The Manipulated Villainess

"I'm glad that we can secure this contract smoothly." Mario Aris said to Nicole who was sitting opposite him.

The two were in Nicole's office after successfully having the final meeting.

"I'm grateful for your patience, Mr. Aris. We even have to postpone the final meeting due to my injury. I'm glad that you give us more time." Nicole said, regarding the man with a little smile on her face.

Mario observed this young Chairwoman and recalled the report that Jony gave him days ago. He told Jony to give him some information about the Minister of Justice when he felt that something was off. However, the result was fine and it wasn't what he expected. Still, he thought that it was strange.

"Now that we are done with the business part, can we talk freely?" His lips curved into a playful when he said, "Will you brush me off again saying that outside business, you don't have to talk to me?"

Nicole chuckled. "You have a good memory."

"I do. But you still don't respond to me." Mario dryly said.

Nicole simply gestured him to carry on. "You're Aston's friend, so you're welcome anytime."

"You seem to love my friend very much. I'm impressed." Mario jokingly said.

"Aston said you're like a younger brother to him. So, I'm just curious. For you, not as Mario Aris, but as Zander Choi, what is Aston to you?" Nicole frankly asked.

Mario fell silent for a while before his lips slightly curved into a smile. "While I was young, he was the one who gave me hope, the one who always stood up for me. For someone like me who never receive or understand love, he was the only one whom I could rely on. He refused to be adopted and I even replaced him."

"I respect him and I'm also grateful to him. Even now, I still feel that way." He paused and said, "He's like a family."

Nicole narrowed her eyes and slightly smiled. "I'm glad you think that way."

"What about you, Miss Yang? What is Aston to you?" Mario Aris promptly asked.

"He's my everything." The Chairwoman's response came faster than ever. "Without him, I won't be who I am now."

The man who boldly asked her if he could like her on their first encounter became the most important person to her! She didn't saw this coming at all! However, she knew this. Without Aston, she would still live in the darkness - scared, helpless and depressed. He changed her life for good.

Her confident response made Mario smiled. Though he was drawn to this unique woman, though seeing her loving someone to this extent pained him; he couldn't continue.

If she was someone else's lover and not Aston, Mario thought. He might refuse to stop thinking of her. He would have done anything to make her his. However, she's Aston's woman and not someone else. That reason was enough to restrained Mario Aris.

"I really hope that you can always be this happy with him. Aston deserves all the happiness." He finally spoke up.

"I know that," Nicole said with a warm smile. "We still have to visit the orphanage, remember?"

Mario nodded. "Of course. I will talk with Aston and scheduled the date."

"Alright. I will look forward to it." Nicole replied.

With that said, Mario left and Nicole was alone. She lifted her phone which was on the small table and called Garcia Han.

She frowned when she didn't pick up. What exactly was her stepmother thinking?!

* * *

Aston was about to leave the filming set when he received a call from Shara. With a little smile on his face, he promptly answered the call.

"Hello, Aria."

"Where are you?" Shara asked him from the other line.

"I'm about to return to the city. Why?"

"I wonder if we could meet up. I'm near the area of the filming set." Shara said.

Aston slightly raised a brow. If she wished to meet him, they could just meet when he returned. Why bother to come here? Besides, the filming set is on the outskirts of the city. Vehicles rarely passed by and it's always very quiet.

Nevertheless, he responded by saying, "Alright. I'm coming out." 

"Okay. Where I am now is about 10 minutes drive from your filming set in the direction of the city." Shara informed him.

"Alright. See you." Aston ended the call and leave the filming set right away. Though he had a van and a manager to look after him, he always preferred to do it alone, especially after meeting Nicole.

A few kilometres away from the filming set, Shara was inside her car, putting down her phone with a troubled face.

She had made a decision to take a huge risk. She only had one plan which she could follow but... she had no intention to catch her brother.

She turned to the back and just a few metres away was one car parked on the side of the street. Two men were in that car, watching her every move. It was a part of her plan. She asked the Prime Minister to send two men for backup in case she would fail. She only had to put up a show before the two men and make them her witness. She will make sure that her brother was safe first and she will deal with the aftermath later.

After a few minutes, she saw Aston riding his bike towards her. When he saw her car, he stopped his bike and ran to her.

Aston was quite surprised when he saw another car not far away as this was always a quiet road. However, he didn't think much about it.

Shara gets off her car and stood near it while Aston stood before her. "You should've just waited for me to return. Why do you come all the way here?"

Thinking of the two men, she looked up at Aston. "Listen to me carefully, Aston. You're in danger right now. So, you should fight me and run away from here." She quickly muttered.

Aston was confused. What was his sister saying?! "What are you - "

He couldn't finish his words as Shara quickly takes out a weapon that could send an electric shock to his body. One shock and he will be rendered unconscious! Before the weapon could reach him, he grabbed Shara's hand. He always had great agility which was always his strongest point.

Holding back his sister's hand, he glanced at her with an aghast face. "Aria." He muttered.

"Do as I say. Fight me back and run away from here. Hurry." Shara said, keeping her voice low not to draw suspicions.

Aston briefly glanced at the car and when he saw two men coming out, he understood the situation. They were being watched!

"What are you doing? Hurry up! There's no time!" Shara said but...

Aston pulled his sister's hand closer to his body, making her eyes grew wide opened! "Aston Min!" She uttered in shock. Was he crazy?!

When the men were just a few steps away, Aston glanced at his sister with a subtle smile on his face. Then he pulled her with a huge force, making the weapon clashed with his body. The shock rendered him unconscious right away and the twins fell together to the ground!

With a horrid face, Shara glanced at her brother who was now lying on the ground. What just happened?! This wasn't in her plan!

She tried to crawl to him but the two men already reached where the actor was lying! 

"Good job. See you in the base." One of the men said to her and they took Aston away.

Sitting on the ground, Shara was paralyzed as she was too shocked by the turn of event! What was Aston thinking?! When she was suddenly snapped out of her stupor, Aston was already taken away by Lester Yun's men and all she saw was the disappearing form of the car!

What would she do now?! Her mind wasn't even clear until... she suddenly stood up. She must go to the base and rescued him. She didn't allow him to suffer, especially in the hands of Lester Yun! Not again!

* * *

Meanwhile, Nicole was on her way back home after a long day of work. She was sitting in the backseat of her car while Edwin drove the car.

"Do you talk with Aston today? I wonder if he has any news on Lester Yun." She said to Edwin.

"I don't talk with him today. Don't worry, Chairwoman. If I get some news, I will tell you right away." Edwin responded.

"I really hope that they would catch him again soon. If Lester Yun is free, the one who is in huge danger is Aston." Nicole said with concern written all over her face.

"Don't worry too much. Lester Yun wants him back, so he won't kill him." Edwin shook his head and said, "Lester Yun's obsession is very terrifying."

Nicole remained quiet for a while before she takes out her phone and called Aston. However, his phone was off.

She glanced at her wristwatch and realized that it's still not that late. Maybe he was still filming.....