The Manipulated Villainess

Nicole glanced at the empty door where Colin Park just walked out. Her face was calm but there was fiery hidden beneath her beautiful chestnut brown eyes. The day when the player would be played will come soon and she couldn't wait for it!

She glanced at her wristwatch and noticed that it was almost time for her meeting. She tried to stand up and return to her desk until... her phone went off. She was expecting a call from her stepmother, so she was very quick to look at her phone. She slightly frowned when she realized that it wasn't from Garcia Han. Still, she picked up the call.

"Hello."

"Do you have time now? Can we meet?" It was Carson Jun who was on the other line.

Nicole wasn't pleased by how bold this Chairman had become! However, she answered, "I have a meeting after a few minutes."

"Then how about after that? Can you give me a few minutes?" Carson Jun insisted though he was rarely persistent.

Nicole wanted to turn him down but when she realized that he was the one who was the closest to Garcia Han, she agreed with a bit of reluctance. "Fine. I'll be free after about an hour."

She recalled that day in the hospital and she knew that Garcia Han loved this Carson Jun. She had a soft spot for him, so meeting Chairman Jun might help her even a bit.

"Alright. Let's meet at a cafe near your company building." Carson Jun promptly said.

Without even responding, Nicole ended the call. However, she was quite curious. Why did Carson Jun want to meet her all of a sudden?

*

After sitting through a meeting where she could barely concentrated, Nicole finally left her company building with Edwin. "Make sure that no one follows us." She instructed Edwin to make sure that Colin Park wasn't hiring someone to tail her. One wrong move and everything will be ruined. She didn't want that to happen.

In less than five minutes, she already stood at the entrance of the cafe that Carson Jun mentioned. The Chairman was already waiting for her and she told Edwin to wait outside and see if there was anyone suspicious lurking around them. Then she walked inside the cafe and sat opposite Carson Jun.

"Thank you for coming to see me." Carson Jun promptly said but she simply ignored him.

"Why do you want to see me?"

Carson Jun narrowed his eyes and took a sip of the coffee that was already served before Nicole arrived. Then he turned back to the young Chairwoman. "I met your stepmother in the morning." He said, "She tells me everything."

Nicole expected that much considering their relationship, so she wasn't surprised at all. "So your purpose is?"

"She is willing to do as you requested. However, you know that will only harm her. In the worst case possible, she might even become the scapegoat of Colin Park if things go wrong." Carson Jun promptly said.

Nicole resisted the urge to sneer. She briefly looked down before she turns back to Carson Jun. "Are you trying to say that she shouldn't do this -"

"Put the blame on me. That's what I'm trying to say."

Carson Jun's words instantly shut Nicole. Did he say that he will take the blame for everything that Garcia Han did?!

"Are you crazy, Chairman Jun?" She blurted out. It's impossible for her to believe what he said! He was the successful Chairman and founder of JK Group. He was considered a legend in the business field! She knew he loved Garcia Han but... he was willing to give up everything and go to prison for her?!

"You can think however you like but I'm in my right mind. I know what I'm doing." Carson Jun's voice was calm yet there was a hint of sincerity.

This man was capable enough to end her and Colin Park if he wished to! Why did he choose this way? Nicole couldn't understand. Maybe Carson Jun knew his feelings, he spoke up again.

"For more than two decades, my whole life revolves around your stepmother, Nicole. I live for her and I can do anything for her. Aside from taking the blame for her, I'm even willing to give up my life if needed. Besides, I aid her in everything. I'm not innocent." The Chairman explained.

Nicole fell silent for a while before she asked, "Is she worth your love and dedication?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. Was Garcia Han really worth this? She couldn't understand!

"I know her the best," Carson responded. "She was once an innocent and kind-hearted girl. It's not her fault that she was swept up in the game of some power-hungry businessman. She might be the one who made the decision to avenge her brother but... I'm with her at that time, Nicole. I saw and feel her pain."

"Her whole world collapsed when her brother died an unjust death and I witnessed that. But do you know what's the hardest to watch for me?" He paused and clenched his fist. "Watching how the one I loved turned into a completely different person. That's the hardest but there was nothing I could do."

"Rather than suffering, why don't you just stop both me and Colin Park? You're powerful enough to do that." Nicole said. She understood how he felt but still... this didn't make sense.

This time, Carson Jun slightly smiled. "You don't know me and your stepmother at all, Nicole. Garcia would never allow me to do that to you and I will never go against her wishes. I worked hard to reach where I am today but it's only for one purpose -- to help her. I don't care about power or anything else."

The question that always troubled Nicole crossed her mind again. She believed that it would be best to ask this man. After all, he knew everything about Garcia Han. "I don't understand. She was the one who tormented me for all these years. Why did everyone talk as if she truly cared about me? You, Alex Jo and even when I was kidnapped... " She shut her mouth. She almost revealed how she plotted that fake kidnapping!

Seeing her reaction, Carson Jun slightly smiled again. "Don't bother. I know you planned that one."

"What?" She gasped. He knew? How come?!

"I realized it when I checked the place you were held. I'm an orphan and I've been through many things. I have some talent and experiences in this sort of things." Carson paused and said, "Don't worry. I don't tell Garcia and I don't plan to tell her."

"Why? Aren't you loyal to her?" Nicole asked, dumbfounded.

"Sometimes, it's best to hide something not to make each other worry." Carson Jun replied. "At first, I don't understand what your intention was. Then I slowly understand that it's because you're feeling confused. You care about Garcia just like she cares about you. You want to check and that's why you made such a dangerous move."

"I think you should just answer my question. No one would believe if they were told that the one who turned their lives to hell, cared about them. That's not possible." Nicole coldly uttered.

"Why do you care so much about whether she cares about you or not, Nicole?" Carson asked her back. "If you already shut her off completely, you won't care about that."

"I -"

"It's a mixed feeling of responsibility and caring." Carson suddenly said which made Nicole looked at him with a confused face. "I'm talking about what Garcia felt all those years."

"I don't understand at all," Nicole muttered. In fact, she was feeling more lost!

"The original plan was to destroy your family and take away Yang Group from your father." Carson started. "But he died early due to illness. After that, Colin Park suggested getting rid of you and Garcia disapproved of that. Rather than that, she even let you take over the company."

"She wanted to avenge Jonathan and she felt a strong sense of responsibility to do that as his younger sister. Your father was gone and you became the only one left in the Yang family."

"However, she felt attached to the little girl who used to call her 'mom' and followed her around everywhere. She knew she shouldn't do it but before she even realized it, you already have a place in her heart. But still, she wanted to fulfil the promise she made to her late brother." He explained and met Nicole's gaze.

"She hurt you and torment you. I know that." He muttered, "However, she always did that knowing it will hurt her."

"The Garcia Han I knew isn't like that. She loves to see me in pain, so far from getting hurt." Nicole argued.

"It's her aim to give you that impression and she succeeded. For all those years, she was never free from nightmares." Carson Jun paused and said, "Even if she was hurt, she never let you see it, all to fulfil a promise she made to her late brother."