The Manipulated Villainess

Garcia Han had just returned to her house after talking with Nicole. She still has to work but her schedule wasn\'t that packed for the day and it was still not late. When she walked inside, much to her surprise, she saw Carson sitting on the couch. 

She recalled the last time she talked to him. It was when she realized that he met with Nicole. She was so angry and disappointed with his actions. She left after expressing her disappointment and since then, she had avoided him and his calls. Why did he suddenly show up now?

"What are you doing here?" She asked, walking towards the couch where he was sitting. The latter turned to her and when he saw her, he rose from his seat.

"It\'s been days, Garcia. I can\'t hold back anymore and I\'m worried too," Carson Jun said. Garcia Han had already stopped walking and he was the one who walked closer to her.

Garcia Han remained silent but her keen gaze observed him. It\'s just a few days but why did he look so thin and weak? She had never seen him this way before! The Carson Jun she knew was always a strong person. Staring at his pale face, she could feel the stinging pain in her heart. He was having a really hard time and... it was all because of her.

"Carson, you shouldn\'t do that. You know how I feel. You know me the best," she muttered. She still couldn\'t forgive him for what he did but... his weak and pale appearance forbids her from being harsh to him. After all, he was the man whom she loved for two decades now.

Carson Jun understood what she was talking about. Somehow, he felt tight-lipped. Maybe because he still didn\'t change his mind too. He can\'t allow her to suffer.

"You still don\'t agree with me, right?" Garcia Han said. She knew him too well and even now, she could tell what\'s on his mind.

"You know I can\'t do that. I always support you no matter what your decision is, but not this," Carson Jun uttered.

His voice was so desperate which made Garcia Han\'s heartache even worse than before. However, she can\'t give in. She didn\'t dare.

"You know how hard it was for me when I decide to take the law into my own hands despite being a law graduate. But what could I possibly do? At that time, the opposing sides were too big to challenge for an orphan with no power like me. I did everything to avenge my brother because it would be unfair if I didn\'t do anything and Nicole... " she paused and took a deep breath.

"After all those years, how can I just live on as if nothing happened? It would be unfair for her too. I\'m not that shameless, Carson." She continued in a low voice.

"That\'s not what Nicole want."

"I know," Garcia Han muttered. "That\'s why I\'m feeling even more guilty. It\'s so tormenting and I don\'t even know what to do."

Garcia Han thought of all the things she did to her stepdaughter, all to avenge her brother. After all those things happened... how can she still not want to make her pay? She thought of the little girl who liked her so much and used to stick next to her all the time. The little Nicole used to have a bright and cheerful smile until... she killed that smile and replaced it with fear.

She thought that she deserved it even if Nicole hated her to death. She would surely do that if she was in her shoes but... she was willing to let it go! She didn\'t show anything but she was more than taken aback when Nicole introduced her to Leon\'s mother as her mother just an hour ago. She didn\'t deserve that!

"Nicole truly cared about you," Carson spoke up after almost a minute of silence. Then he continued by saying, "Do you know why she is willing to let it go? It\'s because she doesn\'t want to see you in prison. Your decision will only hurt both of you."

Carson\'s words put Garcia Han in a daze. She already knew that and that\'s why she was torn. It was hard for her too. She even thought that it might be better if Nicole really wished to see her suffer!

"I also have one more reason for coming here."

Garcia Han was a bit flustered when she heard what Carson said. Another reason?

"What is it?" She asked, confused. She can\'t think of any possible reason.

Carson Jun think twice and then said, "I talked with Nicole on a phone last night."

Garcia Han slightly frowned. "What did you two plan again this time? I -"

"Let me finished first," Carson said in a serious face that even surprised Garcia Han. Why did he become so serious all of a sudden?

"She said that she already secured proof for some crimes of Peter Jung and Colin Park but... she still needs to work on one thing," Carson Jun told Garcia Han.

"One more thing? Did she tell you what it is?" Garcia Han promptly asked. Peter Jung was a dangerous person and she scared for her stepdaughter\'s life if anything goes wrong!

"She said that Peter Jung was the one behind the death of her boyfriend\'s father. However, they don\'t know the details and they are still working on finding some clues."

Aston Kang\'s father? Garcia Han realized that she knew nothing about the actor, let alone his family. "Peter Jung killed Aston Kang\'s father?"

"That\'s what Nicole said, but... do you have any idea of who the father was?" Carson asked her. His gaze never left her the whole time.

Garcia Han raised a brow. "What do you mean? I know nothing about Aston Kang."

Carson Jun remained quiet for a while before he said, "I told Nicole that I will help her in whatever way I can. Then she told me the name of Aston Kang\'s father." He made a deliberate paused and continued by saying, "It\'s Ethan Min."

Garcia Han was still feeling confused by what Carson said until... her eyes suddenly grew wide opened in shock. "Ethan Min? That police officer?" In a split second, disbelief was written all over her face!

Carson nodded. "It\'s that detective."

Being too shocked by the revelation, Garcia Han involuntarily took a step back and shook her head. "How is that possible?" she murmured.

"We used to search for the Min twins but it turns out that one of them is Aston Kang. He is the Aston Min that we searched for years," Carson Jun said.

"Then what about Aria Min?" Garcia Han quickly asked. She just realized that it had been years since the name last escaped her lips.

"I don\'t know about that," Carson replied. Thinking of his conversation with Nicole last night, he said, "I don\'t say anything to Nicole. I want to discuss with you first."

"Ethan Min\'s death is always a mystery for us. We used to think that it was the doing of Zachary Yang but... it turns out that Peter Jung was the one behind it. Nicole said that Colin Park might also get involved but she didn\'t have proof," he added.

Garcia Han stood still, recalling her memories of the kind police officer she first met 20 years ago. Aston Kang was his son?

To repay the kindness that Ethan Min showed to her, she tried to seek out his two children after his death, hoping that she could help them somehow. However, it was like searching for a needle in a haystack and she eventually gave up after years of searching. She still couldn\'t believe that his son was that actor whom her stepdaughter was dating!

"What will we do?" Carson asked Garcia Han. He felt lost too. When he learned about this last night, it was too unexpected and he didn\'t know what to do. How did things turn out this way? Why was everything a mess?!

Standing still in her place, Garcia Han was absorbed in her thoughts. After what seemed to be forever, she suddenly said, "I have to know more about what Peter Jung did."

"It seems like Peter Jung still doesn\'t know about Aston Kang\'s identity. If he realized that Ethan Min\'s son knew what he did to his father, the Prime Minister won\'t be still. That means both Aston Kang and Nicole will be in danger," Carson Jun promptly said.

Hearing his words, Garcia Han tightly clenched her fist. "I won\'t let him have his way anymore." She firmly said and looked at Carson. "I have to meet Aston Kang."

Carson raised a brow. "Right now?"

Garcia Han nodded. "I don\'t think we have time to lose."

"Shall I come with you? He knows everything about Nicole and he won\'t welcome you."

"No. I\'ll go alone. No matter how he thinks of me, I\'m glad that I finally got the chance to meet Ethan Min\'s son. So, I\'ll be fine," Garcia Han said. She forced a little smile, hoping to give Carson some assurance and left her house again.....