Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

When he did not say anything, Elsa scoffed. "So you think I am incapable of taking care of Edward if something happens to you? Or do you think I'll abandon him and run away?"

"No—"

When he tried to touch her, she slapped his hand away. "You are unbelievable Justin, I don't know if I am more mad or hurt."

Before he could say anything, she pushed him and took a step back. "Now I am mad at you—"

"Elsa—" But before Justin could approach her, she had already stormed away.

Left with no other choice, he quickly followed her.

….

[Outside the emergency room]

"Do you think they are okay?" Rachael was very worried for Elsa and Justin.

"As long as they don't kill each other, they are gonna be okay," Owen remarked.

"I think you should go and check on them."

"That won't be necessary." Pointing towards the direction Elsa was storming from, Andrew said, "She doesn't look in a good mood."

Just then Justin appeared from behind and grabbed Elsa's hand.

"Oh what are they talking about?" Owen's curiosity peaked in. Since they were at a distant, they were not audible.

"It's hard to say—" Rachael pursed her lips as she tried to figure out what was happening.

"Maybe they are trying to patch things up," Owen remarked.

"Umm, I don't think so—" She added when Elsa jerked Justin's hand away and walked towards them.

Owen quickly looked away. "Act cool—" he muttered before pretending too look at his phone.

"Take me home," Elsa told Andrew before looking at Owen. "And you take this dumba*ss away from my sight before I f*ucking kill him."

"El—" Justin swallowed the rest of his words and pursed his lips when she glared at him.

Sensing the intense tension between them, Andrew quickly got up and took Rachael and Elsa home. He was aware of his cousin's bad temper. Creating a scene at the hospital was the last thing he wanted.

…..

[Collin's mansion]

When they arrived home, Rachael brought a glass of water for Elsa who still seemed very mad.

"Are you fine?"

"No I am not fine Rachael, I am very very mad," Elsa grunted. "I am going to kill Justin."

Before Rachael could say anything, she snapped again, "Do you know he broke up with me because he thought I wouldn't be able to take care of Edward and I'll abandon him if he dies."

"What?" Rachael frowned.

After narrating the entire tithing Elsa had learned today to her, she stated, "I don't know if I should be mad or feel sad for myself."

All these years, she kept thinking about all the possible reasons Justin had ended their relationship. Since he didn't give her a reason, she had ruled out many factors which included her not being a good girlfriend. But who would have thought the real reason would be Justin's delusional overthinking.

"Well—" Rachael shrugged. "I don't know but it kinda makes sense to me."

When Elsa looked at her and frowned, she explained, "From what I have heard, Justin was very close to his big brother who passed away, then unfortunately he lost his sister-in-law as well. And before he could cope with the situation, Edward came along. The whole incident is very triggering no matter how emotionally strong a person is."

"Now I am not saying that what he did was right, he should have talked to you before making such a big decision. But maybe the whole incident scared him and he ended up making some irrational decisions."

When Elsa did not say anything, she placed her hand on arm. "I know you are mad and you have all the right to be mad but try to think about it from all perspectives before making any decision. Because at the end of the day, what happened in the past doesn't matter, what matters is you both love each other and are ready to make a fresh start."

Just then Andrew stepped inside the mansion after discussing a few things with Yuri.

When Rachael saw Andrew, she quickly approached him.

"Talk to her," she whispered. When he nodded, she excused herself, giving them some privacy.

When Andrew sat beside her, Elsa wrapped her hands around his arm and placed her head on his shoulder.

"Justin's brother's death wasn't an accident." When she looked at him, he added, "It was planned, he was murdered."

"What?" Elsa frowned.

"We never told anyone, it's just between Owen, Justin and me." Andrew wrapped his arms around her shoulder. "Listen, Justin didn't want you to know this because he didn't want you to worry but I think it's necessary for you to know."

Pausing for a while, he added, "Honestly, Justin never told us why he broke up with you and we never asked but I always assumed it had something to do with his brother's death. I know what he did wasn't right but I kinda understand his point as well."

"He was scared that if something was to happen to him, you would be left alone to take care of Edward," Andrew remarked.

"I don't understand why is that a problem? Does he think I won't take care of Edward properly because he is not related to me by blood?"

"No—" He shook his head. "He knows you very well Elsa, he knows you will never back out. You will dedicate your entire life to Edward and raise him well."

"Then what is the problem?" Elsa frowned.

"He doesn't want that, he doesn't want you to throw your life like that. He wants to live a normal and happy life without any kind of constant fear or anxiety. I know it's silly but that is how he felt at that time and it made sense to him. He just followed his gut and did what he thought was best for you."

When she did not say anything, he added, "In the past three years, I have seen him suffer. Though he never showed it or said it out loud, he never stopped loving you. The breakup was hard on you but it was also hard on him."

...