Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Chapter 293  Doubts

"Did you talk to Daniel about this?"

Kate nodded. "Yes, he suggested we pay them a visit to share the good news but—" Rachael gently grabbed her hand. "I can understand why you are hesitant but I think Daniel is right. Maybe you can try once more?" "I don't mind trying Rach but—" She sighed. "Last time we visited them was after Daniel and I got married. We were not even allowed inside the house. My father sent his brother out to send us away." Reminiscing about the incident made her teary again. Kate remembered how devastated and abandoned she felt for weeks. She understood that marrying against their will was not something she should have done. But what other choice did she have? She loved her parents but she loved Daniel as well. She tried her best to convince them but her parents refused to accept their relationship no matter what she said. In fact, they did not even meet Daniel before rejecting their relationship. They were not willing to give their relationship a chance. "Maybe things won't be the same this time." Rachael tried to encourage her to give her relationship with her parents one more chance. "It has already been so many years, I am sure they miss you too." "I don't know." In the past seven years, no one from her family had tried to contact her, not even her cousins. This made Kate feel not welcomed and loved by her family members. Seeing how sad Kate was, Rachael tried to change the topic. "Okay, let's not talk about it anymore. It's your first time in the city so it's my responsibility to show you around." Kate smiled and nodded. "I heard it's a beautiful city." "Of course it is and you are going to love it," Rachael exclaimed excitedly. "And I have two other tourist guides for you, my best friends Emma and Tina. You are going to love them," "I am sure I will." Kate was excited to meet new people and form a new social circle in the city where she had to live for sometime." "Emma and Tina are going to flip when they see you," Rachael chuckled. 'They are not going to believe their eyes." "I am sure it's not that big a deal." "Are you kidding me?" Rachael scoffed. "We three watch your movies and dramas together. We eagerly wait for the next episode and Emma—" She chuckled. "It's fair to say that she is your biggest fan." Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Is it?" She smiled. "Now I can't wait to see them." ...

[Evening, Andrew's study] "You told me you will protect her." Joshua gritted his teeth. He was both angry and frustrated. When he heard about Rachael's kidnapping, he was shocked, scared and angry at the same time. "Nothing happened to her," Daniel defended Andrew who refused to say anything in his defence.

Ignoring Daniel, Joshua continued staring at Andrew. "She was your responsibility." "I know," Andrew sighed. "It was my mistake. It won't happen again." Only he knew how guilty he felt for whatever Rachael had to go through because of his carelessness. His heart sank thinking about what she must have gone through before Riftan rescued her. And now that he knew she was with his child when she was kidnapped, his guilt had doubled. What if something would have happened to her and the baby? What if Riftan hadn't been there to save her? What would he do if he had lost her and their baby?

"It is not just Andrew's fault," Daniel remarked. "I am at fault too. Rachael was with us and—" "Listen Volkov, I am not interested in hearing about your weak ass security arrangement," Joshua snapped. "My point is, if you can't even protect my sister when she is in your turf then what is the point? Just return her back and—" "Joshua—" Rachael barged into the room. "Why are you using that tone on Daniel? Don't you know he is Andrew's uncle?" She was passing by when she heard Joshua's voice. At first, she wanted to greet him but when she heard the way he was talking to Andrew and Daniel, she was enraged. According to her, this is the first time Joshua was seeing Daniel. Why was he yelling at someone he had just met? It did not make sense. "Rachael, I—" "Apologise right now," she interrupted him. Left with no other choice, Joshua looked at Daniel. "I am sorry." Daniel smirked. "So Snoopy knows how to apologise as well. That's—" He stopped midway when Andrew pinched his arm. Ignoring his remark, Joshua approached Rachael. "How are you? Are you hurt or something?" "Why would I be hurt?" "Don't lie to me Rach, I know you were kidnapped and—" "Wait—" Rachael frowned. "How do you know that?" She didn't understand how Joshua found out about her kidnapping which happened in Russia when only a few people knew about it. When Joshua did not say anything, she looked at Andrew. "Did you tell him?" At first, Andrew did not say anything. But when Joshua looked at him with his pleading eyes, he answered, "Daniel and I were talking about it and he overheard our conversation." "Oh—" Rachael placed her hand on Joshua's shoulder. "I am okay. It wasn't a big deal." Joshua sighed and helplessly shook his head. "Come here." He embraced her. He could only imagine what she must have gone through when the kidnapping happened. He had heard every detail that happened back in Russia. He also knew how Riftan Genovesse saved her which was very strange to him given the long history of rivalry between the Volkovs and the Genovesse.

"Don't mention it in front of mom, dad and George, okay?" She didn't want her family to unnecessarily worry over something that was already over. Joshua nodded. "Okay, I won't." He wouldn't have mentioned anything about the kidnapping in front of the family even if she hadn't reminded him. "But you have to promise me to be more careful." …..