"I didn't expect you to show up here," Nicole said to Aston who was standing in front of her. Her face remained impassive.

It was 6 p.m. and she was alone in her apartment when the actor suddenly showed up. She didn't want to meet him, not right after her step-mother confronted her with those photos!

"I couldn't reach you." Aston's anxiety was evident in his voice. "For two whole days." He added. His gaze fixated on her but he had no idea of what she was thinking. Did something happen to her?

"Am I obliged to answer your calls, Mr. Kang?" Nicole frowned at his persistence. The last time she saw him, he was going over to another woman's house, having dinner with the actress's family. Was that the reason why she ignored her calls? Maybe. Because she couldn't erase that scene from her mind!

"Are you angry with me?" Aston asked. She always pushed him away but it's the first time he saw that kind of look on her face. The face that one makes when they were upset about something.

"I'm not blind or deaf, Aston Kang. I saw and hear the way you were with Anna Park. You have her by your side. But why are you still clinging to me?" Nicole snapped. She was not trying to say any of these but... it's too frustrating! "I think I judge you wrong." She added with disappointment.

Aston's face turned pale at her remark! She might always be cruel to him but it's the first time he saw her this angry! "Nicole, it's not like that. I'm only -"

"No need to explain. It won't change anything." Nicole paused and think of those photos from the morning. "Even if it's just a misunderstanding, it's still impossible for us. And if it's true, it's better for you."

"Nicole, hear me out." Aston was tired due to his busy schedules and lack of sleep these days. Nightmares made him lose his sleep each night. Arguing needs too much energy but he still thinks that it's worth it. He opened his mouth but he was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.

Both Nicole and Aston's eyes flew to the door with a guarded gaze. Nicole knew right away that who it might be. Shoving Aston out through the secret door was the first thing that came to her mind but the next second, she decided to do the opposite. She was not afraid of revealing her biggest secret anymore!

Pushing the actor inside her room, she saw his confused face. "Don't make a sound and no matter what happens, don't come out. If they see you, I will be done." She knew that her words made him more confused but she ran out of time.

Believing that he will do as she told him, she closed her room door and make her way to the main door. She was not wrong and her step-mother walked inside. Alex Jo also followed her.

"What brings you here, Mother?" She asked, behaving all normal.

Garcia Han took a seat and Nicole followed suit. "I told you in the morning that we will continue our conversation next time. I came here for that." Garcia Han replied. Her voice remained calm yet her gaze never left her step-daughter.

Was she observing her or what? Nicole didn't know. She only knew that she should be normal so that the devil won't see through her.

"You should have called me so that I will come to you. I know how busy you are with the internal election coming up." Nicole's mind was fully occupied by Aston whom she hid in her room. He will be safe. Her step-mother never entered her room.

"It's fine. I'm not that busy today and with your sudden change of heart, it's hard for me to concentrate on my work." Garcia Han promptly said which flustered Nicole.

Did her words really make her step-mother lose focus? She never knew that she was capable of doing that! "I'm sorry about that." A hint of confusion was on her face and Garcia's keen eyes didn't miss it.

"You said that there is nothing between you and Aston Kang. Can I trust you with that?" Garcia Han made a deliberate paused before she said, "You know that love is just a weakness for you, Nicole. It's useless. You didn't get anything from loving that guy in your college."

At the mention of Aston Kang, Nicole's eyes almost trailed to her room but she barely holds back herself. The guy from college? She briefly glanced at Alex who was standing beside Garcia Han but it was just a split second and instantly looked at her step-mother.

"I know that." She whispered. "Please trust me, Mother. I know that you don't want me to indulge myself in such feelings again and I won't disappoint you."

"What about Leon? You seem closed these days." The Minister quickly asked. This question had been troubling her these days. Did her step-daughter really fell for the Prime Minister's son?! It shouldn't happen.

"Leon is no exception, Mother. Our engagement is just for political matters, nothing more or less. I only put up the act to help you." Nicole felt the rush. How long did she plan to be here?! Her room and the person inside totally distracted her!

Garcia Han was satisfied with Nicole's response. Maybe her step-daughter had truly come to her sense!

"As I promised, other people won't suffer as long as you listen to me. You can have true authority in all company matters starting tomorrow. But mark my words, Nicole." Garcia Han leaned forward a little, closing the distance between herself and her step-daughter. "If you try to act up or deceive me, the price will be higher than you could ever imagine. I rarely trust people, so I won't tolerate any betrayal."

"You know that your life is in my hands, right?" She gently patted Nicole's shoulder with a smile.

"Yes, Mother. I will remember that." Nicole was hardly clenching her fingers, reminding herself to lay low for now. Her turn will soon come and she only needs to put up with this for a while.

"Good then. Do you have any more to say? A favour or anything." Garcia Han withdrew her hands from Nicole's shoulder and leaned back.

The thing that she thought about in the afternoon came to Nicole's mind. "I plan to move. I think it's time that I live in a luxurious mansion which would suit my title. You always wanted me to do that."

Garcia Han smiled in satisfaction. "That's great. This small apartment doesn't suit the Chairwoman of Yang Group. Shall I search a nice mansion for you?"

"I will do that. You are busy these days." Nicole promptly said and Garcia Han simply agreed.

"Okay. Take good care of yourself. If you carelessly get fever like last time, I will make you return to the main mansion so that I could supervise all your diet and everything." Garcia Han was serious whenever she told her to maintain her health. She hates it when people get sick. Maybe because of her past experience.

Nicole didn't understand whenever she talked like she cared for her health but still, she replied, "I will keep that in mind."

With that said, Garcia Han rose from her seat and left the apartment with Alex Jo, having no idea about the man who listened to all the conversations.

The moment the door was closed, Nicole abruptly rose from her seat and approached her room. She opened the door and her eyes swept around the interior of the room. Then she saw Aston standing in one corner just beside the door.

She didn't even take a clear look at him and just walked to him. "You hear that, right? I let you stay here and listen because I want you to know how messed up my life is. I'm not a typical woman who can do whatever I want. If you value yourself, you should steer clear of me."

When she didn't receive a response, Nicole sighed. "I tried to hide this till the end but you are so persistent. That's why we have come to this. My life doesn't belong to me, Aston Kang. I cannot do anything unless my step-mother permit me to. My life, my marriage and even my death... " She paused and took a deep breath. "Everything is under her control. She controlled my whole life and I have no say! Whatever she says, I must obey it!"

Her voice becomes very high and it was not far from a yell now. So, she paused, trying to calm down herself.

"Please." She whimpered and looked at him but she couldn't see his face as his head was lowered with his eyes glued to the floor. "Just leave me alone before you suffered. I don't want anyone to suffer because of me again."

"Who says that I will suffer?" Her eyes widened when she heard his firm, unyielding voice. Feeling frustrated that she couldn't see him clearly due to his 'seemingly' downcast eyes, she took a step towards him.

When she did that, Aston suddenly lifted his head and met her gaze. She saw his eyes burning with rage and his fist clenched tightly due to the suppressed anger inside him! She never saw this fiery expression before! It was so dreary that it gave her the chills! He's hell mad!

Aston took a step towards her, his fiery eyes never left her. "Who says that I will suffer?" He repeated himself. "She is the one who will suffer." He declared, enunciating each word.....