The Manipulated Villainess

The Next Day 

When almost all the new articles in the country were filled with the last question of that strange reporter, Garcia Han was fumed with anger. 

"How dare they published this nonsense when they have no proof!" She grunted, hardly slamming her desk. She was sitting on a chair in her office. "With the internal election coming up, I'm not in a position to be the centre of these rumours." She holds her head, feeling troubled by her own thoughts.

"I manage to stop other articles from getting published but it spread so fast and it is out of control. I apologize, ma'am." Alex Jo who was standing in front of the desk bowed and apologized.

"Why didn't Nicole tell me that she was asked such a question? I should be able to make preparations beforehand if I knew this." Garcia Han realized that Carson Jun was also in the press conference. The latter wanted to meet last night but she was too tired and turned him down. She should have met up with him.

"Do you think that she deliberately keep it from you?" Alex Jo asked.

"No. The articles also mentioned how she answered the question. She has an over kind heart. Maybe she didn't think that the reporters will pursue this matter further." Garcia Han pressed the bottom end of her pen repeatedly. Who leaked such an issue? Was it... Leon Jung?

"Tell Nicole to come here. I want to talk with her." She ordered Alex Jo and the latter complied it right away.

After around forty minutes, Nicole arrived at her step-mother's office. By this time, it was almost noon. 

"There are already countless articles about yesterday. Why didn't you tell me about it?" Garcia Han glanced at Nicole, who was sitting on the couch in her right. Somehow, she finds it hard to read her these days.

"I'm sorry. I don't know that it will turn out to be this big of an issue. I should have been more careful." Nicole met Garcia Han's gaze. "I will take legal actions and sue them for defamation."

"There's no need for that. I'm a politician and it will only harm my reputation more." Garcia Han gave a quick thought. "I will think of a solution and tell you if your involvement is necessary."

"I create this mess, so I will do anything to solve it. Don't worry, Mother." Nicole replied, slightly lowering her head.

"I think Leon Jung is behind this. I heard that he cut ties with his father and left the house. He might be the one who started the rumour." Garcia Han repeatedly pressed her hand against the armrest. She was never good at suppressing her anger.

Leon left his home? Nicole was stupefied! Why didn't she heard anything about this? Garcia Han even suspected him! "Mother, I don't think this is Leon's doing. He won't interfere in things that involved me. He is not like his father."

"Are you saying he's different?" Garcia Han mused. What did her step-daughter know about Leon Jung? In her eyes, Leon Jung was a seemingly average man who hid his claws!

"He doesn't have any resemblance with his father," Nicole muttered but she refused to say it more.

"Whatever. We already cut ties with the Jung's anyway. But if he is the one behind this, I won't forgive him." Garcia Han made a deliberate paused and continued. "I think Peter Jung is in a shock due to his son's action. I haven't seen him since that night. Have you seen Leon?"

"No." Nicole promptly responded. "I have no reason to see him. Besides, I'm busy due to the project with JK Group."

"That's good." Garcia Han said, appraisingly. "Those articles harm my reputation greatly. I should hurry up and settle everything." Garcia Han was very determined.

As soon as Nicole walked out of the room, she was lost in her thought. The news harmed Garcia Han's reputation and she still remembered how someone told her to target the reputation in the first place. Was it his doing? Then Alex Jo's voice interrupted her.

"Is this the road you choose?" Alex Jo asked her from behind.

With an annoyed face, Nicole turned around and frowned. "What is your problem, Alex Jo?" Why can't he stop interfering in her life?! This was too frustrating!

Alex Jo walked forward and stood before her. "Then you should be careful. Don't get caught this time."

"What are you saying?" Nicole rolled her eyes. What did he even know?!

"Did you already forget, Nicole?" Alex Jo took one step forward, narrowing the already little distance between them. "Like it or hate it, we dated for almost two years. No one knows you well as I do."

Nicole's face instantly darkened at his words. "Shut up." Her voice was dangerously low. "How dare you bring up the past! It's too disgusting!" She spatted each word, making her contempt known to him.

When Alex Jo remained quiet, she turned around and walked away from him. Though she hated to admit it, Alex Jo wasn't wrong. He knew her well and she was aware of that.

* * *

When Nicole went home, it was already 7 in the night. Now that the project to build a non-profit hospital was launched, she was busier than ever.

Much to her surprise, her apartment was filled with the delicious smell of dishes that were coming out from her kitchen. When she thought who it might be, she smiled and quickly rushed over to the kitchen.

"When did you come?" She asked Aston who was very busy preparing dinner. When he heard her voice, he quickly turned around and flashed a smile.

"Around one hour ago. Go and get changed. Dinner will be ready soon." His voice was warm as always.

"Aren't you busy today?"

"Nope. I don't have much work for this week. But starting next week, I will be super busy. It will be very hard to see me."

She slowly nodded once and then walked to her room.

When she came out of her room after changing, she noticed that dinner was already served on the table. She approached the table and observed the dishes.

"Do you know that I love braised beef?" She tilted her head to Aston who was still busy.

"Yes. I read it on the internet." Aston walked to the table with two bowls in his hands.

"This is?"

"Tofu soup. You love this right? I also love it." He placed the bowls on the table. It was followed by two bowls of rice.

Nicole thought that the actor was done and she sat down but he brought another plate and placed it before his seat. "This is mine." He sat down on the chair opposite to Nicole.

"You won't eat braised beef?" She asked as she slightly raised a brow.

"No. I don't eat meat."

"Oh. Are you allergic to meat or you're a vegetarian?"

Aston simply smiled. "I'm a vegetarian. Enjoy your dinner." He gestured her to try eating the dishes.

Nicole first tasted the braised beef and then the tofu soup. She was flustered at how great the dishes were! Unlike her who hated cooking, he was at a whole new level!

"Wow! This is amazing! You are great, Mr. Min. Even that day in your old house, you were great but I have no idea you can make these types of dishes." Nicole remarked. She ate another spoonful of the tofu soup, followed by another and this made Aston chuckled.

"I played the character of a chef around a year ago. I took cooking classes from a professional chef for two whole months to fit that role. I learned many recipes during that." Aston stared at Nicole the whole time and he wasn't even sure if she was listening to him. She was too busy eating the dishes! But he loved this rare sight. She looked so carefree and simple when she behaved like this.

"You should come often. I rarely have a quality dinner when I'm alone. You know, I really hate cooking. It's not my cup of tea." Nicole didn't even glance at him. Instead, she was fully concentrated on her dinner.

Aston chuckled once again. He didn't even get to say that he didn't love cooking though he was quite great and she already told him to come by often. But watching her happily eating his dishes with a satisfying smile on her face, he decided that it will be worth it even if he wasn't a fan of cooking. "Okay. I will do that." He agreed and started his dinner. He was making a pan-fried salmon for himself.

After quietly eating the dishes for almost two minutes, Nicole suddenly halted and glanced at Aston. "Yesterday at the press conference, the question of that reporter. It's your doing, right?" She asked.

"Yeah." Aston promptly admitted.

Nicole gazed at him quietly and then he spoke up again. "If you know it beforehand, I'm afraid that you might make it obvious. I don't want your step-mother to be suspicious of you. Besides, you're too frank."

"I know that would be the reason but Aston, I don't want you to put yourself in danger. By doing that, it's the same as declaring war with Garcia Han." The Chairwoman's eyes were full of concern for the man she loved but the latter simply smiled.

"The moment I decided to stand beside you, I'm already prepared for that. Don't worry, Nicole." He flashed an assuring smile before he said, "I'm strong enough to protect you."

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