Chapter 223 - 223: Do You Believe in Love?

On that same day, Black Shadow and Marie decided to have a meet-up in the evening. It was Black Shadow who invited her. He told her that he had something to tell her.

Black Shadow insisted to pick her up but she refused. So when night time came, Marie went to see him at their meeting place. It was the club where they always hang out together.

Since it was Friday and tomorrow would be a weekend, a lot of people were there in the club, partying, drinking, and dancing with their heart's content. Marie shook her head, asking herself why they were always hanging out to such a noisy place.

When she was already inside she saw Black Shadow sitting on the bar counter while enjoying his drinks. He was wearing a plain white shirt paired with a leather jacket and blue jeans.

Marie had to admit that Black Shadow was a clear example of masculine beauty. Even just staring at his broad back, she could tell that he possessed a charm that could attract women.

After spending some time with Black Shadow she learned that he could also be a gentleman. Thinking about it, he'd never took advantage of her nor even force her into something she wouldn't want to do.

However, he appeared to be so c.o.c.ky and playful most of the time. That's why despite the fact she knew that he was a very dangerous person she didn't fear him. He was very friendly towards her. 

But she never let her guard down every time she was with him. She was very careful because she knew that just one mistake and her life would be put in jeopardy.

She was still slowly approaching toward his direction when Black Shadow had sensed that someone was observing him from behind so he turned around only to see Marie walking in his direction.

The moment he met her gaze, Black Shadow flashed his signature cheeky smile as he waved at her. Every time he would smile like that his cute dimples would appear below his twinkling eyes.

Seeing his charming smile, Marie halted on her steps. 'D*mn! He's so gorgeous when smiling just like that.' she thought to herself. Then she felt her heartbeat quickened inside her chest.

She cursed herself inwardly as she tried to calm her racing heart. 

"Why is it you suddenly misbehaving?" she mumbled as if she was literally conversing with her heart.

"Hey, sweety! Walk faster!" Black Shadow shouted so that she could hear him despite the noisy music reverberating inside the club.

With that, Marie was pulled back from her deep thoughts. Feeling impatient, Black Shadow stood up from his seat and walked towards her. When he reached her, he immediately grabbed her right hand as he gently dragged her to the corner where there was an available couch good for two persons.

After they settled down on their seats, Black Shadow asked her: "What do you want to eat and drink tonight?"

"Hmm, if you just told me that you planned to eat and drink tonight then we should have come to a restaurant instead of coming here," Marie said to him as she rolled her eyes.

Black Shadow just chuckled from her response. "Sorry, dear. You know that I am more comfortable with this kind of place instead of going to fancy restaurants."

"I know. I am just kidding. Just order some lady's drink for me. Besides I already had my dinner before coming here."

Black Shadow just nodded at her before he signaled the waiter. Since they were a regular customer there, the waiter was already aware of the drinks they wanted to order.

"So what's up? By the way, what do you want to tell me?" Marie asked him directly.

Instead of answering her, Black Shadow picked up something inside the pocket of his jacket. It was a rectangular box. He grabbed her hand and put the object in her palm.

Marie frowned as she observed the small rectangular box in her hand. "What is this?"

"I promised to give you a necklace, right? This is my gift for you." Black Shadow said which made Marie tongue-tied for a moment.

She had not yet recovered from that surprise gift when Black Shadow said something more shocking.

"This is my parting gift," he said to her. He was smiling but there was something more in his eyes after saying that. But it disappeared quickly in just a split of a second.

"Parting gift?" Marie mumbled as she wondered about what he meant by saying that. A deep frown appeared on her face.

"Yes. I am leaving this place. My job here is done. I already completed it so there's no reason for me to stay here." Black Shadow said as he gave her a meaningful glance.

Marie didn't know what to say at that moment. She was really shocked to hear that.

'Then what about Catseye? What should we do now? If he is leaving then I can't continue spying on him.'

"Why are you giving me that kind of look?" he let out a soft chuckle as he watched her shock and worried expression.

"Are you sad that I am leaving? Will you miss me?" he added as he tried to tease her.

"No way!" Marie suddenly exclaimed. Black Shadow chuckled once again.

"But why? I thought you are still looking for that person? Have you found her already?" Marie asked him curiously.

Black Shadow was about to give her an answer when he was interrupted by the waiter. He brought their drinks. 

He sipped on his glass before he responded to her. However, instead of answering her, he asked her a question instead.

"Do you believe in love?"

Black Shadow asked her that question since he remembered what Elle had told him before they got separated that night. She advised him to try to fall in love. 

It sounded like a ridiculous joke for him but seeing how Elle loved that detective he could not stop himself from wondering why they still choose to believe in love despite being hurt in the end.

Meanwhile, Marie was rendered speechless after she heard that. 

'What's wrong with him tonight? Why he did suddenly mention love?' she thought to herself as she gave him a weird look.

Seeing her expression, Black Shadow burst into another laughter.

"Are you serious? You are really asking me that?"

He just nodded as a response.

"Of course I believe in love!" she finally answered him.

"Then why did you waste your time dating me? You should have searched for the love of your life instead of playing around with me if you believe in love."

Marie just raised her eyebrows. They both knew that the relationship between them meant nothing. Marie approached him for the purpose of spying on him while Black Shadow pursued her because he just wanted to have a little pastime with her.

Their relationship was like friends with benefits and no string attached.

Back to his question. Marie sighed deeply before she answered him.

"Well. I just tried to do it with no feelings attached. I'm tired of getting hurt in the end. My relationship with other men always sucks." Marie said as she shrugged her shoulders.

The smile on Black Shadow's face disappeared as he looked at her.

"What do you mean by that?" he asked her.

"Hmm. I had four serious relationsh.i.p.s in the past. Two of them cheated on me while the other two dumped me."

"Really? Why did they do that?"

"Well. Maybe because most of the men didn't like a strong and fierce woman just like me. They like someone who is more refined and feminine like a princess in those fairytale stories who needs a guy to protect her. They couldn't handle my dominance I guess. Hahaha!"

What Marie was telling Black Shadow right now was true. She didn't know why she suddenly opened up with him regarding this. 

She was not comfortable talking about her failed relationsh.i.p.s in the past but now she found herself talking about this with him. She found it very funny.

"Then why do you still believe in love?"

"Hmm. Just simple. I just thought that those sc.u.ms are not the man for me. There is someone who is destined to love me in the end. Well. I am still a girl you know. Even if I am a strong-willed independent woman but deep down I still wanted to be loved by a man too."

Black Shadow just shook his head as he stared at her helplessly.

'Women are really very complicated creatures. But this creature in front of me now is a simple-minded one.' he smiled from that thought.

"How about you? Do you believe in love?" Marie returned the question to him.

"Yes, I did. Once. But I got betrayed. After that, the word 'love' disappeared in my vocabulary." His reply was simple but there was a heaviness in those words.

Then seconds later, he heard a soft giggle coming from the girl beside him. Marie was laughing hard.

"Why are you laughing?" he asked her with confusion.

"I-I'm sorry… I just found it very funny because I didn't know that you are too sentimental compared to me. Haha, you just failed once and you stopped believing in love already. But for me, it happened to me more than once. Still, I was able to move on but you… haha, you are still bitter!" Marie teased him as she continued laughing at him.

'D*mn. This woman is really annoying sometimes. No wonder her boyfriend dumped her.' Black Shadow thought to himself. 'I didn't share my story with her just to make her laugh.'

"Stop laughing already!"

He told her to stop but Marie couldn't help herself from laughing out loud.

'She is really trying to break my patience here.'

With the intention in mind to make her stop laughing, Black Shadow hooked his arm around her waist as he yanked her towards him. His other hand was already at the back of her head. 

Without waiting for her to protest, he pulled her as he brought her face to his. He covered her lips with his mouth as he kissed her hard, devouring her. Just like before, as if Black Shadow had a certain power over her, Marie responded to his kiss with eagerness.

Not minding the people around them, they kissed each other hungrily. Is this also a parting kiss?

Unknown to them that every interaction happened between them the moment they sat in that corner were being watched by two pairs of eyes.

But between the two observers, there was a certain someone who was looking at them with her sharp eyes covered with a hint of hatred and jealousy. Her hatred was directed to the girl whom Black Shadow was kissing passionately at that moment.