Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"Daniel—"

"No," he stopped her. "I said no once, my decision is not gonna change."

Kathleen did not say anything, she buried her face on his chest and stayed there for a while before getting down from the bed.

Daniel quietly watched her walk towards the window. He sighed and helplessly shook his head before approaching her.

"Kate, why are you doing this?"

Without saying anything, she leaned against the window frame and closed her eyes.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "I have you and that's enough. If we have a baby, I will welcome it with open arms but even if we don't, it doesn't matter to me."

"But I want one." Kathleen looked at him with teary eyes. "I want a baby, our baby—"

She tightened her grip around his shirt. "I cannot give you a baby Daniel and this kills me everyday. I watch you playing around with other kids and it breaks my heart."

She buried his face on his chest and sobbed.

Daniel wrapped his arms around her and sighed. He didn't know what to say to comfort her.

Both of them wanted to become parents but after several failed attempts, Daniel had made his peace with the fact that they were not destined to become parents.

But unlike him, it was different for Kathleen. He knew that she blamed herself for being incapable of giving him a child.

Despite him telling her more than a hundred times that it was okay and it was no one's fault, she kept blaming herself.

When the doctor first suggested they give IVF a shot, Daniel was very hesitant. He had done his research and had read about the complications.

He didn't want Kate to suffer so he immediately dropped the idea but Kate did not agree with it.

She forced him to go with it for the first time followed by a second. After their third failed attempt, he refused to move ahead with the procedure but Kathleen somehow coaxed him to move forward with it again.

And now she was doing the same thing all over again.

Daniel knew he would slip and eventually agree with her but he really didn't wish to see her go through everything. More than the physical impact, he was worried about the emotional and mental impact Kathleen had to go through during the treatment.

"Please—" She looked at him. "One more time."

When Daniel did not say anything, she requested again. "Please Daniel, I really want to do this."

Contemplating for a while, he finally gave in. "Okay but this is the last time. After this we are never ever discussing this again."

He wiped her tears away. "And I don't want to see you cry again over this matter."

"I promise I won't." She hugged him tightly.

...

[Evening]

[Volkov Mansion]

Elsa got down from the car and sighed. "This place is really my fate. No matter what I do, at the end of the day I have to come here."

"There are a few things we are born with, no matter how much we try we can't push it out of our life." Daniel remarked as he wrapped his arms around her shoulder. "No matter how much we ignore or hate it, it will always keep running back to us."

Elsa sighed and nodded. "I wish we could just delete it permanently from our lives."

"It's already been so many years honey and you managed to survive, I am sure we all will be okay."

Just then Andrew's car entered the driveway.

As soon as they got down, Andrew intertwined their hands together. "Stay close to me, okay?"

Rachael nodded. "Don't worry, I came here yesterday with Daniel and Kate."

"Did she tell you anything inappropriate?" She shook her head. "Good, I hope you are not lying this time."

Rachael pouted her lips and frowned. "How long are you planning to taunt me like this?"

"As long as I am not satisfied."

"At this point, you are just being mean to your wife."

While the couple continued bickering, someone was having his own conversation with his new HOUSEKEEPER.

"Did you eat?" Owen asked.

"Yes, did you eat?" When he let out an affirmative sound, Juliana said, "I cleaned the house in your absence."

"Thanks."

"Why are you thanking me?" She chuckled. "That's my job."

"How is your brother doing now?"

"He is fine, thanks to you." Contemplating for a while, she asked, "When are you coming back?"

"Why? Are you missing your boss already?" He chuckled.

"Kinda—" Realising what she had just said, Juliana quickly added, "I mean, it's easy when you are here. You can tell me what you want me to do."

"I see," he sighed. "I won't be back at least for a couple of weeks, maybe more. Just take care of things in my absence. Do whatever you want to."

"Hmm, okay."

When Justin gestured Owen to come over, he asked him to wait.

"I'll hang up now, if there is anything just give me a call."

"Alright, bye."

After hanging up the call, Owen sighed. He wanted to call her as soon as their flight landed but he held himself back. He thought it would make him look very desperate and needy. But after almost twenty hours without talking to her, he finally gave in and called her.

"You are so fucked Owen—" He slapped his own forehead before approaching the group.

...

[Inside the mansion]

As soon as the lot entered the mansion, Lokus was the first person to greet them.

Unlike other days, he seemed very enthusiastic and happy.

"Welcome." He greeted everyone.

While others greeted him back, Andrew stood there with a poker face.

Noticing Andrew's cold expression, Lokus gulped in nervousness. He was mentally prepared to face Andrew's wrath. though he was merely obeying the order his employer had given him, he had done something highly inappropriate.

"Where is mom?" Daniel inquired.

"Madam is in her room, she will be here soon."

While everyone made their way towards the living room to wait for Helen, Andrew stopped Lokus.

"Lokus—" He took a step towards him.

"Y-Yes young master?" Lokus nervously asked.

"I know you were following someone's order but next time, think twice before touching my wife," Andrew remarked. "I am letting you off this time because it's the first mistake you have made. But I swear on Rachael, if this thing happens again, you will see the worst side of me."

Rachael tightened her grip around Andrew's hand.

Andre glared at Lokus before walking inside with Rachael.

Just then Helen came down. "You all are finally here."

"Why wouldn't we when you pulled so many tricks to bring us here?" Owen remarked.

"If I hadn't, how was I supposed to get the privilege of seeing all my grandkids and son all together?" Helen sat down beside Elsa.

She then looked at Andrew. "Especially, you—Were you planning to ignore your grandmother all your life?"

"For all these years, I have tolerated everything this family has thrown at me," Andrew remarked. "I don't have to remind anyone here about the things I have been through because of this family."

"But despite that, I have always respected the elders, especially you grandma," he added.

Keeping quiet for a while, he stated, "But after what you did, I don't think I can respect you the way I should."

Andrew tightened his grip on Rachael's hand. "Rachael is my bottom line. Anyone who tries to hurt her, touches my bottom line."

He then glared at Helen. "Touch her one more time, try to get my wife involved in your shit one more time and you will see the worst side of me."

"Andrew—" Rachael tried to stop him but he looked at her and shook his head.

"Don't force me to treat you how I treat Semion," he added. "I still respect you alot, don't do things which will make me hate you."

Helen did not say anything, she just kept looking at Andrew. She knew what she had done would create a drift between them but she was ready to face the consequences.

All she wanted was to see all her family members together and she had achieved it.

Andrew was about to say something more but Rachael stopped him.

"That's enough," she whispered. "She is still your grandmother, don't be so rude."

"Don't stop him, Rach," Elsa frowned. "What he is saying is completely right."

She looked at Helen. "I know you played this trick to bring us all here and it worked But at what cost? None of us are here because we really want to. We were forced to come here because of you."

"No one better than you knows why we all want to stay away from this place and this family," Owen added. "You should be the first person to understand our feelings."

"Mom, you really need to stop doing this," Daniel sighed. "We already had plans of coming over for sister Lisa's anniversary."

…..