Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Andrew possessively wrapped his arms around Rachael's waist. There was no way he would leave his wife alone with these people.

Rachael lightly gasped when he pulled her towards him. When she looked at him, he was looking at his relatives with a frown on his forehead. She could see the possessiveness in his eyes.

Lightly tucking the ends of his sleeves, she was about to say something when he looked at her and shook his head.

She wanted to tell him it was okay if he left her with them for a few minutes but the look he gave her was enough for her to understand that wasn't going to happen.

In one way, Rachael was glad that Andrew wasn't leaving her side. With so many new faces around, her anxiety was rising. But she tried to maintain her cool. She didn't want to show any kind of weakness in front of his family who clearly thought she wasn't compatible with him.

She could easily say from the way they were looking at her. Though they had a smile on their lips, it wasn't a genuine one. Everyone present in the hall was judging her in one way or the other.

"We will not eat her up," a woman remarked. The smile on her face had disappeared. She looked offended.

"I am not worried about you people eating her up," Andrew replied. "Everyone here knows what will happen if they try to hurt my wife in any way."

"Andrew—" Rachael looked at him and shook her head, gesturing him to take it slow.

Without saying anything, he tightened his grip around her waist and took her away.

"You don't have to do that for me." When he looked at him, she said, "Don't snap at them. They are our guests, remember?"

"My grandma's guest not mine or yours," he scoffed. If it was up to him, he would have never even looked at them.

"Still—" Rachael shrugged her shoulders. "They are here for us."

When he frowned, showing his displeasure, she placed her hand on his chest. "If you behave, I might reward you tonight."

Andrew raised his brows. "Is this a negotiation?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I am a businesswoman, remember?"

…..

[Three hours later]

The party finally ended and the guests started taking their leave. Some relatives were staying over at the mansion for the night which wasn't a big problem as they would be staying in the guestrooms which were situated in the furthest corner of the house.

"I am so glad that we are the only ones staying on the 1st floor," Daniel sighed. "I really can't handle these people."

"It's already been so many years, I thought you were already used to it," Kate grinned at her husband.

"Never," Daniel frowned. "I will never get used to them."

"I don't even understand why grandma still is in touch with them," Owen frowned.

"Because they are family." Helen walked towards them. "And we never turn our backs on family."

"You should tell that to your husband," Andrew scoffed.

"Exactly." Owen looked at her. "He trained Andrew and me, remember? We learnt from the best."

Ignoring their comments, Helen looked at Rachael. "I have asked the helpers to keep your gifts in the other room. I'll tell them to bring it to your room—"

"That's okay, you don't have to do that," Andrew answered. He then looked at Ben and gestured him something.

Ben nodded before getting up and walking towards the room along with a couple of their men.

After a few minutes, the two men started taking the gift boxes out of the mansion.

"What are they doing?" Helen frowned, not understanding what was happening.

"Rachael can open the gifts whenever she wants only after we screen them properly." When Rachael nudged him with her elbow, Andrew remarked, "There is now way you are going anywhere near them before Ben approves them."

"What makes you think that the guests will pack explosives and give it to your wife?" Helen gritted her teeth. She was clearly very annoyed.

"Well, this family has done many weird things which I don't think I have to remind you of," Daniel looked at his mother. "Don't expect us to trust anyone."

Ignoring Daniel, Helen looked at Andrew and Rachael. "I organised this party for you both but you did not even bother greeting some of our close relatives."

"We greeted people who I think are decent enough," Andrew shrugged. "You already know how I feel about this family. You expect that I will play along with your pretence of feeding a bunch of people who are always on their toes to slit our throats then I am sorry to disappoint you."

"Andrew—"

"Calling Alina here was enough for me to understand what your intentions were for throwing this party." Andrew got up. "Let me tell you this for the last time, I will tolerate everything but you trying to drag my wife down or trying to make her feel inferior to someone who doesn't even deserve to stand near her."

"I didn't invite Alina, I invited her family," Helen retaliated. "Alina has been around for a long time, she is part of the family too."

"Part of the family?" Owen scoffed. "You must be kidding me."

"That woman is a psychopath," Elsa joined the conversation. "Calling her today was a very shitty thing to do."

While they were busy arguing, Kathleen sat beside Rachael. "Don't get surprised, this isn't something new."

"How many times do they argue in a day?" Rachael couldn't help but wonder. There was not a single day when Helen, Daniel, Owen, Andrew and Elsa did not argue.

"Not a single day," Kathleen chuckled. "At least it's less now because they don't stay together. Trust me when I tell you the first six of my marriage was waking up to someone yelling in the living room."

She looked at them and smiled. "But now I find it kind of cute until it's something really serious."

Pausing for a while, Kathleen added, "You know Rach, no matter how disappointed they are in Helen, the four of them still care for her the most. And if you have noticed, they never argue with each other when Semion is in the room."

Rachael nodded in agreement. "I have noticed that."

...

[Authors note]

Greetings to everyone :)

I hope everyone is doing okay.

November has been a really dark month for me and my family as we lost our 19 year old cousin in a road accident.

I had to fly back to my hometown for the funerals and other arrangements.

But now I am back and I am trying to get back to normal schedule as fast as possible.

I will start updating the chapters regular starting today. But I am sure about the frequency or the time.

I hope you guys will understand and continue supporting the book like you always have. :)

Thank you :)