The Manipulated Villainess

Cassandra Lim stood still, unfazed by Nathan's reaction and words. Her expression was so blank that even Nathan can't guess what was on her mind.

"I heard that the Leader of the Moyan Gang is an intelligent young woman. But you came here alone to see me, the Leader of your rival gang." Nathan made a deliberate paused and smirked. "There can be two reasons. You are a fool or... you have some plan behind this."

Cassandra Lim remained quiet, meeting Nathan's cold gaze all the time. Her calmness even amazed the Reyon Boss but he didn't show it. After what seems to be forever, she finally said, "You still came knowing that this might be a trap for you."

Hearing her words, Nathan's eyelids flickered but he remained his composure right away. "You also came knowing that this might be your end." He coldly remarked.

"Then kill me. I won't fight back." Cassandra Lim simply said.

Nathan was surprised at how calm she was. She even uttered such words with a face devoid of any expression. He wondered what was going on in her mind.

All at once, he swiftly takes out his handgun and pointed it in the middle of her forehead. "You think I won't dare?"

When Cassandra Lim stood still without saying anything, Nathan's right-hand man, Kyler spoke up. "Boss, please calm down."

The one standing at the end of the muzzle was the leader of their sworn enemy and it would be more than satisfying to kill her. But Kyler didn't want his Boss to have regrets. That's why he spoke up.

Nathan's gaze was fixated on his enemy, his index finger was on the trigger of his handgun, ready to fire anytime. A few seconds passed with heavy silence but... he put down his gun. However, his eyes were still fiery red due to the suppressed rage.

"Why do you want to meet?" His voice was more than unpleasant to hear but still, Cassandra didn't react as if she wasn't capable of showing any expression.

"I know that you're the one behind tonight's incident. In fact, I knew right away that Lester Yun is innocent. He is desperate to join me, so he won't stab me in the back." Cassandra said.

"So what?"

"But I feign ignorance and cut him off. I won't ally with him if you want to prevent it to this extent." She responded, meeting his gaze the whole time.

Nathan Woo simply laughed at her words. "You're smart indeed. It's understandable. The only one who ever manage to deceive me until now, can't be a fool. Am I right?" He glanced at her with contempt.

"Nathan -"

"Don't call my name. It's disgusting." He warned her with a dangerously low voice.

Cassandra still didn't react but she remained quiet. Was she struggling for words? Maybe but that's very unlikely of her.

"What do you take me for, Cassandra Lim? Do you think I'm still the same fool who can be easily used and tricked by you?" He laughed, mocking at what he just said. "Then you're wrong. I don't care what you are trying to say but if you know that the whole thing is my plot, go back to Lester Yun and join hands with him. I don't care."

For the first time, Cassandra Lim turned away from him and narrowed her eyes. Was she still the same woman whose aura could intimidate Lester Yun? There was no resemblance at all. But still, Nathan had no idea what was going on in her mind.

"I know you hate me but - "

"Hate?" Nathan Woo snickered. "You're wrong again. Hate is an understatement. I loathe you, Cassandra Lim. If you suffer or met your downfall, I will be the happiest."

Without waiting for her response, Nathan Woo turned around and tried to walk away but...

"I pay for my sins all the time, Nathan. I suffer each day." Cassandra uttered. For the first time, her blank expression was gone and pain could be seen in her beautiful amber eyes when she stared at his back. He cannot see her now. Was that why she finally showed her emotions?

Nathan halted. For a few seconds, he closed his eyes, reminding himself of his tormenting past. He didn't turn around, he refused to do that. "Keep on suffering then." He opened his eyes and walked away from her.

Cassandra Lim stared at Nathan until he was out of her sight. Then she let out a deep breath.

"Is the discussion not going well?" The one who asked her as he approached her was her right-hand man, Jaxon.

Cassandra still didn't shift her gaze from the path where Nathan walked away. "I don't expect him to listen to me anyway."

"Then why did you send him that letter?" Jaxon asked.

Cassandra recalled how Nathan put down his gun rather than pressing the trigger. "It's a great chance to see him. That's all." She whispered.

"What if he really shoots you? Do you want us to lose our leader?" Jaxon asked her with a slightly disappointed face.

Cassandra slightly smiled and finally glanced at him. "I know he won't do that. He is not capable of killing me. That's why it's more tormenting for him." She slowly shifted her gaze to the path again.

Jaxon quietly stood behind her and after a few seconds, he walked towards her. "Why don't you just tell him the truth?"

"The truth?" Cassandra muttered and narrowed her eyes at the ground. "It won't change anything. No matter what, I'm the one who deceived him in the very first place. Besides, he won't believe me. He already lost trust in me."

Jaxon thought about what his Boss just said and he inwardly sighed. Things were too complicated! When something crossed his mind, he quickly turned to Cassandra. "I took a peek of the situation as you told me to. I saw Aston Kang with the Reyons. Before Nathan Woo came here, he was with Aston Kang."

Aston Kang helped Nathan Woo? It didn't surprise her that much. She was well aware of the two men's friendship. Before Aston abandoned the life of a gangster, they formed a formidable duo. Then, an idea crossed her mind.

"Let's go." She said to Jaxon and they quickly left the place.

* * *

When Nathan returned, his eyes instantly swept around his surroundings. Though some of the Red Tiger Gang members were still there, Lester Yun was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is Lester Yun? What happened?" He promptly asked Aston as he walked to him.

"More than half of the members turned their back on him. I think he understands that it's the same as asking for his death if he insisted to fight. He flees with his men." Aston informed him with a sarcastic smile.

Nathan Woo didn't say anything and only nodded. Aston had a feeling that he acts differently. Was something wrong with him? Besides, he left during a very important time. Where did he go?

"Is everything alright?" Aston asked as he walked closer to Nathan. 

"I'm fine. Thanks for taking care of things in my place." Nathan promptly responded, forcing a little smile.

With the Moyan base just a few meters away, Aston suddenly realized what would be wrong with Nathan but he decided to not bring it up. "It's late, Nathan. I will leave for now. Let's have a talk later." He said as he gently pats on Nathan's upper arm.

"Alright." Nathan nodded and Aston left with his bike. Though the latter was quite worried about his old friend, he knew that there's nothing he could do. If he wanted to help him, then keeping silent would be the best way.

Aston drives his bike to return to his apartment but only about ten minutes passed when there was something on the road that blocked his way. Two cars were parked in a horizontal direction, blocking all the path. It's almost midnight and the road rarely had passersby. That's why Aston knew right away that this wasn't a coincidence. Was it Lester Yun?

He was proved wrong when one of the car doors was opened and one person gets off the car, turning to him.

"Cassandra Lim." He muttered as he stared at the woman.

"Long time no see, Aston Kang," Cassandra said as she walked towards Aston with Jaxon a step behind her.

With a displeased face, Aston gets off his bike and stood still, waiting for the female boss to reached where he was standing.

"Are you the one who called away Nathan? What gives you the right to do that?" He said when she stood just in front of him.

"You still care about your old friend? I'm glad to hear that." Cassandra simply replied with a smile.

"Shut up and leave. I don't know why you do this, but I'm not interested." Aston coldly said but Cassandra simply smiled again.

"Too bad. I have a deal which would really pique your interest."