The Manipulated Villainess

When Shara walked out of the Prime Minister\'s room, she felt so weak. She already knew that this day would come ever since she left the Prime Minister\'s mansion with Leon. However, it\'s hard than she expected.

She stood still with her back pressing against the wall. Clenching her fist, she shut her eyes, trying to calm down. After staying that way for a minute, she finally returned to the museum.

When she reached there, she saw Leon in the main room where most of his works were displayed. He seemed to be looking for someone and when his gaze landed on her, he sighed and rushed to her.

"Where did you go? I was looking for you everywhere." He said, observing her.

When she saw the concern on his face, she forced a little smile. "I went out for some air. Shouldn\'t you work on your pottery right now?"

"Forget about that. I\'m so hungry and I don\'t think I can continue. Let\'s have lunch first." Leon promptly said.

Before Shara could say anything, he grabbed her in the hand and pulled her out of the museum.

*

"Aren\'t you hungry? You keep on picking your food." Leon said to Shara who was sitting opposite him.

Shara who was buried in her thoughts was aroused when she heard his voice. They were sitting in the nearby restaurant which they frequent.

"I don\'t have much appetite." She said, forcing a little smile once again.

Leon was quite amazed but he quietly continued eating his lunch.

"Have you talk with your father after we left?" Shara suddenly asked the potter after almost a minute of silence.

At her words, Leon paused and turned to her. "No. He called me a few times but I don\'t want to answer." Feeling a little strange, he asked, "Why? Did he bother you?"

Shara quickly shook her head. "I\'m just curious."

"Even if he wants to see you, just ignore him. You don\'t have to put up with him. He doesn\'t worth it." Leon said. Though his voice was calm, he was serious.

"Alright," Shara said and continued eating her lunch with a troubled mind.

* * *

Nicole was alone in her office when she heard the sound of knocking on the door. Only a few minutes left until it\'s time to get off work and she didn\'t expect anyone either.

"Come in."

She remained impassive when Colin Park entered her office. What did he want again?!

"Do I disturb you, Chairwoman?" Director Park said. Like always, the way he talked was formal yet insolent.

"What brings you here? I doubt it\'s about work." The Chairwoman coldly said.

Colin Park simply smiled. "I figure out that you realize about Chairman Jun. I already warned you before."

Nicole scoffed. "So, you know all along? Your knowledge is something worth applauding, Director Park." Her tone was full of sarcasm.

"I only want the best for Yang Group." Colin Park stated and glanced down at the Chairwoman who was sitting. "Do you want to join hands and take down your stepmother? If you wish, I can help you in many ways."

"Don\'t you know that you and my stepmother are the same in my eyes? You\'re not trustworthy. I\'ve known you well enough to figure out that." 

Like always, Colin Park simply smiled again. "That\'s up to you but remember this, Chairwoman. Steer clear of Carson Jun. He is not as simple as you thought."

"I will take my leave." He quickly added and walked out of her office.

Nicole stared at the annoying Director. Just what was he up to! Feeling troubled, she opened the file which she placed on the right. It\'s the one that Jerome gave her a few days ago.

Tapping her fingers on the file, she was thinking of what to do. Suddenly, she rose from her seat and put the file inside her bag. Then she picked up her bag and walked out of the office.

Outside her office, Edwin was there with her assistant Julia Cha. "Let\'s call it a day." She said to her assistant and quickly left with Edwin.

"Will you go home straight away?" Edwin asked him when they entered her car.

Nicole thought for a while before she said, "No. Let\'s go to my stepmother\'s office."

Edwin raised a brow as he didn\'t expect this. "Are you sure?" He asked just to make it clear. He had already heard about the Chairwoman\'s past and he didn\'t really wish for her to meet the Minister of Justice.

"Yes. Don\'t worry, Edwin. I\'ll be fine. Besides, you will also be there." Nicole calmly said and Edwin Zo nodded.

"Alright then. I\'ll take you there." He started the car and they left for Garcia Han\'s office.

* * *

Garcia Han was about to go home when Alex Jo informed her about Nicole\'s arrival. This made the stepmother perplexed. Nicole never came unless she asked for her. Besides, her office was the place which the Chairwoman rarely visited.

"Let her in." She finally said to Alex Jo. Then the latter bowed and walked out of the office.

Nicole made her way to her stepmother\'s office. Edwin also followed her in but she wasn\'t bothered by it as she trusted him.

"What brings you here? Didn\'t you say that you cut ties with me? No one can meet the Minister of Justice without an appointment." Garcia Han simply said to her.

"Should I leave then? Besides, will you really let me do it if I take legal measures to break our ties?" Nicole said. She remained impassive as she wasn\'t that pleased to meet this woman.

"Have a seat." Garcia Han ignored what she said and sat down on the couch. Nicole sat opposite her while Edwin stood about two steps behind.

"So, what brings you here?" Garcia Han asked her.

"How is your cooperation with Colin Park right now?" Nicole frankly asked.

Garcia Han was a bit flustered. Did she came here just to ask her that?!

"Why do you want to know that?"

Nicole sighed. "Can\'t you just answer me?"

"It\'s the same." Garcia Han promptly said and Nicole narrowed her eyes at the file inside her bag.

"That means you still trust him." She murmured.

"What are you thinking, Nicole? Do you come here just to ask me that?" Garcia Han\'s annoyance was quite evident in her voice. "If you don\'t have anything better to do, go home. I\'m busy."

Nicole sat still without even responding to her stepmother while Garcia Han\'s gaze was fixated on her. After what seemed to be forever, she finally took the file out of her bag and put it before Garcia Han.

"What is this?" Garcia Han asked with a confused face.

"Take a look," Nicole muttered.

Garcia Han lifted the file and opened it. When she read some of the documents inside, she darted her eyes to Nicole.

"Those documents proved that my father wasn\'t in charge of anything that happened in the company during your brother\'s death. He was grieving over my mother\'s death and... he was even admitted to a hospital due to his deteriorating health." Nicole explained.

"All the medical records were also there and his doctor in charge also said that he wasn\'t in a condition to decide anything for the company. He was a mess at that time." She added in a low voice.

Glancing down at the files, Garcia Han checked the details and she realized that everything was matched with the incident. "This can\'t be." She muttered with a perplexed face.

"If you asked my father the truth for just once, this won\'t happen. But he\'s dead and he can\'t answer you now." Observing her stepmother\'s face, Nicole uttered the words with much difficulty.

"Do you think I don\'t make such attempts? When Jonathan died, I asked to meet your father many times but I was never given the chance. All he did was giving me some money!" Garcia Han grunted.

"That\'s not the case," Nicole argued. "My father tried to meet you but... Director Park said that he will take care of everything. It was Director Park who stopped my father from meeting you."

Garcia Han didn\'t even know what to believe. The truth which she believed for two decades... was a lie?! She couldn\'t believe it! "How can I believe what you say? You\'re the daughter of Zachary Yang!" She snapped.

"You\'re an intelligent woman, Mother. But why can\'t you see through this? Who was the one who lies to you at that time? Who made you believe those total lies? Why can\'t you see it?!" Nicole uttered. She still tried hard to refrain from raising her voice. Getting too worked up wouldn\'t solve anything.

When Garcia Han remained silent with her eyes glued to the floor, Nicole let out a breath. "You said that your cooperation with Colin Park is still the same. But why did he, your trusted executive came to me and said that he was willing to help me take you down?"

"Think about it, Mother. Everything is clear. In my eyes, it seems like your heart knows the truth but you refuse to believe it. You are never this weak." Nicole added in a low voice.....