Chapter 251 - Cat and Mouse

One sunny afternoon.

Caroline was sitting on the sofa in the living room, having fun with her embroidery when she remembered that she needs to dispose of the parcel and packaging which contained the sender and address. Mike shouldn't know about it!

Dang!

Why she forgot to think about it. She tried to calm herself, her husband wouldn't dare drop by at her house and pretend to find something in her room because that would arouse suspicion from her mother. But then...who can stop him if he would do just that? Her mother won't certainly stop her husband from entering her room? Right?

Damn!

The last time they saw each other in the mall, she forgot to ask Alex on what name he uses when sending the parcel to her house in Eastwood Subdivision.

Oh, God!

Her carelessness and stupidity are limitless!

She reached for her phone and immediately places a call to her mother.

The phone rang thrice.

"Hello, daughter..." Thelma's voice can be heard on the other line.

"Mother, can I ask a favor?" she said.

"What is it?"

"Can you please empty the dust bin in my room when the garbage truck arrives..."

"Sure...anything else?"

"D-does anybody entered my room aside from you?" she inquired.

"Your sister Catherine and her husband John dropped here the other day before the family party. They used the toilet in your room because they attended a birthday party nearby and your sister's tummy is grumbling so they stop here for a few minutes and used the toilet," Thelma answered.

Caroline's brows furrowed. "Huh? My sister and her husband entered my room?" she asked in total surprise. Just a coincidence? Maybe?

"Yes...why your reaction is like that? What's wrong?" Thelma asked.

"Ah, nothing Mother. Can you please do upstairs and check my gadgets if they are still under my unused clothes in the cabinet at the bottom drawer, the third on the left side, please..."

"Sure, wait a second I will climb the stairs," Thelma responded.

A few minutes later.

Thelma arrived at the room and opened the closet drawer at the bottom as per her daughter's instruction. She saw the phone and tablet.

"Daughter..."

"Yes, Mother...did you find the gadgets?"

"Yes, it's here inside the drawer."

"Anything else?"

"Ah...one last thing, Mother. Can you please check the dust bin if the packaging and the carton box still inside the trash?"

"Okay, wait for a second..." Thelma went to the dust bin and open the lid. She saw the packaging and the carton box. "Yes, it's still here..." she told her daughter.

"Alright, just please throw the contents of that dust bin when the garbage truck arrives. That's all Mother, thank you!" Caroline said.

A frown appeared on Thelma's forehead. "Daughter, what's going on? Why are you getting worried about this package? I saw the name of the sender of the parcel, who is he? Is he your friend? Did you stay with him during your absence? Who is this guy in your life?"

The barrage of questions coming from her mother no longer surprise Caroline. She knows that sooner or later, her mother will also start asking her questions.

Caroline released a deep sigh. "Mother, trust me on this. I never betrayed my husband behind his back. The person who sent the gadgets to our house is just an acquaintance of mine. If my husband, my sister, and John begin asking about the name and address written on the parcel, please do not tell them, just say you didn't remember what's written on the address and you already throw the packaging in the garbage truck. That's all you need to do, Mother."

Thelma took a deep breath. "Okay, I will no longer ask you about this matter."

"Thank you for your understanding, Mother. I have to say bye for now. I'll call you tomorrow," Caroline said.

"Bye daughter..." Thelma replied.

Caroline ended the call and put her phone in the center table feeling relieved that her husband didn't go to her house. Because if he did, no one can stop him from doing so.

Now that this matter is already settled, she can finally breathe easily.

She hopes no more problems will arise later on. She just wanted to live in a stress-free environment beside her loving husband and raise their first child with inner peace in her heart.

She continues her embroidery sporting an optimistic attitude.

~o0o~

Meanwhile, at John's office.

George entered the door.

John raised his head from the desk and looked at him. "Any news?"

George eased into the chair facing the desk. "Boss, this Mario Sumilong suddenly vanished. His landlord said that he already went home to his province in Mindanao one week ago and when I ask the specific address in Mindanao the landlord cannot provide me any formation because he didn't know the specific place where this Mario went home to. We both know that Mindanao is a huge area to find someone. It's like finding a needle in a haystack. I need at least the exact address to find him. I guess I come too late," he said.

John breathed deeply. "So...we can't say for sure that this is a tactic to ensure that we can not trace the people that Caroline had acquaintance with during her absence. As much as I wanted to get the bottom of it, we have to give up, since we have no clue as of this moment," he said with a defeated look.

"I also ask the landlord for the address of Mario's relative here in the city. He mentioned a relative, a sister living in Quezon City. Unfortunately, when I ask for the complete address, he told me that he didn't know. So, we have no clue as of this moment," George added.

John was silent for a moment.

"Do you still want me to continue my investigation, Boss?" George asked his employer.

John released a deep sigh. "No. I think we reached a dead end. I will let you know if something comes up. You may leave now," he said.

"Yes, Boss," George rose to his feet and left the office.

John shifted his eyes the to city skyline. Hmm, it seemed God does not want him to continue his investigation. Is this God's way of telling him to just leave the couple alone to deal with their problems?

Well...maybe yes.

For now, he won't dedicate his time to Caroline's issue anymore. Unless something new comes up.

He shifted his gaze back to the doc.u.ments on his desk that needed his immediate attention.

~o0o~

Alex was drinking his espresso coffee inside his office when his phone starts ringing. He looked at his phone, the call was from Edwin... he answered it right away.

"Edwin...you have something to report to me?"

"Sir, as expected, a person came here to my place to ask about Mario Sumilong. He asks a lot of questions and I told him what you instructed me to tell anyone who will start asking his whereabouts. I have one of my cousins followed the guy after he left my place. The guy went inside the building of Infinity Jade Tower and no longer come out. My cousin told me that the guy must be living in that building," Edwin said.

"Okay, call me again if that person returns," ordered Alex.

"Yes, Sir!" Edwin replied.

Alex ended their conversation, he put his phone down on the desk.

He was puzzled because the person asking for Mario Sumilong's whereabouts is not Mike. He knew that The Infinity Jade Tower is where Catherine and her husband John was residing. So why that person went there? Why he didn't report to the Blue Bell Residences, at Caroline and Mike's house?

Anyhow, he will dig more into this matter.

After some time...he realized that Catherine and Caroline are twin sisters. Hmm, it must be related to the arrangement between the husbands of the two women. Could be? That's the only possible answer he could find.

When he ordered Mario Sumilong to bring the parcel to the courier he told him what to do. He's not stupid enough to leave evidence and used his real name. That way whoever tried to find the person who sent the parcel could never trace him.

Alex reached for his phone again and places a call to Rudy.

After Allison's burial, Greg wanted to go back to the beach resort. When he asked him why, his brother gave him a simple answer, that he simply likes living there. He loves the ocean and the beautiful view. It made him feel alive and free.

"Rudy..."

"Good afternoon, Sir!"

"How's my brother Greg?"

"He's doing well, Sir. He's eating right on time, take his medicine without co8iirmplained, sleep early, and loves painting and swimming in the ocean. He is happy here, Sir. Although sometimes, he just wants to stare at the ocean for hours doing nothing, especially at morning and night," Rudy explained.

Alex sighed. "Don't leave him alone. As much as possible always stay at his side, okay?"

"Yes, Sir!" replied Rudy.

"That's all for now. I'll call you again tomorrow or the other day. Call me anytime if you notice a change in his behavior..."

"Yes Sir, I will!" Rudy replied.

Alex ended his call to Rudy.

He was glad that Greg seems to be recovering nicely from the sadness that was bought by the tragic passing of their sister, Allison.

Although he doesn't want Greg to be living far away from him, his brother likes the beach better than his mansion, so, it's something that he has to let go. As long his brother is taking his medicine well and eating his food on time, he is satisfied.