The Manipulated Villainess

Aston quietly followed his sister out of the hospital. Due to him being a public figure, Shara told him to come to her house which was less than twenty minutes drive from the hospital.

When he reached there with his bike, Shara was in the main room, waiting for him. What's more, she was turning her back at him!

The actor nervously pressed his fingers, unsure of how to start. He wasn't ready for this but... there's no way out now.

"Aria, I'm sorry. I should have told you this sooner but - "

"What if you tell me sooner? The fact remains, Aston. You ruined your life because of me." Shara said, interrupting him from finishing his words. She still turned her back at him.

"No, don't think that way. I want to find you so much and that's why I made the decision. It's not your fault." Aston argued yet his voice remained low.

"Our father was an upright police officer, Aston Min. He always has high hopes in you. You are smart and good at your studies ever since we were young. Even though he's dead now... " Shara paused and turned around, glancing at her younger twin brother. "How can you ruin your life just to find me? You're the only son of the family!"

Aston was stupefied when his sister was yelling at him. "Aria - "

"Don't you see enough? Don't you already know what it's like to live in shame? When our father was falsely accused, he could still hold his head high because he did nothing to be ashamed of. But you... " Shara closed her eyes and covered with her hand. "How can you make such a decision when you're the only son of Ethan Min?"

When Shara's words repeatedly echoed in his ears, Aston quickly walked to her and stood right before her. "I don't think through that, Aria. I was wrong. Please... don't be angry anymore. I'm sorry." He pleaded with his sister.

The young Aston could never think clear if he ever made his sister angry and even now, he was still that way. His mind went blank and he couldn't even think clear!

"Whenever I thought about your past, I used to thought that maybe you're struggling and had nowhere to go. I was convinced that you did it to survive but... I never thought that you did it to find me." Shara muttered and lifted her hands to touch Aston's face which surprised the latter. "Just how much did you went through because of me, to find me?"

Aston holds his sister's hand which was on his face. "I'm fine. I already find you and I won't suffer again."

Shara puts down her hand and tightly clenched her fist. "I will make sure that Lester Yun pays for his sins. I will never forgive him for making use of you." She firmly declared.

"Aria, don't get involved with him. I know him well and he is a sly man. Leon and I will deal with him." Aston calmly said.

"I do that most of the time but I won't back down in this matter," Shara said and glanced up at Aston. "Since when did you have become so selfless? You have truly grown up."

"I'm already strong enough to protect you. I'm not the little boy who used to hide behind you anymore." Aston said with a little smile. "Don't worry, Aria. I will protect you and Nicole. I will also protect myself."

*

Meanwhile, in Nicole's hospital room, Nicole was giving her ex-fiance a suspicious look. At some point, it had become too much which made Leon uncomfortable.

"If you have anything to ask me, just spill it," Leon said and heavily sigh.

"Who are you?" Nicole quickly asked him with a confused yet curious face. His men take care of the two fake guards and even helped Aston? Just who were his men?? Were they that capable?

"Did you lost your memory? I'm Leon Jung." The potter simply said. He understood her question but... he can't just reveal his secret identity.

"You know I'm not talking about that. You have some capable men and even last time, you told me that you trained them yourself. Are you... " Nicole's trailed off and her eyes grew wide. "Are you a gang boss?!"

Leon rapidly blinked until... "No way! Why would I be a gangster?! You're hurting my feelings, Nicole!"

"You're not? Sorry then." Nicole simply said without much thought. "But you know, thinking of what you did, it's not a miracle that I'm mistaken."

Leon didn't say anything and chose to be silent.

"Then who are you? I already know that you're not just an average man." Nicole eyed him again suspiciously.

"I prefer to be just Leon Jung to you," Leon responded after remaining silent for a while.

"Is it that big of a secret? But Aston knew." Nicole muttered. She wasn't that pleased as she seemed to be the only one who didn't know. That's never a great feeling.

"Nicole." Leon calmly said. "Just know this. No matter who I am, I will never be a danger to you. So, be at ease and protect each other with Aston Kang."

Nicole recalled the sound of gunshots she heard through the call. "I think you and Aston lead a very dangerous life, Leon. Don't you prefer a normal life?"

Leon forced a little smile. "You know better than anyone that we can't just live the way we wanted. Sometimes, there are responsibilities which we have to shoulder even if we are not willing."

"If only we were born in an average family, our life might be different, right?" Nicole asked in a low voice.

"That's beyond our capabilities," Leon said with an amusing smile. "However, we can still strive to make a better life for ourselves. That's the least we could do."

Nicole let out a breath and unconsciously glanced at her wristwatch. When she noticed the time, she raised a brow. "My stepmother will drop by. Leave for now to prevent another argument."

"That witch. Is she still the same?" Leon said as he frowned.

"It's very complicated. I will tell you later but leave first. Tell Aston not to return for tonight. I don't want them to meet." Nicole promptly said.

"Alright. I will go then. Take care." Leon rose from his seat and left the hospital room. However, he still let his men stay outside just in case the enemies would make another move.

Nicole stayed alone for a few minutes and just as she calculated, Garcia Han arrived. By this time, it was around 6 p.m.

"Where are the guards?" Garcia Han promptly asked her the moment she walked inside.

After thinking about it for a while, Nicole said, "They turned out to be fake guards sent by some enemies. They are already arrested."

Garcia Han raised a brow. "By the police? How come?"

"Not the police. Leon suspected them and caught them after he confirmed his suspicions. He will take care of them." Nicole said, observing her stepmother.

"Leon again? I told you not to trust him." Garcia Han coldly said.

Nicole frowned at her words. "He saves me. Why can't you just be positive with him for once?"

Garcia Han sighed but she didn't say anything and stood beside Nicole's bed. "Fine. I will trust him just this time but I want to know the details later. I already told you in the morning that I have something to tell you."

"I know." The Chairwoman wasn't entertained and she didn't even bother to hide it.

Garcia Han ignored her reaction and said, "I'm planning to get married."

All at once, Nicole's eyes widened in shock! Married, she said?! What was this nonsense?!

"Mother, are you sick or what? Don't you know that to get married, you need a man?!" She blurted out.

Garcia Han glanced down at her with disappointment. "Nicole, I'm being serious here."

"I'm not joking either, Mother. Are you planning to enter a political marriage?" The Chairwoman asked with a flustered face.

"That's not the case." Garcia Han uttered. "I brought him here to meet you though I know that you already know him."

She knows the man? Nicole felt more puzzled! She didn't know any politician in person except... Leon's father. No! It won't be him!

Garcia Han turned to the door and it was pushed open. When Nicole glanced at the door, she thought that her heart was about to stop!

Carson Jun, Chairman of JK Group!

"He is the one I'm marrying." Garcia Han said as she turned back to her.

Then the stepmother rose from her seat and slightly smiled at Carson Jun. "Carson, though you already know each other, why don't you introduce yourself to my stepdaughter?"

Carson smiled back at her and turned to Nicole. "I never imagined that we will meet again this way, Nicole. I can call you by your name outside work, right? After all, we will soon be family. I'm Carson Jun." He said with a friendly smile.....