The Alchemists

The trip back to Singapore felt really slow for Nicolae, who was feeling impatient. He felt palpitations as he landed on the Continental building roof and hurried down to the lobby. Alaric had prepared a vehicle for him in Singapore, and Nicolae immediately used it to go to the flower shop where Marie was.

Along the way, his c.h.e.s.t was pounding. He did not know why he could feel that way. He felt like a teenager in love who could not wait to meet his girlfriend.

Was this what falling in love was like? His feelings for Marie today were not the same as what he felt for Aleksis many years ago. Although physically, he was in a relationship with Aleksis for a long time, somehow, inwardly, he felt closer to Marie.

Was this bond created between them because he and Marie slept together? He never touched Aleksis s.e.x.u.a.lly when they were together. He even only kissed Aleksis after four years in a relationship. He kissed her when Aleksis finally accepted his proposal.

So compared to Aleksis, Marie had a far deeper physical connection with Nicolae.

The man felt like he was going crazy. Now, in his mind, he constantly imagined Marie's sweet smile and happy face. Nicolae admired her for always showing a cheerful attitude even when she was suffering. He loved her for her strength and resilience. He loved how she was so unique and pleasant.

The car he drove finally arrived at Raffles Road, where Marie's flower shop was located. The man immediately parked his car near the park and rushed to the flower shop.

He didn't know what excuse to give Marie for suddenly appearing in front of her like that. He also had to explain why he disappeared for three months, and she couldn't contact him. However, for Nicolae, it was no longer important.

He only wanted to see Marie.

When he finally arrived in front of the flower shop, Nicolae's steps halted, and his face looked confused. The flower shop was closed.

He approached the window and examined the shop interior from outside, trying to find out whether the shop was temporarily closed because the owner was out for lunch or closed for the day.

There was no announcement at all. The shop looked empty, and there was not a single flower inside. There were only chairs and a table with a few large empty vases. There was no announcement posted on the window for customers who wanted to buy flowers.

He finally tried to call Marie's number, but after a dozen rings, no one picked up the number.

Where on earth was that girl?

"Uhm ... excuse me, Sir. Where is the owner of the flower shop next door?" Finally, Nicolae went to the next-door store that sold various souvenirs. The souvenir shop owner, a middle-aged bald man only shrugged.

"I don't know. Usually, she was always in her shop. She hasn't come in the last three days. Maybe she's sick," he said. He called his assistant who was wrapping a gift box in the backroom. "Sharon, do you know where the florist next door go?"

A young girl immediately came out while carrying scissors and wrapping paper in her hand.

"Did you mean Miss Marie Lu? I think she's still sick. She has complained of being unwell for one month now. I think she is having quite a difficult pregnancy..." Sharon replied, glancing at their handsome guest. From her expression, Sharon was clearly curious, why was this young man looking for Marie? What was the relationship between them?

"Eh... pregnancy, you say?" Nicolae's throat suddenly felt choked. His c.h.e.s.t was beating faster and faster.

Is Marie really pregnant? Whose child is she carrying?

Is it...

Mine?

He was happy to find out that Marie was pregnant ... most likely the girl was pregnant with his child.

But at the same time, he was scared to death if it turned out that he was wrong and Marie had been in contact with another man after he left and now the girl was pregnant with another man's kid.

If it was the latter... Nicolae felt that this would be a blow that he would never recover from.

"That's right ... After she got pregnant, Marie became sick all the time. Her nausea was really bad and I saw her vomit at least twice a day ..." Sharon explained. "Who are you? Are you her friend?"

Nicolae did not want to tell his private matters to strangers. Therefore he only nodded. "Yes. Do you know how many months in is she?"

Sharon just shrugged. "Marie didn't say. But if I'm not mistaken, she started vomiting two months ago. She rarely came to the shop. She said she was unwell all the time ..."

Nicolae was stunned when he heard Sharon's explanation. His c.h.e.s.t felt tight. He was very worried about Marie. He remembered the girl's mother also had a fragile body since her pregnancy. Once Marie was born, Mrs. Lu's health never recovered, and she was in and out of hospitals throughout Marie's life.

Did Marie also have poor health like her mother? 

Oh God ... Dear Marie...

"I see ... I called her cellphone over and over again, but she didn't pick up. Do you know her new number?" Nicolae asked Sharon worriedly.

"I don't have it. But I can ask Mrs. Carter. She is the owner of this building. Marie pays her shop rent to her." Sharon signaled Nicolae to follow her. "Come along. Mrs. Carter's office is only a block away."

Nicolae nodded and immediately followed Sharon walking toward the end of the road and then turned left. Sharon's steps stopped in front of a large boutique, and she gestured for Nicolae to come inside.

"Mrs. Carter must know Marie's new phone number," Sharon said.

"Oh, alright. Thank you." Nicolae nodded and thanked Sharon for taking her to Mrs. Carter's place. After Sharon left, he immediately went inside.

"Hello, good afternoon. What can I do for you?" asked a middle-aged European woman. She had a friendly and welcoming face.

"Good day, Madam. I am a friend of Marie Lu's. I came here to meet her, but she didn't pick up her phone, and there is no announcement in her shop either. I'm wondering, do you know where she is now?" Nicolae asked politely.

For a moment, Mrs. Carter looked dazed. She pressed her lips and her expression looked very sad.

"Oh ... you didn't know...?" The woman then touched Nicolae's shoulder and squeezed it softly as if trying to give him comfort. "Marie is dead. She passed away in a traffic accident two days ago. The police contacted me because she had no family."

Like being struck by lightning in the middle of a sunny day ... that was how Nicolae felt when he heard such bad news from Mrs. Carter.

Marie ... died? She passed away two days ago ...

And she took the child in her w.o.m.b too ...

Oh God ... this is all my fault ...