Sweet Surrender: The CEO's Second Wife

Five Years later.

The deep-rooted hatred in Suzanne and Justin's heart haven't melted yet.

Month after month, Caroline, never fails to show up in Mike's house to let her children know that she's serious about mending her relationship with them. She gives gifts to her grandchildren that are slowly warming up to her presence in their lives. But Suzanne and Justin remained cold and aloof towards her.

On her 50th birthday.

Caroline was busy as a bee. She supervises the grand party she held in the backyard of her mansion. The party planner arrives with her staff and decorated the whole area - a ranch-style theme, all attendees have to wear cowboy and cowgirls attire.

The swimming pool was turned into a lagoon.

The food caterer arrived two hours before lunch to set up everything in the backyard.

There are going to be parlor games for kids and a.d.u.l.ts as well. A candy store and ice cream stand were specially erected for the children's entertainment.

Caroline has already sent the invitation last week to her children and her family, including Mike.

Mike didn't attend the party out of respect for Alex's children.

Suzanne and Justin and their family were also a no show.

However, Cathy and her family arrived, she was eager to attend her mother's 50th birthday party. She was also looking forward to meeting her half-siblings, Gabriel and Jasmine, and their children.

The rest of the guests arrives... including Catherine, John, and their kids, eager to know their cousins on the mother side. Thelma and her entourage also attended the party.

The birthday party was now in full swing.

Caroline blew the candles on her cake, still, his children with Mike was a no show at the party...she was kind of hoping that they will come at the last minute...but she only got disappointed in the end.

She formally introduced Cathy to her half-siblings -Jasmine and Gabriel.

Caroline was glad because the three a.d.u.l.ts warm up easily to each other.

The party lasted until 8:00 in the evening that culminated in 5 minutes spectacular fireworks display.

Everyone was having a good time on that day.

Caroline's happiness is not complete...something is lacking... Suzanne and Justin's presence could give her the complete happiness that she was yearning for a long time.

Sad to say...the hearts of her children were made of stone...they can't be swayed with her tears, apologies, and begging.

Caroline sleeps in her bed that night feeling a bit sad.

~

A week later after her birthday.

Monday morning.

Caroline was busy packing her things, she's going to have a one week vacation in Boracay, she will go there solo.

She told her twin sister about her vacation and they plan to go on a sister's vacation next month, just the two of them. For now, she needs to be alone and evaluate her strategy because her children aren't willing yet to reconcile with her.

Five years already passed since she started her noble cause of reconciling with them yet they remained unyielding. That broke her heart over and over again.

Five hours later.

Caroline was already boarding her flight going to Kalibo Airport. And the good thing is - the hotel that she had booked for a one week stay has their bus stationed already in the airport to welcome the new guests and transport them to the hotel in Boracay Island.

The hour one flight passed like a blur to Caroline.

After exiting the airport, she boarded the bus owned by The Legacy Boracay Hotel. She traveled on the bus for another two hours and arrived in the hotel when the sunset was already visible in the sky.

She got her room keys at the front desk of the hotel and the hotel boy eagerly put her luggage in the trolley. They boarded the elevator towards the 4th floor.

After the boy finished putting her luggage inside her hotel suite, she gave him a nice tip. The boy was thankful for her generosity and exited the room in good spirits.

She locked the door and changed her clothes, put her things in the closets, and lies down in the bed for a short nap.

She woke up three hours later, and it's already evening.

She checked the menu and ordered room service. Her food arrived fifteen minutes later. She eats supper with gusto.

After eating... she decided to relax in the lounger beside the pool area and admired the beautiful night.

While relaxing in the lounger, she was sipping her avocado smoothie, stargazing at the star-filled sky above.

Suddenly a male voice disturbs her musings.

"Miss, can I sit down on this lounger chair?" he asked.

"Okay," Caroline replied with a shrug. She didn't bother looking at the guy's face, she's not interested.

The guy settled quietly in the vacant lounger beside her.

Then suddenly... she found it odd that his voice sounds familiar! She quickly glanced at his face. "Oh, my! What are you doing here!?" she asked in disbelief and surprise.

Mike grinned mischievously. "I'm here for a one week vacation. I just arrived today," he responded.

Caroline smiled. "I'm here for a one week vacation too... what a coincidence!" she murmured.

"What a coincidence indeed!" Mike grinned broadly. Thanks to Catherine he learned that Caroline was going on a one week vacation in Boracay Island after her birthday, he asked for the flight schedule and the name of the hotel she's going to stay in the island. And here he is now beside her, they're together in the same hotel. "Catherine told me about your solo vacation here in Boracay Island, that's why I'm here," he confessed.

Caroline raised a brow. "Oh...I see...my sister is the culprit. So...what are you here for?" she asked him curiously.

"I'm here to spend some quality time with you and I'm also hoping that you will finally reveal to me what happened way back when you disappeared from my life for a few months. And most importantly I want to ask you when is your relationship with Alex started?" he asked.

Caroline released a deep sigh. Now is the time to tell him everything, he deserved the truth. "Alright, I'll tell you everything, follow me to my room," she said.

She rose to her feet and left the pool area together with Mike.

They boarded the elevator in complete silence.

They reached the 4th floor quickly.

Caroline inserted her room key into her suite, pushed the door open and they entered the room.

She walked towards the table and sat on the chair, Mike lowered himself on the chair facing her.

She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. "The truth is...I disappeared for a few months from your life because I killed a woman...and someone used that knowledge to blackmail me," she went straight to the point.

Mike's eyes widened in shock. "Whaaaat-? A-are you kidding me?"

Caroline sighed. "No, I'm not, I'm telling you the truth. You told me once that if I killed someone you will surrender me to the police authorities. You don't want your children to have a mother who is a murderer. I got scared, I don't want you to know about the truth. So I hide everything..." she replied with a serious face.

Mike's head was spinning from the shock. It's hard for him to believe that Caroline is capable of killing someone. But right now, she wore a serious expression on her face, she seemed to be telling the truth!

"How did it happened? Why did you kill someone? Why?" Mike asked in bewilderment. His confusion shoot to the roof. As far as he can remember when they were still together, Caroline was not displaying anything unusual that could warrant his suspicion.

"I killed that woman out of self-defense because she's going to kill me!" she defended her actions.

"Alright....can you please start from the beginning because I'm confused as hell," he requested.

Caroline nods her head. "Okay, I'll start from the very beginning..." she said.

She started narrating her story from the very start in the village with Greg, meeting Brenda, Allison, and her entire family including Alex.

Her narration lasted for a few hours because Mike kept interrupting her with questions now and then.

Three hours later.

Caroline finished telling him everything. The heavy load that she was carrying in her heart was miraculously lifted after she finally confessed everything to Mike.

Mike was stunned, shocked, and mind-blown after Caroline was done with her confessions.

"Holy cow! I never knew you are suffering miserably way back then! But why you never tell me everything?" he demanded.

"B-because I was afraid that you will find it shameful to have a murderer wife and you will bring me to the police authorities that's why I hide everything!" she answered.

Mike was stupefied...

He was shaking his head vigorously. He was astounded. Now all the dots have been connected, all his questions finally got an answer.

Caroline was trembling and crying, all the dark memories and hardsh.i.p.s she encountered in the past come back to her mind.

Mike gathered her in his arms. "I'm so sorry...I put you through these miseries. It's all my fault," he said.

Caroline continues crying in Mike's arms.

One hour later, Caroline's tears finally subsided.

"Do you feel ashamed of me now? Do you think I'm a cold-blooded murderer? Are you going to bring me to the police station?" she asked, her mouth trembling.

"Hell no! Why should I? Don't worry, your dark secret is forever safe with me. You already suffered so much in the past, you don't deserve to stay in jail!" he assured her.

"Thank you so much for your understanding!" Caroline said feeling grateful to him.

"Don't mention it," he said softly. He glanced at the clock on the wall, it's already late at night. He rose to his feet. "Rest early...see you tomorrow," he said and left the room.

That night, Caroline sleep peacefully in her room while Mike was having a hard time sleeping - his mind kept recalling everything about his ex-wife's confession, his body finally succ.u.mbed to slumber past midnight.

~

The next day.

Caroline and Mike spend quality time with each other the whole day as if last night's revelation didn't take place at all.

They spend the entire week brainstorming on how to make Suzanne and Justine reconcile with Caroline.