When Rachael tried to wiggle out of his embrace, Andrew tightened his grip around her.

"Babe—" When he kissed her nape, she stopped struggling. "I love you, don't be mad."

Rachael sighed and turned towards him. "I am not saying that you don't love me." She cupped his cheeks. "I know you love me but a relationship needs more than just love."

"I know you Andrew but sometimes I feel like I don't know you at all," she added.

When he did not say anything, she sighed, "I am forcing you to share everything with me but as your wife, your life partner, I think I deserve to know everything about you. Whether it is something good or bad, it doesn't matter."

Their relationship had taken a strong leap since the day they got married. They were very close to each other and shared a very strong bond. But despite the closeness, Rachael always felt a barrier between them. She could feel how secretive and hesitant Andrew always was when it came to things related to his past or his maternal family.

He kissed the back of hand and nodded. "You deserve to know."

"Take all the time you need but promise me that whenever you are ready, you will tell me everything—" Rachael placed her hand on his chest. "I don't care if it's something good or bad, I really don't care. Everything that is yours is mine, Andrew. You are mine."

"I promise, just give a little time." He cupped her face and pressed his lips on hers.

…..

[Next Day, Elisberg City]

[Samuel's apartment]

When Katherine and Samuel arrived at the apartment, Joshua was already waiting for them outside.

"Josh—" Katherine rushed towards him.

"Kath—" Joshua tightly wrapped his arms around her when she pounced in his embrace.

"I missed you so much."

"I missed you too." He pulled away before pressing his lips on hers.

As the couple were happily enjoying their reunion, Samuel stood there watching them in a daze. How was he supposed to feel about his little sister kissing a man right in front of him?

As a brother, he was definitely offended and wanted to rip the man's lips off. But as a man who had once been in love, he understood the pain of separation.

"Alright, watch the tongue when other people are around," he reminded them before walking towards the elevator.

Katherine and Joshua forced themselves to leave each other's embrace before following him.

…..

[Inside]

After entering his apartment, Samuel made a few phone calls to make sure everything was still normal. And the first person he called was Andrew.

"Did you reach home safely?"

"Yes." Pausing for a while, Samuel said, "Thanks for the help man—"

"Don't thank me," Andrew interrupted him. "You should thank Owen, he is the one who told me to arrange everything."

"I will call him later too." Keeping quiet for a while, he added, "I shouldn't have dragged you people into this matter but—"

"You don't have to explain, we understand your situation. If something like that would have happened to Elsa, we would have probably done the same thing." Before he could say something, Andrew remarked, "I am sure Igor has an idea of what you are up to by now, you have to be very careful, especially Joshua."

"He called me yesterday," he added.

"What did he say?" Samuel frowned.

"Nothing, he just wanted to know why we are helping you."

"I wanna know that too—" Pausing for a while, Samuel asked, "Why are you helping me?" He was as confused as others were. Though they had demanded certain things in exchange for their help, Samuel knew those things weren't that important and definitely not worth forgetting the decades old rivalry.

When Andrew did not say anything, he sighed, "I know you both, especially you aren't someone who people backstab me or leave my side at the last moment. I am not doubting you but I still find it quite unbelievable."

"I don't know about Owen and Justin but I personally feel that you are much better than your brother," Andrew stated. "You will certainly not do or continue whatever Igor is doing right now. I just want to put an end to it."

"You know your brother better than I do," he added. "Putting an end to everything is not possible as long as he is incharge of everything."

Andrew preferred making deals with Samuel than Igor. Not only him, this implied to other people too.

Igor did not have a good name in terms of keeping his word and fulfilling promises. This unruly behaviour of his had dissatisfied and disappointed many other people, including the Volkov's.

"I hope you will never be like him." Andrew really had strong hopes from Samuel. He didn't share any strong bond or relationship with him. In fact, they were not even friends.

But something from within was telling him to trust Samuel and move forward with the plan they were following.

"I won't," Samuel assured him as well as himself. Though they were blood siblings, they were evidently different in terms of everything.

Samuel would never become like Igor and he was very confident about it.

"There is something else I have to solve right now," he added. "After I am done dealing with it, I'll come and talk to you, Owen and Justin."

"Alright, we will be back in a week or ten days."

"Hmm, okay. I'll see you then." After hanging up the call, Samuel contemplated for a while before sending Owen a message.

[Samuel: Thank you for the help, I am really very grateful. Let me treat you a drink when you are back]

He was about to keep his phone aside, when a message popped up. And to his surprise, it was Owen.

[Owen: _I_ (middle finger) ]

Samuel: " "

He pursed his lips and quickly sent him another message.

[S: ♥ ]

[O: Shove that tiny heart up your a*ss and f*uck yourself.]

Samuel: " "

...