The Manipulated Villainess

Leon rose from his seat and look at the banner and photos. "I think they need some change." He glanced at Nicole and the latter nodded with a smile.

They walked to where the banner was hanged and they flipped it over. Everyone was in awe when they see the other side of the banner. Not only Aston's name but Shara's real name was also written there. There were also some photos of her. Now, all the decorations were dedicated to the twins.

Shara walked to the banner and observed it. "I thought that we prepared everything together. How come I don't know about this?" She said as she glanced at Leon and Nicole.

"This is a secret." Leon promptly said as he stood behind Shara, placing his hands on her shoulders.

Shara frowned a bit and break free from him. Then she walked to Aston who was sitting just a few steps away. "We are finally celebrating our birthday together again." She said, smiling at him.

Aston glanced at the banner and nodded. "I never once celebrate our birthday without you, Aria."

"Me too," Shara said which made him raised a brow. Then Leon chimed in.

"She claimed that she didn't remember her birthday. But... " Leon turned to Shara with a slight frown. "It turns out that she was lying."

"You should have told us sooner, Aston," Liam said and glanced at Shara. "If we know it beforehand, we will be able to bring a gift for Aria too."

Aston tried to explain that he only finds out too but...

"Meeting you again is already a gift for me, Liam," Shara muttered and glanced at Samuel. "You too, Samuel. I'm glad to know that Aston has a good friend like you. Your presence is already a gift for me."

After chatting for a while, they had dinner and it was followed by desserts. Nicole hired a chef to prepare all the dishes for this special occasion.

It was already 10 p.m. when Liam and Samuel tried to go home. Aston and Nicole see them out.

"Thank you so much for coming. Aston told me that I can ask you for help if I have a problem as you are a detective. But I'm not quite pleased because you tracked me down that day while I was in the cemetery." Nicole jokingly said to Liam and the latter chuckled.

"I did that to help my lovestruck friend but... let's hope that there won't be next time." Liam dryly said and Aston frowned.

"I still find it hard to believe that my friend manages to have someone like you. Did you know this, Nicole? Aston has a long history of dating. He had dated many actresses - "

Samuel couldn't finish his words as Aston covered his mouth with his hand. "I will see them off. Go back in." Aston promptly said and pulled out his two friends.

Nicole stared at them for a while and lightly chuckled as she shook her head. Then she walked back inside the house.

"You should watch your mouth, Samuel Yoo," Aston said to his friend with an annoyed face.

"Why? Now, that you met the right one, you are ashamed of your past?" Samuel jokingly said to him. He glanced at Aston with a mischievous smile.

Aston helplessly shook his head. "You should also stop playing around if you don't want to end up like me. You will surely regret it when you meet the right one." He slightly raised his right palm and looked at his two friends. "I'm going back. Let's meet up again some other day."

When Aston walked inside the house, he saw Nicole chatting with Shara and Leon. He quickly joined them and sat next to Nicole.

"I have many questions, Aria. I want to know how you live on after leaving that orphanage, who is that lady who takes you away and... " He briefly glanced at Leon. "How you meet him and end up with him."

The house became very quiet for a while until Leon said, "I will answer for her. Shara is not comfortable speaking of her past."

"Leon," Shara said but Leon holds her hand and nodded his head at her. Then he turned to the confused Aston.

"When I first met your sister, she was 13 years old. She was trying to run far away from the orphanage and that was when my mother saw her coincidentally. Then my mother brought her home."

Aston darted his eyes to Shara. "Does that mean you stay with the Jung family since then? They raised you?"

Shara nodded and Leon continued. "She didn't speak even when we asked her name. My mother ended up giving her a new name and she also inherited my mother's surname, Lee. Shara Lee."

"After staying with us for a while, my mother finally succeeded in making Shara talked. After hearing out her story, my mother decided to let her stay with us. That's why she asked the orphanage Director not to search for her anymore."

"I led a good and sheltered life, Aston," Shara spoke up. "I went to school with Leon and learn everything with him. They looked after me as their own. If it's not because of their help, I won't reach where I am now."

Aston truly wished to ask her about how she became a member of Blackhood. He knows very well that each member was well trained. Why did she choose such a path? But still, Nicole didn't know about this and he can't bring it up now.

Shara stared at her brother and understood what he was thinking about. Then she said, "I want to know this. The Jung's never forced me into anything. Every path I take is my own choice." She was also very curious. What made him join the gang and how did he live his life until now? But she wasn't sure if it was the right time.

"I'm glad to hear that, Aria. I always wondered if you are still alive. How you grow up, where you are now and... If you are happy or not." He briefly glanced at Leon and wondered if his sister was happy with him. Not to mention that he once used to love Nicole. However, he knew that his sister loved Leon. Her eyes said so.

"I am happy, Aston. I have Leon and now that I met you, all my wish are fulfilled." Shara paused and asked, "Then what about you? Are you happy? How did you live your life?"

Aston turned to Nicole and smiled. "You can see how happy I am, Aria. She makes me regain my smile and about my past... I will tell you some other day."

Would he tell her that he joined the gang and failed to live an honourable life, all because he wished to find her?! He would prevent it as much as he could. Besides, it will only make her blame herself!

His response only made Shara more worried but she reluctantly nodded. "Okay, let's do that."

After chatting for a while more, Shara and Leon bid goodbye and left the house. Leon drives the car but he was very quiet. This was so unlike him and it made Shara worried.

"Leon, is something wrong?" She calmly asked. Leon didn't say anything and she thought that he wasn't going to answer her. She tried to say something again but...

"It would be nice if you tell me your birthday, Shara. We will surely celebrate it together each year and you won't need to say that you haven't celebrated your birthday for many years now." Leon's disappointment was so evident in his voice.

Leon was rarely upset with her and... she didn't know what to do. She never revealed her birthday because she was reminded of the past. However, she never thought that he would wish to celebrate with her each year!

"I'm sorry. I was convinced that it would only bring back bittersweet memories and - "

"I have told you many times, Shara. All these years, I worked hard to let all your bad memories wiped away by good ones. If we celebrate your birthday in the past, I would make sure that I give you happy and precious memories that will overcome your fear of being hurt." He paused and recalled one thing.

"I saw the way Aston look at me. He doubts that you are happy with me. I understand why he thinks that way but still... it hurt me. I want to give you all happiness. I want you to stop having those haunting nightmares and only build happy memories with me. I want to do that."

Before Shara could respond, Leon pulled over the car and turned to her. "But I won't blame you. I know that most of it are my fault. I will give my all and prove to Aston that your decision is not wrong. I will show him that."

"Why do you care so much about how he thinks of you?" Shara promptly asked.

"Because he's your brother," Leon muttered. "I'm well aware of how much you love your brother, so I don't want to make things hard for you."