The sound of the big wall clock could be clearly heard as silence fell upon the once Yang family mansion. With Garcia Han who stared at her with a victorious smile, Nicole struggled to answer the question.

She tightly clenched her fist and glanced at Alex on the other side. The man looked at her with a concerned face and shook his head, pleading her not to do anything silly. The devil was not one to be carelessly crossed!

“What is your decision?” Garcia Han asked. She lifted her fingers to touched Nicole’s face and showed her a sweet smile. “This is your only chance. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

The moment Garcia’s hand touched her face, Nicole’s body became tensed which immediately made her close her eyes. She wished to move but she struggled to do even that simple thing.

Garcia Han’s smile slipped when her hands landed on Nicole’s face. “What happened? Why are you so hot?” She put her hand on Nicole’s forehead and compare with hers. “Didn’t I always told you to look after your health? You are burning with fever!”

Mustering all her courage one more time, Nicole opened her eyes and brushed away Garcia’s hand. “I will say one more time. I can take it no matter what you do to me. I will endure it all but… don’t harm other people anymore. I’m sick of all the blood that stains my hand.” She could barely utter the words while staring at the devil.

She braced herself for the backlash of her words but much to her surprise, Garcia Han was very calm though she just defied her!

The stepmother stood still for a while with her gaze never leaving Nicole. “I will forgive your manner just this time. You are sick so I will think that you’re not in your right mind due to your fever.” She turned around and returned to the couch.

“What about that woman?” Nicole asked while her legs were still rooted in her place.

Garcia Han sighed when she heard her. “How many times do I have to say that you should not be too soft? People mistreated you because of that.” She paused when she noticed that Nicole was not in a good condition. She let out another sighed. “I will let her be for now. She will pay if she ever comes at you again. This is also a warning for you. Don’t ever cross me again. I cannot guarantee anything if it ever happened again.”

Garcia Han takes the document on the table and walked towards her room. Just before she reached the door, she paused and turn around to look at Alex. “Call Dr. Park to look after her.”

“You should stay here until your fever is gone.” The words were directed to Nicole. Then Garcia Han turned around and walked inside her room. “I hate it when people are sick.” She muttered to herself.

Nicole stood dazed with her back still pressing the wall. What had gotten into her step-mother? She defied her right to her face and she even yelled at her! The cruel woman she knew will never tolerate such a manner!

Did she really let her go unpunished?! She even agreed to her request! Should she be glad or afraid? She doesn’t know.

All at once, her vision became blur which almost made her fall but she quickly holds the wall to support her body. Her fever had gotten worse!

“I will escort you to your room.” Alex Jo holds her on the arm to support her but she instantly brushed away his hands.

“Don’t touch me with your dirty hands. Did you already forget? Those are the same hands that use to drag me to the dark room.” She glanced at him with disgust and walked past him. She then slowly went upstairs where her room was located.

Though she hated to be in this mansion, it seems like she needs to stay here until she recovered.

The doctor came after a while and prescribed her some medicines and even give her a shot. After having the medicines, she finally closed her eyes and fell asleep in the house where her sweet memories were already overshadowed by haunting and tormenting memories!

Just as she expected, her sleep was troubled by nightmares and her past traumas for the whole night.

* * *

When the sunlight brightened up Aston’s room, the actor was still sitting in his bed. The sun was already high up in the sky but he felt like doing nothing. Was this because of that cruel rejection? He didn’t know.

It was the first time he ever felt this way in the 27 years of his life! He doesn’t know what to do and that scared him.

After being discharged from the hospital last night, all he did was sitting or sleeping in his bed. He didn’t have any energy to do other things! At one point, he even finds himself laughable!

He was always good at acting playful and friendly but here he was, feeling as if all his energy had drained out, all because of a woman whom he met just a week ago! This was so unlike him and that’s why he was feeling scared!

Three days left until he would be bombarded again with work after work. He was so excited about it at first but now, he was not sure.

Even a single night seemed like forever! So, how could he possibly hold it out for three days?! He preferred to work and made himself busy rather than sitting here with no energy as if the world had ended for him!

Was this how people felt when they were in love? He was a novice in that field. In the past, he only flirts around with women. He was never once serious.

He quietly stared at his phone as if he was waiting for someone’s call. If possible, he wanted to call her and hear her unpleasant and blunt voice that always made him giggled to himself. But when he thinks of last night conversation, the things she said, her cold voice, her nonchalant face and finally, her cruelty towards him; it made him reluctant.

Even if he called her, he will only receive her cold shoulder again. He was not ready for another heartbreak!

When he received a call, he reluctantly answered after he looked at the caller ID.

“Hello.” His voice was far from being warm. It was incomparable to the voice which that young Chairwoman used to hear.

“Are you home? I’m at your door. Open the door for me.” The beautiful voice of a woman said to him from the other line.

“I’m not feeling well. Just go.” He coldly brushed her off and hung up the call. But his phone went off again right away. That woman was always so persistent!

He scowled as he swiped the green button. “What do you want? If I’m not mistaken, we already broke up a month ago.”

“I’m already here. Will you let me see you just once? It won’t be long.” The woman pleaded with him.

Aston helplessly sighed. She won’t leave him alone until she gets what she wants! He gets off from his bed and made his way to the door to his apartment. After a few seconds of hesitation, he finally opened the door.

A deadly gorgeous young woman dressed in a dark red jumpsuit with waist tie-ups and a peach coloured heels was standing on the door. A grey braid beret cap was also placed on her head and a black shoulder bag was hanging on her right shoulder.

Her blonde hair, amber eyes and soft pink lips gave her a pleasant feminine look and her beautiful face was equipped with an angelic smile that many men would fall for!

“Aston.” Anna Park, one of the most popular actresses of the country whispered as she flashed a dazzling smile which always made the whole country crazy about her…..