Chapter 306 - About Time

Hours went by.

Mike finally arrived at Blue Bell Residences. His mother Susan, John, Catherine, and Althea are already present in the living room. They all looked at him when he entered the door.

What a big mess this is!

He looked directly at Althea. "What are you doing here?" he asked as he walked to her side. "Come with me, I'll bring you back to your place," he said, gritting his teeth in anger.

"I'm here to tell everyone that I'm pregnant with our baby!" Althea said.

Mike released a deep sigh. He looked at his mother. "Mom, I'm so sorry about this... this is just an accident..." he said.

"Accident-?" Althea glared at him. "You bring me to a hotel because you wanted to have s.e.x with me! And you call it an accident? How dare you!" she cried in protest as fresh tears welled in her eyes. She began sobbing hard and lowered herself back on the couch.

Susan looked at Mike with disappointment in her eyes. "Son, you made a big mistake and also your wife. Let's talk about this problem now that we're here. No one is going to leave this place until we sort things out..." she said calmly. "You should go to the master's bedroom. Your wife is waiting for you there," she added.

Mike left the living room and went to the master's bedroom. He found Caroline busy putting her clothes in the traveling bag. His eyes widened. "Caroline, what is the meaning of this?" he asked.

Caroline stopped what she's doing and looked at her husband. "I'm leaving this house so that you and Althea can live here," she said coolly.

"What-? You don't have to leave. I don't have to marry Althea. I can give her monthly support for our baby. Althea's pregnancy is just a mistake," he said.

"I will still leave you," Caroline said despite what she heard from him.

"But why-? I don't understand!" Mike said.

"It's not only Althea that is pregnant here, but I'm also pregnant!" Caroline confessed.

Mike's eyes widened in surprise. "Whaaaat-? Who's the father!? Answer me!" he asked, even if he already knows who the father is. He and his wife didn't have s.e.x since they got back together. Which means...

Caroline took a deep breath before telling him the truth. "I'm carrying Alex's baby," she confessed.

Mike feels like a bucket of ice was poured on his head. His knees weakened, he lowered himself on the bed. "Oh, God! W-why are t-these things h-happening to us when we are t-trying to fix our marriage?" he asked in a trembling voice, raking his hands through his hair in frustration.

Caroline bit her lip, she wanted to cry hard right now, but it's not yet the right time to cry. There are people outside that are waiting for the explanation. She looked at her husband sadly. "I'm sorry, Mike, but this is the end of our marriage," she said in a devastating voice.

Mike's head was busy finding ways to solve their problems. "We just can't give up on our marriage! How about our children, Suzanne and Justin?" he said desperately. Right now, his heart refuses to accept that their marriage is finally over.

"Justin and Suzanne aren't the first children that will grow up without a complete parent. They will survive!" Caroline replied.

"How can you say that so easily?" he glared at her.

Caroline sighed and looked at him. "There is no way out of this problem that we are facing right now, Mike, but to separate for good," she said.

"But that is not a solution to our problem..." he said, still racking his head for a solution.

"Why do you insist on fixing this crumbling marriage that is doom to fail? Don't tell me - that you are going to be fine seeing me carrying another man's child inside your home every day?" she challenged him.

Mike was dumbfounded for a few seconds. "No way!" he firmly said.

"See-? You can't stomach seeing your wife carrying another man's child every day. That's why I have to leave. And don't ever suggest to me that I will abort this child growing in my stomach. I will never do that!" she said.

Mike shut his eyes, feeling the searing pain squeezing his heart.

"You got Althea pregnant, and I got pregnant by Alex, ironic isn't it? We both sinned against our wedding vows. It looks like destiny doesn't want us to be together anymore. In the end, we are destined to live our separate ways," she concluded.

Mike looked at his wife. "D-do you still love me?"

Caroline looked at him in the eyes. "Yes..."

"I love you still," he said honestly.

"But love isn't enough, right?" she said. "Both of us created such a big mistake in our marriage life, and we have to suffer and pay the price. We will give an explanation to our family that is waiting in the living room and tell them that we are separating for good. This way, they can also have peace of mind. Let's separate in a friendly and peaceful manner. It's the only good thing we can give to our children. A peaceful separation for us, that's it!" she elaborated.

Mike digested his wife's suggestion. It's a punch on the gut that he failed to fix his marriage. And now that they are finally going to separate for good, part of him is dying.

"I'll give you a few minutes to think things over," Caroline said and continue putting her clothes in the traveling bag.

Mike glanced at his daughter Suzanne and son Justin sleeping on the bed. His dream of a happy marriage life with Caroline was completely shattered today. He pitied his children, they will grow up without their mother beside them. It's gonna be a sad and lonely childhood for them when they grow up. But for the sake of his children, he must be strong and carry on with his duties. Especially now that he and Althea were going to have a child of their own. His family and children are growing, he needs to be strong for all of them.

Caroline finished packing her things and put her essentials and other important things in another bag. She's nearly done.

Mike looked at his wife for a few minutes. "Is this your final decision?" he asked in despair.

Caroline nodded her head. "Yes! Because I'm already tired of us," she said. Fresh tears emerged from her eyes. "But honestly, I don't hate you... I don't blame you for everything. I blamed myself more. I hate myself for what happened to us. Let me suffer in pain alone as my atonement for my sins," she said and paused for a moment, then continue. "I wish you and Althea happiness. Please take care of our children. I hope you will still allow me to visit them once in a while," she said.

Mike breathed deeply. Even if he doesn't want to end his marriage with his wife, but if Caroline insists on it, there is nothing he can do about it. There's no use holding on to a marriage that he is the only one clinging to it.

Caroline bit her lip. "I know that your mother has a good lawyer. Please speed up the annulment process between us. I will give you my full support and cooperation," she said. She knew that by mentioning the annulment case, she looks cruel wanting to end the marriage right away. But she has to do it because if she doesn't, her family and Mike will try everything to bring them back together.

She already put Susan and her family under so much stress. The time has come for them to let go of this problem and continue their lives with peace of mind.

She walked to the door and looked at her husband. "Let's go... it's about time to tell our family our decision..." she said calmly. She opened the door and exited.

Mike released a deep sigh and followed his wife outside.