The Manipulated Villainess

It was almost midnight but the search for Cassandra Lim didn't see any progress. Everyone was quite anxious by now and Nathan Woo was the one having the hardest time.

They just got back together and what if... something bad happens to Cassandra?

The Reyon Boss was standing outdoors with his back pressed against his car. Tightly clenching his fists, his mere assumptions almost made him wild!

That two-faced Prime Minister. He vowed to make him pay if anything happens to his lover!

"Nathan."

He darted his eyes to the right when he heard someone calling his name. Then he saw his friend. "Aston."

The actor had just got off his bike and was making his way towards his friend who appeared so desperate. One glance of the Reyon Boss and it was clear that he wasn't fine at all!

"Why didn't you wait inside your car? It's pretty cold outside," Aston said to Nathan and stood beside him.

"I'm fine. I won't be able to sit still anyway," Nathan responded in a low voice.

Aston Kang briefly narrowed his eyes before he turned his head to his friend. "I'm sorry. This won't happen if she didn't help me."

Looking straight at the front, Nathan Woo faints a smile and shook his head. "Don't be. Helping you out was her choice. She never said it but... I know that she feels desperate. She feels responsible for her adoptive father's crime and she wants to repay you. I respect her decision."

"Adoptive father?" Aston was flustered. Was Andres Lim not Cassandra's biological father? He had never heard of that.

Nathan Woo nodded. "She was adopted when she was 5." Nathan took a deep breath and then glanced at his friend. "Do you still remember how we always thought why she lived that way when we find out her real identity?

"She never looked happy but she always ended up following her father's order. We used to condemn her for living that kind of life while it was clear that she wasn't happy about it."

Aston recalled the times Nathan spoke about. They used to wonder if Cassandra Lim even had a conscience. Why did she never stand up for herself during those times? Why did she act like a puppet of her tyrannical father? 

Now, it made sense. She felt indebted towards her adoptive father and maybe she was trying to repay him that way.

"I wonder how hard her life must have been," Nathan murmured. When he thought of how he treated her all those years... he felt suffocated. What if he wasn't given a chance to make up to her?

Aston lifted his hand and gently patted his friend on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Nathan. She will be fine. Cassandra is strong and I'm sure that she won't give up easily. We will locate her soon."

"I hope so," Nathan muttered. He glanced at his wristwatch and noticed that it was already past midnight. That means 7 hours had passed since Cassandra was captured. Will she be alright? He was really anxious now.

* * *

Though Aston was planning to tell Nicole himself, he was so caught up in searching for Cassandra and the Chairwoman had already heard about it through Shara. The latter talked with Leon before and she heard it from him.

"Do you think Cassandra will be fine?" Nicole asked Shara. They were both sitting in the living room of Nicole's house and though it was already past midnight, it was impossible for them to fall asleep.

"I'm not sure but don't worry too much," Shara said. "The Prime Minister wanted something from her and he won't kill her."

"Just what did he want to know?" Nicole uttered. It's not like Cassandra knew where Shara and Leon's mother hide! Aston had told her before that Cassandra refused to know. If anything happens to her, she said that it would be best if she didn't have such information. She was really prepared for this!

Shara thought about it but she can't come up with anything. Besides, if Peter Jung really wished to know their location, there were many other choices besides Cassandra. The Prime Minister will surely know that capturing the Boss of the Moyan Gang was a dangerous move!

Nicole thought of the first and only time when she met Cassandra Lim. It was that night when the plan was made. Then she raised a brow. "Maybe the Prime Minister wants to know the one who convinced her to fool him."

The one who convinced Cassandra Lim? Does that mean... Aston? In a split second, anxiety rushed through Shara's whole body! Just as expected of Peter Jung, he already figured out that the one who convinced the Boss of Moyan Gang can't be his son, the Young Master of the Blackhood!

"Aston is also in danger," Nicole muttered, glancing at Shara.

Shara tried to calm down herself and think clear but...

The sound of her phone ringing echoed in the quiet house. Then she quickly glanced at her phone which she placed on the right of the table and when she saw just a number on the screen, her eyes grew wide open in shock.

This phone was bought for her by Aston after she lived with Nicole and only Leon, Nicole and Aston knew about this number. Who would be calling her?!

Was it Peter Jung? Just the thought of it almost made her shiver!

Nicole also stared at the phone with an equally surprised face. Then she met Shara's gaze and nodded once.

Shara was more than hesitant to answer the call! However, she had to know what was going on and it would be foolish to ignore such an uncertain call. Besides, she worked for Peter Jung for years and she knew how unpredictable the Prime Minister was!

She swiped the green button and shut her eyes as she put the phone next to her ear. "Hello," she muttered in a low voice.

"We finally get to talk."

Shara's eyes flew open when she heard the person from the other line. This voice. How could she possibly not recognize the voice that controlled her for a decade?! Holding the phone with her right hand, she was nervously squeezing her clothes with the other hand.

"How do you know this number?" She barely mustered her strength and courage to ask the question. Hearing this, Nicole understood what was going on and she quickly rose from her seat and called Edwin as she wasn't sure if he was on duty or not.

"Do you really think you can get away after pulling such a grand trick on me, Shara? You should know better than that. We know each other well, don't we?" Peter Jung's sarcastic voice echoed in Shara's ears.

"Aren't you tired of this?" Shara asked but when she realized that the man whom she talked to was a heartless one, she shut her mouth. It's useless to try talking some sense into him.

"You tell everything to Leon, don't you? You even let him meet with his mother. Those two crimes are the ones which I would never be able to forgive," Peter Jung paused and said, "You should brace yourself, Shara. I'm coming for you."

Now, Shara was sure that Peter Jung knew her location but... how? She glanced around and took a pen that was on the table. Then she wrote down something and gestured for Nicole to take a look.

"You won't get what you want," Shara coldly said.

Peter Jung simply laughed. "Maybe luck is on me this time, Shara. I can already see the house where you hide." He paused and said, "I can't believe that my son hid his wife and mother in the house of his ex-fiancee. It's beyond my imagination."

Shara felt the pressure even more now but she tried her best not to make it obvious. "You can do whatever you want but... you won't succeed," she bluntly said.

Peter Jung chuckled. "Alright, we will see," he simply said and ended the call.

Putting down the phone, Shara quickly stood up. "Peter Jung is here," she said to Nicole who was discussing something with Edwin.

"We don't have time," Nicole said and glanced at the door to the guest room. "Edwin, take Mrs. Lee and Shara with you and leave through the secret door. Make sure to keep them safe."

"What are you talking about?" Shara asked with a flustered face. "You should come with us."

Nicole shook her head. "If Peter Jung didn't see you here, he can't do anything to me. After all, I still have Yang Group and my stepmother on my side. He won't dare to touch me without clear proof. So, leave now."

She turned to Edwin and judging from the look on his face, it was clear that he was against this.

Then she said, "Edwin, I can trust only you with this task. Please take them away and keep them safe. I will contact you after I deal with Peter Jung. Besides, there are still several guards here. I will be fine."