The Manipulated Villainess

"Nicole, I understand even if you hate me. However, I want you to know that I\'m serious about this project." Carson Jun said when Nicole fell silent. "It\'s my dream for many years." He calmly added.

Dream? Nicole realized the articles she read in the past. Carson Jun had once said that it was his dream to build a non-profit hospital due to his struggles during his childhood.

Even that day when they signed the deal, he was talking about his grandmother who can\'t receive treatment due to lack of money. Were all those true?

"You know that JK Group was founded and expanded by me. My life seemed to be great but I have a very tough childhood. Your stepmother will be able to tell you about it." Carson Jun said in a low voice.

"I\'m not that interested in your past." The Chairwoman simply said.

"You should know that what made us the way we are now is our past. If you want to know a person well, never ignored their past. I don\'t say it\'s everything but our past always holds a key point of our life." Carson Jun never took his eyes off the Chairwoman.

"If that\'s the case, the more reason I shouldn\'t trust you." Nicole didn\'t know if Carson Jun was here to have a meeting with her or to lecture her!

Chairman Jun quietly glanced at Nicole for a while. Then his lips curved into a smile. "Do you know how much you resembled Garcia when you behaved this way?" He mused.

Nicole always admitted that she and her stepmother had several things in common. But she didn\'t like to hear it, especially from this man. However, she said nothing and only turn away.

"The first time I came here to meet you, I already realized why Garcia is so invested in you. You reminded her of her old self." Carson remarked with a small smile.

Nicole pursed her lips but she still kept her silence. Carson Jun also remained quiet for a while before he said, "If it\'s that hard to trust me with this project, you can think of a way. Give a serious thought and tell me what I could do to make you trust me. If it\'s fall under my capability, I will do it."

Nicole turned back to him with a perplexed face yet the latter only smiled at her. What made him too adamant in making her trust him? He was the Chairman of the influential JK Group. He didn\'t have to try so hard! Just what was on his mind?!

* * *

"You often zoned out. I guess something happens today." Aston said to Nicole who blankly stared at the floor. It was night and the two were at Nicole\'s house waiting for Edwin Zo.

Nicole was aroused from her thoughts when she heard Aston. "I met Chairman Jun. He talked too much and said many useless things."

"Useless?" The actor mused. "If it\'s useless as you said, you won\'t be that bothered."

Nicole shifted her gaze to Aston and slightly smiled. "You\'re right. But I really don\'t want to get involved with him."

"You said that he\'s going to marry your stepmother, right?"

Nicole nodded. "That\'s what they say."

"What do you think of Chairman Jun?"

Nicole thought for a while before she answered, "I don\'t know much about him but... he is someone who lives for Garcia Han."

She suddenly realized the time she thought that Aston was quite similar to Carson Jun. She finds it hard to believe that even her taste in men was very similar to her stepmother!

"To be honest," she said, glancing at Aston. "I think you have many similarities with Chairman Jun."

Aston chuckled when he heard her. "I understand why you think that way. I also read his biography when you tell me about him. Besides, he is a loyal person."

Nicole let out a sigh. "He is quite a headache. No matter what I said, he always smiles and answers me calmly. It\'s like impossible to make him lose his cool." She narrowed her eyes and played with her fingers. "But you know what, this project is very important to me. I can\'t just give up but I can\'t just trust him either. Garcia Han always creates another problem for me."

"I don\'t know much about business but... you should just follow your heart. I think it will be best that way."

Nicole slightly smiled and nodded. Then they heard the sound of a doorbell.

"It must be Edwin," Aston said and walked to the door. He pressed the button that would open the gate and in no time, Edwin Zo entered the house. When he saw Aston, he quickly bowed.

"Welcome." The actor said to him with a little smile.

"Nicole, he is the one I\'m talking about. Edwin Zo." Aston said and the Chairwoman rose from her seat.

She stretched out her hand to the man. "It\'s nice to meet you. I\'m Nicole Yang."

Edwin Zo accepted the handshake with a bow. "I\'m Edwin Zo."

"Have a seat." The Chairwoman promptly said.

Edwin Zo looked at Aston and when the latter nodded, he sat down on the couch opposite the Chairwoman.

"You two can talk it out. I\'ll prepare some coffee." The actor said and went to the kitchen. He only wanted to give them some time to get to know each other. He knew that his presence would only bother Edwin.

"Aston told me about you but not much. I also know that you were once a gangster like him. So, I\'m just curious why you decided to work for me." Nicole said, choosing her words carefully.

"This is a great chance for me to start a new." Edwin promptly replied. "I don\'t have a normal educational background, so I don\'t have much choice. Besides... " Edwin\'s eyes trailed to the kitchen where Aston went. "He is the one who asked me and I trust him."

The Chairwoman smiled at Edwin\'s response. "That means I have nothing to worry about. You seem to respect Aston a lot."

Edwin Zo nodded once. "Back then, he was a good leader for all of us. We rely on him a lot. When he left, I understood the huge difference between his presence and absence."

Hearing about Aston\'s past, Nicole suddenly became curious. She had never asked Aston about his time in the gang and he had never talked about it either. "Back then, what kind of person was he?"

"Do you mean as the second in command of the Red Tiger Gang?" Edwin Zo asked.

Nicole nodded and Edwin Zo slightly smiled for the first time. "He was great but... " His little smile slipped when he said, "He suffered a lot."

"Because of Lester Yun?"

Edwin Zo slightly raised a brow but it was replaced by a smile again. "You really know everything about us, Chairwoman."

"Only a bit," Nicole said and her face turned gloomy. "That Lester Yun even switched the guards in my hospital room with his men. He is a psychopath."

"That\'s true." Edwin Zo quickly agreed with her. "If it wasn\'t for Boss, the Red Tiger Gang would already end due to Lester Yun. He never used his brain in a normal way."

"Boss? You mean Aston?" Nicole mused.

Edwin nodded and awkwardly smiled. "It\'s a habit and I still struggle to call him with another title or name."

"It\'s fine. I don\'t mind it."

Edwin Zo was amazed at how the Chairwoman of the powerful Yang Group showed interest in their lives. Besides, she didn\'t seem to be bothered by their past or what they did for a living while it would easily drove away other women! She\'s truly unique!

"You don\'t have to worry about Lester Yun now, Chairwoman. He is caught and it won\'t be easy to sneak out. Besides, he didn\'t have many subordinates now. More than half of his men turn their back at him." Edwin Zo assured her. "Besides, Boss trust me enough to take this job. I will do anything to ensure your safety."

Nicole only nodded once as she was still thinking about their past. "I bet it wouldn\'t be easy. I mean, living as a gangster." She just couldn\'t stop wondering how much Aston might have suffered! All to find Aria!

"It\'s not easy but... Boss was the one who suffered the most. He always defended us and ended up taking the blame. However, Lester Yun has some sort of obsession for him. If not, he won\'t survive after all those - "

"I leave you alone to get to know each other, not to talk about the past."

Edwin instantly stopped talking when he heard Aston\'s voice. When he saw his former boss standing just a few steps away, he abruptly rose from his seat.

"Edwin, if you say such a thing to my girlfriend, it would bring no good." Aston calmly said and walked towards them with a tray that holds three cups of tea. Then he placed it on the small table in the middle.

"I apologize." Edwin promptly said with his head lowered.

"Sit down. Let\'s have some tea." The actor simply said with a calm face and took a seat beside Nicole. Then Edwin settled on the couch again.

Nicole glanced at Aston who was now sitting next to her. She can\'t help but wonder what was he like during his time in the gang. Besides, even after years, his former subordinates still respected him a lot and that made her more curious.....