The Manipulated Villainess

It was already 3 in the morning yet Leon was still sitting in his room. Drinking a glass of alcohol and followed by another glass, he spends the whole night, repeating the cycle.

Once in a while, Shara's words came to his mind, making anger flowed through his veins each time. What a heartless woman!

She knows how much he wanted to save their friendship yet she made such a request. In this whole world, she was the only one who knows every single thing about him and the only one whom he could call a friend!

Will this really be the end of their decade long friendship? It seemed like it but he hoped for the other.

She wanted to stop being his friend and be a normal member of Blackhood, one secret organization whom people think that only existed in stories and rumours. The organization was much more like an opposition to the crime organizations.

A normal member? Was she even sure of what she asked for? Not having her in his world anymore; it pained Leon's heart more than he imagined! He lived the past years with her by his side and without her, he felt lost. He felt like he was in the darkness, alone.

For him, she was like the replacement of his mother. She was like the guardian angel whom his late mother left for him. Without her, he didn't know if he would be able to survive all those years, including his mother's passing. She was the best gift in his life and he never once imagined a future where Shara was not a part of it.

She was not ignorant of all these facts. However, she still broke their friendship, easily on top of that. Why was it so easy for her?

Just for a split second, he thought of stopping her. He didn't want her to be a normal member. Their world would be more than apart if she indeed became just an average member compared to him, the successor and the Young Master of the secret organization.

The leader and the master of the organization was in the hospital and every day could become his last. Sooner or later, Leon would be taking over the organization.

No one outside the organization knew this secret identity of the potter, including his father. The politician was always too busy to have time for his young son, so it's not a miracle that he could keep a secret for this long.

It was his mother's wish which he started carried out when he was just a little boy. If it's not for his late mother, he won't be involved in this kind of life. He only wanted a simple and normal life but it was an impossible dream for the young potter.

Thinking about Shara and the organization, he kept drinking but no matter how much he drank, he couldn't get himself drunk which he truly hated. It seemed like even the drinks betrayed him tonight!

* * *

'Mira, you should do whatever you like. Your brother will always support you.'

'You are the world to me, Mira.'

'You're my only reason for living and I will always be with you.'

Sleeping on the bed with sweat covering all her face was none other than Garcia Han. Haunted by happy memories that were now turned into nightmares, she repeatedly knitted a brow in her sleep, causing her eye ball's and eyelids to pressed together tighter. The action formed wrinkles in her forehead each time.

"Brother." She mumbled in her sleep with tears rolling down the side of her face. Her face was pale and when she finally opened her eyes, horror was evident in them. 

Blood. It's that dream which could never get old. It's been more than two decades but she still often had that dream. But her brother's case was different. She didn't saw him in her dream often compared to before. But when her past confronted her just like what happened during dinner, her brother would be back in her dream. That darn potter! She tightly clenched her fist at the thought of Leon Jung.

When she suddenly heard a voice from one corner of her room, her heart jumped in shock.

"Do you have a nightmare again?" The voice of the man asked her while making his way to her.

The room was dark and it was hard to see the man's face yet Garcia knows who he was right away. When he was closer, some of his facial features were revealed. A handsome man who might be in his late 30s. He was wearing a white buttoned shirt with his long sleeves folded just above his elbow and a black waistcoat.

He halted when he reached the bed and stood there. There was a glass of wine in his right hand. He placed the glass on the top of the drawer next to the table. He takes out a handkerchief from his pocket and sat on the bed beside Garcia Han.

Observing her with his enchanting emerald green eyes, he leaned closer and wipe away her tears and sweat. Garcia Han quietly stared at him the whole time. 

"When did you come?" She finally asked when he finished what he did.

"Around 10 last night." The man replied. "You are already asleep, so I don't want to wake you."

Garcia Han looked at the time. "It's almost 4 in the morning. You didn't even get to sleep." She said with a slightly worried face.

His lips curved into a smile. "I love watching you sleep but you started having nightmares. Did something happen yesterday?" He asked, his smile disappeared when he asked the question.

"I'm fine. I think I'm a bit tired. Having an internal election is too taxing." Garcia Han uttered, refusing to speak about Leon.

"Do you need my help? I can do anything." The man said as he caressed Garcia Han's face. 

"Not for now." She shook her head and slowly get off the bed.

"It's still early. You should get more sleep." He said, standing up and staring at her back.

"Mira." He called when she didn't respond.

The name made her halted right away. Turning around, she frowned. "Don't call me with that, Carson. Mira Kim was dead 20 years ago." She snapped, a bit of disappointment on her face.

Observing her reaction and her eyes for a while, Carson Jun turned to the right and gulped the wine. He walked to the couch and grabbed a coat that was placed on top.

Garcia Han started to be anxious of his actions and calmness. "You are leaving?" She asked but he didn't respond.

Giving a quick thought, she walked to him and wrapped her arms around his upper body, hugging him from behind. "Don't leave. I'm sorry. I hate it when you called me by that name. It reminds me of haunting memories." She muttered.

The evil step-mother and the suspicious yet cunning politician was nowhere to be seen and in her place was a woman who was completely captivated by her first and only love.

Putting down his coat, Carson Jun holds her hands that were wrapped around his upper abdomen. "I hate it when you lie to me." He muttered.

Garcia Han realized that this man always saw through her. Why did she bother to lie? He had loved her for 23 whole years and he knew her more than she knew herself! "I won't do it again. I only want to make you less worry."

Carson Jun sighed and turned around, putting her at arm's length. "I'm sorry too. I shouldn't call you by that name. But I want you to know that I'm stronger than you thought. I'm only a year younger than you."

"You're 39. I know. You already tell me those words for 23 years." She uttered with a slight frown.

Her words make Carson laughed. "You don't want to sleep anymore?" He asked her.

"I think I rest enough." She paused a second and continued, "I always lost my mind when you're angry with me." She whispered.

"I know. But whenever I'm mad at you, it's always for your sake. You always tried to bear everything on your own rather than relying on me. You know, right? I'm willing to do anything if it's for you. It was that way in the past, it is now and it will also be that way in the future. I live for you." Carson Jun said, holding her hands.

"What will I do without you? You're my only relief from this tiresome world." Garcia Han said with a smile.

Carson smiled in return and glanced at his watch. "It's already 4 a.m. If you don't have morning meetings, let's go to my house. I will make breakfast for you."

Garcia Han nodded her head. "I have no appointment in the morning. Let me get changed first."

After a few minutes, Garcia Han and Carson Jun walked out of the mansion. They get inside a luxurious black Mercedes-Benz S-Class and left for Carson Jun's residence.....