The Manipulated Villainess

Aston and Nicole indeed decided to stay home for the day. However, they changed their minds and went to see Aria and Leon's mother who will be returning to their home in the evening.

As the media didn't know their address, they managed to leave their houses without a problem. Then they used Aston's car to go to the villa where the two women were staying with Edwin watching over them. Though they guessed that Leon would be there too, they weren't too sure about it.

When the couple first step inside the villa, Aria was the first one to welcome them. She quickly hugged Aston and Nicole. Though it wasn't that long since they last saw each other, many things happened in such a short time.

"I'm so glad to see that you both are fine," Aria Min said while hugging her younger twin brother. 

There was a small yet genuine smile on the actor's lips when he heard his sister. "I'm glad that you're fine too, Aria," he muttered. "I was so worried when I heard that you have to flee from Nicole's place."

"Nicole arranged everything for us," Aria promptly said. "Thanks to her, we are safe."

Soon, Leon appeared, pushing the wheelchair where his mother was sitting. "You've arrived? Did you face a problem on your way?" 

"Fortunately, we arrived without any intrusion," Aston replied and looked at the mother. "Are you doing fine, Mrs. Lee?"

"Yes. I'm so glad to see you two again," Norina Lee responded. Her voice was calm but a little smile never left her face.

"Now that you will finally be returning home, we will be able to meet each other often," Nicole chimed in and the mother nodded with a smile.

"We prepared lunch and it's almost done. You should take a seat," Aria quickly said to the couple and returned to the kitchen.

Nicole took a seat along with Leon and his mother while Aston went to the kitchen to help his sister out.

Aria slightly smiled when she saw her brother walking inside the kitchen. However, the latter took her by surprise when he suddenly hugged her from behind. She briefly turned her head to look at him when he placed his head on her shoulder and hold onto her tightly as if he was a child desperately hugging his mother. Then she finally smiled again.

"You are acting like a baby," she remarked.

"Don't you always remind me how I was younger by a few minutes?" Aston retorted.

"Does that make you a baby?" Aria asked and let out a chuckle. If his fans knew this side of him, they will be too shocked!

Aston nodded. "At least, in your eyes."

"You have a point," Aria agreed. "No matter what, you're still my little brother."

When Aston didn't say anything but had no intention to withdraw his hands, she said, "You must be really disappointed when you realized that I was serving Peter Jung. I got mad and yelled at you when I find out your reason for joining the gang while I'm no different."

The actor shook his head when he heard his sister. "You're my older sister. You have every right to reprimand me if I do something wrong." He briefly paused and said, "Besides, you saved a life and your hands are never stained with blood. You're innocent."

"You believe in me?"

"Yes, because we share the same blood. You are disappointed when you realized that I do shameful things while being the only son of Ethan Min but... you're his only daughter too. I know that you won't want to disgrace our father."

Aria Min remained quiet for a few seconds until she let out a chuckle. "You have truly grown up, Aston Min. Besides, you're not a crybaby anymore."

"Of course, I've grown up," Aston stated. "Now, I'm strong enough to protect you. I'm sure that our parents will finally rest in peace now."

Hearing him talked about their parents, Aria recalled what their mother did to Aston. Didn't he hold a grudge at all? If he wasn't too lucky, he might even die when he fell from that mountains.

"Aston, about Mother... "

"I don't hate her," Aston quickly said before his sister could say anything more. "That incident indeed haunted me for years. Even now, I still couldn't be normal on rainy days, especially when there is thunder and lighting. I still hate hospitals too."

"Then... "

"But I'm slowly recovering with Nicole's help. Soon, I'll be completely fine," Aston promptly said and added, "Mother is already dead. There's no use in hating her. After all, she's still the one who gave birth to both of us."

Aria briefly thought of what Aston said before she smiled again. "It won't be easy to feel that way. I'm proud of you."

Just when Aston was about to speak again, Aria freed herself from his grip and let him wear the apron. "Don't you come here to help me? You should start doing your work."

Aston glanced down at the apron which he wore before he turned to his sister and nodded with a smile. "Alright. What will I do?"

*

While the twins were busy preparing lunch for everyone, Nicole was hearing out the backstory of her late mother and Peter Jung from Leon and his mother.

Of course, it was impossible for her not to be stupefied. That monster was... the ex-lover of her late mother? Does that even make sense?!

During the past days, she never stopped wondering what would be the reason why the Prime Minister was targeting her family. He even killed her father!

Though he was already a maniac, if all he did had no reason, that would make him a psychopath! However, even his reason was lame! He was still a psychopathic killer!

"I feel like everything is my fault," Norin Lee said to Nicole. "I should have taken some actions when I find out his past years ago. I thought that he was living a new and changed life but... I was wrong. Then I was locked up in that villa for years and now, it has become too late."

"Please don't blame yourself, Mrs. Lee," Nicole promptly said. "No one has to feel guilty for his crimes but him. He should be the one regretting his actions, not you or Leon," she firmly added.

Norina Lee holds Nicole's hands, surprising the latter. "You must have gone through a lot, Nicole. You should live a happy life from now on. You deserve that."

This woman reminded Nicole of her mother. Though she didn't have much memory of her birth mother, everyone who knows her said that she was a kind-hearted and warm woman. That's why it was so surprising for her to know that her mother once loved someone like Peter Jung.

"You too, Mrs. Lee," she replied in a low yet warm voice. "You can live a happy life with Leon and Aria from now on."

Leon nodded and flashed a smile when his mother turned to him. However, just like Nicole, there was an uneasiness in his heart.

Right now, what the Chairwoman wanted the most was to meet Peter Jung and ask him herself. Why did he take all those years away from her? Her mother was never the one at fault.....