The Alchemists

Nicolae was astonished at Marie's words that were so shocking. He did not expect the two girls to suspect him of anything just because he was so perfect. He watched the girl who now instead casually placed her hands on her waist and stared at him in a probing look.

Marie was a very cool girl. She wore a white tank top with ripped jeans and red boots. Her style actually reminded Nicolae of his everyday appearance. This girl looked rather quirky and her expression made Nicolae want to pinch her nose in exasperation.

"What if I am? And what if I'm not?" Nicolae asked back. He crossed his arms on his c.h.e.s.t and smiled at Marie.

Sanna felt uneasy and hurriedly took hold of Nicolae's hand and tried to persuade the man to forget what he had just heard.

"I'm sorry, this friend of mine, she was just joking. It's just a misunderstanding." Sanna then turned to Marie, "It was my fault. He can't be a serial killer... He has two kids."

Marie frowned and looked at Nicolae from head to toe with a look of disbelief.

"You just believe what he said?? Oh, Sanna, you are so naive," Marie said impatiently and in a voice so fast almost without punctuation that Nicolae suspected the girl had forgotten how to breathe.

"You forget that the most famous serial killers are handsome and charming. Ted Bundy for example ... They will deliberately display a certain persona to attract the sympathy of potential victims. By claiming to be a single parent, he managed to attract your sympathy, right? Just look, if I hadn't come, maybe tonight you would have been r.a.p.ed in an empty building's bas.e.m.e.nt and become his s.e.x slave for a year before he kills you and throws your body into the sea to become shark food to get rid of the evidence."

Sanna and Nicolae's faces were both filled with horror at Marie's silly accusations. Nicolae, who had been patient enough, finally could only shake his head and raise his hand.

"Whatever you say. I don't need to prove anything to you ..."

Sanna was still trying to coax him and held Nicolae's hand apologetically.

"Please, forgive my friend ... she's a fan of conspiracy theories .." she whispered. "She didn't mean it."

"If he really has kids, let him bring his kids here, then I'll believe him!" blurted Marie. "Don't you feel suspicious at all? This person claimed to be older, but he still looks like a student, and now he also claimed to have two children as well. How could you believe everything he said?!"

"Aaaahhhhhh ...!!!"

Right at that moment, there was a scream and the sound of falling objects.

"Ouchhh...."

Nicolae, who was very familiar with Vega's voice, immediately turned his head and ran to the direction where the sound came from. His face looked very relieved when he saw London lying on the floor while Altair and Vega were on top of his body.

Apparently the two children fell from the wall and landed on their uncle's body who had fallen first. Nicolae was very relieved that Altair and Vega were unharmed. He hurried over to them.

Earlier, London and his nephew and niece were just trying to climb up the wall and sneak into the Sky Bar to eavesdrop further because they saw the commotion between Nicolae and the two girls.

However, due to his loss of balance, London fell first and Altair and Vega fell on top of him.

"Gosh ... What are you all doing here???" Nicolae asked in amazement. He helped Vega and Altair get up and ignored London who stretched out his hand to ask for help.

"Hey, why didn't you help me?" London protested.

"You are an a.d.u.l.t, okay. You should have set a good example ..." Nicolae grumbled.

"What now? We're just relaxing at the penthouse. We didn't do anything wrong," said London. He pulled his hand in disgust because Nicolae refused to help him up.

"Are you okay? Does it hurt?" Nicolae asked while crouching down in front of Vega. "Anybody hurt? What were you two doing just now? Are you peeping on me?"

Vega looked away and refused to return her father's gaze, pretending to look the other way as if nothing had happened. Her waist was a bit sore from falling, but it wasn't as painful as what her uncle felt.

"Uhm ... we were worried about you because it seems like those two aunties were accusing you of something," Altair, who was more honest, finally spoke in a low voice. He raised his face and glared back at Nicolae. Apparently Sanna and Marie had walked over to them.

"Eh .. who are they?" Marie asked in surprise. She pointed at the two children who were so alike and a handsome young man with black hair who was marching on the floor while rubbing his bleeding elbows. "Who is this?"

Nicolae turned, "These are my two children. Sorry, they were worried about me and followed me here."

"Where did they come in from?" Marie asked, frowning. "I didn't see them from the door."

London had stood up and brushed the dust off his shirt. He then coughed a little and hurriedly pulled Altair and Vega's hand to immediately escape from Sky Bar through the front door.

"We must hurry to the lobby ... Don't mind us. Congratulations! Do continue with your date," he exclaimed.

And within ten seconds, all three had disappeared from view.

Nicolae, Sanna, and Marie could only look at each other.

"Uhm ... do you all believe me now? Those were the two kids I told you about, and the other one is my brother-in-law." Nicolae exclaimed. "Sorry, if you girls have misunderstood me and I've wasted your time. Excuse me, I have to check the condition of my children."

"Wait!" Marie voiced suddenly as Nicolae walked past her to the door.

"What now?" Nicolae asked, turning his head. "I'm busy, you know. I have to prepare the bas.e.m.e.nt in an empty building to keep my next s.e.x slave."

Marie pursed her lips and reached out. "I'm sorry, okay? I was just worried about my friend. You can't just trust people easily nowadays..."

Nicolae studied Marie's face who looked apologetic but her ego was too high to admit her mistake.

"So, do you trust me now?" he asked her.

"Ugh ... yes," Marie answered reluctantly. "I'm sorry."

"If you do believe me and sincerely want to apologize, you must prove to me that you are not scared that I will kidnap you and take you an empty building's bas.e.m.e.nt."

Marie bit her lips and finally nodded. "All right. What do you want?"

"Meet me at the Marina Bay Harbor tonight, near the empty warehouse on dock 4, if you really are really sincere, you can prove it yourself whether I will kidnap you or not."

"Ugh ..." Marie turned to Sanna and her friend quickly nodded.

"Come on, just do it," Sanna whispered.

"You are crazy!" blurted Marie curtly. "What if I'm really kidnapped? Aren't you feeling sorry for me?"

"So, you still think I'm a kidnapper?" Nicolae massaged his forehead. "Gosh ... You really are hopeless. Alright. I'll just go then. Nice to meet you both. Goodbye."

Nicolae shrugged and walked casually, leaving them with his hands in his pocket. He wanted to rush to the penthouse and scold his two children and London.