The Manipulated Villainess

"Young Master!" Shara quickly bent her knees and holds Leon. She clearly saw him falling on his arms. As she landed her gaze on him, anxiety crept into her mind!

Lying on the floor, Leon was still puzzled. He looked at her anxious face and shook his head to snap out of his thoughts. Even he finds it strange that he lost focus!

He only felt a slight pain in his right upper arm. As the Young Master of the Blackhood who was trained in all sorts of things including pain endurance, it was nothing for him. He pushed himself up and looked at Shara again. She was still staring at him with a worried face.

"I'm fine." He said and narrowed his eyes at her hands that were still holding onto him. When Shara saw her hands on his, she instantly withdrew it as if an electric pulse shock her.

"But your arms... what if -"

"I said I'm fine." He repeated himself, making her shut up.

Still troubled by his thoughts, somehow he felt suffocating. "Don't push yourself too much." He mumbled and then left the training room right away.

Ignoring everyone, he stormed out of the base and walked inside the villa. Pressing both of his palms against the top of the couch, he breathes in and out continuously.

He pressed his right arm and the pain was much more than before. It made him wondered if he had any injury to the muscles. If it was that way, he would be done for! Why didn't he listen to her advice?!

Then suddenly, the door was open and Shara walked inside. Without saying anything, she went to one room and grabbed the first aid kit. Then she came to him who looked at her with a confused face.

"Let's treat your wound." She said to him. Her face was very calm compared to before.

"I don't have any wound." He replied, still puzzled.

Share sighed and grabbed his right arm. She let him looked at his palm. "This is not a wound?" She asked.

Blankly looking at the slight blood in his palm, he frowned. "This is nothing." He didn't even notice it because the pain was too small! How did she even notice?!

"How many times do I have to say that your hands are too precious? You're a potter and even a small wound on your hand shouldn't be taken lightly." She snapped, raising her voice more than she intended. She was too disappointed. Why was he always so thoughtless?!

Leon rapidly blinked at her temper. Just now, she was a friend and not a normal member! He can't help but smiled. Maybe she had snapped out, she seemed to be ashamed.

"I'm sorry but let me treat your wound, Young Master." She said in a much lower tone. However, she didn't even wait for his response and pulled him. She then made him sat on the couch.

The wound was not deep so she cleaned, applied an ointment and put on a band-aid. "I'm sorry about earlier but even if you're not a potter, you are still the successor of our organization. Your safety and well-being are important for the members and the organization itself. So, take good care of yourself." She calmly said to him.

Leon always hated when the one who mentioned the organization was Shara. But this time, it was not the case. Miraculously, he felt warm and comforted by her calm voice and the way she cared for him.

* * *

"You didn't tell me beforehand that you're meeting Nicole." Garcia Han said to Carson Jun who was in the kitchen preparing some dinner for the two of them. She was sitting in the chair, watching him as cooking was not her cup of tea.

"I thought that Director Park told you. But it turned out that he was on a business trip and you are busy with the internal election." Carson Jun responded as he put the dishes he prepared on the plate.

When Garcia Han kept quiet, he turned around and looked at her. "You don't want me meeting her?" He asked.

"It's not that. I wondered if you are targeting Yang Group." Garcia Han muttered. She narrowed her eyes and blankly stared at the floor.

Carson Jun walked forward and sat opposite to her. "Why? Did you change your mind? Destroying Yang Group was our plan in the very first place." He calmly said.

Garcia Han struggled for words to say. Carson was right. Destroying Yang Group was her aim two decades ago and because of that, he also made it his aim. He always did everything for her. To help her, he even started a business and build JK Group. He expands it to one of the most influential groups in the country within two decades, all for her.

"Is it because of your step-daughter, Nicole Yang? You always act differently whenever she is concerned. Fifteen years ago and even now." Carson asked, observing Garcia's expression.

"Zachary Yang already died. Let's just leave Yang Group for now. Besides, Nicole is doing fine these days. She won't act up." Garcia Han said to Carson.

"Okay. If that's what you want, let's do it. But don't take any risk. If you feel like something is wrong, you should tell me right away." Carson agreed which made Garcia felt a bit at ease.

Carson Jun recalled his meeting with Nicole on the day. He had many questions but he decided to save them for later. He rose from his seat and served dinner for the two of them.

* * *

Nicole was in her apartment, working on some files which concerned the upcoming launch of her clothing brand. But she finds it hard to concentrate. She was too distracted by the thought of visiting Moon Orphanage which will be the day after tomorrow.

What will be awaiting her? Who was this Harris Ahn? Before she even realized it, she would often zone out, being completely distracted from her work.

She was so absorbed in her thoughts that she even flinched when her phone went off. Without even looking at the caller ID, she already knows who it would be, considering the time. Just as expected, it was Aston. He was so persistent and that made her felt helpless.

Trying to get him off her mind was hard and ignoring him was even harder! She sighed at her messed up situation.

"Hello." She finally answered after thinking about it for seconds.

"Did you wonder if you should pick up or not? I think it is." Aston's usual calm yet playful voice echoed in her ears.

"At least you know it," Nicole said, displeased by how he always got it right. It felt like he knows all her thoughts and it was scary!

Aston slightly chuckled. He was free for the day but he ended up spending almost the whole day with Anna. With the photoshoot coming up, he wanted to make sure that she didn't have any more breakdown. If she could hold on for a while and maintained a normal lifestyle, she would be fine after a while.

"I wonder if I could come to your apartment again. I can use that secret door like before." He said dryly.

That secret door. It was the thing that still bothered him. He had all sorts of experiences in his life and his days on the gang added more to it. He knew that the secret door could have many purposes.

Why would she need them? Most importantly, why was he led to that door? Was she afraid of something? He was dying to know the answers but he knows better than to confront her. She would push him away again and they will end up hurting each other once more.

Nicole was feeling nervous. She still regretted bringing him to her apartment. Through the secret door on top of that? She must have lost her mind. "I won't allow you to come again. It's for the best." She brushed him off.

Aston wondered why she always said that it's for the best. She said it that night and also now. For him, the best was to make her accept him. "I will try to hold back myself until you permit me to come. But I can't promise you because I might break it. Making empty promises is not my thing." He was serious, letting her know that he didn't play around with her.

Nicole felt helpless once again. These days, she kept on losing control, all thanks to him. She finds it harder and harder to push him away. Maybe what he said that night was right. She might eventually end up losing all control, sooner or later.

She didn't want that to happen but brushing him off was so hard! The more she loses control, the more scared she felt!

"The day after tomorrow is your photoshoot day. I hope you do a great job." She made a deliberate paused before she added, "See you on that day." Without waiting for his response, she ended the call right away.....