The Manipulated Villainess

Without uttering anything, Nicole stared at Aston who was coming her way. She wanted to say something but... she was afraid to make a mistake.

When Aston was two or three steps away, he halted and slightly bowed to Garcia Han.

"You came earlier than I thought." Garcia Han simply said, a little smile on her face.

"I can't just sit still while she is in this condition. I rearrange my schedule for today." Aston briefly glanced at Nicole but he turned to Garcia Han right away.

Garcia Han turned to the confused Nicole. "Aston Kang called me in the morning, saying he couldn't reach you. So, I told him to come here." Then she picked up her bag which was on the couch a few steps away. "I have an important meeting, so I will leave for now."

She turned to Aston and said, "Take good care of her."

"I will," Aston said and Garcia Han walked out of the hospital room.

Aston walked to the door and after he ensures that Garcia Han really left, he instantly turned back to Nicole whose head was wrapped with a bandage. "You lie to me." He uttered, walking back to her.

"Aston - "

"You said that you will be able to hold out until they came. You said that you will be fine but... look at you. You even hurt your head while struggling!" Aston snapped.

Nicole was tight-lipped! He was never angry at her before, let alone to this extent. He never raised his voice at her before. She could see the rage in his eyes and he seemed like a different person right now!

"I can endure anything, Nicole. I'm willing to do everything for you and your goals. I'm okay with everything else but... I only have one condition. You should be safe! If I had known that my plan will hurt you, I will refuse to the end no matter how much you want to do it!"

He stood beside her bed and glanced down at her. When she looked at him carefully, she saw the hidden pain in his eyes. She realized that he was behaving this way not only because he was angry... but because he was in pain, much worse than physical pain!

She reached out her hand to hold his hand that was tucked to his side. Though he didn't brush away her hand, he turned away from her. Before she saw the pain in his eyes, she wanted to say that her wound wasn't that severe but now, she realized that it was a good thing that she didn't say it. It would only frustrate him more!

"I'm sorry." She finally muttered but he still refused to look at her. She had to make more efforts. "I should be more considerate of your feelings. I was too focused on not getting exposed. I was wrong."

Aston knew that the reason she was afraid of getting exposed wasn't for herself, but him and Nathan. He was well aware of that but still... she shouldn't keep herself in danger! He can't allow that.

Nicole could sense that he was softening a bit and it made her feel less anxious. "You are too rude to a patient. You came and yell at me while I'm lying sick here." She complained, observing his reaction.

He stood still without saying anything until... he finally turned back to her. "You shouldn't use that to gain forgiveness. It's unfair."

"Forgive me just this once. It won't happen again. Okay?" She said with a smile and swung his left hand that she holds.

"Even if you don't say that, I will never allow you to get involved in such a dangerous situation again." Aston firmly said and finally sat down. "However, if there is indeed a second time, even sweet-talking and complaining won't be able to gain you forgiveness anymore."

Nicole frowned a bit at his words but when she understood the hidden words, her face brightened up. "You mean you forgive me?"

"Don't get too worked up. It's not convenient to be rude to a patient. That's why." He paused when he recalled the time he was hospitalized due to Lester Yun's torture. "Come to think of it, you're very rude to me when I was hospitalized." He remarked.

"Rude? Isn't it supposed to be 'nice'? I even admit you to a VVIP room and look after you." Nicole blurted out.

"I hope we won't meet again for personal matters. Useless feelings. I don't want to have any more weakness." He recited her words. "Those are the words you said to me, who was lying sick on the bed."

"You memorize those? It's useless now." Nicole simply said which made him finally smiled.

"I'm glad you said that. But I would be more glad if you refrain from saying 'useless' in the future." He dryly said.

"Why is that?"

"It reminded me of 'useless feelings' and I hate it." Aston never told her but he still remembered how those two words haunted him. Were her feelings for him really that useless?! He couldn't stop wondering this question and it was very tormenting.

However, he didn't do that anymore because he knew her situation now. She was desperate at that time.

"Alright. I will try to remember that. As you know, I have quite a bad memory." Nicole responded with a carefree smile.

Aston hopelessly sighed but he finds her thoughtless nature quite amusing. Why did she always think too much only when it comes to her stepmother?!

"How is your head?" He finally inquired about her wound.

"I'm not sure but it didn't hurt that much. I think the wound is not deep." Nicole said, briefly placing her hand on her head.

"Head injury shouldn't be taken lightly. So, you must have complete rest for a few days. Don't even dream of working." Aston thought that he finally understood why she was so strict with him when he was hospitalized! It's so easy to get over worried.

"Are you my guardian or what?" Nicole whined.

"You are also quite strict when I was hospitalized. So, you should understand how I feel now." The actor's voice was so unyielding which made Nicole frowned.

"But still, I'm the Chairwoman. I can't just neglect the company affairs."

"Even if you rest for a few days, Yang Group won't go bankrupt." Aston firmly argued.

"What if you're wrong?" Nicole retorted. It won't be a problem even if she does some paperwork from this bed!

"Then I will just look after you. Problem solved." Aston simply replied.

Nicole resisted the urge to roll her eyes. So stubborn! 

"Should I also hire some guards to refrain you from leaving this room?" Aston added with a menacing smile. He still remembered how she forbids him from leaving the room!

Nicole sigh. "Are you taking revenge on me? I only do that for your own good. Unlike me, you refused to get hospitalized while you need treatments so much." 

"Same here. I only want you to recover soon." Aston promptly said.

Nicole fell silent for a while until... she sighed in defeat. "Alright. I will recover first."

Aston lightly chuckled when he witnessed her displeased face. "But it's too late."

"Why?" She immediately asked, confused.

"When I came in, there are already some men guarding the door. Seems like your stepmother hired them." Aston explained.

Nicole glanced at the door which was closed. "Even when I was hospitalized in the past, she won't hire men to guard me." She scowled.

"The case is different this time. Maybe she is afraid that someone might come after you. After all, you're kidnapped in the name." Aston mused.

Nicole sighed when she recalled the things that happened last night. "I was hoping to clear my confusion through the kidnapping incident but... it only confused me more." She thought she would confirm that she was nothing in Garcia Han's eyes but... things didn't went as she thought.

Was Alex Jo telling the truth? Was she really her stepmother's weakness?! What did Garcia Han actually want? She was left with more questions!

Aston smiled and ran a finger through her hair. "I'm not sure about it anymore. Maybe time will reveal everything. Even if that's not the case, you can ask her one day. You only need to brace yourself for that." He calmly said.

From her past experiences, Nicole knew very well that questioning her stepmother never ends well. That's why she never do it if she was in her right mind. She always wanted to save the trouble. But now, she could already sense the urge to ask her what exactly was her intention!

What will Garcia Han say if she tells her that she knows her past?! Would she take it as an open challenge?! Will she get angry and threw a fit?! Though Nicole was determined to break free from her stepmother's grip one day, it's not easy to brush away all her fears at once! She still needs the courage to face her.

The Chairwoman was snapped out of her thoughts when she suddenly realized one thing. Then she turned to Aston. "I remember you telling me how much you hate hospitals."

Yet they were in the hospital right now.....