The Manipulated Villainess

Dreamland

"Aria, how many times do I have to tell you not to help your brother in sneaking out?"

"Aston Min! Stop bugging your sister! Your father is almost home and he won't be happy if you sneak out before that!"

The Min twins were standing on the small ground of their family house, whispering to each other's ear. 8 years old Aston Min was begging his older twin sister, Aria Min, to help him in sneaking out. He wanted to play football with his friends.

While their mother was busy cooking dinner, the twins slowly approached the gate. Trying to not make a single sound, they tiptoed to the gate, placing their index finger on their lips.

Just when they were about to reach the gate, the gate was suddenly pushed open and the father, Ethan Min stepped in, making the twins froze in their place. He smiled when he saw his children, the little partners in crime.

"Sneaking out again, huh?" Ethan Min shook his head and carry both the twins, Aston on the right and Aria on the left. He carried them inside where his wife was preparing dinner for the family.

Just when they started having dinner with their dining room full of laughter and chattering, everything became blurred and everyone disappeared one by one, leaving Aston behind all alone.

*

"Dad, Aria, Mom, don't leave me." Aston Kang mumbled, lying on the bed. In his sleep, his head turned to the right and the left, slowly yet repeatedly until his eyes suddenly flew open with a heavy gasped.

Breathing in and out continuously, he abruptly gets up and sat in the bed. Cold sweat rolled down the side of his face. Those happy memories were always followed by nightmares. What he afraid the most always happened in his nightmares - being left alone!

His father and mother were long dead but he didn't even know if his only sister was alive! "Aria, where are you?" He muttered.

Aston was scared. What if he never finds his sister? What if she was... dead? No! That can't be. What will become of his only purpose in life?!

He told himself again and again that his sister will be alive and well yet he failed to convince himself. Did she already forget about him? Didn't she search for him too? Or maybe she wanted to run away from her past, her family's past.

Aston promised himself that he would accept it even if that's the case. In this country, it's not easy to live as the children of a traitor who was shunned by everyone! No one cared about the truth yet everyone were so eager to point their fingers at them!

That life and memories were hell and everyone would want to run away from it. But he only wanted to see his sister again, even for just once!

He glanced at the small clock on the top of the drawer next to his bed. It was 1 in the morning but he won't be able to sleep anymore. He had experienced it enough. He sighed. It will be a long day.

Meanwhile, Nicole was also alone in her apartment. Unlike Aston whose nightmares stole his sleep, she still didn't have any single sleep. She was awake the whole night and she didn't feel sleepy either, not after hearing all those stories!

She sat still in the living room and her face was devoid of any expression yet the words of Harris Ahn repeatedly echoed in her ears.

'You didn't deserve anything that she did to you. You must stand up for yourself. Don't let that woman step on you.'

He was right. She shouldn't live this way anymore. But what would she do? That's her biggest question.

"Will it really be okay for me to change, Dad?" She muttered as if her father was there, listening to her. "You want me to live in peace but there's no way to live like that now. I know that for someone like me, peace must be earned."

"What if I try to earn that peace but end up losing control, as Garcia Han did? You will be ashamed of me, right?" She narrowed her eyes at the floor. "Her initial plan was to avenge her brother but she turned into a monster in the process. What if I became like her?"

What Leon asked her came to her mind. 'How long did you plan to live this way?' She used to thought that if she just put up with everything, she will be able to protect everyone from her step-mother's wickedness. It's fine as long as people didn't suffer because of her. That's what she used to believe.

Now, she knew one thing. No matter how much she tried, there will eventually come a day when she failed to protect others. In the worst-case possible, Garcia Han might even end her one day and everything will fall into her hands, including Yang Group which her father devoted his whole life to.

No! She couldn't let such a thing happen! She must protect everything she has and to do that, she must be strong and powerful!

Power! That's what she needed. Her mind endlessly wandered around, trying to figure out what she should do. She might need to bet everything for it, even her life! But it's okay than living this way.

* * *

Almost 7 hours later, Nicole opened her eyes and finds herself sleeping on the couch. She recalled herself staying up until 4 in the morning. When she finally sorted out her thoughts and decided what to do, she fell asleep right away.

She slowly gets up and glanced around the living room. Everything was still the same but why did she felt so strange? Maybe because she had a change of heart.

She chose one risky way which will need many efforts and if it worked out, it will be the most effective way. But if it goes wrong, she might be good as dead. However, she was ready. She was not afraid but determined.

At 8 a.m., the sun was already high up in the sky. She needs to go to work so she rose from her seat to take a quick shower. Then her phone went off. It's Garcia Han's assistant, her ex-lover, Alex Jo. With a nonchalant face, she answered the call.

"Where are you? The Minister wants you to drop by before you go to your office." Alex Jo paused before he said, "It's about Aston Kang. The situation is not good."

The mentioning of Aston's name made Nicole a bit flustered but it was short-lived. As always, the mighty devil gets a grasp of some news again. "I got it. Home or office?" Nicole simply asked. If it was like other days, she might already felt very nervous but today, she remained calm. This was a great chance for her.

Feeling amazed by her calmness, Alex remained quiet for a while. "Home." He finally responded.

"I'll be there in an hour." She promptly said and hang up right away.

Throwing down the phone on the couch, she went to her room and took a shower in the bathroom. Without eating breakfast, she dressed up for work and left her apartment.

Her family mansion was on the other road which was opposite to the road that led her to her company building. But she did as she was told and drove towards the mansion. Just as she said, she reached there at 9 a.m.

Walking through the gate and the door, Garcia Han who was sitting on the single couch in the main room first appeared in her sight. The latter was also dressed in a formal attire, all set to leave for work.

Without wasting more time, she quickly makes her way to her. "I'm here, Mother. Did you ask for me?" She briefly glanced at Alex who was standing on the right beside her.

The moment Garcia Han heard her voice, she threw a bunch of photos in her direction. The photos were lying everywhere. Nicole narrowed her eyes at the photos and picked up some of them. Like Alex had warned her, it was photos of herself and Aston in the hospital and some other places.

"Explain those photos." Garcia Han's voice was cold and unpleasant than ever. "I was busy and neglected you for just two weeks and I got those photos?" Garcia Han asked as she turned her head to her. Her tone was more than sarcastic.

Nicole walked forward and stood beside Garcia Han. "It's not what you think, Mother." She calmly said.

"I'm mistaken? Those photos said everything!" Garcia Han howled. She abruptly rose from her seat and looked at Nicole straight in the eyes. "You keep on crossing me these days, Nicole. Are you trying to test my patience? Even last time, I only let it go because you were sick. There won't be next time."

"I was only helping him out as he is the ambassador for my new clothing brand. That photo from the department store is only me repaying my debt. I owe him a coat and I pay him back. That's all." Nicole said, standing firm in her words.

"Are you sure?" Garcia Han took other photos from her bag and showed them to Nicole. "Then what about these?" She asked. The photos from the grave of her parents! "Even the staffs from the photoshoot said that the actor was acting very close to you that day." Garcia Han added.

Nicole glanced at the photos of her and Aston in the grave. She then bit her lip. "What do you want me to say?" She uttered.

"The truth. That's all I want to hear. Don't force me to use other means." Garcia Han warned her with all seriousness.

"Fine. Aston Kang like me but I rejected him. That's the truth." Nicole said. She knew what Garcia Han might ask her next and she was not wrong.

"What about you?" Garcia Han asked. She became more than invested in the story.

"I don't have time for that, Mother. Besides, you already chose a man for me. Leon Jung." Nicole responded, enunciating her fiance's name.

Garcia Han observed Nicole and for the first time, she finds it hard to read her. She was unsure of what to say! "How can I believe you?" She finally asked. Her unfamiliar patience surprised the Chairwoman.

"What will I do for you to believe me?" Nicole asked her back. She made a deliberate paused and added, "Will I submit myself to you?"

Garcia Han lifted a brow at Nicole's question. It was the first time she ever heard her said that! What's wrong with her?! "What did you just say?" She promptly asked.

"I will submit to you if that's what you want, Mother. I will prove my words now." Nicole gets on her knees, surprising both Garcia Han and Alex Jo.

"I'm tired of the way I live, so I will give you what you always wanted, Mother. You won and from now on, I will do whatever you want me to do. I will obey your every order." Nicole uttered, narrowing her eyes on the floor.

'This is the beginning, Mira Kim. Soon enough, the one kneeling here will be you.'