The Manipulated Villainess

"I was discussing about Aria with Cassandra. We will get to talk with Aria later and I think what we discussed will surely be useful." Aston told Nicole once they all settled on the couch again.

Nicole raised a brow in bewilderment and quickly turned to Cassandra Lim. "Aria? Do you have something to do with her?"

Cassandra looked at Aston and when the latter nodded, she shifted her gaze back to Nicole. "I don't know her but the Prime Minister wants me to rescue her."

The Chairwoman thought of her meeting with the two men in the day and sighed. "He's truly persistent and cunning."

"You said you meet Peter Jung today, right? What did he say?" Aston asked Nicole when he noticed her irritated face.

"They are pure evil. Both Peter Jung and Colin Park. They acted all innocent and try to put the blame on others." Nicole bluntly said and Aston understood what she meant. The two greedy men tried to blame Garcia Han for everything and... exposed her?!

"We are in a dire situation these days," Aston said, shifting his gaze to Cassandra Lim.

Cassandra Lim remained quiet for a while, thinking of something. Then she asked, "Colin Park. Is he that Director in Yang Group?"

Nicole promptly nodded. "Do you know him?"

"Yes. Whenever Peter Jung met my father, Colin Park was always with him." The Moyan Boss responded.

Nicole's eyes flickered. Cassandra might know how deep the relationship between the two men was! "Then do you perhaps know how long have they known each other?"

Cassandra gave a quick thought and said, "They were already around when I was a child. So, it must be more than twenty years."

Twenty years and not recently? The Chairwoman's eyes grew wide! Does that mean... they already knew each other even when Jonathan Kim died? Were they plotting everything together?! Nicole almost flinched when a possibility crossed her mind.

From what she observed during today's meeting, it seemed like Colin Park was depending on the Prime Minister's gesture. Does that mean the mastermind behind everything was... Peter Jung?!

Nicole couldn't understand. What did Peter Jung had against her family? Or was it greed again? Was he aiming at her family's wealth since the beginning? Nothing made sense to her.

"Is something wrong?" Aston finally asked her when she maintained her silence for a while. He had no idea of what's going on in her mind.

"I just realized something which makes no sense," Nicole muttered and glanced at Cassandra Lim. "Thank you, Miss Lim. Your response helps me a lot."

Cassandra was feeling a bit confused but she covered it with a little smile. "I don't know how but you're welcome." Then she looked at the actor. "Do you find out any more information apart from the ones that I gave you?" She asked.

Aston thought of what she was talking about and realized that it's about his father. "No," he replied, "I was too caught up with my sister and I can't do anything else. Besides, it's 17 years ago and it's not easy to dig for some information."

17 years ago? That ring a bell in Nicole's mind. Was Cassandra the one who gave Aston the information about his father's case?

"That was you?" She asked, looking at Cassandra with a flustered face. "You told Aston about his father?"

Aston shifted his gaze to Nicole, perplexed. Then he turned to Cassandra with an apologetic face but the latter smiled. "You're right. That was me."

"Then can you help us in finding out why Peter Jung did that?" Nicole promptly asked and Aston raised a brow. He didn't expect her to make such a request.

Cassandra took a breath and fell silent, working on her thoughts. Then she said, "I'll see what I can do."

Her response made Aston puzzled. "Didn't you say that your late father's men were not sure of it?"

"If I dig a bit deeper, I think it won't be that hard to find out. I'm Cassandra Lim." The tone of the Moyan Boss was a bit sarcastic and Aston frowned. She won't change.

"I'll be very grateful if you can help us in finding out the truth." Nicole chimed in and Cassandra nodded. 

"Don't worry. I'm good at that." She said and noticed that Aston was staring at her with a disappointed face. Then she said, "I think you're very unique, Chairwoman Yang and I like you for that but... it would be a headache to deal with Aston Kang."

Aston knew that this Moyan Boss deliberately said that to provoke him and he frowned. "Cassandra Lim, not everyone is like you. I also don't understand why Nathan -" He paused when he noticed her glaring at him. It's never a good idea to provoke this woman!

Nicole laughed at the behaviour of the two old friends. "I understand what you say, Miss Lim. So, I think it's great that we were born with different taste. If not, it would be a hassle. Don't you think so?"

Cassandra chuckled and nodded. "You're right." She opened her purse and take out her business card. "I also handle some business but it's not comparable with yours. You can call me here if you need help. I'll be happy to help you." She handed the card to the Chairwoman.

Aston could felt his jaw dropped to the floor! Did Cassandra Lim really say that? It's his first time hearing such words from the Moyan Boss!

Nicole take out her card and gave it to Cassandra. "Thank you. You can also contact me here anytime."

Cassandra nodded and rose from her seat. "I think I should get going. I will call you if I have any news." She turned to Aston and said, "Call me once you talk to your sister. You're her family, so I'll listen to you this time."

Aston nodded and stood up to see Cassandra out. Nicole shake hands with the Moyan Boss once again. "I'm glad that we meet." She said with a little smile.

"Same here, Chairwoman Yang," Cassandra said and walked to the door with Aston.

"Peter Jung doesn't know about my relationship with Shara. Please don't mention anything about me to him." Aston said when he was standing at his door.

"That's a given. I don't like him but I'm not eager to get on his bad side." The Moyan Boss simply said and turned her head in the direction of the living room. "You are one lucky man, Aston Kang. How do you meet someone like her?"

"You seems to be smitten by her even more than me. You even agreed to her request right away." Aston said and shook his head. His action made Cassandra smiled.

"She's just like what Nathan said," Cassandra murmured. She still remembered how Nathan said that Aston's lover was a kind-hearted and loyal one, unlike her. However, she was talking so low and Aston didn't hear her. "Don't forget to call me. I still have to respond to Peter Jung." She promptly said and left the actor's apartment.

Closing the door, Aston walked back to the living room and stared at Nicole who was sitting alone. When he recalled what just happened, he shook his head and a smile escaped his lips. "I think I should stop introducing you to people from my side." He said and sat beside her.

Nicole turned her head in his direction, confused. "Why is that?"

"Because they always ended up liking you more than me."

She shook her head and laughed. "Stop being so childish."

"I'm not being childish. I'm telling the truth." He paused and said, "I have known Cassandra for almost a decade now. But I have never seen her that friendly and open to anyone."

Nicole blinked when she heard him. "No one? What about Nathan?"

Aston sighed, thinking of the complicated relationship between the two. "They are a headache. I think I should just let them be." He then looked at Nicole with a much serious face. "But remember this. Cassandra and even Nathan belong to a gang since they were a kid. Don't expect them to be clean. They are the same as me."

Nicole frowned at his words. "I expect that much. You don't have to remind me."

Aston simply smiled again. "That's good then." He glanced at his watch and said, "Leon won't take too long anymore. Let's wait for him." He knew that letting his sister out was very dangerous but... he had a plan in mind which might even save his sister from Peter Jung forever. However, it would only be possible if Aria was willing to do it.

Meanwhile, Cassandra just left the apartment building and Jaxon was still there waiting for her and he opened the car door. She was about to enter her car but...

"Cassandra."

She halted and narrowed her eyes at the hand which was holding her back. It was Nathan. She didn't have to look at his face to know it.

"You're still here?" She asked and finally glanced at him. Didn't he already leave almost an hour ago?

"I was waiting for you. Can we talk?" Nathan asked, glancing at her with a bit of nervousness.....