The Manipulated Villainess

"Tomorrow night at 10, the Red Tigers and the Moyans will be joining hands. That's what my informant told me and I already confirmed it." Nathan Woo told Aston who was listening to him attentively.

"What about your side, Nathan?" Aston asked.

"What do you mean?"

"If you can get information about them, can you guarantee that they don't know our plan?" Aston knew that Nathan was a very cautious man but still, he wanted to be sure.

Nathan let out a light chuckle. "Don't worry. Apart from my informant, only me and my right-hand man knew about this. My men are still not informed. You can count on me."

"Just as expected, you're still as cautious as ever," Aston remarked with an amusing smile.

"It's a lesson I learned from my father's death. Not to trust anyone easily." Nathan lightly slapped Aston on his upper arm. "That excludes you, so don't get the wrong idea."

"Sure. I won't." The actor paused and said, "So, our plan is to crush the event? But let's be careful, Nathan. I don't want - "

"I know." Nathan promptly said before Aston could finish his words. "We won't take a life. I don't easily do that either."

Aston smiled and Nathan continued. "So, you're saying that you only want me to stop the alliance from taking place? And that you will handle the rest? But how?"

"I have someone who will help me. I won't fail." Aston sounds so confident which made Nathan let out a laughter.

"Right now, you sounded just like the past, the Pacesetter. Why don't you just come back? I will be very glad if that happens." Nathan said without much thought. He then regretted it the very next second.

Aston remained quiet and narrowed his eyes at the floor. "You know what I went through and what I lost to run away from that life." He muttered and glanced at Nathan who looked at him apologetically. "I'd rather die than being stuck there again."

"I'm sorry, Aston. I don't mean that." Nathan quickly apologized when he saw the change in Aston's expression. Though he was a powerful Gang boss, he valued his friendship with this admirable man. So, he didn't hesitate to apologize.

"I'm fine. It's been years since that happened." Aston forced a smile. "These days, I think I currently experience the happiest time of my life. Somehow, I claimed back the smile that I lost years ago."

Nathan didn't understand much about what Aston said but he was glad to hear that. "That's great to hear. If you need my help, feel free to come anytime. My door will always be open for you." He earnestly said.

"Thanks for saying that, Nathan. You're always a great friend."

After he talked out the details with Nathan Woo, Aston hurried to Nicole's apartment. He was so eager to hear what the problem she mentioned was. As such, he felt a great sense of urgency.

Like always, he entered her apartment through the secret passage and he saw her standing near the glass walls, squeezing her dress. Was she nervous? Just what was making her behave this way?!

"Nicole." He called out her name and walked towards her.

When she heard his voice, she immediately turned around and look at him. Her gaze was a mixture of relief and concern. "You're finally here." She gasped.

"What's wrong?" He asked and stood in front of her. He narrowed his eyes at her and now that he got a clear look, he noticed that she was more anxious than he thought!

"What will we do, Aston? It seems like Garcia Han have some evil plans in mind again. It even includes you." She promptly said, glancing at him with worry.

Aston's eyes grew wide in the slightest bit but her anxious face bothered him more. "Calm down. Tell me everything but have a seat first." He pulled her and made her sit on the couch. "Tell me. What did she say?"

Nicole recalled the things she heard in the morning. "She wants me to date you... "

"What?!" Aston exclaimed. He was always calm but this was just... too unexpected!

"Hear me out first. Her intentions are evil. She wants to use your fame to build her broken reputation. She tries to claim that my engagement with Leon is her arrangement but permitted me to break off because I met the one I love. She wants you to be that person." Nicole explained to Aston.

Aston was quickly processing what Nicole said while the latter continue speaking.

"I will never allow her to use you. If you get involved with her, it will affect your career in the future. Using me is more than enough! How can she be this low - 

"I'm fine with it." Aston's words instantly shut Nicole.

She slowly turned her head to him and looked at him as if he was a ghost. "Are you crazy? Do you even know how heartless she is? Fine. Let's say that Alex Jo was right because she let me off the hook a few times but your case is different. The moment she grew suspicious of you, it will be the end!"

"Listen to me first, Nicole. It might even be a great chance. At least, we can see each other freely. I can let her use me but she doesn't know me. That's why I will still be in control." Aston's voice was calm as he tried to persuade Nicole.

Nicole remained quiet while staring at Aston the whole time. Then she suddenly shook her head. "No. I will find another way. I will tell her that you have already moved on. You talk that way because you don't know what it feels like to be in her grip. I won't allow it to happen. It will only harm your career and even your life."

"I don't care about that as long as I can be with you. You should already know that, Nicole." He made a deliberate pause and looked at her straight in the eyes. "My career, my fame, my success and even my life; I'm willing to use it for you. I don't care about it. In my eyes, what matters is only you."

Nicole hated what he just said and she abruptly rose from her seat. "Get to your sense, Aston Kang! Don't you know that this is a matter that can ruin you completely? Even if you don't value yourself, I did. You're precious to me! Even if you don't care, I care. So, don't ever say that again."

What did he even do to be stuck in this situation?! All he did was selflessly loving her! Was his fate all messed up because he loved a woman like her?! For the first time, Nicole questioned her decision. Was it wrong of her to let him enter her hellish life?

She just yelled at him again but like always, he was so far from being angry at her. He rose from his seat and in a calm voice, he said, "Are you done? Then you should also listen to me."

Nicole realized that he still hadn't changed his mind but his calm attitude made her tight-lipped. As such, she ended up standing still without saying anything.

"I never said that I will let her take control of me. You should trust me, Nicole. She will think that she use me but... I'll be the one using her." When she tried to spoke up, he held her hand and this gesture stopped her from talking.

"You love me, so trust me. I will never let her hurt me, instead, I will make her pay for all the things that she did to you until now. I know you behave this way because you are worried about me but believe me. To get your life and freedom back, we need to go down this path no matter how dangerous it is."

Nicole knew that he had a point. Besides, Aston was smart and capable. He was trustworthy but still... to let him directly involved with Garcia Han? That's too much of a risk! What if... just if... she ends up losing him? She didn't even want to think about it!

"Let's do this, Nicole." Aston calmly continued. "Let's do it together. Who knows? It might even work out well than we thought." A little smile appeared on his face.

Nicole remained quiet, narrowing her eyes at the floor. After what seemed to be forever, she turned her attention back to him and sighed in defeat. "What did you do wrong that you get involved with a woman like me?"

He smiled and planted a gentle kiss on the back of her hand. "You're mistaken this time, Miss Yang. It's my greatest joy to have you in my life. You're the one who retrieves my smile for me."

"I might also be the one who killed that smile forever." She murmured with a downcast eyes.

Still, he smiled and took a deep breath. "Enough of the negativity. You already decided to be positive." His eyes swept around the apartment and then the kitchen. "I think we have finished discussing. Let's make something to eat. I'm starving."