Chapter 185 - Shall We?

~~~0~~~

Dearest Mother,

When you read this letter of mine, I'm already gone far away.

I'm sorry that I was not able to say goodbye, because if I do, I'm sure you won't let me go.

I will go far away because there's something... I need to sort out with myself.

Don't worry, I'm not gone for good. I'll be back after sorting myself out.

I apologize if I cause you so much pain.

I'm hoping for your understanding and unconditional love.

I shall return one day, Mother dear.

Please take care of yourself.

I love you so much and please take care of Lily and Jacob for me.

Yours truly,

Caroline

~~~0~~~

Thelma finished reading the letter. She experienced a pounding headache all of a sudden. She lies down in the bed and inhales and exhale air softly into her lungs, she repeated the process several times. Now is not the time to get sick or ill, not when one of her daughters was gone missing again!

First, it was Catherine, thanks to God she was freed and returned to them alive.

Now, it's Caroline! My goodness, when will it ever end? But the good thing is, Caroline was not abducted or kidnapped, she went away on her own.

It's worrying but not worse compared to what happened to Catherine before.

She has to console herself with the truth that Caroline had written in her letter that she will return one day after sorting herself out. That is comforting enough.

She will wait for her daughter's return one day.

She was wondering why...what is the problem Caroline was facing? Why she has to face it on her own?

Her daughter never mentioned to her any personal problem she was facing.

In the last few days, before and after her wedding, Caroline didn't display any troubling reaction or expression in her eyes. Because if she did...she would have known it.

All she knows is that her daughter was happy with her married life.

Maybe, the problem is not her husband because Mike is a good man.

Maybe... the problem lies within her daughter's inner conflict.

She can very well feel Mike's pain right now. They just got married recently and her son-in-law will be devastated for sure.

She wants to console her son-in-law, be she don't know how?

No amount of words can console a husband that was abandoned by his wife, it's a major blow to his ego.

Right now...

No matter if she tries to console herself... she was still worried about Caroline's well being. Where is she going to stay? Will she be okay?

Although Caroline is already a mature a.d.u.l.t and knows how to earn money to sustain her living expenses, still, she was worried about her. She was holding the ATM card in her hand, it was included in the envelope along with the written password.

When it comes to finances, the ATM card which is funded by John's family is the only source of money for her daughter because she already spent the 10 million cash in her bank account buying the land in Davao City.

Therefore, her daughter is penniless and jobless at this very moment.

That's what she was worried about right now!

Thelma released a deep sigh. Caroline is giving her a new problem to worry about.

Sighing, she got up from the bed and began folding the scattered clothes and put them back in the closet.

Done putting everything back in the closet, she left the room and went to the other room to tell Lily and Jacob that she was going to Catherine's house and she will be back later.

She went back downstairs to wait for George. She put the brown envelope in the clutch bag she was holding in her right hand.

While waiting for George, her mind was busy thinking of any hints that can point her where Caroline is staying and hiding right now?

Caroline mentioned to her once of meeting a friend...dang!...she already had forgotten that name of the friend!

It's no use torturing herself trying to remember that woman's name!

Sighing...she gets out of the door and instructs the housemaid. "Merle, I'm going to Catherine's house. Just prepare and cook the dish for our dinner later. I might return late," she said.

"Yes, Ma'am," Merle answered and continues watering the plants in the veranda.

Thelma sat on the chair and placed the clutch bag on the table.

Caroline's face appeared in her mind, smiling happily at her.

Thelma was fighting back the tears from falling her face. She reached for her handkerchief inside the pocket of her shorts and wiped the tears from her eyes.

A few moments later...a car parked in front of the house.

Thelma went out of the gate.

George exited the driver's side and opened the passenger door of the vehicle for Thelma to enter.

"Thank you, George," Thelma said.

"You're welcome, Madam," George replied politely. He went back to the driver's seat and locked the door. He steered the car back to the entrance of the subdivision.

During the entire journey, Thelma retreated in silence, trying to keep herself from falling apart.

When children are gone missing, it's every parent's worst nightmare.

Thirty minutes later.

They finally arrived at the Infinity Jade Tower. George parked the car in the parking lot, then he escorted Thelma to the 15th story of the building, and they entered John's abode.

Catherine was already waiting for her mother in the living room.

When Thelma saw her daughter Catherine, it's like seeing Caroline as well, she broke down in tears and began crying hard.

"Mother, please don't cry. We will find Caroline soon..." Catherine consoled her mother.

She allowed her mother to cry for a few minutes in her arms, hoping her heavy burden will lighten up a bit.

"Mother, did you find the letters?" Catherine asked her mother.

Thelma nodded her head and opened the clutch bag she was holding with her hand, she took out the two envelopes and handed it to her daughter. Sighing, she wiped the tears from her face with the handkerchief.

"I'm done reading mine, now read yours," she commanded her daughter.

Catherine obeyed and opened the envelope with her name written on it.

She reads the letter.

~~~

Dearest Sister,

When you read this letter, I'm already gone far away.

I'm sorry I was not able to say goodbye to you before I decided to leave.

I'm experiencing a difficult problem right now. I'm trying to sort it out all by myself.

It has nothing to do with my husband, the problem is all about me. But I can't reveal my problem to you, to my husband and mother.

I will try to find a solution to my problem in the best possible way.

Once I already solved this problem, that's the time I will come back to my husband and never leave his side again. Please don't judge me yet.

Please take care of our mother, Lily, and Jacob during my absence.

There's nothing more to say, except that I'm very sad and sorry for hurting my beloved husband. Just that... there's no other way.

After you read this letter, please dispose of it right away, do not tell John and Mike that I leave a letter for you.

Don't worry, I will try to call or contact you once a month, don't change your number!

Take care of yourself, sis!

Yours truly,

Caroline

~~~

Catherine was done reading the letter. She was now torn between informing her husband and Mike about the letter or obey her twin sister's wishes.

It's clear now, her twin was undergoing a rough time based on her letters.

Now she remembered something... she once saw Caroline's troubled face in the pool area during the time of the family gathering in her mother-in-law's house.

That was a fleeting expression on her twin's face, it didn't linger for a long time, so she ignored it and no longer prove deeper into it. Now, she was blaming herself. If only she pressed her sister further and ask the right question she might be able to help her.

But it's too late now...her sister was gone and God knows when she will return.

She just hopes that Caroline will stay true to her words and come back one day.

Catherine was speechless for a few minutes.

"Daughter, what did your sister wrote in her letter to you?" Thelma asked curiously.

Catherine blinked her eyes twice after her mother's voice penetrated her consciousness.

"W-what did you say, Mother?" she asked.

"I said, what Caroline say in her letter?" Thelma repeated her question.

Catherine was hesitating to tell her mother...

Thelma noticed that her daughter was hesitating to tell her about Caroline's letter, she snatched the letter from her daughter's grasp and began reading it.

"Mother...! You can't read that!" Catherine protested, she was about to snatch back the letter but her mother throws her a glare.

Catherine resigned in frustration.

She's debating with her decision. Should she tell her husband and her brother-in-law about the two letters? In the letter, Caroline mentioned her intention to call her once a month to inform her of her situation.

Why would her sister call her? Why not call her husband instead?

That is a million-dollar question.

Done reading...Thelma looked at her daughter in the eyes. "Shall we keep these letters a secret from John and Mike? That is what your sister specifically requested from you..."

Catherine was shaking her head in confusion. "I don't know what to do, mother! What do you think we should do?"

Thelma closed her eyes for a few minutes. She was having a hard time deciding as well.

"Let's keep a moment of silence, daughter, and weights the pros and cons of our decisions," she responded sadly while sporting a grim expression on her face.