Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Nothing," Elsa shook her head. "Just stay with me until Andrew comes back."

"Okay—" Though Rachael found it a little weird, she still chose not to say anything.

….

During the whole time, Elsa did not leave Rachael alone until Andrew came looking for her.

"How many are here?" Elsa inquired.

"Many," he briefly answered before looking at Rachael. "I was looking for you everywhere."

Before she could say anything, he grabbed her hand and said, "Come with me—"

After making sure Rachael was safe with Andrew, Elsa finally breathed a sigh of relief. She then started looking for Justin, to make sure he is okay as well.

…..

[Near Andrew's parents grave]

Looking at the bunch of fresh flowers, Andrew remarked, "Seems like someone came here before us."

"That was me," Rachael answered. "Elsa was coming here so I tagged along."

"So you have already met them." He smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Let me officially introduce you to them, okay?"

When she smiled and nodded, he wrapped his arms around her shoulder. "Mom, dad, she is Rachael, your daughter-in-law."

He then looked at her. "If they were here, they would have loved you, especially mom."

"How are you so sure about that?" she chuckled.

"Of course, you are so sweet and kind, how can someone not like you?"

She smiled and leaned against his embrace. "I would have loved them too."

"Hmm, it's a shame they couldn't meet you," he sighed.

"Actually—" Rachael looked at him. "I did meet them."

"Huh?"

"When we were small, remember?" When he chuckled, she remarked, "Why are you laughing? That meeting counts."

"Well, maybe but I wanted them to meet you as my wife, not as a small baby." He gently pinched her nose.

Rachael frowned and smacked his chest. "Don't touch my nose."

Andrew grinned and repeated his action. "Like this?"

"Hey—"

When she pouted her lips, he chuckled, "Alright, I won't do it anymore. Let's go home, okay?"

She nodded and hooked her arms around his.

"The entire Collins family is here today so they might pay us a visit," he informed her. "But if you don't wanna see them, I'll—"

"No, it's fine," she interrupted them. "We never met the elders apart from grandma and uncle Harrington. They must have felt a little offended too."

"Don't worry about that," he assured her. "There is no point meeting people who aren't that important."

Though his maternal family was chaotic and problematic, the Collins family was no less.

After Andrew's fathers death and Andrew's departure to Russia, the members of the Volkov family fought over the rights of the family businesses and the company. If not for grandpa Collins strong will and power, the company would have never landed on Andrew's hand.

The Collins family was also filled with greedy suckers who cared about nothing but money and Andrew wanted to keep such people away from Rachael.

"Some of them are a bit too much but you don't have to worry about that, I'll handle them," he added.

"Okay," she agreed without any objection. Though she wanted to pay her respect to the elders, she was not interested in getting engaged with problematic people.

…..

As they walked out the cemetery, Rachael contemplated for a while before telling Andrew about her sudden encounter with his maternal grandfather.

"I met you grandfather today."

He frowned. "When?"

"Near mom and dad's grave," she answered. "He was already standing there."

Keeping quiet for a while, he asked, "Did he do anything?"

"No, he was saying something but Elsa arrived and took me with her." When he frowned, she placed her hand on his arm. "Relax, I am fine."

"Try to avoid him in the future," he remarked. "Don't feel obliged to even greet him. There is no need for that."

"Andrew, can I ask you something?" When he nodded, she inquired, "Did something happen between you and your grandfather in the past?"

"Not only you, I noticed even Elsa and Owen are not so fond of him," she added.

"He has done many things which can't be justified or forgiven," he answered. "All I can say is, he is not a nice person and it's best if we keep our distance."

....

[Vagabound Hotel]

After the memorial ceremony, Elsa came back to their hotel room while Justin went to pick Edward from Rachael's parents place.

"Did you reach?"

"Hmm, I am waiting for the elevator," Elsa answered. "Did you pick him up?"

"Yes, we are on the way."

"Alright then, come soon. I'll wait for you both in the room."

After hanging up the call, she kept her phone inside her bag and sighed. She felt exhausted after running around and greeting everyone at the ceremony. All she wanted to do was take a nice warm bubble bath and cuddle with her fiance afterwards.

But little did she know, this wasn't the end of her hectic day.

"Elsa Volkov." When she turned around, Igor smiled, "What a pleasant surprise."

"Oh kill me—" Elsa muttered and sighed in disappointment. First her grandfather and now the crazy stalker, could her day be any worse?

Her disappointed expression made Igor feel very amused and fascinated. The way she was always so transparent about her expression was one of the many things he loved about her.

"Are you here to meet me?" he asked as he approached her.

When she rolled her eyes and scoffed, he chuckled and held his chest. "Ouch—that eye roll still hurts a lot but it gives me butterflies too."

"You live in your own sweet little fantasy world, don't you?" She sneered. "I have seriously started pitying your pathetic life."

"Well, at least you have started feeling something for me," he grinned.

When she did not say anything, he added, "You still did not tell me why you are here."

Before she could answer, Igor exclaimed, "Oh my…that ring on your finger is really awful."

"You should take it off," he remarked. "I'll give you a pretty one."

…..