The Manipulated Villainess

"I don't expect to meet you here," Mathias said to the Moyan Boss who was standing next to him.

When he saw her unexpectedly just a few minutes ago, he was taken aback. But soon, he composed himself and asked her for a chat. Now, they were standing on the balcony, receiving the fresh yet cold air of the night as they talked.

"Aria is the twin sister of my friend. I reached here a while ago and find out that you will also be coming," Cassandra replied. "It's been a while, right?" She heard what happened to him three months ago but... she decided to not comment on it.

Mathias Jung nodded. "I always want to meet you. I want to apologize and also thank you for that day."

"Why must you apologize?" the Moyan Boss asked as she glanced at him.

"Did you already forget that I was the one who gave the order to torture you when you were abducted?" Mathias asked. Did she ask him because she really had no idea? He doubted that.

"You discovered my weakness at that time," Cassandra Lim promptly said. "If you really pressure me with that, I will surely give in but... you don't do that and you even set me free despite the consequences."

Looking at Mathias with a confused face, she asked, "Did you already forget the price you paid for letting me go? You were hospitalized for weeks."

"That's my choice," Mathias argued. "But to be tortured was never your choice."

"It's all in the past," Cassandra shrugged when she didn't know anything else to say.

"But still... I apologize for that," Mathias promptly said. "I believe that only by solving regrets from the past, I will be able to move on with my life."

Cassandra gave a thought and realized that he had a point. "Then I'll accept your apology. However, don't mention that incident again." She leaned a bit closer to him and whispered, "If my boyfriend finds out, he will kill you."

Mathias chuckled at her words. "You don't have to worry about that. I won't be easy to kill as you thought."

Cassandra smiled and said, "You said you want to thank me. Why?"

"That day when my uncle was arrested... I might already lose myself if it's not for your advice. I might even be willing to help him in whatever way needed and... I might destroy my life in the process." Mathias paused and there was a subtle smile on his lips. "You stop that from happening. I'm grateful for that and I'm really glad that I met you, Cassandra."

"Seems like I also have to accept that," Cassandra said with a playful smile. "It will be great to have a friend like you. You might not know but loyal people are the ones I admired the most."

"Loyal?" Mathias asked as he raised a brow. "You won't expect me to join your gang, right? You know, I'm all set to lead a normal and simple life."

"Are you making fun of me?" Cassandra asked in a stern voice. Her disappointment was more than evident in her face and Mathias can't help but laughed.

"No. I'm just joking," he quickly said and this time, Cassandra finally laughed at him.

Meanwhile...

"Nathan, it seems like your girlfriend is having fun with Leon's cousin," Aston pointed out as he stared at the duo from the living room. His friend was sitting next to him with a not so pleased expression on his face.

"I have eyes and I see it too," Nathan bluntly said to him. "I never know that they are that close," he added.

"I think you should be cautious," Aston advised his friend. "He is quite good looking and Aria told me that he is very smart and capable."

"Are you trying to add fuel to the fire?" Nathan frowned and Aston simply chuckled.

"I'm just kidding. Cassandra loves you more than you love her." With a playful smile, Aston added, "She is not a coward like you."

"You should stop bringing up the past," Nathan Woo scowled. "Besides, who says that she loves me more? I don't consider my love lesser than hers."

This time, Aston burst out into a laughter. "Calm down, my friend. You have really changed. You can't even differentiate a joke anymore. Did being in love changed you that much?"

Nathan Woo looked at the actor and smirked. "Look who's talking. You already became a new person ever since you met Nicole."

"But I don't object to that fact," Aston shrugged. "You should just accept it too."

When Nathan's eyes landed on Cassandra once again, his gaze softened and his playful demeanor was gone a bit. "I consider walking a new path these days," he told Aston.

"I want to marry Cassandra and start a family with her but... I don't want my children to live like me. If I continued walking this path, it's clear that violence and all sorts of dirty things will become a part of their lives too. Just the thought of it could make me shudder."

Aston looked at his friend with a smile as he stretched out his hand and patted him on the shoulder. "I think I was wrong before. Change is an understatement for you. You're practically reborn."

Nathan Woo shifted his gaze to the actor and shook his head. "I'm serious here. Can't you be serious for just a short while?"

"I'm serious too," Aston promptly said. "I think it's a great idea and even if you chose another way, I will still support you. After all, you're my best friend."

Nathan Woo chuckled at his words. "You're indeed born to be a celebrity, Aston. You're so good with words."

Meanwhile...

Aria was sitting on a swing in the backyard of the mansion with Leon. Though it was almost time for dinner, the glory of the moon and the stars were still enough to brighten up their surroundings.

Narrowing her eyes at what Leon offered her, Aria was stunned!

She thought that it was strange when he asked her to briefly go out with him but... this was his intention? She didn't saw it coming at all.

"Am I too late?" Leon asked her with a small yet nervous smile. "After all, it's been more than half a year since we registered our marriage."

Still staring at the ring Leon was holding, Aria shook her head. This drew a genuine smile from the potter's lips.

"I'm sorry, Aria. I should have done this sooner. We still didn't even have a proper ceremony but -"

"It's fine," Aria said, interrupting Leon from saying more. "I don't need such ceremony, Leon. You're all I need."

With a little sigh, Leon made her wore the ring. Seeing how it was very suited with her hand, he smiled again. Then he met her gaze. "Thank you for always being there for me, Aria. In return, I will love you and spent all my remaining life to make you happy."

Staring at Leon with a smile, Aria took a deep breath and embraced him. "I will do the same for you," she muttered.

"You know that I can't live without you, right?" Leon Jung asked and said, "So please... don't scare me again. Don't keep any secret from me and always tell me if anything bothers you. I will do the same."

Aria Min slightly chuckled at his words. Then she nodded. "Alright. No secret."