The Manipulated Villainess

Chapter 123 - I Value Myself Now

"Wow! I think trying so hard to know your weakness was worth it. Look at you, you lowered yourself right away, all for... " Lester Yun made a deliberate paused. He shook his head and faked a flustered face. "A woman." He concluded.

"Just leave her alone, Lester. She has nothing to do with you." Aston uttered. "Whatever you want to do, you can do it on me."

Lester Yun laughed. "Don't you know this, Aston Kang? The more you wish to protect her, the more I would love to hurt her. Shall I just order my men to end her right now? Or... " His voice trailed off and he glanced at Aston with a smile. "What would you do to save her?"

Aston glanced at Lester's phone and thought of Nicole. He wished to kill this petty man right away but... making a move was too risky. Then he tried to spoke up and give in until...

His phone went off and Lester Yun quickly takes out his handgun, pointing at him. "Don't try any trick." He warned him.

Aston takes out his phone and glanced at the caller ID. "I'm supposed to meet this person now. If I don't answer, it will arouse suspicion." He deliberately lied. When Lester Yun still felt reluctant, he said, "Nicole is in your hands. I won't dare to put her in danger."

Lester Yun thought of how Aston was willing to give in for the woman and he nodded. "Make it short." He said, still pointing his gun at the actor.

Aston swiped the green button and put the phone next to his ear.

"Hello."

He stood still for a few seconds, listening to what the person on the other line said.

"Okay. I won't be able to come today. Something comes up."

"Thanks."

He puts down his phone and put it back in his pocket. Then he looked at Lester Yun.

"Who is that?" Lester asked, still pointing his gun at him.

"Leon Jung." Aston simply said.

"Leon Jung?" Lester finds the name familiar and he raised a brow. "The ex-fiance?"

Aston only nodded but Lester Yun's lips curved into a mocking smile. "Why would you meet him? What did he say?"

Aston narrowed his eyes and when he turned back to Lester Yun, he suddenly slammed his hand with a huge force. He expertly caught the gun that Lester dropped and pointed the gun at him right away!

"Don't move!" He shouted to Lester's men who attempted to take out their guns. When one man tried to take it out in secret, he briefly aimed the handgun at him and shot his hand. Then he swiftly pointed back at Lester Yun. "I won't hesitate anymore." He said in a low voice.

The man whom he shot on the hand yelped and gritted his teeth in pain but no one dared to move anymore!

"Aston Kang, aren't you scared for your woman?" Lester Yun said, glaring at him.

Aston smiled. "I have nothing to scared now. Fortunately, Leon told me that he caught two fake guards. He also said that Nicole is fine."

Lester Yun was now fumed with anger. "Your woman is fine but what about you? Do you think you will be able to leave, unscathed?"

Aston let out a sigh and he swiftly pointed the gun to one man when he noticed him moving. Then he shot him on the leg and swiftly pointed back at Lester Yun. With his great skills, he only needs two seconds for that! The man he shot fell to the ground and he holds his leg, groaning in pain.

"I already told you many times but you still don't know me at all, Lester. I'm never scared for myself. You still don't get it after all these years?"

"You used my sister to make me work for you and I endure all your tyranny. You killed my best friend and I still let you go. You tortured me and threatened me all the time, I can take it but... now you went after the one I loved. I will never forgive you for that." He added in an unyielding voice.

"What will you do? Will you kill me?" Lester Yun laughed. "Come on, Aston Kang. I know you're not capable of that. Killing is beyond your limit."

Aston recalled the time Nicole asked him if he had ever killed someone. When he said no, she said that's all that matter. He wanted his answer to always be no but... if Nicole ever suffered in the hands of his enemies, he won't hesitate to break his limits!

"Nicole is fine, so I don't have to kill you but... " He paused and briefly glanced a few meters away. "That doesn't mean I will let you go." He said.

"Will you shot me too so that I won't be able to chase you?" Lester said sarcastically but when he glanced a few meters away, he raised a brow. "What trick did you play, Aston Kang?!" He snapped and turned around. However, there were already a few men even behind.

"You're cornered." Aston's lips curved into a playful smile and he takes out his phone and showed it to Lester Yun. The call was still ongoing!

"You!" Lester shouted, pointing his finger at Aston.

"You know what, Lester, I value myself now, a lot. I don't want to die and make the one I love suffered. That's why I have a very strong desire for survival now. I won't take crazy risk anymore." Aston simply said and Ryan stood beside him.

"This is Lester Yun and some of his minions. Catch them first." The actor said and finally put down the gun.

"I understand," Ryan said and nodded at the other members of the Blackhood. Because they were outnumbered, Lester and his men were easily caught.

"We will take care of them. I think the Young Master is waiting for you in the city." Ryan said to him.

"Alright," Aston said and gets on his bike. Then he puts the phone next to his ear again. "You act fast than I thought. I'm coming back. Wait for me." He simply said.

"Okay," Leon said and the actor tried to end the call but...

"Aston Kang!" His hands paused mid-air when he heard the familiar voice.

He quickly put the phone back to his ear again. "Nicole." Did she hear everything?!

"Are you alright? Did he torture you again?" Nicole instantly lowered her voice when he heard him call her name but the concern was still evident in her voice.

Aston lightly chuckled. "I won't let him do that anymore. It will make you worry."

"How can you laugh in this situation?!" Nicole snapped, raising her voice at him again.

"Calm down, Nicole. I'm fine. If you don't believe me, wait for me. I'll be there soon." The actor calmly said.

"Alright. Hurry up." Nicole bluntly said.

"Okay. Wait for me." Aston said and ended the call. Then he starts his bike and drives back to the city.

In fact, he was quite amazed. He thought that Leon would take more than an hour to get there but he took the risk knowing that. If he let Lester Yun go, he was afraid for Nicole's safety.

How did his men arrive right away? He thought this on his way back and he only had one answer. Maybe the base of the Blackhood was near.

*

When Aston entered Nicole's hospital room, Leon was also there. Losing no time, he quickly walked to Nicole. "They didn't manage to attack you, right?" He asked, sitting beside her bed.

"No," Nicole said and observed him. When she didn't see any wound, she sighed in relief. "I'm so glad that you're safe.

Aston smiled and turned to Leon. "How did you find out the identity of the guards?"

"When we visited Nicole yesterday, I overheard them reporting to someone about Nicole. They addressed the other person as 'Boss' and it aroused my suspicion. Besides, I know that the gangsters are searching for your weakness. I told my men to keep an eye on them." Leon said and turned to Nicole.

"When I came again today, I noticed them reporting to someone again. So, my men make a move. We are lucky. That's all." He added.

"Do you plan to surrender and submit yourself to him again if he threatened you with my life? I don't want that." Nicole uttered.

"You have to live first and I can solve other problems later. I can't let you die just to save myself." Aston holds Nicole's hand and smiled to assure her.

Then the door was opened and Shara appeared on the door. When Aston turned to her, he saw the anger and disappointment in her face.

"We have to talk," Shara said and turned around, walking away.

Aston looked at Nicole with a confused face but when he thought of the possibility, his eyes grew wide.

"She was also here. She heard everything you say to Lester Yun." Nicole said which proved him right.

"I tried to stop her but she's so stubborn," Leon added.

Aston glanced at the empty door and recalled what he said to Lester Yun. He remembered himself saying how Lester used his sister to make him work for him!

He always wished that Aria won't have to know this but... the way she finds out was more than worse! What would he say to her?!