The CEO's Painted Skin 430 Countryside

John talked to the nurse. "Minerva, I'm going on a road trip tomorrow to find Catherine, can you please stay with Caroline and baby James just for one night?"

Minerva nodded her head. "No problem Sir, I will sleep here with them tomorrow night. When will you be back here, Sir?" she asked.

"I will be back here Sunday late at night," John answered.

"Okay, good luck Sir, I will take care of Caroline and baby James," Minerva replied.

That night, John received a text message from Sandra telling him to bring some personal belongings of Catherine because it's one of the soothsayer's requirements.

John took two of Catherine's favorite blouse from the closet and put it along with some of his clothes in his traveling bag and then he also brought with him a sizable amount of cash and put the money in a pouch bag to offer as payment for the lady's services and their travel expenses as well.

After playing with his son for half an hour he returned the infant into his crib in the living room while Caroline was watching a television show wearing a sexy spaghetti blouse and mini skirt.

John went back to his room to sleep early getting ready for the long road trip tomorrow.

>>>

The next day...

Saturday, at 4:00 in the morning.

John's entourage was already traveling in the highway, by 5:00 AM they were already exiting the vicinity of Metro Manila heading to Sandra's hometown.

The moment they exited the city proper, they were traveling smoothly in the road since no traffic congestion can deter them.

They were following Romeo and Sandra's car.

Ramon looked at his boss in the dashcam mirror dying of curiosity. "Boss, what we are going to do in the remote village of Barrio Magdalena?"

John glanced at his bodyguard. "We're going to seek the soothsayer in that remote village to help us find Catherine. I'm desperate to find my missing wife so I try to explore all mediums just to know if she's still alive and maybe that healer can help us find her," he explained.

Ramon nodded his head. He doesn't believe in witchcraft and sorcery himself but he has to agree that it's worth trying when nothing works.

Two hours later...

They stop to buy some refreshments in the grocery store along the highway and relieved themselves the calls of human nature in a gasoline station.

The countryside they pass by was breathtakingly beautiful, refreshing and picturesque.

Another three hours of nonstop travel brought them to the City of Buenavista. From the city, they will travel again for another one hour before reaching the sleepy village of Barrio Magdalena.

Since it's already near noontime, John's entourage decided to find a restaurant in the city to have their lunch break and rest for a while after a long journey.

They settled inside a native restaurant that offers native delicacy and dishes in that area. The smell of native chicken soup, rice, fried tilapia fish, pork adobo and leche flan for deserts that they ordered from the restaurant's menu filled their nostrils with a heavenly scent.

They were extremely hungry...

"Hmmm, delicious foods!" Sandra holds her spoon and fork salivating at the dishes on the table. 

Soon enough, John, Ramon, and Romeo start attacking the foods with gusto.

They were silent the entire time they devoured their lunch.

A few minutes later...

Stomach well sated, the group relaxes inside the restaurant for a while.

"Guys, instead of heading to our village today, why don't we find a good hotel here in the city so that we can rest and sleep, although the travel was fun it's also tiring, we will wake up early tomorrow at 5:00 in the morning and go to my hometown. In my village, there's only one lodging house and they don't offer decent sleeping amenities, unlike here in the city we can find many hotels for our liking. What do you think, guys?" Sandra suggested.

They all agreed to Sandra's suggestion.

Fifteen minutes later, they exited the restaurant with a satisfied look on their faces, their lunch was super delicious and satisfying.

The group settled in the 'Four Petals Hotel'. A five-story hotel complete with amenities for weary travelers, vacationers, and tourist visitors. It has its restaurant, gym room, spa room, and an Olympic size swimming pool on the ground floor.

Sandra and Romeo occupied one room, while John and Ramon in another room.

The four of them went to sleep and rest in their respective room, dinner time at 6:00 in the evening they gathered in the hotel's restaurant to eat dinner together and then went back to their rooms for an early sleep because tomorrow they will resume their journey.

...

The next day...

Sunday at 5:00 in the morning.

Sandra and Romeo woke up early, they went to the 24/7 past food restaurant in front of the hotel and ordered packed meals, burgers with rice along with a large bucket of fried chicken that they will take along with them into the woods.

A few minutes later...

The group left their rooms carrying their luggage into the parking area of the hotel.

They boarded their respective vehicles and starts traveling towards Barrio Magdalena.

One hour later, they finally arrived in the sleepy village.

Sandra parked the car in front of the house of her cousin who is already wide awake waiting outside her small house. They chit chat for a few minutes. Then her cousin introduces them to their guide, Mang Kanor.

A middle-aged man in his late 50's wearing a hat smiled at the visitors. "Good morning, Sir, Ma'am," he greeted them.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click for visiting.

"Mang Kanor! You remember me?" asked Sandra.

Mang Kanor squinted his eyes at the woman. "Sandra! You used to play with my daughter when you were both young way back when your family still lives here, of course, I remembered you!" he said.

"That's good. Nice to see you again Mang Kanor!" exclaimed Sandra.

They chatted for a few minutes.

They were getting ready to travel on foot. They left the two vehicles in front of Sandra's cousin's house.

Mang Kanor instructed the visitors to bring some extra dry clothes, towels, just in case the water in the river will get waist-high especially that it rained heavily yesterday on the mountainside.

After stuffing their backpack with their personal belongings, including bottled water, soda drinks, foods, and some candies, they began their journey by foot.

Chapter end