Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Just ignore him for a while," Andrew remarked. He was in no mood to deal with unimportant people at the moment.

"What if he does something? You know how he is."

"He knows his limits. Just take care of things there," he instructed. "I won't be able to fly there any time I feel like, I don't wanna leave Rachael alone."

"Yeah, it's best if you don't. Anyway—" Owen sighed. "Now coming back to the other reason why I called you so late."

Without waiting for Andrew's reply, he added, "So I was thinking about you and your suspicious hasty decision to get married—I think I cracked the code."

"If there is nothing, I am hanging up."

Ignoring his words, Owen kept talking. "Remember when you first moved to Russia, you used to get a letter each month. The letters kept coming for a couple of years and then stopped." Pausing for a while, he asked, "Rachael was the one who sent you those letters, wasn't she?"

When Andrew did not say anything, he exclaimed, "I knew it. Damn bro, you actually married your childhood sweetheart."

"I am hanging up."

"See you still did not deny," Owen snapped. "Damn, I can't believe I cracked your whirlwind marriage code in less than twelve hours. I am a fuck*ing—"

Before he could complete his sentence, Andrew hung up the call.

….

[Study room]

Rachael was fast asleep on the couch when he entered the study room. Her leg was hanging from the couch while she was hugging the document close to her chest.

Andrew smiled and slowly walked towards her. Squatting right in front of her, he gently removed the hair which was all over her face.

The study room was slightly warmer than the other rooms because the heater was on. Her face was slightly flushed because of the heat.

The smile on his face widened as he gently caressed her hair. Even the tip of her nose had turned red. That made her look so cute and adorable.

After admiring her for some time, he slowly removed the document from her arms and placed it on the table. He then gently carried her in his arms.

…..

[Bedroom]

When Andrew was about to place her on the bed, Rachael snuggled against his chest and he froze. Though he was wearing a t-shirt, he could feel her warm breath on his chest.

In the fear of waking her up and disturbing her sleep, he remained rooted on the same spot without moving a muscle. Only when he felt her breathing become slow and steady again, he gently placed her on the bed.

As soon as her body hit the soft mattress, Rachael curled up like a little kitten, making her look even more adorable.

The warmth and happiness Andrew felt was beyond any kind of explanation. After being alone for almost seventeen years, he had completely forgotten what it felt like to have someone beside you. Someone you can call your family, someone you can always come home to.

There had always been an emptiness in his heart, a void which he thought could never be filled, but he was wrong. The minute he signed their marriage certificate and Rachael became his wife, the void was gone. She had taken up that empty space.

He slowly covered her with the quilt before squatting down. Gently caressing her hair, he pressed his lips on her forehead. "Goodnight," he whispered.

…..

[Next Day]

By the time Rachael woke up, it was already half past eight. She yawned and gently rubbed her eyes before opening them.

Looking around she blinked a couple of times before frowning. Wasn't she in the study room yesterday? She remembered feeling sleepy while reading the document. How did she end up in the bedroom?

Just then Andrew entered the washroom. "You are up already?"

"I overslept," she sighed before getting down from the bed.

"No you didn't, it's still early."

"It's 8:30, why didn't you wake me up?"

"Uncle Michael told me you have developed a nice habit of sleeping till late in the morning," he remarked. "I didn't wanna disturb your sleep."

Rachael pursed her lips. How could her father say something like that to him?

"And besides, there is nothing to do. You should rest more."

"What about the ceremony?" They had to attend Mr.Stephens retirement ceremony.

"It starts at eleven, we have plenty of time," he answered. "Since you are already up, let's go have breakfast."

"You go down first, I'll come down after freshening up."

…..

[Downstairs]

When Rachael came down, Andrew was nowhere to be seen.

"Good morning madam," one of the helpers greeted her.

"Morning," she smiled. "Where is Andrew?"

"Master is talking over the phone with someone in the garden."

Just then one of the guards entered the mansion with a parcel in his hand.

"Where is boss?" He asked the helper.

"He is in the garden."

When the guard saw Rachael, he politely greeted her. "Good morning madam."

Rachael smiled and nodded while approaching him. Pointing towards the parcel, she asked, "Is that for Andrew?"

"It has both yours and the boss' name written on it."

"My name?" Rachael raised her brows.

"Yes." He gave it to her. "Can you please let boss know that I dropped by to give it?"

"Sure." Rachael carefully examined the box before looking at the slip on the box which had the details.

[To Andrew V Collins & Rachael Watson. Wishing you a very happy married life~ Semion Volkov]

Rachael frowned after reading the rest of the details. She remembered Owen's last name was Volkov and he was Andrew's maternal cousin. Could it be that this parcel was sent by Andrew's maternal family?

Just then Andrew came back after finishing the phone call.

"What is it? Did someone come?" He asked before approaching her.

"One of the guards came and gave this parcel." She gave the box to him. "Who is Semion Volkov?"

Tightening his grip on the box, Andrew squinted his eyes.

Without answering her question, he yelled "SAMUEL, YURI—"

…..