Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

"It hasn't been a long time since we have met and you are already obsessed with me," she chuckled.

"Are you sure it hasn't been long?"

"Huh?" Not understanding what he was implying to, Rachael looked at him.

"Haven't we known each other for more than 20 years now?" Pinching her cheeks, he smiled, "Did you forget how you used to run around me when we were small?"

Rachael: " "

"Now that I think about it, you have been obsessed with me since you were small," he added.

She wanted to retort but she couldn't. She was once again rendered speechless by him.

Andrew pursed his lips to stop himself from laughing. She had a small crease on her forehead and her face was slightly flushed. She looked so adorable and cute. He wanted to grab her cute face and pinched it but he resisted the strong urge.

Not wanting to tease her any further, he changed the subject. "I have to go to the office in the morning. Let's leave after I am back."

"Okay." Rachael got up and grabbed one of her empty cabin suitcases. "I'll start packing, what clothes do you wanna take with you?"

"Just select whatever you want." He then slumped on the bed and started scrolling through his phone. He hadn't checked it since morning.

As soon as he opened the messaging app, the messages in their exclusive group chat started flooding.

[Owen: I'll kill this old hag someday, I swear]

[Justin: What happened again?]

[O: He dropped by the office and started talking shit. AGAIN]

[J: Leave him, he is capable of nothing now]

[O: I know, but it's still annoying]

[O: Are you coming tomorrow?]

[J: Yes, I have an early flight]

[O: Cool, let's return back together then]

[Andrew: Why are you coming here again? @Owen]

[O: What kind of a question is that? I can when I please. And it's not like I am coming to see you.]

[J: I think Owen has plans of sleeping with every women in Elisberg city as well]

[O: (angry emote) You make me sound like a w*hore]

[A: Aren't you one?]

After sending the last message, Andrew locked his phone and tossed it aside. He then looked at Rachael who was busy packing. She was neatly folding their clothes and then placing it on the suitcase together.

The scene warmed his heart and his lips curved upwards. He suddenly realised how perfect his life had become.

When he came back to the country, he hadn't expected his life to change at all. He was ready to continue with the cold and distant life he was used to leading. But things had changed. And he was loving the changes.

Andrew knew that things wouldn't always stay the same. There were still many things that he had to take care of and Semion was one of them.

Though the old man had been forcefully pushed to retirement by Andrew and Owen, he knew Semion wouldn't stay quite. He had lost all his power and assets but he wasn't vulnerable.

But Andrew would always make sure Semion never gets anywhere near Rachael. He would always protect her and he also had the ability to do so.

Just then his phone started vibrating again. He glanced at the caller ID and quickly received the call.

"Okay, we will be right there." He hung up the call.

"Who was it?" Rachael inquired.

"The hospital, grandma woke up," he answered before getting down from the bed.

"We are going to see her?" When he nodded, she quickly rushed towards her wardrobe to get changed.

...

[City Hospital]

[Grandma Collins cabin]

When Andrew and Rachael entered the cabin, grandma Collins was sleeping. She had multiple tubes connected to her body, along with an oxygen mask.

Rachael looked at grandma's face and her heart sank. It had been a few days since the last time she had seen her but she looked paler and thinner than before.

She unconsciously tightened her grip on Andrew's arm.

Just then the doctor incharge and the nurse entered the room.

"Mr.Collins, I want to talk to you about your grandmother's health condition." Glancing at grandma Collins, the doctor said, "We should talk in my cabin."

Andrew nodded and followed the doctor.

Rachael wanted to stay back with grandma but he when grabbed her hand, she understood he wanted her to come with him.

Without saying anything, she followed him.

…..

[Doctors cabin]

Placing the reports on the table, the doctor said, "The patient's condition is deteriorating faster than we had expected. The cancer has already metastasized to the point where we can't do anything. Even the normal symptomatic treatment we were giving her has stopped working."

"Since she is above 80, her immune system and body is already very weak. We are giving her a high dosage of analgesics for the pain but it's doing no good," he added.

"I don't have a better way to say this but—" the doctor sighed. "It's just a matter of weeks."

Andrew tightened his grip around Rachael's hand. Though he knew his grandma would leave him one day, he didn't expect that day to come too soon.

Rachael placed her other hand on top of his. She could imagine what he was going through. Though she could do nothing about it, she wanted him to know that she was there for him.

"Since the cancer has already spread to her food pipe, she is unable to ingest anything by mouth. We have already started feeding her with a tube," the doctor further explained.

"Nothing can be done?" Andrew knew the answer but he still had a tiny ounce of hope in his heart.

"I am sorry," the doctor sighed. "We tried everything we could but there are things which are not in our hands. At this moment, all you can do is try to keep her happy and spend time with her. We will try our best to make sure she doesn't feel any pain or difficulty."

…..