Doña Corazon was a widow who owned the largest hacienda and a chain of hotels in Batangas. In her mansion, she lived with her three daughters—Bea, Pia, and Lia—and their respective husbands: Rico, Mike, and Jeff.
To the outside world, Corazon’s life seemed perfect. She was “pampered” by her sons-in-law. Rico (Bea’s husband) handled the finances. Mike (Pia’s husband) oversaw operations. Jeff (Lia’s husband) managed the legal affairs.
“Mom, just rest. We’ll take care of the business,” they often said.
Being elderly and slightly hard of hearing, Corazon entrusted them with managing her empire. The only daughter she was not close to was her youngest, Elena.
Elena had been disowned five years earlier for choosing to marry a simple farmer instead of the governor’s son.
“Leave! If you choose that man, forget that you have a mother!” were Corazon’s last words to Elena.
Since then, only Bea, Pia, and Lia stayed with her. Corazon believed she was in good hands.
One night, around 2 a.m., Corazon woke up needing to use the bathroom—she had drunk a lot of water before going to bed.
As she walked to the kitchen for her medicine, she noticed that the lanai (veranda) light was on. Her three sons-in-law—Rico, Mike, and Jeff—were there, drinking whiskey and smoking.
She was about to scold them for smoking indoors when she overheard her name.
“When will that old lady die?” Rico asked irritably. “I’m buried in casino debts. I need Bea’s inheritance now.”
“This life is such a pain,” Mike said. “The doctor said her heart is still strong. She might live another ten years. I can’t wait that long. My business is collapsing. I need cash.”
Jeff, the lawyer, laughed. “Don’t worry. I’ve already prepared the papers. Next week, she’ll sign a Power of Attorney. We’ll tell her it’s just for tax amnesty. But in reality, all the properties will be transferred to us.”
“What if she finds out?” Rico asked.
“Then… we’ll take her to the stairs,” Jeff whispered—but Corazon heard every word. “One push, an accident. She’s old, her bones are brittle. Once she’s dead, everything will be ours. Our wives will just follow along.”
Corazon’s body went cold. She almost dropped her glass.
The men she trusted… the men she considered her own sons… were plotting to kill her.
Slowly, she returned to her room, trembling. She wanted to wake her daughters, but she remembered Jeff’s words: “Our wives will just follow along.”
She had no allies in the house. If she reported them, they might act first.
She had to escape.
The next morning, before sunrise, Corazon packed a few clothes in a small bag. She left behind her jewelry, cellphone, and credit cards to avoid being tracked.
All she brought was her old passbook, hidden under the bed, and the key to a safety deposit box.
She quietly left the gate, telling the guard she was just going to early mass in town and to leave the driver asleep. The guard, accustomed to her routine, allowed it.
Corazon took a jeepney, then a bus, traveling four hours to the province where her estranged daughter Elena lived.
By the time she arrived at Elena’s small house, it was noon. Hot. The house, made of hollow blocks and a tin roof, was far from the mansion she was used to.
She knocked.
Elena opened the door, holding a baby, with two more small children playing on the floor.
“M-mom?” Elena asked in shock.
Tears filled Corazon’s eyes. “Elena… my child… forgive me.”
Corazon expected Elena to push her away. But Elena immediately set down the baby and hugged her tightly.
“Mom! What happened? Why are you here? Why are you so thin?”
Corazon told them everything—what she had overheard and her escape.
“Just stay here, Ma,” said Elena’s husband Carlo firmly. “Even if we’re poor, we won’t let them hurt you. We’ll protect you.”
For a week, Corazon lived with Elena’s family.
She saw how simple yet joyful their life was. No air conditioning, but the air was fresh. No steaks, but Carlo’s homegrown vegetables were delicious. And most importantly, no one was plotting to kill her. She felt real love, the kind money can’t buy.
“I was wrong, Elena,” Corazon cried while brushing her grandchild’s hair. “You are the richest of all my children. Because your family is complete, and your hearts are pure.”
But the trouble didn’t end there.
One afternoon, three black SUVs arrived in front of Elena’s house.
Rico, Mike, and Jeff got out, along with Bea, Pia, and Lia, all crying. They were accompanied by police and a psychiatrist.
“Mom!” Bea shouted. “God, you’re here! We thought you’d been kidnapped!”
“Elena!” Rico yelled. “Why are you hiding Mom? You know she has dementia! Did you kidnap her to extort money?”
Carlo and Elena stepped forward to block them. “She wasn’t kidnapped! She came here willingly!”
“Move aside, peasant!” Jeff shoved Carlo. “We have a court order. Mom is mentally incapacitated. She can’t make decisions. We’re taking her home for treatment.”
“I am not going back!” Corazon shouted, stepping out the door. “I know your plan! I heard you that night! You wanted to kill me to get the inheritance!”
The three men exchanged glances.
“See?” Jeff said to the police. “She’s paranoid. Thinking all sorts of things. Signs of Alzheimer’s. We need to take her before it gets worse.”
The police grabbed Corazon.
“Let go of me!” she shouted.
“Mom, come with us. This is for your own good,” Pia cried, visibly afraid of her husband.
Just as they were about to put Corazon into the van, another vehicle arrived—a limousine.
A man in a suit stepped out. It was Attorney Go, Corazon’s personal lawyer and the country’s most powerful litigator.
“STOP THIS!” shouted Atty. Go.
“Atty. Go?” Jeff said in shock. “What are you doing here? We’re taking care of Mom.”
“You have no right,” Atty. Go said. “This morning, Doña Corazon and I went to the bank and municipal office.”
“What do you mean?” Rico asked nervously.
Corazon faced them, straightened her clothes, and stood tall. Fear was gone from her face.
“Do you think I’m stupid?” she said. “When I escaped that night, I didn’t just take my clothes. I took the ledger of your transactions from your office, Rico. I took your illegal contracts, Jeff. And evidence of your money laundering, Mike.”
The three men’s eyes widened.
“And just now,” Atty. Go continued, “Doña Corazon signed the Deed of Absolute Sale and Transfer of Rights.”
“The inheritance will be transferred?” Bea asked.
“No,” Corazon smiled. “There’s no inheritance left. I sold everything.”
“WHAT?!” the three sons-in-law shouted in unison.
“I sold the hacienda, the hotel, and the company shares to an international conglomerate this morning,” Corazon explained. “The billions earned? I placed them in an Irrevocable Trust Fund.”
Corazon took Elena’s hand.
“The sole beneficiary of the Trust Fund is none other than my youngest child… Elena, and her children.”
Elena gasped. “M-mom…?”
“You,” Corazon pointed at the three sons-in-law and the three obedient daughters. “You will get nothing. And because I hold evidence of your corporate crimes, I will press charges for Estafa and Qualified Theft. Jail, not the mansion, is where you belong.”
“Mom! Forgive us!” Rico knelt. “We were just joking! We were drunk!”
“Too late,” Corazon said. “Officer, arrest these men with the warrant from Attorney Go.”
The three sons-in-law were arrested in front of their wives. Bea, Pia, and Lia cried, regretting letting their husbands’ greed consume them.
Corazon stayed with Elena.
“Mom, I don’t need billions,” Elena said. “Just you is enough.”
“I know, my child,” Corazon smiled. “That’s why I gave it to you. Because I know you’re the only one who wouldn’t change no matter how much money you had.”
Corazon returned to the mansion—not to live with snakes, but to renovate it and turn it into a home for Elena’s family. In the end, she slept peacefully, safe in the arms of the child who truly loved her.