For the first time in her life, my mother — a woman who had always lived in abundance, sheltered from the cruelty of the world — looked like a wounded animal.
Every year she had trusted Roberto Salgado without question, giving him her love, her life, her fortune… had all collapsed into betrayal.
I had just returned from my studies abroad. I didn’t tell my father. I wanted to surprise him. I went straight to his company.
My mother wiped her tears and stood up.
She was no longer shaking.
Her voice turned so cold it sent a chill down my spine.
“Valeria… take me to the lawyer.”
Today, she wasn’t just getting divorced.
Today, she was destroying the Salgado Group.
Three days later, Attorney Trujillo sent a single message:
Everything is ready.
My mother and I arrived at the Salgado Group headquarters in Bonifacio Global City.
The lobby was loud, crowded, chaotic.
No one expected us.
Mariana Torres stood on a raised platform, proudly announcing to employees that “in a few months, she would be the next executive director.”
When she saw me, she lifted her chin.
“Valeria, the real daughter of a successful man should learn to accept reality. Dad already chose me.”
I smiled calmly.
“Yes. Your ‘dad’ chose…”
I turned and gestured toward my mother, who stepped forward with the presence of a true Filipina queen.
“…but he forgot that every single share of the Salgado Group is legally registered under my mother’s name.”
Absolute silence.
At that exact moment, Roberto Salgado was descending the staircase.
His face drained of all color.
Attorney Trujillo opened a folder.
“According to the authorization letter signed years ago, and given that Mr. Salgado transferred company shares without the consent of the legal owner, all such contracts are hereby void. Every share returns to Mrs. Teresa Ramos.”
Whispers exploded through the lobby.
“So who is Mariana?”
“And Mrs. Irene…?”
“Was everything a lie?”
Irene Torres, shaking, rushed forward to shield Mariana.
“Teresa… Valeria… please, have compa—”
SLAP….
My mother struck her across the face so hard the sound echoed through the building.
“That’s for the gift my daughter bought for me,” she said coldly, “and that you wore as if it belonged to you.”
Irene collapsed to the floor.
Mariana stammered, tears streaming.
“I… I just wanted a family…”
I looked at her without mercy.
“If you want a family, don’t steal another woman’s life.”
We entered the boardroom.
Roberto stood in the center, pale, desperate.
My mother sat in the chairman’s seat as if it had always belonged to her.
“Roberto Salgado,” she said firmly, “you lived off my money, betrayed me, humiliated my daughter. Today, I declare the following.”
She slammed the folder onto the table.
“You are removed from all positions.
Every transfer made to your mistress or her daughter is nullified.
Both of them are permanently banned from entering the Salgado Group.”
Roberto dropped to his knees.
“Teresa… please… let me explain—”
She looked at him as one would look at garbage.
“I’ve heard enough.
The only thing I want from you now…
is silence.”
I stepped forward and took the microphone.
“And one more thing.”
All eyes turned to me.
“Starting today, I will be taking over the Salgado Group.
And in this company… there will never again be a ‘false princess.’”
The applause erupted.
Thunderous.
Relentless.
Roberto couldn’t lift his head.
When everything was over, my mother and I walked out of the building.
The Manila sun shone brighter than ever.
She held my hand, eyes red, but smiling with pride.
“Valeria… thank you.
Without you, I would have lived my entire life deceived.”
I hugged her tightly.
“Mom, from today on… we live our own life.
Not the life of a traitor.”
At that moment, the internal announcement echoed through the building:
New Chairwoman: Teresa Ramos
Interim CEO: Valeria Salgado
The employees celebrated.
Below, Mariana and Irene could only watch from a distance, hands shaking, defeated.
And Roberto… escorted out of the building, turned back to look at me, pleading.
I said only this:
“Dad… I’m no longer the little girl you can lie to.
And the Salgado Group…
is no longer a place for traitors.”
The glass doors closed.
A painful chapter ended.
A glorious one began.