The Manipulated Villainess

Nicole quietly met the gaze of Leon for a few seconds. His words, his serious face and most importantly, the way he gazed at her; she doesn't want such things!

She turned her head away from him and sighed. "What is this about?"

"I'm saying that I want to be that special person for you," Leon replied comes very fast. Two years of hidden feelings and it's enough. He won't back out anymore!

"I understand that much." Nicole made a deliberate paused and noticed that he still look at her with a gaze that bothered her - a gaze that hinted care, jealousy and the desire to possess her!

"How come we need such a talk between us now? We are always okay with our own lives. Why the sudden change of heart?" She inquired him. Her voice was cold and her eyes proved that she didn't felt the same as him.

He doesn't know what to say! Should he tell her that he always loved her? That he always watched over her? Will it only sounds like an excuse? "This is not a sudden change of heart." He could only mutter those words.

"Then what? Short-lived lust or infatuation? Is that what you mean?" She admitted that her judgement about him had changed so much during the past days. He was not as bad as she thought but still, this was too sudden and she couldn't believe it.

"No!" He snapped, brushing off her thoughts right away. What kind of short-lived lust would last for 2 years? How could it be a mere infatuation when he always changed his ways just for her?!

"I loved you since the day we first met." He whispered. He didn't plan to say it but he didn't want her to misunderstand him. He was okay if other people were in her place, but not her.

She recalled their few encounters and talks that occurred during the past two years. No matter how much she thought about it, his words don't match his actions! She knows that he had really changed during the past few days but still, it's unbelievable.

When Leon saw her looking at him with doubt, he couldn't take it anymore! He finally decided to say it. He shifted his gaze to the floor and recalled the day he first met her. Taking a deep breath, he looked at her again. "Do you remember the day we first met? I came to this mansion with my father. I was not happy with it but I had no choice, just like you." He started.

"When I met you, you caught my attention right away. We had dinner at your house with your step-mother and my father. I still remember how I felt that day. I could barely stop myself from staring at you endlessly." He paused when he recalled the scene that he couldn't erase from his mind.

Nicole was not entertained by his story. She put up an indifferent face until... she heard his next words.

"I thought that if I make an effort, you will feel the same as me. But... do you still remember the conversation that took place in your step-mother's study room after dinner that day?" He asked her. His face was plastered with guilt but she was too uninterested to notice it.

The study room? Conversation with the devil? She simply tried to recall what happened as two long years had already passed. Her imagination went back to that day in the study room. Slowly, she recalled some of the conversations yet it was enough to widen her eyes! Her once indifferent face was replaced by a shocked one and disbelief was written all over her face!

Struggling for words, she could barely mutter, "You heard everything?"

Unable to met her gaze, he turned his head away when he replied, "I don't only hear everything, I also saw it." He clenched his fist when he felt the pressure. How will she think of him now?!

* * 

Two years ago in the Yang family mansion

Leon who was utterly displeased to be forced to go the house of his future wife, whom he had never once met was now quite happy. He didn't expect to feel this way but he was okay with it. His fiancee-to-be truly caught his attention!

After having dinner, the two women walked inside the study room to talk. But the young potter was bored to sat there with just his father. So, he decided to step out to get some fresh air. Little did he know that decision will take away his newly found little happiness.

In the study room, Nicole had to face her stepmother who was very displeased with her.

"Why did you behave like that? Did you try to shame me in front of the Prime Minister and his son?" Garcia Han scolded her stepdaughter who nervously stood before her.

"It's not like that." 23 years old Nicole muttered while hanging her head low. As always, she was nervously clenching her fingers.

"Then what is it? That young man is the partner I personally chose for you. Can't you at least make an effort to smile a little? This is not a funeral. It's a happy gathering with our future-in-laws!" Garcia Han scoffed.

"I'm sorry. I will try harder." Nicole thought that her heart was about to stop beating when her step-mother rose from her seat and walked towards her. She anxiously squeezed her dress.

"Why?" Garcia Han stood right in front of her. "Do you still love that senior from your college? You didn't want to marry Leon Jung?" She stared at her while anger was slowly building inside her! She was always boiling with rage whenever she thought of that incident where Nicole dared to threaten her!

Her gaze could send a shiver down to Nicole's spine! She knows the devil too well! The devil always loses her self-control whenever that incident was brought up!

"No." She uttered, holding her hands to stop it from shivering. "I will do everything you say. Please forgive me."

With a slight smile that appeared on her lips, Garcia Han lifted her hands and gently pats Nicole on her shoulders. "Don't ever involve yourself in love again. Why would you need that? You can just marry Leon and spend a lifetime with him. There's no need for love."

The devil's smile disappeared and it was replaced by a serious face. "I won't tolerate if you entangled yourself in such useless things again. You will regret it. You know what I can do right? Don't force me to do that."

Garcia Han put up a sweet smile once again. "It's rude to keep the guests waiting. Come out soon and keep my words in mind." She withdrew her hands from Nicole's shoulder and left the room.

As soon as she left, Nicole placed her hands on the table to support her body that had completely lost its energy! She inhaled and exhaled again and again as she struggled to breathe.

The scene was witnessed by Leon who stood in the garden which provided a great view of the study room. He saw everything through the glass walls and the opened window allowed him to hear every single conversation that just took place.....