Unexpected Encounter: A Second Chance at Love

292  Worried

"So what are your plans now?" Juliana, who was busy engulfing the delicious food, looked at him. "What?" she muttered, almost splattering the food in her mouth. Owen helplessly shook his head before passing her the napkin. "What are you planning to do henceforth?" "What do you mean?" She asked. "Are you going to continue your masters?" When he ran a background check on Juliana, he had found out that she had dropped out of her masters programme three years ago because of financial problems. He wanted to know what she thought about continuing her education now that things were better than the past. Juliana looked at him in disbelief. Not many people knew about her incomplete masters journey. This made her wonder how Owen managed to find out. Did he run a background check on her?

Even if he had done that, it made sense. Why would a big shot like him hire someone without running a quick background check?

"I haven't thought about it yet." She had a lot going on which was more important than her education. But did she want to complete her masters someday? Yes, she would love to. "You can think about it now." When she looked at him, he added, "Your employment contract includes your brother's medical expenses and yours too. You don't have to pay rent anymore as you will be staying here." "Yeah I know but—" "If you want, we can resign the contract and include your education expenses in it as well." Even if she declined his offer, Owen was going to do it. Keeping quiet for a while, Juliana curiously questioned him. "What do you want from me Owen?" She really couldn't understand what Owen was trying to do. First, he tracked her down days after their one night stand. Then he offered to pay for her brother's medical expenses and also put him on the transplant list. He offered her a job with a very high pay scale and now he wanted to sponsor her education as well? All of this made her wonder if he wanted something from her. Did he want her to become his mistress? Did he feel responsible towards her after they slept together? Or did he just pity her? "What makes you think that I want something from you?" He raised his brows. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Why else would you do so much for me?" "Finish your goof and help me pack my bag." Owen understood why Juliana was feeling this way. Not only her, anyone in her place would feel the same. Did he want anything from her? No. Then why was he going out of his usual self and doing so much for her? He had no idea. But he was sure about one thing, he didn't want to lose her or let her go and he would do anything to keep her close. "Are you going somewhere?" Didn't he just come home a few hours ago and now he was asking her to pack his bags. Owen nodded. "I have to go out of the city for a few days." ...

[Collins mansion] "So when are you taking Kate to meet her parents?" When Daniel looked at him in surprise, Andrew chuckled, "You are quite predictable, you know that right?" "I am only predictable to you and Kate," Daniel chuckled. "I need to talk to Kate about it first." "And what are your thoughts about it?" When he did not say anything, Andrew added, "If you go there, they will definitely do something." "I can't send Kate there all by herself," Daniel sighed. "It's not dangerous but I don't want to take any chances." Kate and Daniel were married against Kate's family wishes. They eloped the very day her dad tried to house arrest her. After their marriage, they did try to visit them but they were refused entry by Kate's uncle who clearly told them that her father refused to see her and she was now dead for the family.

"Well—" Andrew shrugged his shoulders. "I think it will be more safe if we bring Kate's parents here than taking her there." "And how are we going to do that?" Daniel raised his brows and looked at Andrew, trying very hard to figure out what was going on in his head. Without answering his question, he patted his shoulder. "Talk to Kate and let me know if she really wants to see them." …..

[Kate and Daniel's Room] "Everything that you need is in here and—" "Hey—" Kate stopped Rachael. "You don't have to worry about us. We don't have to be formal with each other, we are family." Rachael smiled. "I know, I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable." She knew how important this pregnancy was for Kate and Daniel. And now that they would be staying in their house, she wanted to make sure nothing goes wrong. "Don't worry, I am more than comfortable." Kate gestured Rachael to sit down beside her. "And don't forget that there are two pregnant ladies in this house." She gently caressed Rachael's hand. "We both will take care of each other." Rachael smiled and nodded. "I don't think we have to worry about people taking care of us. We have our loving husbands, mom and—" When she noticed the sudden change in Kate's expression, she inquired, "Kate, is something wrong?" She had noticed her relatively low mood when they were at her parents house but she shrugged it off thinking she must be tired. "It's nothing actually, I just—" Kate sighed. "Your parents are so sweet and loving. They were so happy when you shared your pregnancy news with them. It just made me wonder how my parents would react if I told them about my pregnancy." Would they be happy? Would they be as thrilled as Rachael's parents? Would they accept her and Daniel's relationship and embrace her again if they learnt they were going to be grandparents? All these unanswered questions were making Kate feel sad but hopeful at the same time. But on the other hand, she was worried about being rejected by them once again. She didn't want to go through the same heartbreak all over again.