The Alchemists

"Oh my God... Oh my God... oh my God... They poisoned my daughter? How? But Aleksis is fine, right? You managed to treat the poison, right?" Finland's face instantly turned pale and she staggered to the point of falling if Lauriel hadn't rushed to catch her body.

"I don't know what poison they gave her, but I know that the poison will only react in two weeks. They will give the antidote at Ned and Portia's party after we do what they want."

"What do they want? I will do it..." Finland said in tears. She bit her lip frantically.

"Katia was very hurt when Caspar left her for you, and she has a longstanding grudge. In the history of our people, no woman was ever dumped like her... Not only is she hurt, she is also very ashamed."

"Caspar didn't leave him, Katia was the one who left..." Finland said quickly, "At that time Katia wanted to teach Caspar a lesson by leaving him. She thought that Caspar would realize his feelings for her and ask Katia to return, but instead he met me. When we got married, his relationship with Katia was already over..."

"I know, but other people don't care. Katia has to live with a reputation of being the woman left at the altar. They were almost married, right? It was a huge shock for everyone when Caspar came to Aldebar's birthday party with you as his bride..." Lauriel massaged his aching temple at the thought of Katia's cold expression yesterday. "Katia wants Caspar to feel the same shame and pain..."

Finland burst into tears hearing this.

"I will come to her and apologize, I will kneel at her feet and ask her to forgive Caspar..." she said tearfully, "She cannot take her heartache on Aleksis..."

"Katia has changed, she is no longer the Katia I know. Your apology won't mean anything to her. She just wants to see Caspar ashamed and suffering..." Lauriel said quietly.

Finland looked up with wet eyes and finally asked Lauriel what Katia's request was in order for them to get the antidote for Aleksis. "What do they want? I'll do it..."

Lauriel looked at Finland for a long time before finally answering, "Katia wants us to get married before Ned and Portia's party, and announce our wedding at the party."

"Wh... what?"

"When Caspar asked you to return his mother's ring, he had let you go and no longer acknowledged you. Even though it was a result of a misunderstanding, the fact is that now you are no longer his wife. Katia wants to make sure that Caspar knows what it's like to see the person he loves marry someone else..."

Finland buried her face in her palms and cried bitterly.

She was so close to being with Caspar again. She was supposed to meet Caspar in two weeks with Aleksis and unravel the misunderstanding between them. They should be back together in two weeks...

But now Katia forced her to marry Lauriel and announce their marriage at Ned and Portia's party.

Now she understood why Lauriel asked her to choose who she wanted to save, between her biological daughter and the man she loved...

Finland had never experienced such great pain before.

As a mother, she knew that she would choose Aleksis. The little girl was still so small and innocent and she couldn't defend herself. Caspar was a grown man who was certainly stronger in dealing with problems. But, Finland did not have the heart to see Caspar suffer and Katia obtain what she wished for.

If she could choose, she would rather die so that her two loved ones would be released from suffering... If that choice were available, she would gladly welcome her death for their sake.

She did not think Katia could turn this evil.

"Caspar already said I was his weakness... That's why he always tried to protect me..." cried Finland bitterly. "They have the heart to use me to hurt him... Why is Katia so mean to him...? They were together for 50 years... Isn't there the slightest trace of mercy on her?"

Lauriel let Finland cry her tears out. His attention was divided between the girl and Jean who suddenly collapsed on the floor.

"Uff..." Lauriel hurried over to Jean and checked his vital signs.

After making sure that everything was fine, then he sighed in relief. He then took a pillow and blanket from Jean's room and arranged for the young man to lie comfortably in his place. Jean experienced physical and mental exhaustion, and Lauriel let him rest so the medicine could work.

He then approached Finland, who was unable to cry anymore, and now only stared at the wall with a blank expression.

"Why did you let Aleksis be kidnapped...?" she hissed as Lauriel approached her.

Lauriel stopped in his track hearing Finland's accusing words.

"I did NOT let her be kidnapped, I had 5 of the best bodyguards in Singapore to protect Aleksis." Lauriel said firmly. "I know you are sad, and you do not mean to say such accusations. How would I deliberately let my goddaughter be kidnapped by her father's enemy...? I kept playing different scenarios in my head of what would have happened if I had brought Aleksis with me and she had not been kidnapped... But all of it is now useless. Blaming each other won't do us any good. I'm just interested in finding out how we can save Aleksis..."

"Aren't you a poison expert? Why can't you cure her?" Finland asked again, this time in a desperate voice.

She knew the answer, but she could not help asking. Lauriel said that he did not know the type of poison they used to poison Aleksis, and they only had two weeks... He would not have time to analyze the poison and make the right antidote.

"I can try, but even I am not sure it will work..." Lauriel replied in a regretful tone. "I'm sorry."

Finland suddenly got up and ran to her room to retrieve her phone, and then, with trembling hands, she dialed a phone number.

RING

RING

RING

After a dozen rings, her call was still not picked up. Finland did not give up, she tried again.

"Please... pick up..." Finland whispered over and over again.

After dozens of calls, none of which were picked up, she came to realize that Caspar didn't want to pick up any calls from her. Desperately she finally slammed down her phone and ran out.

"Where are you going?" Lauriel asked.

"Don't follow me...!" Finland turned and raised her hand towards Lauriel. "Please don't follow me. Leave me alone."

Lauriel narrowed his eyes and tried to assess Finland's mental state, before finally nodding slowly, "Okay... But don't leave the hotel. It's not safe outside."

Finland forced a smile and nodded. "Thank you..."

She ran out of the suite and descended the elevator to the lobby. With long steps she went to the receptionist.

"Please, I want to meet with Manager Park..." she said in a choked voice.

The surprised receptionist shook her head while trying to keep a friendly smile. "Sorry, Madam... Manager Park has already gone home, we can't bother him at this hour."

"Then who are the people at this hotel who can connect me with Mr. Stanis Van Der Ven or Mr. Heinrich Schneider..." Finland didn't want to give up. "This is very important..."