The Manipulated Villainess

Mathias was sitting in front of his uncle though they were separated by a thick glass just like before. Leon was also standing beside him.

Peter Jung observed his nephew as it was his first time meeting him since he was arrested. The last time he saw Mathias, he was lying cold on the floor with blood covering his body.

When his uncle didn't say anything, Mathias decided to speak up and break the silence. "How have you been, uncle? It's been a while."

Maybe hearing him talked reminded Peter Jung that this was real and not just a hallucination. Finally, he shut his eyes and let out a breath.

"Mathias was discharged from the hospital two days ago," Leon spoke up. "I know that you want to meet him, so I brought him here."

Mathias Jung observed his uncle. Wearing a prison uniform, he had appeared so thin though it had only been three months. This made him deeply concerned. Was he perhaps... sick?

"I'm glad to see you fine and healthy," Peter Jung finally said.

"But you don't look well, uncle," Mathias pointed out. "Is everything alright?"

Peter Jung promptly nodded. "I was worried about you but now I know that you've recovered well. So, I'll be fine." He paused and asked, "Did you still live in your apartment?"

"Yes," Mathias responded and what happened two days ago crossed his mind. "Leon wants me to move in with his family," he muttered.

Slightly raising a brow, Peter Jung glanced at his son. However, he soon realized that it was so much like Leon. He was always too kind ever since he was a child. He always wanted him to be tougher but it never worked.

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"That's great," he remarked, making Mathias darted his eyes to him. "You always longed for a family," he added.

"I'm not sure about that anymore," Mathias said in a low voice. "I had gotten used to living alone and do everything by myself."

"You can't live alone forever," Peter Jung argued. "Someday, you will get married and build a family. That's just the nature of life." Then he looked up at Leon. "Will you teach him that? Make sure to convince him to move in with you. I can't be around anymore, so I don't want him to be too alone."

Leon Jung nodded with a little smile. "I'll try my best."

"Uncle... "

"I already told you that I want you to live a new life, Mathias," Peter Jung uttered. "Now that you have come to meet me once, I think that you shouldn't come anymore. You should move on with your life."

"How can you say that?" Mathias asked with a confused face. "I will never do that. I can come here each week and meet you."

"Father, Mathias worried about you a lot," Leon chimed in. "You shouldn't say that."

"Getting involved with me is not good for both of you," Peter Jung stated. "You're both young and you have a bright future ahead of you. I don't want you to ruin it as I did."

"Uncle, I know that deep down, you believed that we won't ruin our lives," Mathias said and this time, his voice was quite calm. "You only said that because you feel guilty. But please know this. No matter what, you have no reason to feel that way towards me."

"You make your decision that night, Father," Leon added. "Though Daniel Gu ruined everything, I know that you chose me. So, I will keep my promise. I won't abandon you no matter what happened."

Peter Jung looked at the two young men whom he raised. He was surprised by how well they grew up despite being raised by someone like him! However, that put him at ease. At least, they were different from him. That means they won't ruin their lives as he did.

Finally, Peter Jung flashed a little smile. "I believe in you two."

* * *

Days slowly passed by and though most of the days weren't that quiet, it was peaceful and bad things rarely happened.

Nicole was in her office talking with her stepmother through the phone. Just a few months ago, the Chairwoman would never think that there will come a day when she talked to Garcia Han through the phone with a genuine smile on her face.

Yet it was happening right now.

"You make a good decision, Mother. I'm really glad."

"I'm only announcing my candidacy, Nicole," Garcia Han said from the other line. Letting out a sigh, she added, "Winning the election is still a faraway dream."

"I saw all the positive reaction of the people, Mother. Even from the start, you are always the most favorite to win," Nicole said in an assuring tone. "Besides, why did you say that you're only announcing your candidacy? You also announced one more news, don't you?"

With a little smile, Nicole narrowed her eyes at the article on the tablet. "Seems like your upcoming marriage to Chairman Jun is also handled well by the people," she remarked.

"Carson always has a good reputation," Garcia Han stated. "That helps a lot but... are you really okay with this? If it's not fine with you, I won't marry him."

"Chairman Jun is a good person, Mother," Nicole promptly said. "He already waits for you for 20 years. Don't let him wait anymore. I really mean it."

Garcia Han remained quiet for a while until she finally said, "Alright. The election is just around the corner and with the wedding coming up, I will be very busy."

"I know. Tell me if you need my help," Nicole said and her gaze landed on one file which was on her desk on the left. Then she narrowed her eyes. "I realized that you worked hard to protect Yang Group during all those years, Mother. Even after I became the Chairwoman, you did everything for me and shield me from those greedy persons who are after the company. I never know it and instead... "

The Chairwoman refused to say more. Whenever her stepmother targeted those small or sometimes decent companies, she used to think that it was her way of tormenting her, to make her look bad and cruel but... it turned out that they were all hungry wolves who targeted her company many times.

Those small business owners thought that the young Chairwoman will be easy to exploit but they were all ended by Garcia Han.

In reality, it wasn't her fault either. She never heard about those. She only heard what Garcia Han allowed her to hear. Then she only realized the truth now.

"You investigate those?" Garcia Han asked her. "It's all in the past, Nicole. You're capable enough now and I don't have to do that anymore. You should stop thinking too much."

Nicole quietly glanced at the files and after turning her attention back to the call, she nodded. "Alright. I will become stronger and I won't need you to step up for me anymore." The moment she finished talking, she heard the light chuckle of her stepmother.

"I'm glad to hear that," Garcia Han mused. "Will you come home for dinner? Now that we announced our plans for marriage, Carson really wish to see you, not as business partners." She emphasized the last four words, making Nicole laughed this time.

"Fine. Aston plans to visit Aria, so I think I should come home to have family time too," she jokingly responded. "See you then."