since they’d reunited, Simon Lockwood had never mentioned any of it.’

’Why not tell her about all this suffering and make her feel guilty?’

’Was it because he didn’t want to? Or was it because... he felt there was no need to tell her?’

Joanna Kennedy’s mind was in chaos. Biting her lip, she pushed the door open and walked in. A blast of frigid air hit her, making her freeze for a second.

It was followed by a man’s dark, chilling voice. "I said, get—"

Seeing the girl standing stunned in the doorway, Simon Lockwood’s voice died in his throat.

Joanna Kennedy was dressed in a T-shirt and pants. It looked like she had been crying; the corners of her eyes were red. The blast of cold air made her let out a quiet sneeze.

Simon Lockwood silently turned up the thermostat.

"Who let you come up here?" Simon Lockwood’s voice was still cold, but the dark hostility in his eyes had vanished completely.

The man stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, making no move to come closer. Joanna closed the door and approached him.

The chill air had made Joanna’s mind clearer than ever.

Simon Lockwood’s face had an unnatural flush, his normally calm eyes were bloodshot, and his lips were an unnervingly deep red.

Joanna didn’t answer his question, simply walking closer. Simon Lockwood took a step back, but she only paused for a second before continuing toward him.

And so, Simon Lockwood stopped moving, standing rigid on the spot.

They were standing very close. Joanna lifted her face, her beautiful eyes gazing up at him. "Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?"

"...Why should I?"

Simon Lockwood’s eyelids were half-lowered as he stared into her eyes. "Would I get better if I told you?"

’Or... would anyone even care?’

’He didn’t need that.’

’That winter, beneath the classroom building, he had managed to earn a little of her pity and concern. Back then, he had truly believed that Joanna Kennedy liked him.’

’But later, after replaying that moment in his mind for years, he finally understood. That concern had been nothing more than a tool she used to get what she wanted.’

............

Silence fell between them, broken only by the soft, rhythmic hum of the air conditioner.

Joanna watched his Adam’s apple bob. After a long moment, she finally spoke, her voice very soft. "You always do this... You never say anything."

"Simon Lockwood... I hate this side of you."

’Hate?’

’That’s fine. At least it’s better than being forgotten.’

The heartache had made him numb, allowing him to stay calm. Simon Lockwood let out a soft, bitter laugh. "Then I hate you, too."

The hurtful words had tumbled out, but it was the one who’d spoken them who felt a dull, suffocating pain.

They stared at each other in silence. Joanna’s eyes grew even redder. The fingers at Simon Lockwood’s side slowly curled into a fist. After a few seconds, he tore his gaze away, unable to look at her any longer.

Joanna blinked her stinging eyes. The black office desk was neat and bare, making the insulated thermos sitting on it incredibly conspicuous.

Joanna’s mind flashed back to what Serena Sutton had said.

Blinking back her tears, Joanna took a deep breath and said, "I saw her. Serena Sutton."