"Oh you are so sweet," Roma grabbed her hand and smiled. "I hope my son Joshua finds a sweet girl like you."

Keeping quiet for a while, she inquired, "You are single, right?"

Emma did not answer immediately. She looked at George and waited for a couple of seconds before replying. "Yes."

George frowned and looked at her. He was clearly not happy with her answer.

The change in his expression did not go unnoticed by Reeta. This made her wonder if something was going on between the two of them. And if what she had assumed was true, it would be a lie if she said she wasn't surprised.

Though Emma and George had known each other for many years now, Reeta had thought they were nothing more than friends as they kept bantering with each other as soon as they met. But the mere thought of something going in between the two of them in a romantic way made her feel very excited.

Emma had been Rachael's friend since kindergarten, they grew up together. Her son getting together with a wonderful woman like her would be something Reeta wanted the most. And if something was really going on between them, she would be the first one to give them her blessings.

"That's nice, very nice," Roma exclaimed. "My Joshua is single too. He earns well and looks decent."

Not knowing what to say, Emma gave her a weak smile.

"Joshua is not going back to Russia anymore, he will settle down in the city," she added. "You both should talk more and go out."

"I am going to meet someone tonight, it's my dad's most potential marriage candidate," she remarked. "But if that doesn't work out, I'll surely think about your offer."

"Oh that's great, it's more than enough if you even consider it."

"I have to go now , I just came here to drop the sweets." Emma looked at Reeta. "Aunt I am leaving, I won't be able to come in the evening so can you tell Rach and Tina that I will see them tomorrow morning."

"Sure honey, have fun on your date," Reeta smiled.

Emma smiled and nodded before leaving.

Contemplating for a few minutes, George got up and rushed outside.

"Ehh? What happened to him?" Roma looked at George as he rushed out.

Reeta did not say anything, she just looked at the direction George had left and smiled.

...

[Outside]

As Emma was about to open her car door, someone grabbed her hand.

"Are you really going on a date?"

"Yes," she answered.

"Don't go." George tightened his grip on her wrist. "I don't want you to go."

"Okay, give me one reason why I shouldn't?" When he did not say anything, Emma sighed, "Look George, I really like you but if whatever we have between us isn't moving forward or you don't want anything more then I don't wanna waste my time over it."

"I am twenty-eight, my parents keep nagging me to at least start dating someone seriously and get married soon," she added. Ever since Rachael got married, her parents had started nagging her even more. They kept arranging dates for her and forced her to meet them. She had been turning them since things started between her and George. But after realising that he didn't want what she wanted, she decided to give up and give her parents candidates a shot.

Without saying anything, George let go of her hand. "Fine, go wherever you want to."

When she stepped inside the car, he added, "I hope you have fun on your date."historical

"I will," she looked at him and smiled before driving away.

"Date—" he scoffed before walking inside the mansion.

....

[Mall]

"Fifty percent off," Rachael exclaimed. "Let's go here." She grabbed Andrew's arm and dragged him towards the next shop.

"Slow down honey, the store is not going anywhere," Andrew stopped her as he balanced himself. It had only been a couple of hours since they arrived at the mall and his hands were already full of shopping bags.

"Oh sorry, I get excited whenever I see the sale board." Looking at the bags he was holding, she asked, "Do you want me to carry them?"

"No need, I will go to the car and keep them," he answered. "Wait for me in the store, okay?"

"Okay, come soon."

When she entered the store, Andrew sighed and walked away. When Rachael told him she was a shopping freak, she wasn't lying. In the first store they entered, she tried on almost fifteen to twenty dresses but she didn't like them even when he assured her she looked beautiful on them. This continued for a couple of more stores when she finally found a bunch of dresses she genuinely liked.

....

[Parking lot]

After keeping the bags in the trunk of the car, Andrew was about to leave when someone called him out.

"Andrew—"

When he saw who it was, he raised his brows.

"Hey, I didn't expect to see you here." Oliver extended his hand for a shake. "It's nice to meet you again."

"I wish I could say the same." Andrew took his hand. "Your presence in the mall at the same time my wife is here twice in a row cannot be a coincidence, right?"

"P-Please don't misunderstand—" Oliver gulped in nervousness. "I am leaving tomorrow so I just wanted to meet Rachael—"

"Listen Oliver—" he interrupted him. "I know you and Rachael shared a very close relationship in the past. But that doesn't matter anymore because she is my woman now, she is my wife."

"Looking how desperate you are to be around her, I am sure you regret everything that you did in the past. But what can I say?" Andrew shrugged.

"To be honest, I don't blame you either. Rachael is a wonderful woman, every man will be lucky to have her. But you made a mistake and lost her," he added.

"One man's mistake is another man's opportunity," Andrew stated. "And I will always make sure not to repeat the same mistake like you did. I will never let her go no matter what happens. Even if I have to give up everything I have just to keep her by my side, I will."

....