Chapter 223 - Not Tonight!

Alex continues sitting in the lounger chair in a relaxed mode.

The water looks inviting, it summoned him to swim. But he just finishes eating lunch, he will rest for a while and go swimming a few minutes later.

His sister was lucky to buy this property, it's two hectares wide and the whole area was strategically situated near the tranquil beach teeming with coconut and other fruit-bearing trees.

It gives you the luxury of enjoying both worlds.

He recalled in his mind that Caroline was eager to go home that night when his sister Allison intervened and offered to be the one to bring Caroline home.

So how on earth Caroline is now back with them?

Something fishy is going on!

He needs to uncover the whole truth!

He glanced at the area where the house was located. Greg and Allison were coming back to the beach, Rudy was behind them, he was carrying the canvas and other tools for painting.

Owen was also following behind them bringing ice coolers for refreshment drinks.

He can't see Caroline with them. She must be left behind the house helping the caretaker washing the dirty dishes.

It's a good time for him to talk to Caroline!

The moment the group arrived at the beach, he rose to his feet and left the seaside, going to the direction of the rest house.

He entered the door, passing through the living room, he went to the kitchen and saw Caroline talking to the middle-aged woman, named Saling, the caretaker of the rest house.

He leaned on the kitchen door, looking at her, she was patting the plates dry with a towel and putting them in the plastic dish drainer.

"Caroline, can I talk to you for a moment?" Alex said.

She glanced at him standing near the door. "Sure...let me finish this one first, wait for me in the living room," she replied.

"Okay..." Alex left the kitchen and went to the living room.

He sat on the sofa and turn on the television, he was in the process of browsing on the channels when Caroline finally came into the living room. He turned off the TV and looked at Caroline, she was already sitting on the sofa facing him.

"What is it?" she asked.

"On that night you were supposed to go home...Did my sister bought you home?" he began his interrogation.

"Yes." Caroline nods her head but she avoided looking into his eyes.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded again.

"B-but I texted and called you that night before I went to sleep to confirm if you already arrived at your house, but you never return my calls and replied to my messages. Why?"

Caroline released a deep sigh. "My husband and I had a huge fight after I came home, he was angry because I can't tell him where I stayed during my absence. He destroyed my gadgets that is why I can no longer reply to you. I called Allison for help and asked her to pick me up so that I can return here. I stayed in her house for a few days and now I'm here. I'm sorry I wasn't able to reply to your calls and messages..."

Alex rubbed his temples. If he didn't call Mike first and know the truth from him... Caroline's story right now is convincing enough.

This is getting interesting and quite disturbing as well!

"If you are telling me the truth...why is it that you called my sister and stay in her house? Why you didn't go home to your house in Eastwood Subdivision instead, you have your own house there, right?" he continues pressing her for an answer to his questions even do he knows she blatantly lied to him.

Caroline bit her lower lip feeling disconcerted. She took a deep breath not wanting to answer any more of his questions. "Why do you keep asking me lots of questions? Just tell me if you don't like seeing me anymore..." her voice trailed off.

"Nah, don't get me wrong. It's not that I don't like seeing you anymore...I'm just confused why you are back again when I know that you are very determined to go home that night. You know what? I found your behavior odd..." he said.

Caroline chose not to speak anymore. She was just making lies after lies. She doesn't want to lie anymore!

Alex looked at her in the eyes. "But I have good news for you. I invited your husband to come here today...!"

Her mouth fell open...

Her face drained of color. "W-what!?"

"Yes, he's coming to visit this beach resort today. He will arrive here tonight as my guest!" he said casually.

Caroline tears sprang in her eyes, a giant lump formed in her throat which she swallowed immediately. "He will come here? And how will you explain to him that I'm staying with you? He will wonder...why? How can you explain to him my presence here in your sister's rest house?"

Alex was taken back by her question for a moment.

Damn!

He didn't think of the consequences first!

It's gonna be a big mess later!

It's okay for him that Mike will see his wife again but not in his sister's territory!

Oh my God, why he didn't think that way...? Mike will feel furious that his missing wife was staying in his house all along and he was not saying anything to him!

He was in the middle of his confusion...

Then all of a sudden, Alex's phone starts ringing, he looked at the screen...it was Mike!

He gestured Caroline to keep quiet.

"Hello, Mike..."

"Alex...tell me the exact address of your rest house in Angeles Pampanga, I'm already done packing," Mike said excitedly.

Oh my! Alex swallowed his saliva. "Ah...I'm sorry... bru. Something comes up, I have an emergency. I need to go back to the city right now because my brother was taken to the hospital, he was having difficulty breathing because of the complications in his illness. Can we schedule your visit here some other time?"

"Oh, sorry to hear that, bru. Yes, of course, no problem. Hurry up and go back to the city! I wish your brother a speedy recovery in the hospital," Mike said without a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Thank you for your understanding, bru! I'll make it up to you, one of these days...promise," he said apologetically.

"It's okay, no big deal! Bye...bru!" Mike said.

"Bye..." replied Alex.

Caroline has been holding her breath the whole time the men were talking on the phone. She feels like she was going to have a nervous breakdown if Mike will come over here on the beach. "Thank God it's over!' she thought to herself.

Alex stared at Caroline, watching the color slowly returned to her face.

Caroline locked eyes with Alex. "Do you...really...want to help me?" she asked him, seriously.

"Yes," he answered right away.

"If you want to help me, start with Greg. If you can convince your brother to let go of me, then your sister will also stop pestering me. That's how simple it is. Once you can convince Greg to set me free, My problem is solved. That's the only way you can help me," she said in a pleading voice.

"W-wait...Did my sister blackmail you in staying with my brother?" he asked her point-blank.

Caroline sighed. "Why are you asking too many questions, Alex? Believe me, if your sister is not telling you anything, she was just protecting you. If I'm not saying anything, I'm also protecting you and Greg. The connection between your sister and I have is complicated. We have this understanding that only the two of us know, an outsider is not welcome. So...please...help me convince your brother to set me free so that I can finally go back to my husband. If you can do that...I'll owe you a huge debt and I'm forever grateful for your help," she said in a convincing voice.

Alex watched the emotions flickered on Caroline's eyes. Hmm...the two women were harboring a secret between them. What could it be? Why they are so secretive about it? Right now, based on his analysis of Caroline's request, there's blackmail going on. And it's clear as daylight that his sister is the one blackmailing Caroline.

But he can't tolerate it anymore.

"Alright, I will try to talk to my brother one of these days," Alex said.

"Thank you in advance!" Caroline's gushes, feeling delighted, her eyes were flashing with renewed hope.

"Okay, we're done talking, you may now return to the kitchen," he dismissed her.

That was also the moment Allison and Owen entered the living room.

"Let's go swimming, guys!" Allison announced.

"Okay, I will join you, I also wanted to go swimming!" Alex replied quickly and rose to his feet.

"How about you, Caroline? Aren't you going to join us?" asked Allison.

"Can I rest in the room, please?" Caroline said.

"Okay, go to your room now and rest as long as you want," Alex granted her permission.

"Thank you," she said and avoided Allison's penetrating gaze. She climbs the stairs and went to the room assigned to her.

While Allison, Owen, and Alex went to change into their swimming attire.

A few minutes later, Caroline looked over at the window of the room facing the ocean, watching the trio walking towards the seashore.

She fixed her stare at Alex's back...right now...he was her only hope.

He seemed to notice that someone is watching him from afar, he looked over his shoulder and saw Caroline at the window, he waved at her, she waved back at him.

Then he proceeds to the beach.

Caroline watched as Allison and Alex were having a good time frolicking on the beach.

She saw Greg, his back to her, holding his brush with his right-hand busy painting on the canvas. He must be painting the four people swimming happily on the sea.

She breathed deeply and went to the bed and lie down.

She remembered so well how her heart beats faster when Alex and her husband Mike were having a conversation on the phone. She feels her strength was leaving her body, she was experiencing a panic attack.

Thank God, Alex was quick enough to think of an alibi, or else today would become a nightmare for her.

She closed her eyes, feeling the calm slowly returning to her system.

Forty-five minutes later, she was already dozing off.