Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love-Chapter 305: The Promise

Andrew’s gaze drifted toward the window. "If Joshua really was warning us—" he said slowly, "we can’t afford to ignore it." They had to be very careful and keep an eye on both Katherine and Samuel.

Owen leaned forward. "What are you thinking?"

Andrew turned back to the group and said in a firm tone. "We keep an eye on Katherine quietly. No confrontations or alarms. I want to know everywhere she goes, who she meets and what she says. If there is even a hint of contact with Igor’s people, I want to know first."

At this point, especially after Joshua was attacked to kill, they had to be very careful.

Owen folded his arms. "You think she has been feeding him information?"

Andrew’s expression darkened. "If she is then she is the reason Joshua was almost killed."

"Well, taking into consideration that she was Joshua’s girlfriend, she must be knowing a lot of things," Max sighed. "This is why I always say that women are dangerous and we all should stay away from them."

A silence followed his words.

"What?" Max shrugged his shoulders when all three of them looked at him. "It’s true."

"Not really—" Daniel countered. "I mean, I always tell Kate everything and she has never leaked it."

"Kate is a darling," Max answered. "She would never do that but not all women are the same."

"I think building trust is important before you start revealing things." When Max gave him a look, Owen shrugged, "Just saying."

"Hold on a sec—" Max pointed towards Owen. "After we are done with this new chaos, you and I have something really important to discuss."

"Why do you sound like you are about to lock him up in a jail or something," Daniel chuckled.

Ignoring Max and the sly look he was throwing him, Owen changed the subject. "So who is going to keep tabs on Katherine?"

Ben raised his hand. "I will handle it," he said, "I have been keeping tabs on Samuel since he arrived. I can add her to the list and she won’t even notice."

Andrew gave a brief nod of approval. "Good. Keep me updated on anything unusual."

Max leaned back in his chair, tapping his glass thoughtfully. "You might want to check if she has been near Joshua’s room too. And we also have to make sure neither Samuel or Katherine visit him while he is recovering. I mean—" he added, "If she is playing both sides, she might try to finish the job."

Owen’s jaw tightened. "I will make sure that doesn’t happen."

Daniel exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is going to get messy if we are right."

Andrew looked at him. "It’s already messy. Now we just need to make sure we are not the ones being played."

He paused, then added quietly, "No more surprises." With the baby coming, he didn’t want to take any risk with Rachael’s safety or give her any unnecessary stress.

Joshua’s current condition and what Rachael had witnessed had already done the damage. Andrew’s main focus now was to keep her safe and make her feel secure again.

"Kate can’t stop asking questions," Daniel sighed, pinching the space between his brows. "I should go and be with her."

Gulping down his drink in one go, Daniel left the study and after discussing a few more things, Ben left too followed by Max and then Owen.

After everyone left, Andrew poured himself another drink. He walked towards the window and stood there for a while.

He wanted to be with Rachael and just hold her tightly, he wanted to be with her but he was also scared. He didn’t have a definite answer for the questions that were haunting her yet. He didn’t want to say nothing and disappoint her again.

Things like this is when he regretted being a part of the world which was full of dangers and uncertainty. But there was no turning back now.

All Andrew could do was make the best use of the power and influence he had managed to attain over time and protect his family, his Rachael and their unborn child.

...

[Andrew and Rachael’s Room]

By the time Andrew came back to his room, it was almost four in the morning.

Rachael was fast asleep, curled up in the blanket.

Andrew sat beside her and gently caressed her hair. She looked so tiny and fragile and that broke Andrew’s heart.

The cold touch of his fingers on her skin woke her up. She slowly opened her eyes, still half asleep.

"Hey—" he gently caressed her cheeks. "I didn’t mean to wake you up."

"What time is it?" She slowly sat up straight and glanced at the clock. "It’s four in the morning," she frowned.

"You should go back to sleep."

"You didn’t sleep." She placed her hand on his arm. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything is fine," he assured her. "I was wrapping up some work."

"Joshua?" she asked.

"He is fine too," he answered. "Max says he will wake up by tomorrow morning."

Rachael sighed in relief. "Thank God." She rested her head on his shoulder. "I was worried."

He planted a soft kiss on the top of hair and said nothing.

After a while, she said, "I didn’t mean to blame you that way earlier. I was just scared."

"I know, you don’t have to worry about that," Andrew murmured softly.

"It’s just—" she sighed, feeling dejected. "Everytime things start getting better, something bad happens."

Andrew did not answer right away. As he was struggling to find the correct words that would make her feel better, she continued, "When I saw Joshua today with all the blood, I—" She closed her eyes."

Sensing her reluctance and palpable fear, he stopped her, "We don’t have to talk about it now."

But she continued anyway. "I couldn’t stop thinking what would I do if someday I see you like that."

Andrew’s chest tightened at her words. Her fear was completely rational. With his line of work, it was quite possible. But seeing her so fragile, terrified and trembling in fear was worse than any wound he had ever taken.

He could no more stay silent and let her imagination run wild. "I can’t promise you that I’ll always be safe and nothing will ever happen to me but—" He cupped her cheeks. "I promise that I will always be careful and never do anything reckless."

"I will do whatever to come back to you safe and sound everyday," he added.

"You promise?"

"I promise." He pressed his lips on her forehead.

...