Chapter 741 - Nicolae and Marie's Agreement

"Come with me to the hospital. I only need two days. After my mother is convinced and believed that we are married, she"ll be willing to let all of her life support machines be removed so that she'll be able to leave this world in peace. After that, I won't need you anymore." Marie said in a hoarse voice. 

"You mean I just need to pretend to be your husband, right?" Nicolae wanted to clarify her intention.

"Yeah, we don't know each other. Of course, I don't want to marry you for real." Marie took a deep breath. "But we have to convince my mother... According to the doctor, the last time she woke up from a coma, her condition was critical, but she was very stubborn and wouldn't leave me. I was forced to lie to her and I said that I was happy and have a husband who loved me very much. and she doesn't need to worry about me anymore..."

Finally, Nicolae understood Marie's intentions. He realized that the girl had no ill intentions and only needed his help to calm her ailing mother's heart so that she would be able to let go and rest in peace.

"All right. If it's just for two days, I can do it," Nicolae finally relented.

"Thank you." Marie nodded and looked at Nicolae with a grateful look.

"Sorry, I was being too harsh earlier. I didn't mean to say bad things to you, but I wanted to be frank from the start that I didn't want to have any relationship with a woman at this time. I hope you understand." However, Nicolae had to explain his situation to Marie, because he didn't want the girl to misunderstand. "If you really needed me to pretend to be your partner or your husband or whoever it is in front of your mother, I can and am willing to do so. However, please stop there. I don't want you to approach my children and use them for things that are outside of our agreement."

Marie nodded. "I understand. I said that on purpose, that I want to be a stepmother for them... because somehow, it seems like your children really want to find you a wife. From what I see, they love you very much and want you to find a woman to cheer you up. So I said that on purpose. I'm sorry, too."

Nicolae could only sigh. Without Marie admitting it, he knew already why she did that.

"I know, Marie."

"I just want you to see things from their perspective, they do it because they love you very much. They don't mean anything bad." Marie added.

"I know. I understand. But they're still young and they haven't understood anything, so I beg you not to interfere." Nicolae really didn't want to talk about his past love story with the mother of the two children, but it seemed that if he didn't give an explanation, Marie would think differently. Because of that, he could only massage his forehead.

"If I may ask... Uhm, sorry... You don't have to answer me if this makes you feel uncomfortable," Marie touched Nicolae's wrist with a sympathetic expression. "When did their mother pass away?"

Nicolae pushed Marie's hand off her arm. "No, their mother is still alive."

"Oh sorry... I'm sorry for assuming." Marie covered her lips in surprise. Her face looked embarrassed because she had guessed carelessly. "That means you guy separated..."

"Marie, I would appreciate it if you didn't ask too many questions about my personal life," Nicolae said firmly. "I promised I would help you because I feel sorry for your mother. But apart from that, we don't have to meet again."

"I understand. Thank you..." Marie nodded shyly.

Right at that moment, the cafe waiter came to deliver the coffee they ordered. Awkwardly, the two took a sip of their coffee and said nothing.

Marie threw her line of sight out the window while enjoying her coffee, while Nicolae involuntarily watched the strange girl's movements. Before he really met Marie's mother in the hospital, he wouldn't trust her blindly. She couldn't expect to fool Nicolae with fake illnesses, Marie certainly doesn't know that Nicolae was actually a doctor.

Nicolae could only guess what Marie's personality really was. Earlier, she was very feisty and full of enthusiasm, and now, she proved herself to be a woman who was good at acting in front of his children and himself, by pretending to feel hurt and shamelessly saying she wanted to pursue Nicolae and marry him.

Marie's pitiful story reminded Nicolae of his own biological mother, whom he had never seen in his life. If he could help Marie's mother die peacefully, he would gladly do it.

If only someone helped his mother, Princess Luna, when she was on her deathbed in Romania...

Ah, he didn't want to remember that sad event... His c.h.e.s.t hurt every time he remembered his biological mother.

Nicolae took a deep breath and put down his coffee cup after he emptied its contents.

"Then, when will you take me to meet your mother?" he asked later.

Marie looked at him with a rather surprised face. Apparently, she had been daydreaming while staring out the window, and Nicolae's words moved her out of her reverie.

"Are you free this afternoon or tomorrow morning?" Marie asked softly.

"I can do it tomorrow morning," Nicolae answered.

"All right, then let's meet in the lobby of the apartment building tomorrow morning," Marie put down her empty coffee cup. "At 9 am?"

"Fine. See you tomorrow at nine in the lobby." Nicolae nodded.

Thus, they made a deal.

Although they lived in the same building, Nicolae deliberately let Marie go home first. He didn't want her to know which floor he was living on. However it may be, he still needed to protect his privacy and the children's. He couldn't just trust strangers.