Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Elizabeth Huggins was Javier Volkov's wife, Owen and Elsa's mother.

She had met Javier when she was nineteen. They had met in college and got married as soon as they completed graduation.

Initially things were great with Javier. He was both loving and caring but things started getting a little rocky a month after their marriage when she found out his real identity.

Elizabeth had no idea about Javier's background and that his family was involved in illegal businesses. He had told her he was an orphan but when she found out the truth, she was enraged. She felt betrayed and made up her mind to leave him.

But he managed to manipulate her into staying. He told her he had lied to her because he was ashamed of his family background and he didn't wanna be a part of it. He begged her not to leave and assured her he would never follow his fathers footsteps.

Blinded by his love, Elizabeth believed him and continued living with him happily. Though his behaviour had changed a lot, she didn't take it to heart or gave it much thought.

A year after their marriage, she got pregnant with Owen.

Elizabeth was excited to welcome their first child but Javier's attitude towards the pregnancy was very different from hers. He kept insisting that the child should be a boy.

She told him that the gender of the child doesn't matter because whether it's a girl or a boy, it would be their first born. But nevertheless, he kept insisting the same.

Even though she found his behaviour quite weird, she shrugged it off thinking he must be more fond of a baby boy than a baby girl. But little did she know things weren't that simple.

After Owen was born, Javier was on cloud nine. He couldn't contain his happiness and insisted that they visit his family along with their son. But Elizabeth was against it. She insisted on not going to Russia with little Owen.

She clearly told Javier that she didn't want him or his son to get involved in such things.

But unlike the other times, Javier did not back down. He kept forcing her and even threatened to take Owen with him if she didn't wanna go.

When Elizabeth kept turning him down, he started assaulting her. He would often get drunk and force himself on her. And if she tried to protest, he would hit her until she finally submitted to his wishes.

This went on for four years until Elsa was born.

When she got pregnant for the second time, Javier completely changed his attitude. He switched back to being the caring and loving husband he was in the past.

But this time, Elizabeth was always very careful around him. She didn't trust him at all.

Unlike the first time when Javier insisted on having a son, this time he wanted a daughter.

Elizabeth knew he was upto something but she didn't tell him anything.

By now, she had found out that Javier was very much involved in his family business and was in constant touch with his father.

She had also managed to figure out they were planning something. This is why he kept insisting on taking Owen with him.

Elizabeth didn't want her son to get involved in something unethical. She wanted him to lead a normal and healthy life.

But fate had different plans.

After Elsa was born, Elizabeth filed a divorce and walked away with her son and daughter.

Though Javier was reluctant to let her go, she didn't stop her as she had expected. Instead, he asked her to go whenever she wants to and raised their kids. But he told her she couldn't stop him from visiting them.

This is when Elizabeth moved to Manhattan with her two kids.

Javier would visit them from time to time and everytime he would, they would end up fighting. Even though they were divorced, he continued forcing himself on her. And whenever she tried to protest, he would threaten her to take both the kids away if she didn't comply.

"Mom—" Owen called his mother out.

When Javier saw him and Elsa, he smiled. "Come here son."

Owen frowned and tighetened his grip around Elsa's hand. He knew his father wasn't a good man. He had grown up watching him torture his mother, mercilessly rasing his hand on her. He didn't like him.

"Owen go to your room with your sister," Elizabeth instructed him.

"Hold on, what is the rush?" Javier smirked and approached the kids.

He squatted right in front of them. "Dad is here to take you both with him to Russia."

"Russia?" Little Elsa inquired.

"Yes, Russia—" He smiled and pinched her cheeks. "You will come with dad, right?"

"We are not going anywhere," Owen answered. "I am not leaving mom alone."

Without waiting for Javier's reply, he grabbed Elsa's arm and walked towards his room.

…..

[Inside the room]

"Are we really going to Russia?" Elsa asked.

"We are not," Owen remarked. "We are not going anywhere."

"But what if he beats mom more if we don't go?" She looked at him with teary eyes. "I don't want her to get hurt because of us."

"Hey—" He cupped her cheeks. "Nothing will happen to mom, okay? Don't worry about it." He wiped her tears away.

"Owen, I am scared." Elsa hugged him before bursting into tears.

"Don't cry." He gently patted her back. "You don't have to be scared when I am with you. I will always protect you, okay?"

"Promise?"

"I promise." He kissed the top of her head.

...

[Late at night]

Owen woke up in the middle of night when he heard a loud bang.

When he opened the door, the entire living was messy and his mother was sitting in the middle, hugging her knees.

"Mom—" He quickly ran towards her.

When Elizabeth saw him, she quickly wiped her tears away and looked at him. "Why are you up so late? Don't you have school tomorrow?"

He sat down right next to her and gently touched the fresh bruishes on her face. "He did this to you?"

….