Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Andrew sighed and nudged her arm. "Babe?" When she did not answer, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. "She does it every time, it's best if we just ignore her like I always do."

Rachael did not say anything, she closed her eyes with her back still facing him.

"Rach—" A phone call interrupted him but he ignored it. He continued hugging her while his phone kept buzzing.

"Just answer the call." She then got down from the bed and made her way towards the washroom.

Andrew rolled over and sighed. All he wanted was to spend some cuddly time with his wife since they couldn't do anything at the moment, was that too much to ask?

Annoyed by the constant ringing of the phone, he frowned and turned it off before tossing it inside the drawer. He then sat up straight and waited for Rachael to come out of the washroom.

...

[Next morning]

"Good morning brother." When Andrew scoffed, Owen raised his brows. "Why are you so cranky early in the morning?"

"Seems like someone didn't get laid last night," Daniel chuckled.

Without saying anything, Andrew poured himself a cup of coffee before slumping on the nearby chair.

Owen and Daniel looked at each other first before looking at Daniel again.

"Why are you in such an awful mood on a holiday?" Daniel inquired. "Is everything okay?"

Pinching the space between his brows, Andrew sighed, "Rachael is mad. And when I say mad, I mean MAD."

"Geez, what did you do?" Owen raised his brows.

"Yeah, what did you do? Rachael doesn't look like someone who would get mad over petty things."

Andrew frowned. "What makes the two of you think that I did something?"

"I don't know," Owen shrugged. "It's just a guess."

"I didn't do anything, okay?" He sighed. " She is mad because Alina called last night and she also saw the messages."

"That woman is still into you?" Daniel raised his brows. "How many years has it been?"

"Probably more than a decade." Owen chuckled. "But I have to agree, that woman is crazy."

"So what does Rachael have to say about it?"

"I don't know but she definitely did not like what she saw," Andrew frowned. "If I was in her place, I would have become mad too. I mean, who likes it when someone continuously messages their partner late at night?"

"Did you try explaining?"

"I did but I don't think she is convinced at all."

…..

[Elsa's room]

"Here—" Elsa gave Rachael a glass of wine she had just poured.

"Thanks." Rachael took a sip and sighed. "I really needed this."

Looking at the both of them who were sipping wine at 10:00 Am, Kate chuckled, "What is up with you people? It's 10 in the morning."

"Well—" Elsa shrugged. "It's night somewhere in the world, right?"

"Oh ya? Is that how it works?" When Elsa nodded, Kate said, "Then pour me some too."

Elsa chuckled. "Now you sound like the Kate I know."

While she poured another glass for Kate, Rachael chucked down her wine before giving the empty glass to her. "I want a refill."

"Woah, what is up with you today?" Kate raised her brows. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine." Rachael scoffed. "Actually you know what? It's not. Nothing is fine."

"Okay, walk us through it honey."

Keeping quiet for a while, she finally decided to let it out. "You guys probably know this Alina girl, right?"

"Andrew's stalker girl?" Kate looked at Elsa.

Elsa nodded. "Alina Smirnoff."

"She was messaging and calling Andrew so many times yesterday." Rachael frowned. "She sent him around forty messages in one go even though he wasn't replying. And the number of times she called—" She scoffed. "I didn't even count."

"Oh trust me darling, that is nothing," Kate chuckled. "That is actually the most civilised thing she could have done."

"What do you mean?" Alina trying to get in touch with her husband has been bugging her since last night. Though she knew Andrew didn't respond to her, she was still very mad.

"She slit her wrist in front of Andrew's office last year before he moved out of the country," Elsa explained. "It was so scary."

"Oh God, it was so scary and all over the news," Kate added. "It was crazy."

Rachael pursed her lips and frowned. She had a rough idea that Alina was crazy for Andrew but she hadn't expected things to be this intense. "What did Andrew do at that time?"

"I think that was the first time he confronted her," Elsa answered. "He visited her in the hospital and told her in the best way he could to stop being a pain in the ass."

"But the woman obviously didn't stop. In fact, I think the whole thing gave her more confidence." Kate sighed. "So she continued pursuing him."

"Even after he got married?"

"Oh she never stopped," Elsa chuckled. "I think she kept sending him flowers and gifts to your new place too."

"To our house?" Rachael raised her brows.

"Yeah, I clearly remember Justin telling me about it and—" Elsa stopped midway when Kate poked her arm, gesturing her to stop talking.

"Rach, you have nothing to worry about. Andrew would never—"

"I know he would never do anything," Rachael interrupted her. "He wouldn't dare to even look at another woman. It's just that I am not liking how he is dealing with it."

The fact that Andrew was taking the situation so lightly was irritating her. He was keeping things away from her too and she didn't like that either.

...

[Andrew's Room]

When Rachael entered the room, Andrew was going through his wardrobe trying to figure out what he should wear for the function. The welcome party Helen was throwing for Rachael was still on and no matter how much he hated entering his useless family, he had to go on with it because his wife was the centre of attraction.

"Babe, what should I wear?" He sighed. "I can't seem to figure it out."

"Wear whatever you want, I am sure Alina will like it whatsoever."

…..