The Manipulated Villainess

"Seems like you already know everything," Nicole remarked and approached Leon, standing right in front of him.

"I can only guess. I don\'t know the details." Leon walked past Nicole, avoiding her gaze. Then he took a seat in the couch.

"Are you planning to be with him?" He simply asked.

Nicole was amazed by his impassive behaviour. Observing him quietly, she finally took a seat opposite to him. "I lost, Leon. I tried to distance myself from this kind of feelings because of my step-mother but I give in once again. I know how you feel and nevertheless, you are my fiance in name. That\'s why I want to come clean with you."

"You\'re still the same, Nicole. Frank like always." Maybe Leon knew that this would happen sooner or later. He knew it from experience but it was not easy for him. Still, he remained nonchalant. "I have no control over your heart." He remarked.

"I\'m sorry," Nicole uttered. She was sure that Leon had no ill intention towards her and that made her felt more bad. She still couldn\'t understand it. Why must it be her?

"Don\'t be." Shara who was currently in the hospital crossed Leon\'s mind. "There is someone who is always beside me through thick and thin. Now, this person needs me and I don\'t think I can keep on hurting her." He murmured much to Nicole\'s surprise.

Did he have such kind of person beside him? She didn\'t know. Maybe because she had never really paid attention to this man. She knew nothing about him.

Leon knew it so well but he refused to think that way. He knew why Shara decided to distance herself from him. But still, he wanted her to be beside him.

During the past days, he realized how empty his life was without Shara! He didn\'t know other things but he was sure of one thing. That he cannot be himself without Shara. He can\'t afford to lose her. He was willing to give her whatever she wanted!

"Should we just break off our engagement? That way, we won\'t have to feel guilty. We don\'t have to tell our parents right away. We can solve it in the future." Leon opined.

"Will we be able to handle the consequences?" Nicole asked. If possible, she indeed wanted to break it off. She was tired of being used.

"Don\'t worry. I will find a way. My father is easier to handle than your step-mother." Leon looked at her and said, "I will take it as a yes."

Nicole took a deep breath and make up her mind. "I will try my best to fight back."

Leon quietly observed Nicole and spoke up after a few seconds. "There is something different in you, Nicole. Do you love Aston Kang that much? Do you even know him well?" The report that he read in the morning crossed Leon\'s mind but he shook his head, trying to get it off his mind.

"I don\'t know anything about him but I know one thing. I love him." Nicole responded.

Leon wondered if he should tell her or not, but he decided to wait. "So, he knows everything about you?" He asked and Nicole only nodded.

"That\'s good then." He suddenly rose from his seat and looked down at Nicole who was still sitting. "I\'ll be going. I\'m quite busy." He said.

"Who is this woman you\'re talking about?" Nicole asked as she rose from her seat. She was feeling quite curious. Maybe because she really wished for his happiness.

"She\'s my childhood friend but she\'s in the hospital now. I need to return and take care of her. She has no one else." Leon could read what was on Nicole mind. "Do you wish to meet her?" He mused.

"Well, if she\'s in the hospital, it will be good to pay her a visit. Can I meet her?" She asked. Her eyes swept around her office, refusing to meet his gaze.

"That\'s up to you. She\'s admitted in Westview. You can drop by after work." Leon simply said. "Well then. Goodbye." He added and left Nicole\'s office.

Nicole sat down on the chair and remained quiet, trying to process what just happened. Did their engagement was really annulled? That easy? She wished to break it off sooner or later but she didn\'t expect it to happen this soon! However, there\'s still a long way to go. Once it reached the two politicians ears, there will be huge chaos!

* * *

"You are always so stubborn. That\'s why we have come to this." Leon sat beside Shara\'s hospital bed, staring at Shara with a disappointed face.

Shara had gotten much better and he decided that it\'s time to give her a good scolding. Why did she never value herself? Was she a fool?!

"I\'m quite amazed, Leon. This time, you hold back your anger quite long. That\'s so unlike you." Shara simply commented with a smile. She completely ignored his words!

"Can you try to be serious, Shara? I\'m being serious here. Do you even know how much you scared me? You were burning with fever and I can\'t wake you up. I thought... " He paused when a haunting memory crossed his mind. "I thought that you will never wake up again, like my mother." His voice trailed off.

Shara\'s smile faded when she felt the pain in his voice. She holds Leon\'s hand. "But I wake up. Don\'t worry. I will never leave you alone."

Leon brushed her hand away. "You\'re lying. You want to distance yourself from me and left me alone for the past days. It\'s so tormenting - "

"I\'m sorry," Shara muttered and met Leon\'s gaze. "My emotions got the best of me. I won\'t do that again. Please forgive me." She pleaded. She holds his hand once again and tightened her grip. Seeing him in pain was the thing she never wanted. Not to mention that the pain was caused by her.

"Why? Is it because you considered it as your duty to stay with me?" Leon muttered. He hated when she think it that way. She was precious, especially for him.

"No. You\'re the most important person to me. You know that." Shara replied and slightly smiled to reassure him.

As the one who knows Leon the best, she knew how insecure he was, mentally. It might be the effect of the way his father raised him. Sometimes, he needs to be assured and consoled like a kid.

When the two finally became quiet, Nicole who was standing near the door for the last minutes decided to step inside. She heard their conversation and was convinced that Leon wasn\'t just lying to make her feel good. He truly had a good woman beside him.

She opened the door and the moment she entered, Leon and Shara darted their eyes to her. She didn\'t miss the shocked on Shara\'s face.

"You came early," Leon said as he rose from his seat. There\'s plenty of time left before working hours will be over and he still didn\'t tell Shara that Nicole will be coming.

"I wrapped up work early today," Nicole said and stood beside Leon. Then she narrowed her eyes at the woman on the bed. "It\'s nice to meet you. I\'m Nicole Yang." She said, skipping the handshake due to Shara\'s position.

"I\'m Shara Lee," Shara said as she forced a smile. "I have known you for a long time now. You\'re Leon\'s fiancee." She added.

"Ex-fiancee." Nicole corrected. Turning to Leon, she asked, "We don\'t have to pretend before her, right?"

"Yes. She knows everything about me." Leon simply said and sit down.

With a puzzled face, Shara glanced at Leon, waiting for his explanation. Leon understood this and spoke up. "We agreed to annul our engagement today but it\'s still a secret. We can\'t let our parents know, for now."

"You will be in trouble if your father knows." Shara promptly said. Her face was plastered with worry.

"I\'ll be fine." Leon smiled to assure her. "I was the one who suggested to break off the engagement." He added.

"Why?" Shara gasped. "You love her." Her voice trailed off when she glanced at Nicole. She regrets it right away.

Leon holds Shara\'s hand and fainted a smile. "You are also important to me. I will be fine as long as you stay with me."

"Don\'t feel guilty, Shara," Nicole spoke up. "I\'m the one who wants to be with another man. Leon respect my choice."

"Aston Kang?" Shara assumed. Were they together now?

Nicole was in awe of this woman\'s knowledge of her. "You really know everything about the things that concerned Leon." She remarked.

Shara glanced at Leon who calmly sat beside her bed. Was he really okay? She doubts that but she knew him too well. She can tell if he was happy or sad at a single glance and right now, he didn\'t seem to be in pain and that put her in a daze. Was he really okay with this?!

Nicole walked out of the hospital room after chatting for a few minutes and Leon followed her to see her out.

Standing near the door, she turned to Leon. "Be good to her, Leon. That woman is a gem." She calmly said.

"You should worry about yourself and know this. We may have broken our engagement but my offer still stands. Tell me if you need help." Leon said with all seriousness. He was too firm in this matter.

"Go inside. I\'m leaving." Nicole said, ignoring him once again. Then she walked away.

Leon sighed and entered the room. He almost flinched when he saw Shara sitting on the bed, sharply glancing at him. What\'s wrong with her?!

"I think you owe me an explanation." Shara bluntly said, eyeing him suspiciously.....