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nAmidst the continuous pouring of rain, Nicole Yang drove her car towards her old house.

nWhen she stood in front of the huge contemporary white mansion, her warm childhood memories flooded her mind. This was the same house where she used to live with her father and her real mother. Back then, she used to be very happy.

nBut now, the word 'happy' even became foreign to her. She already forgot the warm feeling of being happy after living in hell for the past 15 years!

nHer birth mother was an orphan. But she was very kind and generous. She passed away due to illness when Nicole Yang was 5 years old.

nEven after her mother died, she still lives happily because her father loves her more than anything else. It used to be just the two of them but they were a happy family.

nGarcia Han entered their lives when Nicole Yang was 7 years old. She put up an act of a kind and loving woman and the father and daughter fall for that. Her father eventually married the woman one year later.

nAt that time, Garcia Han was only 23 years old. So, even now, her stepmother was still a 40 years old woman. Nicole Yang was 25, so they only have a 15 years gap between them!

nWhile her father was still alive, Garcia Han never mistreated her. Instead, she always behaves as she loves her as if she was her real daughter.

nNicole Yang also used to think that way until her father passed away two years later when she was just 10 years old. Since then, her life became full of torment and hell!

nNicole Yang reluctantly entered the house after pondering for a while.

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"I'm home.

" She could barely say the words. To her, there was no place which she could call 'home' in this whole world.

nGarcia Han appeared on the scene. She was at the dining room setting up a table for them. Though there were also servants in the house, she always let them went home early whenever she summoned her step-daughter, using some alone time with her only daughter as an excuse.

nIn fact, she was only trying to hide from them how she treated her step-daughter.

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"You're here. I just finished setting up the table. Come, let's eat dinner.

" Garcia Han said with a fake smile.

nThat smile was what Nicole Yang hated the most! Whenever she treated her like that, it was never a good sign. She became more nervous than before but tried her best to hide it.

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"Yes.

" She replied and went straight to the dining room.

nThe two started having a cold dinner. The food may be warm but not for Nicole. She could hardly swallow them.

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"Did you not like the food? I'm sure I let the servants prepared all your favourites.

" Garcia Han calmly said.

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"No, I like them.

" Nicole Yang answered right away. The more calm the devil was, the more she felt fear.

nShe holds chopsticks with one hand while she nervously clenched the fingers of the other hand under the table.

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"I think you are all grown up now.

" Garcia Han said with a very sweet smile.

"Is that why you even dare to defy me now?

" She put down her chopsticks and stared at Nicole Yang with a deadly serious face.

nNicole Yang gulped in fear. What was the devil saying?

nShe slowly put down her chopsticks and looked at her stepmother.

"What are you saying?

"

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"You even dare to feign innocence?! Since when did you become this brave? Before, you used to shudder at the sight of me.

" The stepmother stated with a vicious smile.

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"I won't dare to defy you, Mother.

" Nicole Yang mustered all her courage to say the words.

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"Is that so?

" Garcia Han smiled wickedly.

"I told all the servants to go home early today. Do you have any idea why I did that?

"

nThe dark and cold room where she was often locked up in the past came to Nicole Yang's mind and her eyes grew wide open in fear.

"Please don't do that. Believe me. I won't do anything to harm you.

"

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"Then I should tell my men to take care of Director Lee and his family. You will be devastated! You tried so hard to keep them safe to the point where you even went against my words.

" Garcia Han said as she rose from her seat.

nNicole Yang finally understand that her efforts to keep the Lee family safe was being exposed! She immediately stands up, hoping to stop the devil.

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"Mother -

"

nBefore she could say anything else, Garcia Han pushed her to the wall and roughly choked her on the neck! Nicole Yang always became weak and powerless whenever she was harassed by this devil! It was probably because fear was planted in her mind by this devil at a very young age!

nShe wanted to break free but it was as if she was paralyzed!

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"You send someone to give him money! I think you have forgotten that I have you under my thumb. What should I do to you?

" Garcia Han eyes were fiercely red but her face was still plastered with a smile. Like always, she finds joy in tormenting this weak step-daughter of hers!

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"P -Please let them go! I will m -make sure that he keeps h -his mouth shut. H -He won't give you a -any trouble in the f -future.

" Nicole Yang gasped as she struggled for air to breathe.

nThe devil finally let her hand loose and Nicole Yang instantly collapsed and dropped to her knees.

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"I will do everything you say. I won't ever defy you again. So, please...let the Lee family go. I beg you!

" Nicole Yang pleaded.

nThe man was such a loyal supporter of hers; so she cannot let him die in the hands of the devil! He was innocent. His only mistake was being loyal to her, the puppet Chairwoman!

nGarcia Han bent down to match her height and roughly grabbed her on the chin.

"How can I trust you when you already started defying me?

" She coldly said.

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"What will I do? Tell me. I will do anything you want.

" Nicole Yang stuttered.

nGarcia Han let out a laughter.

"You should just stay docile and obedient like you always did. Do you wish to be lower than now, my dear daughter?

"

nShe withdrew her hand from Nicole's chin and stand up.

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"I'll let them be for now. But if you ever try anything behind my back again, I promise that I will kill them right before your eyes.

" Garcia Han declared.

"Do you understand?

" She stared at Nicole Yang with sharp eyes.

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"Yes. I understand.

" Nicole Yang repeatedly nodded her head with lowered eyes.

nGarcia Han turned her back at Nicole Yang to walked out of the dining room but stopped when she realized something.

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"One more thing. Don't forget about tomorrow's night party. Come with Leon. You know what to do.

" She ordered her and left her alone on the cold floor....

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