Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Everyone is calling and asking about your wife. How am I supposed to answer them when I have never met her?" Helen sighed. "I can't even tell them that I have never met my own granddaughter-in-law."

"Since when did you start caring about them?" Andrew remarked. "From what I know, you never cared about them."

"You—" Helen gritted her teeth. "Why are you being so stubborn? Can't you just listen to your grandma?"

"I always listen to you but not this time." Before she could say anything, he stated, "I don't care what others think. Rachael is my wife, when I am saying that I will not bring her there, it means I will not."

"But—"

"No one can talk me out of it grandma, not even you," he interrupted her.

"You are the eldest grandson of this family, you can't ignore all the elders." Helen kept trying to persuade him even though she knew he wouldn't listen. But she didn't want to give up yet.

When he did not say anything, she said, "I know you will not like what I am going to say but I think it's time I remind you a few things."

"Your mother refused to bring your father home and ran away with him. I don't have to remind you how that ended," Helen sighed in dejection. "And now you are making the same mistake."

She paused for a while. "Andrew, things are not going to be as simple as you think. Do you think all the problems will be solved just because you moved countries? Do you think you will be able to keep your wife away from everything by not bringing her home?"

Andrew did not say anything, he just kept listening to whatever his grandma was telling him.

"Say something, why are you so silent?" His silence was making her feel very uncomfortable.

"I have already said what I want to, what else do you want me to say?" Without waiting for her reply, he added, "To be honest, I don't mind bringing Rachael to Russia. I can take her there for a vacation any time she wants."

"Then what is the problem?" Helen frowned. She didn't understand what he was trying to say.

"Can't you tell? I don't want to bring her home and get her involved with the Volkov's," he stated. "Grandma, I don't think I have to explain to you how GREAT our family is."

Helen pursed lips and did not say anything. She wanted to argue with him but she knew he was right.

The Volkov family was big and chaotic. Everyone was hungry for power and authority, and wouldn't hesitate to kill their blood relatives if the need arises. One had to always be alert and prompt in order to survive.

"Don't try to convince me in the future regarding this matter, you'll just end up wasting your time," he remarked. "If you want to meet Rachael so much, I'll make arrangements for you to come here. You can stay with us for a few days and then go back."

"So you are not going to bring her here?"

"No."

"Alright then, since you have decided to stick to your decision, I'll also be stubborn and stick to mine." Without waiting for his reply, she hung up the call.

…..

Meanwhile, Rachael was having a very serious conversation with her aunt Roma.

[Roma's Room]

"How are things with Andrew?" Roma inquired.

"It's nice," Rachael smiled.

"I can say that he treats you very well." Roma smiled and patted her shoulder. "You have found a good one."

Rachael nodded in agreement. She had indeed found a very good husband for herself.

"Aunt, you wanted to talk about something?" When Roma nodded, she inquired, "What is it?"

"That—" Roma hesitated for a while, contemplating if she should talk to Rachael about it or not.

Sensing her hesitation, Rachael placed her hand on her arm. "It's okay, you tell me whatever it is. Don't worry about anything."

Contemplating for a while, Roman inquired, "Andrew is from Russia, right?" When Rachael nodded, she added, "Does he still have family or any connections there?"

"His maternal family is there," she answered. "He lived there for more than seventeen years, I am sure he knows many people there."

When Roma did not say anything, she inquired again. "Aunt, is something wrong?"

"No I—" She paused for a while before asking, "Will it be too troublesome if I ask Andrew for a small help?"

"Of course not, I am sure he will be more than happy to help," Rachael stated.

"Then—can you ask him to find out what Joshua used to do in Russia?" When she frowned, Roma explained herself. "I don't know Rachael, but I feel like he is lying when he told us he works in a NGO."

"Why do you feel that way?"

Keeping quiet for a while, Roma answered, "Since he moved to Russia, he has become very secretive. He barely comes home and whenever he does, he is always so alert and agile."

"One time, he came home with a big injury on his back. When I was treating his wounds, I saw so many scars on his chest and back," she pursed her lips and frowned. She still remembered how horrified she was when she discovered the fresh wound on Joshua's body.

"Maybe you are just overthinking," Rachael tried to calm her down. "Why would Joshua lie about his work to us? It doesn't make sense."

"I thought that too at first but now when he suddenly decided to come back, I am feeling very restless." Roma anxiously grabbed Rachael's hand. "What if he is trying to run away after getting into trouble there? W-What if bad people are after him?"

"Rachael, I don't know anyone there. It is not possible for me to find out if he is telling the truth or not," she anxiously remarked. "If Andrew can help me find his whereabouts when Joshua was still in Russia, I will be very grateful."

…..