Sweet Surrender: The CEO's Second Wife

Alex's wake was held inside the funeral homes for one week.

Family, friends, love ones, business associates, and all the employees of the family business in their main headquarters visited the wake. Catherine, Thelma, Lily, and Jacob were also present to extend their moral support to Caroline and her children.

Mike sent two baskets of flowers to the funeral homes starting on the first day of Alex's wake.

On the 5th day...

Mike visited the funeral homes when there are not many visitors inside. He saw Caroline sitting alone in the chair, he sits beside her.

"Condolence, Caroline," he whispered.

Caroline looked at him. "M-Mike...why you're here...?" she asked.

"Well... I want to visit Daniel aka Alex's wake. Although we're not close... but at some point in time, our paths cross when we went to Davao City to buy the land. Alex and I exchanged some pleasantry during those periods. Do you still remember it?" he asked.

Caroline breathed deeply. "Yeah... thank you for the flowers."

"Don't mention it," he said. "When is the burial?" he inquired even though he already knows the schedule from Catherine.

"Tomorrow at 3:00 in the afternoon at Devine Peace Cemetery," she replied.

"Ah, okay...." he said coughing a little. "Can I attend the burial tomorrow in the cemetery?" he asked. "Don't worry I won't make myself visible to you," he said. "I will also visit my grandfather and grandmother's tomb on my father's side there," he said.

Caroline thought there's nothing wrong if Mike visits the private cemetery. "Yes, you can," she replied.

"Thanks, would you mind if I see his coffin?" he asked permission.

Caroline nods her head. "Go ahead," she said.

Mike rose to his feet and walked towards the coffin, he stared at Daniel's face for a long time. He wants to know when was Daniel and Caroline's relationship started? But he can no longer ask the dead person. But maybe...if he will ask Caroline one day...she might be willing to confess to him the truth now that Daniel is already dead.

He looked at the coffin. 'Rest In Peace, Daniel!' he said in his mind.

He turned around and went back to his ex-wife's location. "Caroline, I'm going home now. See you tomorrow," he said.

"Thanks for visiting," Caroline replied.

Mike nods his head. "Take care," he said softly, he turned around and walked towards the door.

He left the funeral homes and went back to the parking lot to retrieved his car.

His main reason to be here is to check on Caroline personally. His worried mind was finally set at ease after seeing her safe and sound.

Once he's inside the vehicle, he glanced at the funeral homes one last time then started the engine and drove home.

Meanwhile...

Inside the funeral homes.

Caroline took a deep breath and looked at her husband's coffin. He will be buried tomorrow and it will be the last time she will see him in his human form, his soul might already be in heaven right now.

She will just think of their good times and avoid immersing herself in depression.

Her husband is already dead... while she's still alive... the only thing she can do right now is to continue living for the sake of her loved ones and for the things that she hadn't done doing yet.

Catherine, Thelma, Lily, and Jacob entered the door of the funeral homes and sat beside Caroline.

"Everything is ready for the burial tomorrow?" Catherine asked her sister.

"Yes," Caroline nods her head. "By the way... Mike came here a while ago," she told them.

"Yeah, he knows that we're coming here so he informs us that he will also come for a visit here ahead of us," Catherine answered. "Are you okay after seeing Mike again?" she asked her twin.

Caroline smiled a bit. "Yeah, I have no problem with him visiting my husband's wake, but he didn't stay long, he goes home after a few minutes of talking to me," she replied.

"Well... he has other things to do," Catherine responded.

They went silent for a moment.

"Daughter, let's go to that cafe across for a moment, I want to eat cassava cake there!" Thelma said.

"Okay," Caroline replied. She looked at the housemaids. "I'm going to the cafe, I'll be back a few minutes later. Don't leave my husband's coffin," she ordered.

"Yes, Ma'am!" the housemaids replied.

Caroline and her entourage rose to their feet and exited the door going to the cafe located across the funeral homes.

~

The following day.

Afternoon - time for burial.

Caroline and her children were already inside the funeral homes at 2:00 in the afternoon. Friends, relatives, and company employees were already arriving in the funeral homes. Some preferred to go directly to the Divine Peace Cemetery and wait there, that also includes Mike who's already in the cemetery visiting his grandparents' tombs on the father's side.

At 3:00 in the afternoon...

The funeral home staff broke the clay in front of the entrance, signaling that the coffin is about to be taken out and be put in the funeral car to be buried in its final resting place. Caroline and her entourage exited the funeral homes and entered their vehicles.

A few minutes later.

The funeral procession along with the family's and friends' vehicle followed the funeral car going to the Divine Peace Cemetery.

After one hour of travel.

They finally arrived at their destination.

Just in time for the sun to mellow down and the atmosphere inside the cemetery is no longer scorching hot. The towering trees inside the cemetery gave a relaxing breeze and comfort to the mourners.

Everyone took their seats and settle down beside their friends and families.

Fifteen minutes later.

The priest started the funeral mass, which is a solemn one. Afterward, Caroline and her children filled the atmosphere with their weeping... so heartbreaking was their lamentation that everyone got tears on their eyes.

After the funeral mass ended, the coffin was finally laid into the open grave. Everyone dropped the flowers that they were holding in their hands into the coffin.

By this time, Caroline and her children with Alex no longer have any tears left to cry. But tonight after the burial is finished and time to go home, the sorrow and depression will overwhelm their heart again and fresh news tears will come up again.

But for now... the tears took a back seat...only the pain of losing a beloved father and husband remains inconsolable in their hearts.

Caroline and their children thought that they no longer have any tears left to cry... but when the cemetery staff starts pouring the freshly dug earth into the grave covering the coffin their fragile hearts broke down again and they start sobbing again, an avalanche of tears sprang from their eyes in torrents.

They start wailing hard while gazing at the fully covered grave. Alex's remains finally laid peacefully to his resting place beside his sister Allison and brother Greg.

A moment later.

The crowd around the grave began to disperse and went back to their chairs. The caterer began distributing foods and refreshments to the funeral attendees while Caroline and her children continue crying beside the grave.

They remained that way for hours...until the attendees bid their farewell and the only people left in the cemetery is Caroline and her children, the rest already went home including Catherine, Thelma, Lily, and Jacob.

Mike watched his ex-wife from afar, as much as he wanted to console Caroline...he needs to respect the family's privacy.

It was already 6:00 in the early evening when Caroline and her entourage finally went home.

Before Caroline get in the car, she saw Mike getting in his car as well just a few meters away from where they parked their cars.

Her ex-husband was in the cemetery the whole time...

Caroline entered her car.

Mike was trailing behind Caroline and her children's car out of the cemetery, going home.