The Manipulated Villainess

Cassandra quietly glanced at Nathan for a few seconds. He was waiting for her? Nathan Woo did that?! She didn't saw this coming at all.

"Please, Cassandra. I won't take long." Nathan pleaded when he noticed her hesitating to answer him. Did she not want to talk with him anymore? He was scared that was the case!

If Jaxon was like the other members of the Moyan Gang, he will surely be all alert when the leader of an enemy gang approached his Boss but he knew the complicated relationship between the two. He was the one who knew all the sufferings of Cassandra Lim. He knew how much she wanted this Nathan back. So, he just stood still and also waited for his Boss response.

After what seemed to be forever, Cassandra finally turned to Jaxon. "I will come back soon." She said and Jaxon nodded. Then she walked away with Nathan.

On the opposite of the apartment building was a big tree and a bench was placed under it for passersby. Nathan and Cassandra sat there, leaving some gap between them. The atmosphere was not much tense like the past but awkward.

"Why do you wait for me? It's almost an hour." Cassandra calmly asked the nervous Nathan Woo. She still couldn't believe that Nathan was doing this. It didn't suit him at all. This was her thing and not his.

Ever since Nathan's father died six years ago, Cassandra never dared to hope that this day would come. Come to think of it, six years was such a long time.

"These days, I think a lot about what you said when we last met," Nathan muttered. His hands were on his thighs with his fingers nervously braced together. "I was wrong." He added in a low voice.

Hearing this, Cassandra's eyes grew wide open in shock and she quickly turned her head to him. Did she hear it right?!

"You know how much I respect my father," Nathan continued. "I was convinced that if I chose you again, I will be disrespecting him and I don't dare to make such a decision. I was too afraid when I thought that my father would be disappointed in me."

"Do you mean you don't think that way now?" Cassandra asked and he nodded his head.

Turning to her for the first time in a few minutes, Nathan braced himself to met her gaze. "I always love you, Cassandra. I feel that way when we first met 7 years ago and even now, you're still the one and only woman I ever love. I also don't think I would be able to love another woman in this lifetime.

"To be honest, whom I always hated wasn't you but me. Even when I thought that you were involved in the assassination of my father, I still can't rid of my feelings for you. That's why I hated myself and instead, I lashed it out on you. I thought if I don't do that, I'll be able to die because of self-guilt." Nathan Woo added.

His words were like medicine for Cassandra who always hid the wounds in her heart. Throughout the past years, thinking how much he hated her was the dreariest feeling for her, who always refused to show even an ounce of weakness. He never hated her? That's always her biggest wish!

"Have you ever wondered how our life would be like we were a normal person from an average family?" She asked Nathan. "Ever since I started loving you, not a day passed by without me thinking of the answer to this question."

Nathan looked away and narrowed his eyes. That question had often crossed his mind but he always refused to think further as it was not real. Dreaming only hurt a person.

"If you were born in an average family," Cassandra started. "You won't have to shoulder too much responsibility as you did now. With that good brain, you will surely be great in your studies. It won't be hard for you to become a doctor or a judge. You can even become a businessman."

"Then what about you?" Nathan asked her.

Cassandra slightly smiled and narrowed her eyes. "I'm an orphan. If my adoptive father didn't take me in, I don't know where I will end up. So, I'm just glad enough to live to see this day." She realized what she just said and quickly turned to Nathan. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to talk about my father."

"It's fine," Nathan simply said and looked at the front. "If you were raised in a normal family, I think our story will be pretty much the same. You're an intelligent woman." He remarked.

Cassandra thought of what he said and there was a subtle smile on her face. Then Nathan shifted his gaze back to her. "But Cassandra, have you ever thought this way? If we were indeed born and raised in such a family, we might never meet each other. Rather than that, I still prefer our current lives."

Cassandra knew that Nathan had a point. They only met because she approached him with a purpose under the order of her adoptive father. If they were a normal person, their paths might never collide.

She also preferred her current life rather than never meeting him but... she didn't think that he would think the same. After all, he might be able to save his father if they never met.

"Are you sure of what you said?" She asked him.

Nathan Woo nodded. "For me, you're still the best thing that happened to me. You might not know this but the few months that we spent together 6 years ago was still the happiest moment of my life. I don't know your real identity at that time but... my feelings never change because of your identity. I just felt too betrayed. That's why I cut you off."

"I understand," Cassandra muttered. "If I were you, I will do the same." He was also the best thing that happened to her and hearing that he felt the same... it was like a dream. It warmed up her heart so much that she was scared if this was really a dream. If it was, she wished to never wake up.

They both remained quiet for a while yet all their thoughts were occupied by one another. Then Nathan finally spoke up, breaking the silence.

"Do you think we can start over again?"

His question made her heart skipped a beat! With a flustered face, she slowly turned to look at him. Nathan Woo was already staring at her and when she met his gaze, she could feel that he was serious. This was not a dream!

"We have known each other for 7 years, Cassandra. Out of it, 6 years was swallowed by hatred and bloodshed between our two ill-fated gangs. I think we already lost too much time and I don't want that to happen anymore." Nathan continued.

Cassandra couldn't even think properly. It was like her mind had lost its ability to think clearly! It's understandable. If anyone were in her shoes, they will react the same!

Six years. She waited for 6 years to hear such words from him. There were times when she lost hope as she was just a human too! But each time, she would strengthen herself and get back on her feet again, all to see this day! Now, she was more than thankful for never giving up!

"Our fathers spent their whole lives being on each other's throat. I'm sure that they don't get anything from that. So, can we turn to a new page now?" Nathan calmly asked.

Cassandra narrowed her eyes. His words made her forget all the pain she went through and she felt tight-lipped. She didn't know what to say!

"Is something wrong? Don't you like what I said?" Or was he too late? Nathan was feeling worried. Her silence was killing him!

"It's not that." Cassandra Lim finally muttered. "I've waited too long to hear you say this. I don't even know what to say."

Nathan inwardly sighed in relief. Then he slightly smiled and rose from his seat. Standing before her, he bent his knees to match her who was still sitting. He wondered how desperate she must have felt all those years to be tight-lipped. She was never like this before.

"I know that I hurt you a lot in the past 6 years. I don't want to make the same mistake anymore, Cassandra," He said in a soft voice. "As long as you accept me, I will do anything to make up to you for those years that we lost. I promise you that."

During the past few days that she kept her silence and distance, many things crossed his mind. Fear. He was too afraid to really lose her forever! So, he decided to take the risk and follow his heart for the first time in many years.

His life was like a puzzle and she was the last and missing piece that could make it perfect. He always knew it but refused to believe it. Now, he didn't want to be a coward anymore.

He waited for her response and this time, she didn't take too long to answer him. "Fine. But if you wish to make it up, you will have to try really hard. You know, Nathan, 6 years isn't short."

Nathan Woo smiled in relief. "I know, Cassandra. I'm ready for anything but I'll never let you go again."

He knew how tormenting it was and he was determined to never make the same mistake again.....