The Alchemists

Marie's lips puckered as if she was holding back her tears. Her voice sounded hoarse when she finally spoke. "Well, I guess you're really not interested in me. I already know that. But I didn't expect you to say I have no shame. I am not that shameless that will continue to chase after a man who doesn't reciprocate my feelings so much that he insulted me like that. I'll be leaving then."

Seeing Marie's hurt face, Nicolae became uncomfortable.

Somehow, Marie was indeed very good at playing her expression as if she was a fragile and s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e girl with feelings as soft as silk. She managed to convince Nicolae that she was really hurt by his words. The girl walked with slow steps and slumped shoulders as if she was harboring deep grief.

Nicolae, who was staring at her back, walking away, became uncomfortable. Before Marie got too far away, Nicolae finally called out to her.

"Wait a minute!"

Marie stopped walking. She turned with a face full of sorrow. "What's the matter? You're still not satisfied after shaming me?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I didn't want to hurt you," Nicolae said quietly. Ugh... he realized that he had to talk Marie in private. He then turned to Altair and Vega. "Kids, you can go back to the apartment alone, can't you?"

"We can. What's wrong, Dad?" Vega asked.

"There's something I want to talk about with Auntie Marie."

"We are big kids now. We can go home on our own," Altair voiced. He pulled his sister's hand and waved to Nicolae and Marie. "See you, Auntie Marie."

Nicolae knew he had to deal with this right now. Otherwise, there would be a misunderstanding between Marie and him, and he would keep seeing his children try to find a girlfriend for him. That's why he told Altair and Vega to go back to their apartment first.

He would invite Marie to talk privately in a cafe while drinking coffee. Maybe this was the best way he could do. He wasn't at all worried about Altair and Vega's safety.

Their apartment was so close and coupled with the fact that there were always two personal bodyguards watching them from afar, the two children wouldn't experience anything bad.

"We have to talk," Nicolae said firmly, pulling Marie's hand toward the nearest cafe.

Marie smiled faintly at Nicolae's attitude and giggled softly. She let her hand be held and walked following Nicolae.

Nicolae frowned at the soft laughter from behind him. Didn't this girl just look so sad? Why did she sound happy now? He subconsciously let go of Marie's hand and glared at her.

"You pretended to be sad?" he asked suspiciously. Marie just rolled her eyes and pretended not to understand Nicolae's question. The young man pressed his c.h.e.s.t in frustration. He didn't know when Marie was serious and when she was just pretending. In the end, he could only sigh. "What do you want from me?"

Marie stood before Nicolae in a casual manner and looked at him closely. Nicolae looked back at Marie. Both of their lines of sight were fixated, and no one blinked.

Marie then spoke in the most serious voice Nicolae had ever heard.

"I want to marry you."

"You think that's funny, huh?" Nicolae voiced with a displeased expression. "How can you say such words easily?"

"I'm serious. I'm not kidding," Marie said.

Seeing Marie's seriousness, Nicolae became increasingly frustrated. "But we don't know each other, Marie. I don't want to call you a shameless woman again, but what you're doing is totally out of reason. This is even crazier than the crazy woman I met last night..."

Marie looked at Nicolae with a playful glint in her eyes. "What kind of crazy woman did you meet last night?"

"That is none of your business." Nicolae frowned, trying to remove Louisa's face from his mind. "I want to know what makes you say these kinds of things to me?"

"I'm not kidding. What I'm saying is true. I want you to be my husband," Marie answered.

"But we don't know each other. How many times do I have to say that?"

"I heard you the first time. I'm not deaf." Marie pursed her lips

"I don't want to be like a fool, constantly wondering what's really happening. Therefore, please tell me what do you plan to do?" Nicolae finally asked.

Slowly, a thin smile was etched on Marie's face, and finally, she blinked first.

"You're right. I did plan something, but really, I'm not a bad person."

"Okay, I'm listening." Nicolae crossed his arms to his c.h.e.s.t and waited for Marie's explanation.

"Aren't you taking me to a cafe? Why are we talking in the middle of the road like this?"

"Okay, we'll go to the cafe then."

With both hands in his pockets, Nicolae continued walking to the cafe he intended to go to. Marie followed him in the same relaxed manner.

From a distance, these two actually look very compatible. They were both wearing ripped jeans, and their way of walking was also quite similar, with both hands in their pockets and looking indifferent to their surroundings.

When they finally entered the cafe, Nicolae wasted no time as he immediately sat opposite Marie and ordered coffee for himself.

"What do you want?" he asked coldly.

"Same as you," Marie answered calmly.

Nicolae turned to the waiter and told him the order just now. After there were only the two of them, he looked at Marie's face carefully, trying to read who she really was.

He really didn't understand how this beautiful and clever girl could be so shameless, openly stating that she wanted to pursue him and marry him.

It doesn't feel right. There must be something wrong. Nicolae really wanted to know exactly what this girl was up to.

Just think about it. They've only met twice! 

Twice! SMH.

But this girl was determined to pursue him and wanted to marry him. Nicolae felt that if he didn't fix this immediately, Marie would cause problems for him in the future.