Chapter 149 - Good Wishes

Catherine arrived home and she went to the master's bedroom.

John was in the bed holding baby Angel, they're watching nursery rhymes on the television while baby James was playing with his toy car on the carpeted floor.

"Hello my loves... sorry I'm a bit late," Catherine said and went to her husband's side, she planted a kiss on his cheek.

"No problem. I will punish you later after the kids fall asleep," John winked naughtily at her. "So... how it's going? You and your sister finally reconciled?" he asked.

"Yes, we did! And you know what... my sister and your brother will get married soon in a civil wedding ceremony!" she revealed the news.

John smiled. "My brother already told me earlier, he wants me to be his best man in the church wedding that will happen next year. And also one of the witnesses for the civil wedding," he said.

Catherine smiled. "Alright, let's just wait for the exact date of their nuptials. Oh my gosh! I'm getting excited about my sister's wedding!" she enthused.

"So, how's the bonding session with your sister?"

"It's good. We bonded well, we went into the salon for pampering, goes shopping for kids' clothes. We have so much fun! And you know what—?"

"What?"

"You will never believe it, we watched two movies back to back!"

John chuckled. "Crazy women!" he joked.

Catherine playfully punched him on his arms. "Who's crazy—?" she said while pouting.

John planted a kiss lovingly on his wife's forehead. "I'm just kidding."

Catherine grinned. "Of course you are!" she said and walked towards the closet. "I'll change my clothes first so that we can feed the kids."

"Nah, don't mind the kids. They already have eaten dinner," he stated.

"How about you? Have you eaten dinner already?" she asked.

"I'm done," he responded.

Catherine went inside the bathroom to change her clothes and exited afterward.

She went to the bed and sat beside her husband. "I wish my sister and your brother a happy married life and lots of children."

"Me too," John murmured.

~~~0~~~

Eastwood Subdivision.

The family gathered in the living room eating the three boxes of pizza in different flavors, Caroline bought a take out from the pizza restaurant.

"This Ham and Crab Stick pizza is insanely good!" Jacob hollered between bites.

"Bacon and Sausage is my favorite!" Lily exclaimed in glee.

"Chicken and Pineapple is the best for me!" Thelma raves. She was super happy that her two long feuding daughters finally reconciled at last!

Caroline feels content watching her family on this happy occasion, she picked up one slice of pizza and brought it to her mouth, at the same time her daughter was also trying to reach for the food. "No...no...baby, this food is not yet for you. Just wait a little bit when you're older, okay?" She planted a loving kiss on her daughter's head.

"Mother, is this baby here done eating?" she inquired.

Thelma nods her head. "Yes, I already feed her with solid food except for her milk."

"Ah, okay. I will go upstairs now." She finished the pizza and then climbs the stairs going to her bedroom.

Inside the room.

Caroline placed baby Cathy in the crib and changed her casual clothes into cotton shorts and sleeveless blouse.

She picked up baby Cathy from the crib and they watched nursery rhymes on TV for one hour.

While her daughter was enjoying the show...

Caroline was thinking about the many possible scenarios of how she can disappear without a trace or rather what she needs is an event that would conceal her disappearance perfectly.

If she's gone, they would run missing ads for her on TV, in leading newspapers and radio. She already anticipated that.

Alex's mansion is big and the gate and walls are high enough, no one can find her there as long she remained hidden inside.

She needs to finalize her planning in the coming days because she only has one month left.

Right now, her mind was in a jumble, she can't think straight.

She reached for her tablet and power on the device.

She spends the next thirty minutes browsing on thousands of wedding clothes online. She picked up ten simple but elegant short wedding gowns and send them all to Catherine.

Whatever design her sister chose, she will wear it, then she will bring the design to the tailoring shop and have the tailor or seamstress bring it to life.

Done deciding with the wedding gown.

She was thinking of the reception after the wedding, well, she reminded herself that it's already been taken care of by her mother-in-law.

So there's not much to think about the wedding.

Her mind drifted back to Greg. They somehow come into a good understanding the last time she visited him. As long he won't force himself on her... then she will treat him right.

She took a deep breath.

Sigh.

How her life come into this mess?

But it's no use trying to find the answer, what is done is done, she can't bring back Brenda's life in this world.

She wanted to cry again...

She stood up and went to the door and locked it inside so that no one would enter the room and see her crying.

She went back to the bed, while her daughter was watching the television, she was already crying, her tears were falling down her cheeks. She cried silently trying hard not to make so much noise. She doesn't want to disturb her daughter while she was watching her favorite nursery rhymes.

After a few minutes of crying, Caroline wiped the tears from her eyes.

She must stay strong.

She will survive this obstacle in her life!

After one hour of crying, she stopped.

She finally able to calm herself, she put baby Cathy in the crib and went inside the bathroom to wash away the tears on her face.

Suddenly, her phone was ringing...

She exited the bathroom just in time to answer the call from her boyfriend.

"Sweetie...tell me the good news! Hurry up! I'm so excited!" he demanded. "I know that you meet your twin in the mall, my brother John told me when I visited him in his office today. Have you and your sister already reconciled?" he asked eagerly wanting to know the result.

Caroline smiled. "I was supposed to make it a surprise for you! Anyways, yeah, my sister and I are officially in good terms again."

"Hooray! That's good news! I'm sure our wedding reception will be a happy one because our families are intact on the big day," Mike said joyously.

"Where are you right now?" she asked.

"I'm currently at the house. Mother and I were talking about the wedding venue. It's going to be held in a five-star hotel. You know the...Monte Carlo Hotel...? One of the venues there can hold up to one hundred guests."

Caroline's eyes widened in surprise.

"Wow, that's nice!" Caroline had seen the luxurious interior of the said hotel online because one of her favorite local actresses got married there last year. The actress uploaded a video of the fantastic wedding reception and it was held in that expensive hotel... only the affluent and powerful people in the society can afford to rent that place.

"Do you like the venue of our wedding reception, sweetie?" he asked.

"Yes, of course! But that venue is very pricey, we can find another much cheaper venue if you want," she suggested.

"Nah, don't worry about the price tag. My mother is one of the shareholders of that hotel, so no big deal."

"I'm impressed with the reception venue. I'm happy with your mother's choice," she responded.

"Good, now, that's settled. I'll say bye for now, sweetie, goodnight! I love you!"

"Good night, sweet dreams. I love you too!"

Caroline ended the call at her end.

Wow! Caroline was beaming after hearing that Susan is one of the shareholders of Monte Carlo Hotel. She was deeply impressed by the sheer wealth her mother-in-law was possessing.

She can very well see that her future will be bright after she'll marry Mike. She was such one lucky woman, if only the kidnapping and murder didn't take place, she would be blissfully happy and contented becoming Mike's wife. The happiness and excitement she felt right now is nothing compared to the guilt she was harboring inside after accidentally killing Brenda. She will forever be tortured by the sin she had committed against that woman.

She forced herself to think about Mike.

In the financial aspect, she hit a jackpot with Mike!

She will never let go of him... come what may.

But what if he will get tempted by another woman after she disappeared from his life for several months?

Hopefully not!

She would die if Mike will get taken by another woman, she won't be able to bear it.

Actually, she was afraid of that idea.

But she has no choice, but to bury her dark secret and get along with Allison's demand.

Her wealthy and well-respected mother-in-law will never allow her son to marry a murderer. So, she must hide her dark secret, or else she will bite the dust again and become a loser. No one would accept, love, and marry a woman like her if they find out that she killed another human being and was trying to hide her victim's body.

Her abominable deed is like a contagious disease that once everyone knows they will avoid her like a plague.

She found it difficult to stomach what she has done, even if she kept convincing herself that it was for self-defense, still, she has taken someone's life with her hands.

Argh!

She will just try harder not to think of Brenda again or else she will go crazy!