Chapter 193 - Unconditionally

Allison sauntered towards the car, open it, and slid in the driver's seat. She looked at Caroline for a brief second, relieved that the girl was no longer crying.

"I see, you already stop crying. That's good, man up! Your situation inside my brother's house wouldn't be that bad. I want you to know that you have the power to control your situation inside that house if you know how to use your head wisely. As long your method doesn't annoy and irritates me...then...we're good!" she said with a smile.

Caroline blinked her eyes twice trying to decipher what the woman was trying to tell her.

Allison fastened the seat belt around her body and inserted the key to the ignition bringing the car back to life.

"Compose yourself, let's head now to my brother's house. I want a smiling woman greeting my brother Greg. Can you do that for me, Caroline?" she throws her a sharp look.

Caroline swallowed the lump in her throat, she nodded her head and answered softly. "Yes, I can do it."

"Good girl!" Allison smiled broadly. "Now we're talking! Let's go!" she said and navigated the car away from the park and steered it back to the busy highway.

While the car was moving steadily on the highway.

Caroline was already done crying her heart out.

A few minutes from now she will be living her new normal. She'd better prepare herself emotionally, physically, and psychologically for her new life. The quicker it happens the better, so that she can finally put an end to this horrific part of her life, for good.

Thirty minutes later.

Allison navigated the car passing through the gate of her brother's mansion.

"Home at last!" Allison murmured. She looked at the girl sitting on the backseat. "We're here!"

A smiling Alex was already waiting outside the door for their arrival.

Allison gets out of the car first followed by Caroline holding her bag.

Alex focused his attention on Caroline, who avoided his gaze. He went to her side and offered to carry her bag. "Let me carry that for you, Caroline."

Caroline allowed him to take her bag.

"Let's get inside, lunch will be ready any minute from now," he said.

They went inside and gathered in the living room. Alex lowered down Caroline's bag on the floor near the sofa. "Have a seat ladies and please make yourself at home," he said pleasantly.

Caroline and Allison sat on the sofa.

"Can I bring my bag to my room now? I want to use the toilet," Caroline asked permission.

"Yes, of course. Follow me," Alex grabbed the bag and climbs the stairs followed by Caroline.

When they reached the top of the stairs, Alex went straight towards the room next to his and opened the door. "From now on, this is going to be your room," he told her.

They went inside, Alex put the bag on the floor.

"I'm going out. Please...feel at home. You are welcome here," he said sincerely. "Just come down into the living room if you are ready. We'll be waiting for you there," he added.

"Thank you," Caroline said softly without looking at his eyes.

Alex sighed, he ambled towards the door and disappeared behind it.

Caroline steps forward and locked the door.

She roamed her eyes around the room, it's clean and spacious like the one she occupied in Allison's room.

She will do fine here as long she has a warm bed to sleep during the night. She went to the bathroom and splash water on her face.

After finishing fixing her face and swollen eyes, she sits down in the bed, wanting to gather her strength before going down and joining the others in the living room.

Meanwhile...

Downstairs, in the swimming pool area.

Allison approached her brother sitting on the lounge chair facing the sparkling water of the pool. She was sporting a proud smile on her face.

"Wazzup bro!" Allison said.

Greg's face lighted up after seeing his sister. "I'm fine sister..."

"I have a present for you, come with me to the living room!" Allison said cheerfully.

Greg's brows furrowed. "What kind of present?"

"You will know if you will come with me," Allison replied.

"Okay, let me see your present!" Greg responded with excitement flashing in his eyes.

Together, they left the place and walked towards the door, going to the living room.

They arrived there and Alex was the only one Greg saw sitting on the sofa, no one else.

"Where's your present, sis?" Greg asked in a disappointed voice.

"Just sit down and wait for a few minutes, your present will come down on those stairs!" Allison said pointing at the staircase

Greg looked up at the stairs...

That's also the moment that Caroline appeared at the top of the stairs and began her descend gradually.

Greg's eyes widened and his face brightened up a ton upon seeing his beloved woman descending the stairs.

"Caroline! You're here!" he exclaimed in happiness. He jumped onto his feet and waited for her at the base of the stairs.

Caroline was able to muster a small smile on her face for her 'ex. "Hello, Greg..."

"S-since when did you arrive here?" he asked excitedly wanting to talk to her.

"Just a few minutes ago, I come with your sister," she answered.

They walked towards the sofa and was about to sit down when the housemaid appeared in the living room.

"Madam and Sir, lunch is ready," the maid announced, and then she departed from the living room going back to the direction of the kitchen.

"Let's go now to the dining area to eat lunch," said Alex.

The four went to the dining room. They gathered around the table.

Greg sat beside Caroline while Alex and Allison were on the opposite side of the table.

"Eat to your heart's content Caroline, don't be shy," Alex told the new arrival wanting her to feel at ease.

Caroline looked into his eyes and smiled a bit. "Thank you," she replied politely.

She began putting rice and foods on her plate using the spoon and fork.

Greg was staring at the face of her beloved mesmerized by her beauty. His face was glowing with happiness. He can't take his eyes off her face.

Caroline noticed that Greg was not eating yet. She took the initiative to fill Greg's plate with rice and a little bit of all the dishes displayed deliciously on the table. "Eat now, you will get hungry if you keep looking at my face," she scolded him.

Greg smiled and began devouring the foods that Caroline put on his plate.

Alex and Allison looked at each other's faces. The happiness that radiated from their brother's face only confirms one thing, Caroline's presence can make a big difference in Greg's mental well being.

Thirty minutes later, the four were done eating lunch.

Allison and Alex retired into the living room while Greg invited Caroline into the swimming pool area to talk with her without his siblings eavesdropping on their conversation.

Caroline and Greg settled on the lounge chair facing the pool.

"How many hours you will stay here?" asked Greg.

Caroline looked at her companion. "I will stay here for several days, weeks, and probably months..."

'Until you die'...she continued her statement silently in her mind because she doesn't have the strength to tell it to his face.

Greg's brows furrowed. "Huh? Are you kidding me? Are you joking?" he asked because he can't believe the words that she was telling him right now. But her face looks serious!

Caroline fixed her stare on the pool. "I'm not joking. I'll stay here with you, I will accompany you. Is that hard to believe?"

Greg's eyes widened. "Oh my God! I can't believe it!" he was clutching at his chest that was almost exploding with happiness.

He used to just dream and fantasize on this day that Caroline will finally live with him under one roof. And now that it's finally happening, he had a hard time believing that it's real!

"But I'm not gonna stay in your room. We're not gonna live like husband and wife. I'm just here to cheer you up and make your life more bearable and brighter while you are facing your illness. That's the only thing I can do for you. I hope you won't be asking much from me, Greg," she said looking straight into his eyes.

She wants to be clear with her intention from the very beginning.

Greg let out a dry laugh. "Ah, I see. Of course, I'm contented with your lovely presence in my life. I won't be asking for more, besides I'm already dying, all I wanted is to see you every day. I will die sooner or later and you will continue to live and enjoy your life. I'll agree to your demands as long I can see you every day," he responded brightly.

"Good. I'm glad that you accepted my conditions," Caroline murmured. It's a good thing that Greg knows the limitations she set between them so that he won't be asking for something that she can't willingly give.

"W-what happened to your boyfriend?" he asked out of the blue.

"We broke up," Caroline lied. Just the thoughts of breaking up and having an annulment with her husband are already painful. She was hoping that those negative things will never happen to their wedding vows.

"I see, I'm sorry. Don't worry, after I'm gone you can still find another guy that would love you unconditionally. As much as I wanted to give you that kind of love, unfortunately, my days are numbered already," he said sadly.

"How's your illness?" she asked him.

"Some days are good, some days are bad. My body is slowly dying inside, there are days or hours that I can feel the pain suddenly attacking my body in all directions. It's so painful," Greg answered as anguish marred his face.

Caroline looked into his eyes and she can see the pain mirrored on his black robs. "The doctors issued you painkillers, am I right?" she inquired.

"Yes, I do take painkillers when I can no longer bear the pain," Greg answered.

Caroline released a deep sigh. If Greg was suffering from physical pain, she was also experiencing emotional and psychological suffering inside.

They shared one thing in common and that is pain.

The former lovers continue their conversation just like old friends.

While Allison was watching them from afar with a satisfied look on her face. She went back to the living room.

"How are they doing?" Alex asked.

"They were having a conversation," Allison answered.

"That's great!" he commented.

"I'm leaving now. You take care of my girl," she said. "I'll be visiting here from time to time just to keep updated of what's going on with the former lovers," she said and walked towards the door. "Bye bro!"

"Bye Ali..." he responded and watched his sister get inside her car.

A few moments later, Allison's car can be seen exiting the gate of her brother's mansion.

Alex climbs the stairs to go to his room and spy on the ex-lovers in the pool area through his window.