Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"You are right, Rachael would never do anything like that," Joshua remarked.

But could the same be said about Katherine? Wasn't he supposed to trust his girlfriend and have confidence in her like the way Andrew trusted Rachael?

Why couldn't he just talk to her or ask her to clarify things? Why was he feeling so hesitant?

Seeing Joshua in a daze, Andrew inquired, "Is something bothering you?"

"No—Actually yes, something is bothering me," Joshua answered. "I found out something a few hours ago and I just can't take it off my head."

"What is it? You can share if you want to."

Without any hesitation, Joshua walked towards the empty seat near Andrew's desk. "I went to see Samuel in the morning to discuss the offer you gave me yesterday. My girlfriend was there too."

"Katherine Hollick?"

Joshua nodded. "Yeah."

Andrew kept quiet for a while before asking, "Do you know she was a part of the Bongolian gang before Igor brought her home as his sister?"

"Yeah, I am aware of that." He added, "She was eleven at that time."

"Fourteen," Andrew corrected her. When Joshua frowned, he explained, "She joined the gang when she was eleven."

"Are you sure?" Joshua was so confused. He was told by Igor that he had brought her home when she was eleven. Later, when he started talking to Katherine, she had also told him the same thing.

If what Andrew was saying was the truth, why did Igor, especially Katherine lie to him?

"I am one hundred percent sure," Andrew stated. "The Volkovs have been closely monitoring the Bongolian gang for so many decades now, I cannot be wrong."

The Bongolians were a notorious gang who were involved in child trafficking as well. They would often use the ports which belonged to the Volkovs to carry out their illegal activities. This is why they started keeping an eye on the gang to make sure they are in line.

Joshua did not say anything. He was confused, he couldn't understand who to believe.

Should he believe his girlfriend who might be hiding something or his brother-in-law who was once his enemy?

"So what did Katherine do?" Andrew inquired.

"Samuel thinks that she might be contacting someone in Russia," he answered. "And we don't know who it is yet."

"Maybe it's Igor." When Joshua frowned, Andrew elaborated. "I don't know what happened but there was a time when they were quite close. You were with them all the time, you know that right?"

Joshua nodded. Igor and Katherine were indeed very close in the past. They started drifting apart when Igor announced Katherine's engagement with one his partner's eligible sons.

But why would Katherine stay secretly in touch with Igor when she was the one who wanted to get rid of him and break all ties with him?

Confused and anxious, Joshua quietly left Andrew's office without saying a word. There was too much going on in his head and he needed some time to figure it out.

Andrew on the other hand also did not stop him. He understood that Joshua was going through a lot of complicated emotions which he couldn't express. He wanted to give him the space he needed.

…..

[Collins Mansion]

"So tell us more about your HOUSEKEEPER?" Kate excitedly inquired.

"Yeah, I want to know more about her too," Rachael added.

"Okay, what do you guys wanna know about my housekeeper?" Owen smiled.

"Oh…look at you," Kate playfully slapped his arm. "You are blushing."

"Ahh Owen is so in love," Rachael explained.

"Love?" He scoffed. "Owen Volkov doesn't fall in love sweetheart."

"Are you sure about that my dear nephew?" Daniel entered the room along with Andrew.

"Very sure." Owen looked at Andrew and smirked, "I was waiting for you."

Andrew sighed before walking towards Rachael. "Did you eat?" He asked.

She nodded in response.

"Well, you guys must have important things to discuss." Kate and Rachael got up. "We also have some important things to do."

After they left, Daniel also tried to leave the room to avoid the building tension between Owen and Andrew but he was immediately stopped.

"Where do you think you are going?" Owen scoffed. "I want to talk to you too."

Daniel did not waste a second before pushing Andrew under the bus. "This is completely his idea and has nothing to do with me."

Owen and Andrew did not say a word to each other. They were staring at each other instead.

The intense gaze which they threw at each other made Daniel feel a little comfortable.

"Why don't I step out a little and give you two brothers the space you need."

But before he could move, both of them yelled in unison.

"STAY."

Without saying another word, Daniel quietly took a seat in the nearby coach.

"I have never questioned your decisions ever," Owen broke the long silence.

"Then don't question this one as well," Andrew remarked.

"Whatever you are doing is not acceptable," Owen stated. "I am not letting you invite an enemy into the house."

There was no way he would let Joshua, someone who worked for the Petrovs, join them. Helping Samuel Pertrov was already hard enough for him but he still agreed to do it because Andrew thought it was a good idea.

But letting an assassin who had tried to kill his family before was not something he would compromise with.

"He is not an enemy anymore," Andrew said. "He Rachael's cousin, he is family."

"Rachael's cousin?" He raised his brows and smirked. "Now that's interesting. Amusing actually—How did he end up joining the Petrovs?"

Owen was now curious. He knew that Rachael's family was miles away from being involved in anti-social activities then how did Joshua end up joining the Petrovs?

"I believe only Joshua can answer that for you." The story behind Joshua joining Igorwas something even Andrew wanted to know.

Thinking for a while, Owen asked, "Can you arrange a meeting?"

Andrew smiled. "Of course."

"Great." Owen gave him a thumbs up before joining Daniel on the couch.

...