The next day, at 5:00 in the afternoon, the passenger plane that Caroline and Mike had boarded had already touched down in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. They hired different taxi cabs and went their separate ways.
Thirty minutes later.
"Mother, I'm home!" Caroline exclaimed happily the moment she entered the living room.
She found the entire member of her family huddling in the living room watching a piece of local news on TV.
"Sister, where is my favorite native delicacy!?" Lily squealed.
"Where is my Durian candy, sis?" Jacob shouted.
Caroline smiled. "Jeez, calm down children, here you go..." She placed the shopping bag full of native delicacies in the center table.
The moment her siblings saw the bag they began rummaging though the mouthwatering sweet delicacy and took everything they like.
Caroline took baby Cathy in her arms. "Oh, my beautiful baby...did you, miss... Mama?" she asked her daughter and kissed her chubby cheeks.
Baby Cathy smiled and responded..."Mama...Mama...Mama."
Thelma rummaged through the bag and settled with one pack of Durian tart, she opened the pack excitedly and took a big bite of the sweet delicious Durian tart.
Merle brought the traveling bag upstairs, followed by Caroline carrying her daughter in her arms.
Inside the bedroom.
The housemaid began unpacking the contents inside the bag and brought the rest for laundry downstairs.
Caroline placed her daughter in the crib and changed her clothes.
Time for mother and daughter bonding.
Caroline spent the rest of her afternoon taking good care of her daughter and playing nursery rhymes on the television.
...
The following day.
It was a fine beautiful morning, the sun was shining brightly outside Susan's mansion.
The mother and son were having breakfast on the dining table.
Susan glanced at her son's face. "So...how's your travel in Davao City? Did you and Caroline successfully able to seal the deal with the land?" she inquired.
"Yes, Mom, we did. We will finalize the Purchase Agreement within this week. After that, my architect friend and I will finalize the resorts grand design so that I can start the process of hiring people to began clearing the area and find the right construction company and then start the construction process as soon as possible," he said excitedly.
Susan smiled happily for her son. Mike has completely changed from being a spoiled guy who's only hobby is to waste money flying around the world with no sense of direction now he becomes grounded and more business-minded. Aside from getting busy with his growing businesses he also has a fixed goal now in his life and that is to create a family of his own together with his girlfriend, Caroline.
So far so good, her son Mike, is now heading in the right direction.
"Son, if you need financial backing for the resort, just tell me. I will support you and your girlfriend's project from the beginning until the end," she declared her support.
"Thank you so much, Mom. I'm so very lucky to have a supportive mother like you. You're the best in the world!" Mike spoke the words lovingly, he only has high praise for his mother.
Then Susan suddenly remembered that Caroline and Catherine haven't ended their feud yet. "Have you asked the sisters, when are they going to forgive each other and reunite again? Family feud should not be dragged for a long time. They should reconcile as soon as possible..."
Mike shrugged. "Well...I've entirely forgotten about that issue. Anyways, I will ask Caroline about that topic, Mom. Maybe, this time, she'll be willing to meet her twin so that they can finally leave their squabble behind and reconcile," he stated.
Susan nods her head. "Okay, you do that, son. I am willing to host a dinner here in our home and I will invite Catherine and Caroline to come so that the sisters can have a heart to heart talk without interruption. What do you think of my plan, son?"
"That's a brilliant idea, Mom!" Mike gave his mother a thumbs up.
"Alright, since you agree to my plan. Let's held dinner as soon as possible. Just tell me the day so that I can make preparation," Susan said.
Mike put a thin slice of carrots on his mouth. "OK, Mom. I will ask Caroline about the dinner one of these days," he said and put some beefsteak on his plate.
Mike noticed her mother's satisfied face. He used to remember that during his wild days his mother always wore a grumpy look on her face but now that he already put aside his wild days behind him, he observed that his mother is much more supportive of his business activities and his plan to create a family with Caroline. It seemed that her mother was thrilled and pleased with the way his life is going. For once, he was happy that he made something right in his life that made his mother happy. And he was determined to continue making her mother happy.
One hour later.
Mother and son had finished eating breakfast and left the dining room to continue their day.
...
That afternoon.
After meeting one of his business partners in a cafe near his brother's building The Infinity Jade Tower which is just about fifteen meters away, Mike decided to pay his brother a surprise visit.
It was just a walking distance, so he strolled towards the building. He went inside the entrance of the building and proceed to his office using the elevator.
When he entered his brother's office, he saw John sitting on the sofa, relaxing, sipping coffee while watching a piece of international news on TV.
John looked at his brother. "Come, here," he patted the sofa. "Where have you been nowadays, bro?" he asked.
Mike sat on the sofa facing John.
"I drop by for a quick visit. I would like to ask if you know of a trusted construction firm near Davao City. I would like to hire their services for the construction of the Theme Resort Park that would soon rise in Davao City," Mike explained.
John raised a brow. "Wow! So... you and Caroline finally bought the land for the said megaproject? Congratulation, brother! And about the construction firm, I know one. The same company that constructed our hotel there in Davao," he answered.
"Can I get the number of the Managing Director of that firm? I want to get in touch with him and discuss my big project there in Davao City?" said Mike.
"Sure! Let me get my phone first..." John rose to his feet and sauntered towards his desk then picked up his phone from one of the drawers. He walked back to the sofa, plopped down on the sofa and scroll his phone looking for the Managing Directors phone number, after finding it, he handed his phone to his brother. "Here you go..."
"Thank you, bro," Mike said and copied the number on his phone, after doing so, he returned the phone to his brother.
"You want to have some coffee?" John offered.
Mike declined. "Thanks, bro, I just had coffee with a client in the cafe near here," he said politely. "So...how are you and your wife?" he asked.
"Well... we're doing good. We didn't have any major or minor fights since they come back home. We realized that it's better to love and understand one another than fight, so yeah, so far so good, and I'm determined to continue it that way," John replied.
"That's good to hear..." said Mike.
"How about you and Caroline? What is the real score?" John inquired curiously.
"We're doing great! Our relationship is getting better with each passing day. I'm looking forward to marrying her in church one day. And this resort theme park project will bring us closer to each other," he said with a bright smile radiating from his face.
John studied his brother's face. There is no denying the fact that Mike was sporting a happy and contented face while talking about his relationship with Caroline. It looks like Caroline has the power to make his brother happy. He was hoping Caroline won't change and won't make his brother regret falling in love with her one day. Hmm...he should just be happy for them and not worry anymore.
"I wish you all the best, brother! Right now, I'm offering myself to be your best man on your wedding day," John grinned.
Mike chuckled. "Thank you, brother. Of course, you will be my best man on that special day," he said. "By the way, I would like to visit my nephew and niece upstairs," he said.
"Ah, sorry brother, Catherine and the kids are not in the house right now."
"Where are they?"
"They're at the mall right now waiting for me to join them. They're doing grocery shopping. If you want... you can come with me and go malling with us," John offered. "You can also inform Mother Susan if she wanted to join us," he added.
Mike's face sparkled. "That's a good idea. I will join you guys in the mall since I have nothing to do any more until evening. I will inform Mom, later," he said.
"Alright, let's leave now," John said.
Ten minutes later, John and Mike can be seen leaving the building, they boarded their respective vehicles heading to the mall where Catherine and the kids were waiting.