The Manipulated Villainess

The West Cemetery. It was one of the oldest cemeteries in the country. A place where many famous people were also buried and the exact place where Nicole's parents were both buried.

Though 5 years fall between their year of death, they were still buried at one place. When Nicole's father died 15 years ago, he was buried next to the grave of her mother.

Sitting in front of the grave with her back pressed against the grave which was built up to at least one feet was Nicole. Sadly, this cemetery was the place she frequently visited.

Whenever she wished to run away, this was the only place she could go to! And though it might be hard to believe, Garcia Han never said anything whenever she ran away to this cemetery! She was involved in all her life but she always turned a blind eye to this.

Nicole always tried her best to hold back herself whenever she was tempted to visit her parents grave because as soon as she reached the place, sweet memories that already turned bitter always flooded her mind.

She didn't like the feeling. It would make her realized how pathetic her life had turned out and the feeling which she deemed it most dangerous will crossed her mind - self-pity.

Caressing the grass that covered her parents grave, she was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions and it made her felt like crying! But she won't do that, not in her parents grave!

Why would she show her parents that her life had turned to hell? If it's too much for her to the point where she couldn't hold back her tears, she would only do it when she was alone.

She might be weak and pathetic but she doesn't want anyone to pity her. It's useless.

She takes out an old photo from her bag. It was the only photo she had left which was taken with her parents. The photo was the only proof she had that she was also once a happy and cheerful girl!

During the past years, whenever she looked at the photo, she always finds it strange. Did she really use to be this happy? She doesn't remember at all! Fifteen years in darkness had erased almost all her happy memories. She only had some memories of herself with her father.

The sun that was more than hot and scorching was gradually covered by the thick clouds. It might rain soon which she doesn't care.

She narrowed her eyes at herself and when she noticed that the stain caused by the eggs was still there, a reality which she was desperate to escape, find it's way back to her!

Was another life really gone again because of her? It was never an easy thing to went through. The pathetic man on that framed photo, the husband of that woman; she was the one who destroyed his business and the price was that man's life!

Nicole never had an intention to do such a thing but her life never went as she wanted. To become a master of her own life; it's a granted for others but for her, it was like an impossible dream.

Thunders started roaring and the skies poured a heavy rain all over the place. Yet she sat still, rooted next to the grave of her parents! Unfazed by the nonstop rain that continuously poured over her, her clothes were drenched soon enough.

Hugging her knees, she curled smaller and smaller when her sins haunted her. Her body was shivering, not because of the cold but the crimes that she had unwillingly committed.

Even if she didn't sit on that ground which was not that friendly, she didn't have anywhere to go. Work? She was tired of being forced to do such bad deeds! Home? Just what place was her home?! Did she have a place which she could call home?

Billions of people in this world, but she was alone. Well, at least that's what she thought.

Miraculously, she saw a pair of sneakers standing right before her. The rain that poured over her body had suddenly stopped too. Blankly staring at the pair of sneakers, she finally lifted her head to look at the one who wears them.

Standing before her while narrowing his eyes to look at her, with an umbrella on his hand that sheltered her from the rain was none other than Aston. His face that still had some wounds on it, was full of concern for her.

Meeting his captivating eyes whose charm was overshadowed by worries, Nicole muttered, "Aston Kang?" She didn't expect his presence at all yet she had no energy for reactions. She indeed called him when her emotions get the best of her but it was for a very split second and she didn't even talk to him. She managed to get ahold of herself and hung up before she says a single word.

Sitting down to match her height, Aston carefully observed her. "What are you doing here?"

What was she doing here? She doesn't know. Feeling ashamed of her current situation, she turned her head away from him but it made the man more persistent.

"Nicole." He called her name with his voice as gentler as ever. "Is something wrong? Why are you here, sitting in the rain?"

For someone like Nicole who had long forgotten the warm feeling of being cared, his gentle voice was enough to fascinate her. She shifted her gaze back to the man who talked to her with such a patient and warm voice. "I don't know." She muttered once again.

"Are you alright? You will get sick if you keep on sitting here."

Her pale face pained Aston's heart. Her once beautiful lips had lost its beauty after sitting in the rain for minutes. With her clothes that were all dirty due to the water flowing in the ground, she was a complete mess yet in his eyes, she was still beautiful.

Hugging her knees tighter than before, Nicole narrowed her eyes on the ground. "I don't have anywhere to go." Her voice was low and it contained a hint of desperation in it which Aston didn't fail to notice.

He let her hold the umbrella and take off his jacket. He then covered her again like he did for her on the night they first met. "In the future, if you have nowhere to go, come to me." He gently ran a finger through her hair and smiled only for her. "Don't torment yourself anymore. You are too precious for that."