The Manipulated Villainess

"Putting aside other things, I'm glad that you tell me this. If not, I will still be distracted, thinking what was the mystery that led to my father's death."

Aston spoke up after what seemed to be forever and his words put Garcia Han in a daze. She was expecting a cold reaction and even hatred but... the actor was very calm towards her. She even wondered why she received the kindness she never deserved. First, it was from Nicole and now, it was Ethan Min's son.

What if she didn't meet Ethan Min? She used to think of this question many times. What if she didn't talk with him or... if she just trusts in him and pursues justice through the law for just once? Will he still die? Now, seeing Aston his son, she was feeling more guilty than ever!

"I know I have a bad impression on you and most of it is true, but I want to tell you that I always wanted to repay your father as I felt responsible for his death. You may not know this but I searched for you and your twin sister for years because I hope I could help you. However, I failed. I can't find both of you anywhere," she said and asked, "Did you find your sister Aria Min?"

Aston glanced at Garcia Han with a flustered face. She look for them? She also knew his sister's name! Was she telling the truth?!

"Is that a question which I shouldn't ask? If that's the case, I'm sorry. I should have been more thoughtful," Garcia Han promptly said when she saw his reaction but... Aston shook his head.

"It's not that. You reminded me of Nicole." He paused and continued by saying, "I think I finally know why Nicole is determined to let go of the things you did."

Hearing this, Garcia Han narrowed her eyes and nervously clenched her fingers. "Nicole has a kind heart ever since she was a child. That's why. I always tell her not to be so soft but... it never worked."

"I also used to think that was the reason but not anymore," Aston said and asked, "Have you ever killed a person, Minister?"

Garcia Han bit her lip and maintained her silence for a while before she finally said, "No, but I don't think Nicole would think that way."

"What do you mean?" Aston asked, confused.

"After Nicole's father death, Yang Group faced many problems. Because of immense pressure and business attack from other companies, there were several times when Yang Group was on the verge of bankruptcy. However, I tried my best to save it.

"Even after Nicole took over, the war still goes on. Do you know that there were many times when those big companies used the smaller ones to attack us while still saving their faces?

"Nicole didn't know about this because I was still the one who had real power in the company back then. I used to tell her to end the smaller ones who were the pawns of the bigger companies who came after us. After she did that, the bigger companies turned their back on the smaller ones who served as their pawns. As a result, three businessmen already took their life."

"Nicole blamed herself for those suicides," Aston quickly said and Garcia Han nodded.

"She never knew that they took their lives because their real masters abandoned them and... I never bother to tell her the truth despite knowing how much she suffered because of the misunderstanding." She paused and said, "Do you still think I deserve her kindness? I don't think that way."

Aston paused for a while and said, "I agree with Nicole's decision, whatever it is. If she is willing to let it go, I think there is a reason. Maybe she still can't forget the warmth you made her felt when she was just 8."

The warmth? Why would the memories from 17 years ago hold Nicole back from punishing her? Garcia Han couldn't understand. However, when she thought of Aston's first sentence, she slightly smiled and said, "You're so similar to Carson."

"Nicole often said that too. She always complained saying that even her taste in men is very similar with you," Aston muttered with a little smile on his face.

Hearing this, there was a genuine smile on Garcia Han's lips. Nicole said that? She finds it quite funny.

"About my twin sister, I already reunite with her and... I bet you already met her." Aston paused and said, "She is the one who is staying beside Leon."

His revelation made Garcia Han's eyes grew wide. "That woman?" She felt confused yet amazed.

"Yes, that's Aria," Aston said with a nod.

Garcia Han recalled seeing the woman in Nicole's house earlier. The Min twins were just around her yet she didn't know anything despite searching for them for years! But she wasn't to blame. It's just that they had grown up and changed a lot too.

"It's quite easier and felt more good to talk with you compared to before, Minister," Aston remarked when he noticed the expression on her face. Right now, the Minister of Justice was just like Nicole. Easy to read and transparent.

"Is that so? Maybe because I have removed the heavy mask which I wore for two decades. Throughout my life, I never felt as light as I did now," Garcia Han promptly replied with a small yet genuine smile.

"Then you should give Nicole the chance to feel that way too. Please listen to her for once," Aston said. His voice calm yet his expression was more than sincere.

"Nicole have you. There's nothing I can do for her," Garcia Han responded and break away from Aston's serious gaze.

Aston thought about it for a while and conclude that it would be the best way. Then he said, "Do you know that even before Nicole proved her father's innocence, she really wished for you to care about her? She even... " He paused and gave a second thought. Then he continued by saying, "Even that kidnapping incident a few weeks ago, I planned that with her."

Garcia Han raised a brow when she heard Aston's words. "What do you mean?" she asked, dumbfounded.

Aston hesitated for a while before he said, "She wants to know how you really feel. She wants to know if you care about her or not. That's why she does such a thing and put herself in danger but... things go wrong and she was even hospitalized for that.

"So, I hope you can consider how she truly feels before you make a decision. I don't want her to be hurt and I think you also feel that way," he added.

*

It had been almost an hour since Garcia Han left and Aston was all set to leave his apartment. His new house was supposed to be ready last week but because he was too fixated on his sister's case, the process gets delayed. However, he was told that everything will be done after a day or two.

It was around 10 a.m. when he left his apartment. Driving his car for a while, it was almost 11 a.m. when he reached a certain mansion. However, he was quite surprised when he noticed that there were no guards. Feeling quite confused, he still pressed the doorbell and the gate was instantly opened. Then he made his way inside the gate and then to the mansion.

Opening the door of the mansion, it was Cassandra Lim who welcomed him. "Aston Kang, what brings you here?" The Moyan Boss asked him with her usual unpleasant voice.

"I want to discuss something with you. Are you free now?" Aston asked.

"Yeah, but... " Cassandra stared far behind him and frowned. "You should have brought your girlfriend with you."

Aston let out a sigh. "She is a busy person. Besides, I prefer that you don't meet many times. She won't learn anything from you."

Cassandra Lim glared at him and he quickly looked away, feigning innocence.

"Seems like you're the one in need today. You should at least behave if that's the case. You make me want to throw you out," Cassandra Lim uttered in a cold voice.

Aston quickly lifted both his hands at his shoulder level. "Alright. I will behave." He chuckled and asked, "Then can we talk? It's important and urgent too."

Cassandra Lim sighed before she nodded. "Come and have a seat."

Aston flashed a little smile and walked towards the living room until... he saw a person walking out from the kitchen. Was that... Nathan?

"Nathan?" He muttered the name of his friend and stared at him with a bewildered face. Nathan Woo was in the house of Cassandra Lim? It's not just that! Nathan was wearing an apron on top of his black buttoned-down shirt with folded sleeves.

What's this? Did they already get back together? But they treated each other like strangers just the day before yesterday! Now it was his turn to look at the two, demanding an answer from them.....