Chapter 234 - Go Home

At the funeral homes.

The embalming of Allison's body was finished after one hour.

Rudy and the two brothers watched as Allison's body was lowered into the beautiful coffin that Greg has specifically chosen.

When everything has been settled.

Alex, Greg, and Rudy boarded the car and left the town of Angeles Pampanga going back to Metro Manila. The funeral car was following behind them.

~0~

Back in Caroline's 5-story hotel suite.

She was standing at the window staring at the city skyline. The rain has stopped falling. There were no stars and moon above the sky.

A smile curled up in her lips.

The smell and feeling of freedom are so sweet it feels like she was walking on cloud 9. She was so eager to go home!

She can't contain her happiness and excitement. Now that Allison is dead, her secret is safe forever!

She can live with her husband normally and raised their children and become the best mother that she can be.

She went back to bed, grabbed her new phone, and inserted the Sim card into the phone, then she composed a text message informing her sister that she will be going home tomorrow.

She also made a text message for her husband and inform him that she's finally ready to go home tomorrow afternoon at around 3 or 5. She also added in her message that she misses him very much and can't wait to see him again.

Done composing the two text messages, she sent the messages seconds apart from each other, then she took off the sim card from the phone since she knows that they will start calling her nonstop.

She put the phone down in the bedside table, to get ready to sleep.

~0~

Meanwhile, at Mike's hotel room, he was drinking wine alone in the bar of the hotel. Now that he was settled in the hotel, tomorrow...he will start looking for his wife everywhere.

His phone rings alerting him to a new text message, he checked the sender, it's from an unknown number.

He checked the message out of curiosity.

His eyes widened upon reading the letter.

'My dear husband, I'm going home tomorrow afternoon to the Blue Bell Residences between 3 to 5. I can't wait to see you! I miss you, I love you so much! Your loving wife, Caroline.'

Mike's hands were trembling while holding his cellphone and reread the message ten times. He doesn't know if he will believe the message or not. He called the number but cannot be reached.

He was debating whether to believe the message or just ignore it?

He set aside his phone and continue sipping the wine.

~0~

At the Infinity Jade Tower, inside the couple's bedroom.

Catherine stared and reread the text message she received on her phone, she places a call to the number, but it says cannot be reached, it's already 11:00 in the evening. She's ready to sleep. She glanced at his husband lying in the bed.

John looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"You got to read this...Caroline sent me a message telling me that she's finally going home to her husband tomorrow to their residence in Blue Bell Residences," Caroline stated.

John rose to his feet immediately. "Let me read it!" he said.

Catherine handed the phone to her husband.

John reads the whole letter aloud. "Hello, Sis...I'm coming home tomorrow. I will go directly to the Blue Bell Residences to see my husband. I will visit you and our mother the next day. I just want to be with my husband first after I come back. See you!"

Catherine was frowning.

John smiled and locked eyes with his wife. "Finally! We have the good news that we were waiting for! Aren't you happy that your sister is coming home?" he asked her.

Catherine nods her head. "I'm happy of course!" she replied with a bright smile.

"Did you tried calling her on that number?" asked John.

"Yes, I did. The number cannot be reached, it's the same number that Caroline used when she called me once 'coz I added it to my contacts," she said.

John returned the phone to her wife's hand and called his brother from his phone to inform him of the good news.

His call was answered right away.

"Hello bro, where are you?"

"I'm in Angeles Pampanga, currently staying in a hotel. Why?" asked Mike.

"Catherine just received a text message from your wife informing her that Caroline will finally go home to Blue Bell Residences tomorrow," John informed him.

"I also received a message from my wife saying the same thing. I guessed it's confirmed now," Mike responded.

"Huh? Caroline send you the same message?" John inquired.

"Yes..."

"So, it's already confirmed then?"

"Yes..."

"But why you sounded like you aren't excited or happy?" John asked.

"I'm happy of course, but I'm afraid that the reason for her sudden disappearance will destroy our marriage," Mike answered.

John sighed. "Just ask her gently, don't force her to reveal the reason right away why she abandoned you. As much as possible employ patience in dealing with her, don't scare her. Or else she will never tell you the real reason why. Just give her enough time and when's she's ready and comfortable to tell you everything, just listen don't contradict her or argue with her," he gave his brother a piece of sensible advice.

"Okay, brother. Thanks for your advice, I will try to be lenient with her so that we can bring back the normalcy in our marriage as soon as possible," Mike said.

"Good. If you need anything or want my advice, I'm just a phone call away. Night night, bro," John said.

"Alright brother. Thank you for informing me and giving me this advice's, I'll keep them in mind. Good night..." said Mike and ended the call.

He stared at the red liquid inside the wine glass. Part of him is happy that his wife is coming home tomorrow, finally, the long wait and torture is about to end. He can finally see her again and hear her laughter. He's very much excited to see her tomorrow and hugged her tightly.

But another part of him was getting restless. What if the woman that will return tomorrow is no longer the same woman he falls in love with?

'I hope not!' he said to himself.

He picked up the wine glass and drank the rest of the wine, then he left the bar and went back to his hotel suite to sleep, he needs to travel back to Metro Manila early in the morning.

~0~

By 12:30, Alex and his entourage arrived at the Rest In Peace Funeral Homes.

Allison's coffin was transferred inside the establishment.

Alex gave instructions to Rudy. "You stay here for the night, I will send the other maid tomorrow to stay here so that you can take your rest," he said.

"I'm going to stay here tonight, brother," Greg volunteered sadly.

"No. You go with me and sleep in the mansion. You can return here tomorrow after resting," Alex said with firm authority.

"Okay, as you say so," Greg replied softly in a lifeless tone. "By the way...where is Caroline...still on the beach?"

Alex stared at his younger brother's dismal face. "No. I already send her home back to her husband and family. Now that Allison is gone, there is no need to continue with the madness. Am I right, Greg?" his gaze bored into his.

Greg released a deep sigh. "I---I guess you are right..." he stammered.

"From now on, learn to live without sister Allison and Caroline in your life. Can you do that, brother?"

Greg looked at the coffin of his sister. Fresh tears fell from his eyes, tears of regrets and sadness. Because of his selfishness, he lost the two women he cared the most in his life. He sighed heavily. "Yes...our life will go on without them..." he finally agreed.

Alex smiled sadly and tapped his brother's shoulders offering him solace and comfort. "Let's go back home now," he said.

"Just wait for a second, I'll say goodbye to sister first," he said and sauntered towards the coffin decorated with flowers.

"I'll wait for you in the vehicle," Alex said on his brothers back.

Greg nodded his head and walked silently towards the coffin.

Alex exited the funeral homes and went to the parking area and get inside his car. All of a sudden his phone starts ringing...he checked the caller...it's Larry! Allison's adoptive brother.

"Hello bro..." he answered.

"Hello, Daniel...I heard the news from my relatives that my sister Allison died due to the car accident...is it true?" he asked.

"Yes...I'm sorry I wasn't able to inform you right away because the accident happened so quickly and suddenly and I have to take care of everything in the hospital which was situated in the Angeles Pampanga and I have to transfer my sister's body here in Metro Manila. Right now she is resting in Rest In Peace Funeral Homes," he explained.

"Thank you for taking good care of sister Allison's funeral brother. I'm currently outside the country on a business trip. I will return to the country this coming Friday, three days the most," Larry said.

"It's okay, bro. The funeral service will last for one week before sister Allison's remains will finally be laid to the cemetery, you can still see her," Alex said.

"Thank you, bro. If you need anything or assistance just call my secretary," said Larry. "I'll call you tomorrow, I need to rest first, good night," he said.

"Night night bro," Alex said and ended the call.

A few hours earlier, the sisters from the orphanage already called him to ask if the car accident and Allison's death were true and he confirmed their worst fear, the sisters were heartbroken. The sisters passed on their condolences and asked him the funeral homes address so that they can visit his sister for the last time and bring Allison's daughters to the wake.

He was feeling emotionally and physically tired. He wanted to rest and sleep so that he can have fresh energy to face the world tomorrow.

He can only properly mourn for his sister's passing after the burial is finished, right now everything has not sunk in yet. His mind refused to accept that his sister is already dead.

While waiting for his brother, he was submerged in deep thoughts. He realized that life here on earth is kind of fleeting. You're here today and gone tomorrow.

Life is indeed...unpredictable!

After his sister burial, he will interrogate Owen, he wants to know what is Allison and Caroline's secret?

It's about time he will know everything.

He glanced at the direction of the entrance of the funeral homes and saw his brother coming to his direction, he started the engine getting ready to go home.