Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love-Chapter 304: The Possibilities

[Study Room]

When Andrew entered the study, the others were already there.

Daniel, Owen, Ben and Max were discussing Joshua’s condition and how they can work on improving the security to ensure something like this never happens again.

"When I heard all you guys moved here, I expected things to be a little calmer and safer but—" Max sighed as he helplessly shook his head. "You guys are like trouble magnets."

"Look who is talking—" Owen scoffed. "Everyone here knows why you had to stop practicing back in Russia and move to London."

Max just shrugged his shoulders and continued to sip his drink. "Don’t blame me, I only did my job back then."

"You saved a cartel boss even though you knew he was trouble," Owen stated. "You were so stupid to do that."

"I am sorry for doing my job," Max said mockingly. "Anyway, that guy was a jerk."

"Yet you still patched him up," Daniel remarked dryly.

Max smirked. "I patch people up for a living. You break bones, I fix them. It’s a healthy partnership."

Daniel leaned back in his chair. "Yeah, you did such a good job that the guy didn’t want to let you go," he said with a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

When Max rolled his eyes, Daniel continued, "The guy literally kidnapped you. He wanted you to be his personal doctor for life."

"I remember that," Ben chuckled.

Max sighed dramatically, setting his glass down. "I prefer the term forcibly retained for professional services."

Owen laughed. "You were a hostage, admit it."

"I had a comfortable room, good food and plenty of medical equipment," Max countered. "I have had worse gigs."

Daniel shook his head, amused. "You stayed with him for six months before you could escape."

"Correction," Max said, pointing at him with his glass. "I walked away when he got arrested. Big difference."

"One more correction," Daniel pointed his glass at Max. "We got him arrested."

Owen grinned. "Man, you attract psychos."

"And you all attract bullets," Max retorted, leaning back in his seat. "At least I get paid for my risks."

Andrew, who had been silently listening near the fireplace, finally spoke. "And speaking of risks—Samuel." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The room became quiet instantly. The teasing energy drained out and was replaced by a weighty silence.

Andrew’s eyes swept across the group. "We need to talk about what Joshua said before he lost consciousness."

Daniel nodded grimly. "You think he was trying to warn us?"

Andrew’s jaw tightened. "I think he was telling us who might have betrayed us."

Daniel’s brows drew together. "You are saying you think Samuel might have sold us out?" There was disbelief in his tone but also unease. "He risked everything to stand against Igor. I know betrayal usually comes from the inside but Samuel—I thought he was completely on our side."

Owen gave a short, humourless laugh. "I told you this would happen." He turned to Andrew, giving him a smug and frustrated expression. "I told you not to trust an enemy’s blood no matter how convincingly he switches sides but no, you said he was different. You said he hated Igor as much as we did."

He was the only one who had protested joining hands with Samuel Petrov and helping him with their resources when he learned about it. But neither Andrew nor Daniel listened to him. He was also against bringing Joshua in their side but since he was Rachael’s cousin, he decided to give him a chance.

"Enough man, let it go," Daniel muttered but Owen kept going.

"I mean, come on," Owen pressed. "We bring in Igor’s own brother, give him access to our people, our operations and now Joshua’s lying half-dead after saying Samuel’s name. You really think that’s a coincidence?"

Ben, who had been leaning against the desk quietly, finally spoke up. "I think we shouldn’t jump to conclusions yet."

Everyone turned toward him as he opened a file in his laptop. "I have been keeping tabs on Samuel since the day he stepped foot in this city. His movements, calls, everything. He has been clean and has no contact with Igor, no odd behaviour. The guy does whatever he is told, doesn’t complain and doesn’t ask questions."

Owen frowned. "That is almost worse. Nobody is that perfect unless they are hiding something."

Ben shrugged. "Or maybe he is just trying to survive in a war between his own blood and the people he chose to side with."

The tension in the room thickened. Andrew stood still by the fireplace with his thoughts clearly elsewhere. Finally, he said quietly, "We will find out soon enough but until then, no one makes a move without proof."

Max broke the silence first, swirling the drink in his hand as he glanced at Andrew. "Joshua didn’t just say Samuel’s name, right? He said another one too—Kathleen or Katherine or something?"

Andrew nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "Katherine," he confirmed. "Joshua mentioned both their names before he passed out."

"Who is she?" Max asked curiously. "Everyone is like she is part of the equation but I have never heard of her before."

Andrew leaned against the edge of his desk and said, "She is Joshua’s girlfriend and Samuel and Igor’s adoptive sister. Samuel brought her here after she claimed Igor was planning to marry her off to an old businessman for his own gain. Samuel said he couldn’t leave her there, so he took her in. She has been staying with him ever since."

Max hummed softly. "So the brother turns against Igor and the sister suddenly shows up right after? Convenient timing, don’t you think?"

Owen raised a brow. "You think she is involved?"

Max shrugged with a lazy smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I don’t know, she just sounds off. Something about that setup doesn’t sit right with me."

Daniel frowned. "Off how?"

Max took a sip from his glass before replying. "Call it instinct. I have treated enough people to know when someone’s story doesn’t add up. And this one?" He paused, meeting Andrew’s gaze. "It feels like a setup waiting to happen."

Owen leaned back with a scoff, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "For once, I agree with the doctor."

"What pisses me off is, why didn’t we think of this earlier?" Owen added, frowning.

Andrew stayed silent for a moment, processing Max’s words. His jaw flexed as his mind worked through possibilities. "Maybe you are right," he said finally. "Maybe Joshua wasn’t warning us about Samuel but about her."

.....