The Manipulated Villainess

When Leon returned to his house, he noticed that Aston was waiting for him near the gate once more. He let out a sigh as it was already 10 p.m. Did the top actor had nothing better to do?!

He gets off his car and promptly said, "If you\'re here to ask me to take you to the base again, I cannot do that. Bringing you there once was already the violation of our law."

"I\'m not here for that," Aston responded as he walked to Leon. "I\'m here to apologize."

"For what?"

"For my behaviour that night. I was blinded by rage and I lost control." Aston said, "I\'m sorry for that."

"No need to apologize. I understand your rage and I know you did that because you love your sister. That put me at ease." Leon\'s voice was quite calm compared to before. "Would you like to come in for some drinks? We can also have a chat." He invited Aston and the latter nodded.

"That would be great."

A few minutes had passed and the two men were now sitting in the living room of Leon\'s house with some whisky on the small table. They both had their glass which was half-filled. Aston refrained from drinking much as he didn\'t want to end up drunk again.

"I think about this the whole day," Aston said to Leon. "Is your father the one behind Aria and Lester Yun?"

In a split second, the potter\'s face turned pale. This was what he and Shara really wanted to keep a secret, especially from Aston. He felt tight-lipped, struggling for words to say.

"I think I\'m right," Aston murmured. The whole day, he was convinced that Peter Jung was behind his sister but... proving it hits different!

"Aston, I -"

"You don\'t have to feel guilty." Aston promptly said when he noticed the guilt on Leon\'s face. "I bet you have heard about our family. Our father was branded as a traitor despite being innocent. They said that he betrayed the police forces and help the criminals in their job. People pointed their fingers at us, calling us the children of a traitor. So, Aria and I went through a lot because of that. We know better than to blame a child for the sins of their parents. It\'s not your fault."

When Leon remained quiet, Aston said, "In fact, I think you\'re admirable. They said that the parent\'s nature reflects on their child. Despite being raised by such a father, you stay true to yourself." He paused and narrowed his eyes at the glass of whisky in his hand. "I often wondered how my life would be like if I was raised by my father. It will surely be less messy than now." He murmured.

If his father was alive, he might even follow in his footsteps and become a police officer. That what Aston always thought.

Leon continued thinking about what Aston just said. "You said that I\'m admirable for staying true to myself but that\'s not the case. It\'s your sister who always stays beside me and makes me a better person. Without her, I might even be worse than my father."

Leon Jung wondered how the tragedy of the Min family became a blessing for him. If those things didn\'t happen, he will never get the chance to meet Shara, let alone growing up with her. If he was alone, he might already be a monster after his mother passed!

There was a subtle smile on Aston\'s lips when he heard Leon. "I\'m glad to hear that." He puts down the glass and his expression turned a bit serious than before. "I think the Prime Minister gets my sister to work for him by using her weakness. However, I don\'t know what it might be. You know her better than me, so I wonder if you have some idea."

"Weakness?" Leon asked, confused.

"Does she have anyone she values? Or..." Aston paused, struggling to continue. "Did she commit something which the Prime Minister knew and used to control her?" He finally said.

"She never associated with anyone apart from our family. She was a loner in the orphanage and even at school, we stick together all the time. I don\'t think there is such a person. And about if she commits something..." Leon\'s voice trailed off and warily glanced at Aston. "It\'s only been two days since I find out about her working for my father. I have no idea."

Aston felt more puzzled. If Leon had no idea, it would be more than challenging to find out the truth! Aria refused to tell them because she feared something. It\'s not like they can force her to tell the truth! "What could it be?" He muttered and it was followed by a heavy sigh.

"I will arrange someone to tail my father and some of his trusted men. We might be able to find out something," Leon said. "I hope you can trust me, Aston. If you get involved too much, my father might get suspicious and it will only be a matter of time before he finds out that you are Shara\'s twin. That will only worsen the situation."

"I trust you." Aston promptly said. "But it\'s also dangerous for you." He added.

Leon Jung simply smiled. "I often stood against him in the past. It always ends with violence but don\'t worry. I don\'t plan to let him do that to me anymore. I always endure because he is my father but... it\'s enough now."

Aston was in a daze when he heard what Leon said. Violence? What kind of life did this man lead until now? He realized that despite his seemingly rosy life and great background, he will have many scars of his own. It\'s what he had in common with Nicole and even himself. Then he slowly started to understand why his sister loved him to this extent.

* * *

After Aston went home, he takes out his phone and quickly called Nicole. It\'s almost midnight now and he wasn\'t sure if she would still be up. But still, he decided to give it a try. Much to his surprise, she picked up in the first ring.

"You\'re just home?" Nicole instantly asked him and judging from her tone, she seemed to be quite amazed.

"I have a few drinks with Leon." He confessed. She wanted him not to drink too much, so he wondered if she would be feeling displeased.

"That\'s great. Did you make up with him?" Nicole calmly said and he inwardly sighed in relief.

"Yeah, but he has no idea either. I mean, about Aria\'s weakness."

"That\'s a shame but I think some digging will do."

Aston nodded despite using the phone. "It\'s quite late now but you\'re still up. What are you doing?"

"Working."

He frowned. "You\'re such a workaholic but you should have limits."

Nicole who was sitting in her study with some files chuckled at his words. Her phone was in loudspeaker mode and she placed it in the lower right of the table. "I have one more reason. I was waiting for your call."

"Did I make you wait again?" His voice softened and a smile escaped her lips.

"Yes, but not long." She replied.

"I\'m sorry but you know what? I don\'t wander around all alone now. I used my van and my manager dropped me off near Leon\'s gate. There is also a guard following me around but... I\'m way more skilled than him."

Nicole laughed and glanced at her phone. "You spare no efforts to praise yourself, don\'t you?"

"I\'m only stating the facts."

"More skilled or not, it\'s better to be two than one in times of emergency."

"I\'ll remember that." He paused a bit before he asked, "Did you hear anything from your stepmother?"

Nicole paused her movement at his words. Then she put down the tablet which she holds in her left hand. "I hear her decision, but it\'s not from her. Her lover tells me. She\'s willing to help me but..." Her voice trailed off. She wasn\'t sure if she should tell him or not.

"Is there some problem?" Aston promptly asked as he felt a bit worried.

"Chairman Jun told me that Garcia Han insisted to pay for her crimes after helping me. He wants me to put the blame on him without telling my stepmother." She finally said after a few seconds of silence.

Aston was at a loss for words! This was so unexpected! Gathering his thoughts, he finally said, "It seems like your stepmother has someone who loves her more than anything else. Carson Jun is a well-known businessman. He has so much to lose but... " He paused and said, "What did you say to him?"

"I don\'t know how to respond. Besides, I already said that I will let it go. I don\'t know why she is doing this to me." Nicole blurted out.

Aston didn\'t fail to notice the desperation in her voice. Then he understood what her main problem was. "I think you should meet her and talk it out with her."

Nicole glanced at her phone and recalled how Aston always wished to kill Garcia Han. "Why didn\'t you say anything even after knowing that I\'m willing to let it go? I know how you hate her for all the things that she did to me." She muttered.

Aston slightly smiled. "Your opinion matters to me the most. I\'m okay with whatever your decision is. So, I won\'t go against your wishes."

Nicole recalled how Carson Jun said almost the same words to her in the afternoon. Then she slowly shook her head. "I take after her so much and I hate that. Even our taste in men is so similar." She said.

Aston laughed at her tone. "Did Chairman Jun also said something similar to you? You were right when you said that we were quite similar. If I were him, I will also risk everything to protect the woman I love."