The Manipulated Villainess

The moment Nicole reached her family mansion, what awaited her was Carson Jun gesturing her to sit on the couch opposite him. The Chairwoman let out a sigh but she still complied.

"Did you see the articles?" the Chairman quickly asked her once she took a seat.

Nicole nodded. "Congratulations, Chairman. Now, the media will finally stop dubbing you as a gay."

Carson Jun frowned at her remark. "You still remember that?" He sighed and said, "I should be careful with what I said to you. Your memory is too good."

Nicole simply laughed at his response.

"Where is Aston? He didn't come with you?"

The Chairwoman nodded. "I heard your offer. Maybe you scared him."

Carson Jun blinked in disbelief. "What?! That's nonsense. I don't remember him looking scared when I brought that up."

"I'm just joking," Nicole let out a laughter. "He has to visit his sister," she explained, appearing pretty serious than before.

Chairman Jun sighed and shook his head. "That's a nice try, Nicole. I really think that he avoid me because of my offer. I have no intention to pressure him if he doesn't agree with me." Looking at Nicole again, he asked, "What do you think of my offer?"

"At first, I was shocked. But when I look from a business perspective, I understand how you think," Nicole replied. "Somehow, I think that he is comfortable with his current career. So, I will support him whatever decision he makes."

"Your boyfriend is one of a kind," Carson Jun pointed out. "I think he's too good for the entertainment industry. If he indeed accepts my offer, he will surely be able to achieve many great things."

"I know," Nicole mused. "But I think his satisfaction should come first. He will be happy only if he does what he likes."

Carson Jun chuckled at her response. "Don't worry, Nicole. I have no plan to hand over my company to someone who isn't sure about it. I'm not keen on having more but... I want to protect my hard work of two decades."

Nicole nodded. "I expect that much." She briefly glanced at her stepmother's study and turned back to the Chairman. "Is Mother that busy?"

The moment he heard her question, Carson Jun let out a sigh. "Don't even get me started. Our wedding is just two weeks away but all she cares about is work."

The Chairwoman laughed at his helpless expression. "She is a workaholic. Seems like your torment is only about to start, Chairman. Besides, she will be busy with the election even after you get married."

"It can't be helped," Carson Jun said with a frown. "We always respect each other's work." He looked at the door to Garcia Han's study and said, "Who knows? I might even become the First Gentleman of this country." Shaking his head, he laughed at his own words.

Nicole was once again reminded of just how easy-going the Chairman was. She always knew that he was a unique person but... when she realized his relationship with her stepmother, things took a sour turn. However, everything was different now. She saw the true nature of people around her and she had also learned to follow her heart though it took courage.

"I never got the chance to say this," she said to the easy-going Chairman. "I'm sorry that you get injured because of me and... I'm also thankful that you care about me. Though you will be marrying my stepmother, I know you don't owe me that."

Her words put Carson Jun in a daze. However, he soon smiled again. "I don't deserve that," he muttered. "Did you forget that once, my goal was to destroy Yang Group? If things weren't mended earlier, I might already go too far."

"But you didn't," Nicole argued. "In my opinion, that matters the most."

Carson Jun observed her for a while and flashed a smile once again. "Do you know this? When you were young, I used to watch you from a distance several times. Through that, I already know you're a unique child but... the reality is beyond my expectation, Unique is an understatement."

Shaking his head out of amusement, he added, "If everyone in this world is to be like you, the world will surely become a better place."

Nicole chuckled at his last sentence. "That's an overstatement," she remarked.

* * *

Aston was in the Jung family mansion, visiting his sister. Leon and his mother were also there. Somehow, Leon managed to persuade Mathias but he was yet to arrive. As per his sister's instruction, Aston also invited Nathan and Cassandra who arrived in the mansion a while ago.

"How could you come without Nicole?" Aria Min scolded her twin brother for the fifth time since he arrived at the mansion.

Looking at his sister, Aston sighed. Didn't he already explained to her not only once but four times?! When did she plan to stop?

"For the fifth time, Aria, she is visiting her stepmother," he said in a tired voice. "I was planning to surprise her and pick her up after work but... she already make plans to have dinner at home."

"You should just ask her to come with you earlier. Why bother with a surprise?" Aria frowned. "Dinner won't be complete without her."

Aston sighed even deeper. She already said that too!

Feeling helpless, he turned to Leon. "Help me out," he pleaded.

With a laughter, Leon turned to his wife. "Why don't you let him off just this once? We can invite Nicole next time."

"Yes, next time," Aston quickly said, staring at his older twin sister hopefully.

Aria looked at him and sighed. "Fine. Next time then."

With relief, Aston shifted his gaze to his friend. "I'm glad that you came with Cassandra, Nathan. If not... " He gave Aria a side glance and whispered, "She will surely kill me."

Hearing him, Cassandra Lim let out a laughter. "I'm glad that I came," she playfully remarked.

"Why?" Aston asked, wondering what the unpredictable Moyan Boss had in her mind.

"It's rare to see you being this helpless." With a menacing smile, Cassandra added, "Seems like even the Pacesetter is not so cool at times ."

Unfazed by the remark, Aston looked at his friend and said, "Nathan, your girlfriend says that I'm cool."

Cassandra Lim could feel her jaw dropped to the floor! How can he twist her words that way?!

"I know," Nathan Woo bluntly responded to Aston. "I'm not that pleased."

"You can't twist my words that way," Cassandra protested. She looked at Nathan and said, "Don't listen to him. He's too sly."

Noticing the expression on his girlfriend's face, Nathan chuckled. "I'm just joking." He lifted Cassandra's hand and planted a kiss, making Aston sighed.

"You lovestruck fools! You're not the only ones in this house," he uttered with displeasure. He turned to his right and saw how his sister happily chat with Leon.

He felt like he was a double third wheel.

He shook his head in defeat. His sister was right. He should have brought Nicole.

Soon, they heard the sound of the doorbell and Aria went to get the door. Turning to Leon, she smiled and said, "It's Mathias."

Soon, Mathias walked inside and glancing around, his gaze landed on Cassandra and he raised a brow. She was also here?