Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

291  Overwhelmed n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

 No, he did not look okay. The panic in his voice, his messy hair and sweaty palms and forehead was a clear indication of him being super anxious. This made Rachael wonder if something had happened in her absence. She looked at her mother who was rolling her eyes on her overdramatic husband and George who was trying to calm her down. "What is going on?" She looked at parents simultaneously. "Are you both fighting?" No, he did not look okay. The panic in his voice, his messy hair and sweaty palms and forehead was a clear indication of him being super anxious. This made Rachael wonder if something had happened in her absence. She looked at her mother who was rolling her eyes on her overdramatic husband and George who was trying to calm her down. "No we are not." Reeta scoffed. "Your father is being crazy as usual." Ignoring his wifes snarky comments, George gently embraced Rachael. "How are you?" He hadn't seen Rachael for almost a month. He missed his daughter. "Well, I—" "What happened? Are you okay?" He checked her out again. "We are coming straight from the hospital," Daniel remarked, making Michael more anxious than he already was. The mention of hospital alarmed both Reeta and George who were previously thinking that Michael was just overreacting. "Is everything okay?" George asked Andrew who was quietly standing beside Rachael. "Okay, I want everyone to calm down first." She placed her hand on Michael's arm. "Dad, we did go to the hospital but it's not what you think." "Not what I think?" Michael frowned. "Why else will a person go to the hospital?" "We went to see the gynaecologist, okay?" Rachael answered. "Yes and we have news to share." Andrew wrapped his arms around Rachael's waist. "Rachael is—I mean we are pregnant." "Wait what?" George exclaimed as he rushed towards his sister. "You are pregnant?" "Yes," Rachael chuckled. When the doctor confirmed the pregnancy after the blood tests, she was thrilled as well as nervous. But with Andrew by her side, she felt safe and secure.

"Wait—" George was still in disbelief. "I am going to be an uncle?" Rachael nodded. "Yes you are and—" She looked at her father. "You are going to be a grandpa." "Oh my God—" Reeta quickly hugged her daughter. "Congratulations, I am so happy for you both." "You are going to a grandma," Andrew exclaimed. Reeta nodded. "I am going to be a grandma." She looked at her husband. "Michael, we are getting old." While everyone was overwhelmed with emotions, Michael stood there frozen. He hadn't moved a muscle since Rachael and Andrew announced their pregnancy. "Dad?" Andrew placed his hand on Michael's shoulder. "Are you okay?" Michael shook his head. Of course he was not okay. His little princess was going to be a mother.

When did she grow up so big? He still thought of her as the small little girl who used to hold his hand and follow him everywhere.

"Dad—" Rachael panicked when Michael looked at her with teary eyes. "When did you become so big?" Michael hugged her and kissed the top of her head. Rachael smiled and hugged him back. Kate, who was standing behind them with Daniel, could not help but feel a pinch in her heart which made her feel very overwhelmed. Seeing the love and affection between Rachael and her family members made her feel happy but at the same time, she felt heartbroken. When was the last time she saw her parents let alone hug them? No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't recall it. She left her family for the man she loved and she ever regretted her decision. Daniel had given her everything, more than she could ever ask for and she would always be grateful to him. But she still missed her family, especially her father with whom she once shared a very close relationship with.

Rachael chuckled, "Well, it's still very early to know the gender but if you insist, I won't tell you after we find out." 18:58

Kate sighed and placed her hand on her stomach.

Will her parents be happy too if she shared the news of her pregnancy with them? She could only wonder. "We can tell them if you want to tell them." When she looked at him, Daniel added, "I think they deserve to know too." Kate smiled and leaned against his chest. "I love you." She loved how he understood what she was feeling without her saying a single word. Daniel understood her inside out and this is why she loved him to the moon and back.

"I love you more," he kissed the top of head. "Is it a boy or a girl?" Michael asked excitedly but before Rachael or Daniel could say anything, he interrupted them. "Never mind, I don't want to know. Let it be a secret." Rachael chuckled, "Well, it's still very early to know the gender but if you insist, I won't tell you after we find out." "Holy mother of God, my sister is pregnant," George exclaimed. He then looked at Andrew. "I cannot believe you impregnated my sister." "I impregnated my wife," Andrew retorted. "She is my little sister first and besides—" "You should be more worried about the fact that your younger sister is happily married and pregnant but you are not even engaged," Reeta couldn't help but taunt her son. George: -_- ...

[Owen's penthouse] "Eat." Owen served the freshly prepared meal to Juliana who was back after freshening up. "You didn't have to—" The fact that he had cooked for her right after he was back home after the long flight made her feel a little awkward. Shouldn't she be the one cooking for him? She was working for him after all. "Just sit and finish your food." Owen sat down beside her and started eating. Left with no other choice, she took her seat and started gulping down the delicious meal her boss had prepared for her. Juliana was quite surprised and impressed with Owen's cooking skills. Who would have thought that the arrogant handsome rich man, who she had a one night stand with, who was also his boss and her employer, could cook so well.