Chapter 144 - Don't Tell Them

Alex gets up from the bed after receiving a text message from his sister Allison informing him that Caroline will visit Greg today after lunch.

He reread the messages three times, it took a few minutes before everything sinks in.

Really? Caroline is coming to his house? After everything that happened previously?

This is amazing news for his brother Greg who was yearning for his beloves presence all this time!

But he will only believe it if he sees her with his own two eyes. He can't wait to see her again though. Caroline is a beautiful and alluring woman by his standard and she's always been an eye candy for him.

Anyways, since it's Saturday today, he has no office works, he will just stay in the house and wait for her arrival. He got to be in his house when she arrives.

He's excited to see her again! And he doesn't want to ask himself why—because Caroline is one woman that is off-limits to him. He doesn't want to be the competitor to his dying brother when it comes to Caroline's affection, besides, she already had a boyfriend.

It's been a long time since he last saw him. He kinds of miss her already.

He ambled towards the door, exited his bedroom, and went downstairs for breakfast.

In the dining room, he saw his brother Greg eating alone in the table.

"Good morning, bro!" he greeted him.

"Good morning!" Greg replied cheerfully.

Alex inspected his brother's face. "You look happy today. What is the occasion?" he asked wanting to start a conversation.

A megawatt smile broke in Greg's face. "I'm happy today because Caroline will visit me today. It's been a long time that I haven't seen her. I miss her so much," he answered.

Alex smiled, happy for his brother. "I'm glad she's visiting you again. I hope she'll keep coming to see you—so that you won't feel sad and lonely anymore."

Greg nodded his head. "Yeah. I hope so!"

"Alright, let's finish our breakfast, then let's swim in the pool later," Alex said.

"I would love that!" Greg replied. He likes it when his brother spends some of his precious time with him.

They eat in silence.

One hour later.

The brothers left the dining room and went to the pool area to take advantage of the good weather outside.

The sun was shining brightly in the sky.

But the sun rays are not yet too hot on the skin which is a good time for swimming.

After changing into their swimming trunks, Greg and Alex jumped into the pool.

One hour later.

They get up from the pool to rest inside the gazebo.

Alex and Greg were lounging in the pool chair while drinking light beer and soda.

The housemaid came forward and placed two platters of finger food in the center table, then she left the gazebo going back to the main house to do other errands.

After the housemaid left.

Alex addressed his brother regarding Caroline. "Bro, now that she's coming back to see you, I hope you won't scare her or make her angry," he said trying to instill the right manners on his brother's mind. "Don't waste this golden opportunity that she's willing to see you again," he said.

Greg was silent for a moment.

"So—what do you want me to do?" he asked afterward.

Alex took a sip from his light beer. "Treat her with respect. Do not do anything to her that can make her angry. Do not force her or make her submit to you physically, because as you know, your condition right now is different from before. You and Caroline have been separated from each other for several years. She's no longer the same person. So, don't treat her the same way."

Greg released a deep sigh, frustrated with his brother's advice.

"B-but...we used to hug each other, kiss each other and we even made love to each other a dozen times in the past. Why can't we do it again?" he whined.

Alex shook his head and gritted his teeth in annoyance. Greg's stubbornness and refusal to come to terms that Caroline is no longer the same woman that he used to love before is a bit irritating!

But he must not snap at him, instead, he must be patient in dealing with his brother's outburst.

He groaned inwardly.

"Bro, as I said before she is no longer the same woman that you love before. There are many things that she doesn't want to do with you anymore, so, just respect her when it comes to that matter. If you want to hug or kiss her, before doing anything, asked her permission first. If she gives you permission then do it. But if she refused... then control yourself. Don't force or abuse her. That is a simple rule when it comes to good manners, bro. If you can follow that, she might appreciate it and keep coming back to visit you."

Greg was brooding while listening to his brother's rambling. He was silent for more than fifteen minutes already.

Alex took the time to pump more words of wisdom into his brother's mind while he was in a silent mood.

"As you can say, you have a few months left in your life. It's either you're gonna treasure the remaining moments of your life with the woman you love...in peace... or you want her to hate you forever. Which memories do you want her to remember after you're gone from this world?" he added.

Greg breathed deeply, he was suffering confusion inside his mind and heart. He wants to make Caroline his woman again but their situation was no longer the same.

"Think about that important issue, brother dear," Alex said and rose to his feet. "I'm going back to the pool..."

Greg sighed heavily while watching his brother execute a perfect butterfly stroke, performing it back to back in the pool.

~~~0~~~

Eastwood Subdivision.

Caroline just steps out from the bathroom, fresh from the shower when her phone rings.

She picked up her phone from the bedside table and checked the caller, it's Mike.

"Hello..."

"Hello, Sweetie. I got good news for you!" he said.

"What is it?"

"I went to Judge Reyes's office this morning and I already have the list of requirements, by the way, he is my mother's friend. He told me that as soon we can fulfill all the requirements, we can get married early. He was looking forward to being the one to officiate our wedding," Mike said.

"Wow! That's wonderful!" she enthused.

"Yeah! I will focus on processing the requirements as soon as possible," he said.

"You want my help?" she volunteered.

"Ah, no need. I can manage all," he declines her offer. "All you need to do is just sit pretty in your house and bond with baby Cathy. I'll do the rest," he replied. "By the way, my mother will invite you for a dinner meeting once she already prepared everything about the wedding," he informed her.

"Okay, just tell me when is the dinner meeting so that I can prepare myself," she responded.

"Okie Dokie, bye for now, sweetie! Talk to you later. I love you!" he said.

"Bye, I love you too!" Caroline replied and ended the call.

She glanced at her sleeping daughter in the crib, she went to the closet to get some clothes. She donned a sleeveless blouse and blue cotton short on her body.

She sat down on the bed and began cutting her finger and toenails.

Done cutting her nails, she looked at the wall clock. It's already noon, time for lunch.

She took baby Cathy in her arms, exited the bedroom and went downstairs for lunch.

One hour later.

After finished eating, Caroline went back to her bedroom, she placed a call to Allison on her phone.

"Hello, Allison..."

"Yes, dear. Are you on your way now to my brother's house?" Allison asked excitedly.

"Not yet. I'm still inside my bedroom but I'm going out soon after talking to you. I have an important matter to discuss with you first," she said.

"Okay. What's the matter, dear?"

"Regarding the murder. Can we just...just...keep it a secret from them?"

"You mean—?"

"What I mean is that we shouldn't tell your brothers that I killed Brenda. Can we just keep that knowledge between the three of us?"

"Hmm...yeah...sure. As long you can make my brother Greg happy then I will say yes to anything that you ask from me."

"Thank you, Allison. How about your minion, Owen? Can we trust him?" Caroline asked.

"Ah, don't worry about Owen. He can be trusted. That kid is loyal to me. So, cast your worries away and don't think much about what happened to Brenda, she deserves it. Don't worry, I'll keep my mouth shut regarding this matter," Allison assured her.

"That's all Allison. I'm getting out of my room now going straight to your brother's house," she said.

"Okay, take care and see you there," Allison replied.

"Bye," Caroline ended the call.

She placed her phone and her wallet inside her purple color shoulder bag and grabbed her car keys from the bedside table.

She exited the bedroom and went downstairs, heading towards the door. She went to her car and slid into the driver's seat, at the same time inserting the car key. She started the engine of her vehicle.

A few minutes later, Caroline was already navigating her car in the busy street.

While on the highway.

She recalled her conversation with Mike earlier informing her that he already got the list of requirements for the civil wedding and he was focusing his time and energy in complementing all the requirements within the soonest possible time.

In no time, they'll have a schedule for their wedding, soon!

Caroline smiled brightly. She might be a murderer but as long she can keep her sanity intact then she can pretend to continue living normally just like anybody else. It's just a matter of mental practice. It's hard at first, but she's starting to get a hang of it.

It's Brenda's fault that she got herself killed. If that woman didn't kidnap her then she should have been alive until now.

As long the wedding took place, she will become Mike's legal wife and will remain that way forever.

As for the rest, she will find a way how to overcome all.