The Manipulated Villainess

Aston was standing near the gate of Nathan\'s house. He had no schedule for the day and much to his joy, Nathan called him around an hour ago.

After Nathan learned about the Blackhood and left that day, Aston had texted him from time to time but never called him. He knew Nathan well and he believed that Nathan would call him when he was ready to talk to him. It finally happened in the morning and he rushed here as soon as they finished talking on the phone.

After calming his nerves, he finally pressed the button for the doorbell and the gate was opened for him right away. Then he made his way to the house.

When he entered the house, he saw Nathan sitting on the couch with his palms pressed together. He appeared nervous just like Aston. When he saw Aston, he rose from his seat. "You\'re here." He muttered.

Aston nodded. "I\'m quite free today."

"I also plan to take a rest today. Come and have a seat." 

The actor sat down on the couch opposite his friend. "I\'m glad that you called. I was waiting." He said. Though he really hated the awkward atmosphere between them, he didn\'t know what to do!

"I want to gather my thoughts and you\'re still the same, Aston. You know me well and you\'re always patient." Nathan uttered and narrowed his eyes. "To be honest, it\'s hard. You also know that in the heart of every gangster, there is hatred for the Blackhood. I grew up with that feeling."

"I know. That\'s why I gave you time to think with a clear mind." Aston replied. "I\'m grateful, Nathan. You don\'t jump to conclusions or condemned that day despite being so disappointed in me. If I were you, I don\'t think I can do that."

"Then tell me, Aston. What is the Blackhood to you?" Nathan suddenly asked him.

Aston thought about it for a while and said, "It\'s an organization which I get involved with, unexpectedly."

"What do you mean?" Nathan asked. "You get involved with them by mistake?"

"They seek me out, hoping that I could help them in taking down Lester Yun." Aston quickly said. "At first, I wasn\'t interested. Like it or hate it, I spent 5 years in the Red Tiger Gang and I want to do nothing with them.

"However, I was told that Lester Yun is still eager to get me back and he was looking for my weakness to make that happen. I just can\'t sit still."

He paused and looked down at the floor. "You know how Michael died, Nathan. I will never allow Lester Yun to harm my loved ones again. I\'m tired of it."

Nathan knew how deep Aston\'s friendship with Michael Lee was. He also knew how much Aston mourned for his death. He can\'t question him on that.

"When it was just me, I had nothing to fear. But after Lester Yun made a move to get me back, I even sent Michael\'s family away to keep them safe but... I can\'t do the same to Nicole. She belongs here. That\'s why I have to do everything to keep her safe here." Aston added.

"I understand what you said. Then what about now? Lester Yun is caught and you have nothing to do with them. Will you cut ties with them?" Nathan asked.

Cutting ties? Aston took a deep breath. "That\'s what I thought when I agreed to work with them but... it\'s not possible anymore."

Nathan glanced at his friend with a confused face. "Not possible anymore? I don\'t get you, Aston."

Aston thought of his sister who was still locked up in the base. "Do you still remember me telling you that I finally met my sister?"

"Yes, but what\'s with your sister?"

"She is the wife of Leon Jung. Do you know what that means?" Aston said, observing Nathan\'s reaction.

The eyes of the Reyon Boss grew wide at the unexpected news. "What?!" He gasped. He never heard the news of Leon Jung\'s marriage after his broken engagement with Nicole!

"They don\'t have a wedding ceremony but they already registered their marriage. It turns out that they grew up together and they care about each other a lot." Aston explained.

Nathan remained quiet for a while, trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle in his mind. "That means your sister also knows everything about the Blackhood. What\'s more, you\'re family with the leader of the Blackhood." He finally said. A hint of displeasure was on his face.

Aston nodded with a bit of reluctance. "That\'s not all." He muttered.

"There\'s still more?" Nathan asked with disbelief.

"My sister doesn\'t only know about the Blackhood, she is also one of them," Aston said in a low voice. Though he wished to not say these, he wanted to come clean rather than let Nathan find out about it later.

However, he knew that after all these facts, it will be harder for the Reyon Boss to still regarded him as a friend.

Nathan Woo looked appalled. His friend was not only working with the Blackhood but his sister was one of the Blackhood members and the leader was his brother-in-law! That\'s beyond his expectation and he didn\'t even know what to say!

"Nathan, I know it\'s hard but... can you trust me with this? I will never do anything to harm you or your gang. I know how much the Reyon Gang means to you. I will never make a move against it. So, can you trust me just this once?" Aston asked when his friend fell silent.

"If one day... " Nathan murmured, "If they asked you to help them in taking me down, will you do it? I know how much you valued your sister. You won\'t want to disappoint her."

"Why do you even think about that?" Aston scowled. "You\'re different from Lester Yun." He firmly said.

Nathan stared at him quietly and Aston understood that he was still waiting for his response. He still hasn\'t answered what he asked him. "No, I won\'t. You\'re my friend and I\'m not that disloyal."

"I know you don\'t break your word. I trust you in that." Nathan muttered but there seemed to be something that troubled him.

Aston was perplexed and he ended up observing Nathan for a while. Then he understood what he thought. "You think of Cassandra Lim, right? Are you worried that the Blackhood might be targeting her?"

For a split second, Nathan seemed to be flustered but he regained his composure very soon. However, he didn\'t say anything and maintained his silence.

"You have nothing to worry about, Nathan. Cassandra\'s father was the tyrant leader but not her. She won\'t be blamed for her father\'s crimes." Aston assured his friend.

Nathan thought of that night when Cassandra came to him. She left saying that she was tired and she was just a human too. She didn\'t contact him or meet him since then.

He hated to admit but... the silence was killing him. However, when he thought of his late father, he didn\'t dare to follow his heart. It was tormenting but he still refused to give in.

"Do you talk to her? Why don\'t you just meet her and tell her that you still love her a lot?" Aston finds his friend\'s situation too complicated. It\'s hard to understand.

"How can I do that? It\'s not possible." Nathan uttered. He was refusing to look at Aston while responding to him.

"Cassandra is innocent, Nathan. Do you know what she said to me when she told me that she had no involvement in your father\'s death?" Aston paused and Nathan finally met his gaze. "She said it\'s unfair for a child to bear the sins of their parents."

Nathan blinked. Why did Cassandra never say those words to him?

"I know you don\'t blame her and it\'s your guilt towards your father that holds you back. But Nathan, your father loved you a lot. He wanted you to be happy. Even if you chose her, your father won\'t blame you because he knew very well that she is the only one who can bring happiness to your life." Aston said, hoping to help his friend in solving his problem.

* * *

It was lunchtime and Nicole was sitting in the backseat of the car drove by Edwin. When they reached one luxurious restaurant, Edwin pulled over the car and they entered the restaurant.

A waitress escorted them to one private room and before she entered, Nicole said, "Wait here. Director Park might feel bothered if you walk in with me."

Edwin nodded and the Chairwoman entered the room alone.

When she observed the room, Nicole raised a brow. She thought that it would just be her and Colin Park but... someone was with him. She still didn\'t see the face of the man and only see his back.

"You\'re here, Chairwoman." Director Park said as he rose from his seat.

Then the unidentified man finally turned his head around and look up at her while still sitting. "It\'s been a while, Nicole. How have you been?"

Damn! It\'s Peter Jung! What was he doing here?!