Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

After a few minutes, Rachael pulled away and cupped his cheeks. "I know you have been through a lot in the past but you are not alone anymore. You always have to remember that no matter what happens, I'll always be there for you."

She wanted to assure him that she would always stand by his side, supporting him and she knew he would do the same.

He nodded and hugged her again. The peace he felt when she was in his arms was something he couldn't explain. Her warmth, her touch felt so right and always calmed his anxious heart.

Andrew considered himself very lucky to marry such a wonderful woman.

....

[Next Day]

The first thing Rachael did as soon as she got up in the morning was give all the helpers a couple of days off. She had also informed Ben about their absence for a couple of days.

Since Andrew always preferred spending a couple of days by himself to mourn for his parents, she wanted to create a similar environment for him.

But this time, he wouldn't be alone. She would be there with him all the time.

After making all the necessary arrangements, Rachael called Elsa to inform her about the situation.

"Oh that's nice," Elsa sighed. "You have no idea how relieved I am feeling right now."

All these years when Andrew locked himself in his room, Elsa and Owen were constantly worried for him. They wanted to check on him but at the same time, they didn't want to bother or disturb him.

"Since you are staying with him, I will stop worrying now," she added.

"I was planning to stay with my parents for a couple of days but he asked me to stay with him." If Andrew wouldn't have stopped her, she would definitely spend the two days constantly worried about him. The thought of him being confined in a room for two straight days all by himself made her feel very anxious.

"That's nice." Pausing for a while, Elsa added, "Rach, take care of him, okay? I know he acts a little weird sometimes especially when you ask about our family and other things—"

When she stopped mid sentence, Rachael remarked, "I understand." By now, she had already figured out that Elsa, Owen and especially Andrew were reluctant to share certain things with her.

Even though Rachael found it very awkward and weird at times, she had learned to ignore it. She understood that she had just entered their family and it wasn't possible for her to know or for them to tell her everything.

She believed that with time, she would slowly find everything out.

"Yesterday Owen did not let me tell you anything—" Pausing for a while, Elsa hesitated for a while before answering the question she had asked them yesterday. "I can't tell you everything, I feel Andrew is the one who should tell you what exactly happened. But all I can tell you is—Andrew's parents did not die in an accident."

"I know the whole thing was portrayed as a road accident but it wasn't—" she added. "They were murdered."

"What?" Rachael widened her eyes in shock. She couldn't believe what Elsa had just told her.

"There is more to this Rach and it's very complicated." Elsa wanted to tell her about it a long time back but Owen and Justin warned her not to. They believed that the less Rachael knew, the better until she was ready to handle the truth.

She knew how hesitant Andrew felt to tell Rachael the truth about his past, about him and their family. She was sure he would keep delaying everything as long as he could. But they didn't have much time in hand.

"Andrew will definitely tell you about it someday," she added.

...

[Evening]

"How did she look?"

"Hmmm?" Andrew looked at her. He didn't understand what she was saying.

"Mom—" She rested her chin on his chest. "Do you have any pictures?"

He nodded his head and grabbed his wallet from the bedside drawer. He then took out a small old photo and gave it to her.

"Is this you?" Rachael excitedly inquired as she admired it.

The photograph consists of a man and woman along with a baby boy in their hands. The man had his hands wrapped around the woman's waist while she was holding the baby boy close to her chest.

All three of them had bright smiles on their faces. They looked very happy and at peace.

"I was only one year old when this was taken," he smiled. "That's mom and dad."

Rachael smiled and gently caressed the picture. "It's beautiful, you three look so happy together."

"We were a very happy family," Andrew remarked as he took the picture from her hand and placed it back in his wallet.

"Dad loved taking pictures," he added. "I still have our family albums, I'll ask someone to send it over from Russia."

"I cannot wait to see it," she exclaimed.

Andrew smiled and pulled her closer. "Thanks for staying with me—" He kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. "It really means a lot."

"You don't have to thank me." She cupped her cheeks. "We are a team, remember?"

"We are—" He kissed the back of her hand. "We will always be a team, I'll make sure we always remain a team."

Keeping quiet for a while, he called her out. "Rach—"

"Hmm?" She looked at him.

"We will not end up like my parents." He tightened his grip around her. "I will make sure we don't end up like them."

"Andrew—" The panic and fear in his eyes made her feel anxious too. He had never told her anything like that.

He kissed her forehead. "I will always keep you safe, even if I have to give up my own life."

"Andrew—" Rachael frowned. "Don't say such things."

When he did not say anything, she sat up straight. "Why are you suddenly saying such things? Nothing is going to happen to you or me."

...