The Alchemists

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have left."

Marie nodded. She did not push anymore. She also realized that the tone of her voice just now sounded like a jealous girl. Even though ... she didn't have the right to be jealous.

She and Nicolae were not in a relationship at that time. Right now, they were only bound because of Summer. She had no right to feel jealous of where Nicolae went and whom he met.

"I just want to take my godchildren back to their parents. I didn't know you were trying to stop me from flying. If I had known ... I would have been happy to talk with you about our profession," Nicolae said with a smile.

He returned to cooking because he saw Marie decided not to continue her words that were tinged by jealousy earlier.

"I love them like my own children because I have been taking care of them since they were little. Their father was separated from their mother for ten years. Aleksis, their mother, has been my best friend for a long time, and I was in love with her. I helped take care of the children and became their father from when they were four." Nicolae decided it would be better if he clarified the nature of his relationship with Aleksis and Alaric, so that Marie would not misunderstand. "Aleksis was my father's goddaughter, and he loved her very much. We had no idea that Aleksis' husband was my own younger brother. Seven years ago, Alaric, my brother, was reunited with Aleksis, and they have been together ever since."

"Oh ..." Marie was stunned to hear Nicolae's story, which he uttered so casually. Nicolae said he was in love with Aleksis? Marie could imagine the pain he experienced when he discovered that the woman he loved turned out to have married his own brother...

Is that what broke Nicolae's heart? She could only wonder.

"Aleksis thought her husband was dead and after mourning for ten years, she finally decided to marry me for the sake of her children who needed a father figure. She also made that decision because I am her best friend, and she can trust me," Nicolae continued his story while boiling pasta. "Alaric came on the day before the wedding. I have never experienced such a painful heartbreak ..."

"I understand ..." Marie said softly. Slowly, she could understand what was happening at the time, and Nicolae's condition when he met her in Singapore.

"I have loved my niece and nephew as my own children. My brother and his wife understand that. After they reunited as a family, they gave me a year to live with Altair and Vega. So, it was some kind of transition period before I had to return them to their parents ..." Nicolae took a deep breath.

"When we met in Singapore, they had been with me for a year. It was already time for me to return them to their real parents. That's why I insisted on leaving. I also deliberately came and met Aleksis to prove to myself that I didn't love her anymore."

Marie didn't say anything. She looked at Nicolae and tried to pay close attention to every word that came out of his lips.

Nicolae didn't love Aleksis anymore? Was that true?

Slowly her heart beat faster and faster.

Nicolae looked down and smiled faintly. "I don't love her anymore. I know when I came to Targu Mures to attend Aleksis's birthday. I think, at that time, I had actually left my heart in Singapore."

Marie's freckled cheeks flushed red at Nicolae's last sentence. She gulped down her wine and took the bottle to refill.

"Do you want more?" she asked, holding up the wine bottle, to change the subject.

"Thank you."

They drank in silence. Marie was still processing all the shocking information she received today, while Nicolae finished making their lunch.

Ten minutes later, the three were seated at a small dining table located in the beautiful terrace garden of the penthouse, which was decorated with various flowers.

"Let's just eat here, the view is more beautiful, and the sun is not too hot," Nicolae said, arranging their dishes and cutlery on the small table.

"Thank you," Marie said. She sat in one chair after putting Summer in the other chair. While Nicolae arranged the dishes, she arranged their cutlery on the table and poured drinking water.

"Have a nice meal," Nicolae said when everything was ready, and they had their lunch.

There were so many things that Marie wanted to ask, but she held back her questions until they were alone, so as not to confuse Summer.

She and Nicolae then ate quietly and only exchanged occasional glances. However, even though they did not talk to each other, the bond between them was undeniable. Nicolae seemed to read Marie's mind, that she wanted to speak to him alone, without their child.

After lunch was over, Nicolae persuaded Summer to read a picture book in her room and then took a nap. He also wanted to talk a lot with Marie, just the two of them. Both were aware that some things in their conversation were not suitable for a five-year-old child's hearing.

"Summer, go read a book and play in your room, okay..." Nicolae said while kissing Summer's cheek and holding her. "Daddy and Mommy need to have a talk together."

As if understanding that her parents needed privacy, the girl nodded happily. Upon arrival in the room, he immediately busied herself with several large books full of pictures and some toys from the cupboard.

"What a wonderful child," commented Nicolae, turning to Marie, who was waiting for her at the door. "You're a good mother. I'm very grateful to you ..."

Marie nodded and smiled slightly. Her face flushed again at the praise from Nicolae. "Thank you ... I really love Summer. After she was born, I came to understand my mother's feelings, why she insisted on giving birth to me and raised me with all her might, even though she had to sacrifice her health ..."

Nicolae immediately thought of Mrs. Lu, Marie's mother, who fell ill after giving birth to Marie. He immediately became worried. Did Marie also experience health problems after giving birth to Summer?

"What about your own health?" he asked in a worried tone. "You can tell me. I'm a doctor."

Marie's brows furrowed at Nicolae's words. She then shook her head and chuckled. "You're not a doctor. I've looked into your background. I didn't know you were Wolf, but I think I know that you're not a doctor."

"I really am a doctor. Indeed, I haven't practiced formally for a long time, but if it's just taking care of my wife and child's health... I can still do it," Nicolae answered earnestly.

Marie immediately coughed when she heard the man's words. Wife and child, he said?

"Cough ... ahem ... sorry, I accidentally coughed ..." Marie raised her hand to signal that she was okay. "I'm not sick. I am just surprised to hear that you're a doctor. And ... uhm ... I already annulled our marriage, as you requested. So, now I'm not your wife."

"I know." Nicolae's face became gloomy. "I found out when I went to Singapore. You annulled it several days before I came. You don't know how sorry and sad I was at that time ..."

"When exactly did you go to Singapore?" Marie asked again. She remembered leaving for Paris ahead of the new year. Did Nicolae come soon after she left? In that case ... they actually almost found each other.

"I came right after the new year," Nicolae said. "You canceled it three days before my arrival ..."

"Oh ..." Marie nodded in understanding. Then her face turned glum. "Too bad, we didn't meet when you returned to Singapore. Maybe the situation would have been different if you arrived early ..."

"That's right," Nicolae said. "I've always regretted that for years ... I often have nightmares because of that. I really thought you and Summer were gone."

Marie nodded. "I had no choice. I was pregnant and the safety of my baby is paramount, so I faked my own death and disappear. I also thought you were dead."

"That's all my fault ..." Nicolae approached Marie and closed the door to Summer's room behind her. "Please forgive me..."

Their bodies were very close to each other ... and now they were touching. Marie's face turned even redder, and her c.h.e.s.t tightened. Nicolae's voice sounded so close to her ears and it made her head spin.

What was this feeling? Marie thought in amazement.

"Nic ..." Marie did not continue her words because Nicolae had hugged her very tightly.

A moment later, the man touched Marie's chin and brought his lips close to hers.

"You don't know ... all this time ... how much I miss you ..." Nicolae whispered in a hoarse voice, before gently kissing the full red lips.