Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

Ben did not say anything, he just smiled at her. He knew Helen wasn't happy with Andrew's decision to move out of the country and settle down in the city permanently. And now that even Owen and Elsa had started spending more time there and had left home, Helen was not okay with it.

"Isn't your entire family here?"

"Yes madam." Ben nodded.

"Then you must come back to your family," Helen remarked. "You are the only son, you shouldn't stay away from your family for a long time. Isn't your sister getting married soon?" He nodded. "After she gets married, your mom will be left all alone, you should accompany her."

"My sister will not get married until next year," Ben answered. "After she leaves, mom will move in with her sister. They will live together and I will visit them whenever I can."

"I won't be settling down here anymore. Whenever the boss goes, I have to follow him," he added. "I work for him after all."

Helen sighed and helplessly shook her head. "I will never understand the mindset of the young generation."

"Grandma, why are you being so naggy?" Owen sighed and hooked her arms around her shoulder. "You seriously need to chill."

"How can I chill when you are still single?"

"Who said Owen is single?" Daniel raised his brows. "He has a housekeeper now."

"Housekeeper?" Helen frowned.

"Yeah, a pretty housekeeper," Justin added.

"Why do you need a housekeeper?" She looked at Owen. "I thought you live in a one bedroom condo."

Owen sighed and helplessly shook his head. "Don't listen to them."

"So you are single?" When he nodded, Helen exclaimed, "Brilliant, tomorrow I will introduce you to some potential brides."

"No thank you." He quickly took a step back. "Please spare me from this arranged matchmaking shit."

"Why?" Helen snapped. "At least you should listen to your grandma and marry someone of her choice."

Rachael and Kathleen looked at each other and smiled.

"Yes Owen, don't marry for love like Andrew and me," Daniel remarked. "You must marry for your grandmother's pleasure."

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Elsa threw her head back and started laughing out loud while others tried their best to control their laughter.

Just then someone entered the mansion which immediately drew all the attention.

As soon as Rachael saw Semion, she grabbed Andrew's hand. This was the first time she was seeing him after Andrew told her about his past and what Semion had done to him and his parents.

She tightened her grip around Andrew's hand as anger surged her heart but at the same time, she was scared.

Though Andrew had assured her a million times that Semion didn't have the ability to harm them anymore. But she still couldn't help but worry.

The man who didn't hesitate to kill his own daughter could do anything without batting an eye.

"Hey, I am here," Andrew whispered. "You don't have to worry about anything."

"Mom, I didn't know we were expecting a guest." Daniel got up and walked towards Semion. "I thought we were having a family gathering here."

"Daniel, how can you say that?" Owen sighed. "It's our beloved grandpa and your father. He is not a stranger."

"Did you not recognize him because he has gotten a little old?" He approached Semion and frowned. "Damn grandpa, you have so many wrinkles and fine lines."

"Stress makes you age faster," Elsa remarked. "Are you in stress lately grandpa?"

"Why will I be in any kind of stress?" Semion chuckled. "My two capable and beloved grandsons are taking care of the family business and my son--" He looked at Daniel and smiled, "Well, I couldn't be more proud of him."

"I wish I could say the same about you," Daniel shrugged his shoulders. He was not in talking terms with his father for as long as he could remember. He tried to avoid the man as much as possible until he unknowingly bumped into him.

There were things he didn't like about his mother but there were things which he really appreciated about her. Unlike Semion, Helen wasn't all cunning or heartless. She did care about everyone.

But there was nothing he appreciated or liked about his father. For him, he was just a man who helped his mother bring him into this world.

Keeping quiet for a while, Semion sighed, "You know son, I could never understand why you hate me so much. I mean, I understand why Andrew, Owen and Elsa can't stand me but you--I don't remember doing anything that made you so mad."

Daniel scoffed and walked away. He had no interest or intention to talk to the man.

"No seriously," Semion continued. "If it's because we sent you to Italy to your maternal grandparents then you should be mad at your mother. It was her decision to send you there."

"Semion, what are you doing here?" Helen frowned. She didn't invite him. She would never do that. In fact, they were not even in talking terms anymore.

There were times when Semion invited her for lunch and dinner but she always turned him down.

"I came here to see my wife and my kids," he answered as he walked inside.

When he saw Rachael, he smiled, "Oh you are finally here. I thought Andrew had plans of never bringing you here."

"They are here for Lisa's anniversary," Helen answered.

"Isn't Javier's death anniversary before that?" When he didn't get a response from anyone, Semion looked at Elsa followed by Owen. "You both don't remember?"

"I don't," Elsa blunty replied.

"What about you?" Semion turned towards Owen. "You don't remember as well?"

Owen pursed his lips and frowned. He didn't say anything, he couldn't say anything. He did remember his father's death anniversary, he remembered it every year but he did nothing about it. And he never felt guilty for doing nothing.

Elsa was about to say something when Owen interrupted her. "I do remember. How can I not? I killed him in front of you, remember?"

When he smirked, Semion pursed his lips and glared at him.

"Did you come here just to ruin the good vibes or you have something to say?" This time, Andrew got up.

"Do I need a reason to visit my family?"

"Yes you do," Andrew remarked. "You have lost all your rights to call us your family."

"Just be grateful that we are kind enough to keep you alive," Owen added.

As the tension between the grandfather and grandson trip kept increasing, Kathleen nudged Daniel to intervene.

Daniel looked at her and shook his head, indicating to her that he didn't want to say anything.

"Rachael is here for the first time, do you want to scare her away?" She whispered.

"She knows everything."

"But still--" Kathleen frowned and nudged him again. "You are the oldest one here, you should keep the situation under control."

"Why do you always use this age card on me?" he frowned. "And how am I the oldest one here? Mom is also there."

Kathleen rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Come one, be a good uncle and summon the kids for dinner."

"If I am an uncle, that makes you an aunt."

"Sexy young aunt," she remarked.

Daniel scoffed and looked away. He remained seated with no intention of moving or doing anything.

Kathleen sighed and helplessly shook her head. She then poked his biceps. "Hubby, I am very hungry."

When she poked his biceps again, he sighed and got up. "Alright, we can have this discussion later. Let's fill our stomachs first before the food turns cold."

"Yes, we all should eat first," Justin added.

"Let's go to the dining room." Helen looked at Ben. "After dinner, go and bring your things from the hotel. You have to stay with us."

Ben was about to say something when Andrew interrupted him. "Just stay here, it will be more convenient for you as well as me."

"Okay boss."

...

[After Dinner]

"Well, that was an awkward dinner." Rachael sighed and hooked her arms around Andrew's as they walked towards his room.

"It's always like that when grandpa is present," he answered. "Grandma doesn't talk to him and we always ignore him."

"Why don't they stay together? Is it because of what he did to your parents?" Andrew did not say anything. Thinking that she might have unintentionally triggered him, she quickly said, "I mean--"

"It's not because of that," he answered. "When I came here, they were together. This whole separation thing started after Owen's father's death."

"I see." She was about to ask him another question when they stopped in front of a door.

"This is my room." He grabbed her hand before turning the door knob.

.....

[Andrew's Room]

When they entered the room, Rachael was surprised to see how simple and organised the room was.

There was a big bed in the middle which had two bedside tables with a night lamb. There was a shelf packed with books and a big cubborta in one corner. There was also a table and chair near the big window.

.....