RIGHT AFTER SHE GAVE BIRTH, HER MOTHER-IN-LAW AND HER HUSBAND’S MISTRESS HANDED HER DIVORCE PAPERS, CALLING HER “POOR” — BUT THEY TURNED PALE WHEN THE HOSPITAL OWNER SUDDENLY BOWED BEFORE HER
Sofia was an orphan. She never knew her parents. She grew up in an orphanage and worked tirelessly to study and survive.
She met Derrick, a man from a nouveau riche family—new money.
Derrick’s mother, Doña Miranda, was fiercely opposed to Sofia.
“Why would you marry a woman with no family name? No education? No money?” Miranda would constantly shout.
Yet Derrick still married Sofia—or at least, that was what Sofia believed.
At first, Derrick treated her well.
But after Sofia became pregnant, he gradually grew cold.
He was rarely home and always claimed he was busy with business.
The day Sofia gave birth finally arrived.
She delivered a healthy baby boy at a private hospital.
Exhausted, Sofia waited for her husband to come see their child.
The door opened.
Derrick walked in.
But he was not alone.
With him were Doña Miranda—and a stunning woman, covered in jewelry, clinging to Derrick’s arm.
Her name was Tiffany.
“Derrick?” Sofia called softly. “Where are the flowers? Look at our baby.”
Derrick didn’t even look at the child.
Doña Miranda stepped forward and threw a brown envelope onto Sofia’s bed.
“Sign it,” the mother-in-law ordered harshly.
“What is this?” Sofia asked.
“Annulment papers and a Waiver of Rights,” Tiffany replied with a laugh.
“Derrick is leaving you. And you’ll sign to confirm you have no claim to our family’s wealth.”
Sofia looked at Derrick in disbelief.
“Derrick? Is this true? I just gave birth!”
Derrick lowered his head, but Tiffany grabbed his face.
“Say it, babe.”
Derrick took a deep breath and stared at Sofia coldly.
“I’m sorry, Sofia. I don’t love you anymore. I love Tiffany.
She’s the governor’s daughter. She’s rich. She has connections.
And you?
You’re just a burden. You bring nothing to my ambitions.
You’re just an orphan.”
“And that child?” Doña Miranda sneered, pointing at the newborn.
“Take it with you when you leave. We don’t want the blood of a beggar in our family.
Tiffany and Derrick will have their own children—pure-blooded and wealthy.”
Sofia’s heart shattered.
She had just given birth, and this was what she received—betrayal and humiliation.
She wiped her tears and looked straight at the three of them.
“Are you sure about this?” Sofia asked, her voice suddenly calm.
“Once I sign this, there’s no turning back. Derrick, you’re setting me free?”
“Yes! Just sign it so we can leave!” Derrick said impatiently.
Sofia took the pen and quickly signed the documents.
“Thank you,” Sofia said quietly.
“Thank you for freeing me from this hell of a family.”
“You’re still acting brave?” Tiffany raised her hand to slap her, but Sofia dodged.
“Nurse,” Sofia said into the intercom. “I want to be discharged immediately.”
Though weak, Sofia insisted on leaving the hospital.
Holding her baby, she walked into the lobby.
Derrick, Tiffany, and Doña Miranda followed her to make sure she truly left—and to humiliate her in public.
“Look at that woman,” Doña Miranda said loudly for everyone to hear.
“We threw her out because she’s useless! She has no money!”
Derrick and Tiffany laughed.
As they reached the hospital’s main entrance, heavy rain began to pour.
“What a shame,” Tiffany smirked.
“Just take a cab. Oh right—you can’t afford one. Walk in the rain with that baby.”
Sofia was about to step into the rain when suddenly, a convoy of five black Cadillac Escalades stopped directly in front of the entrance.
Each vehicle bore diplomatic plates and the emblem of Montenegro Corp, the largest conglomerate in Asia.
Ten bodyguards in black suits stepped out, forming a human shield and opening umbrellas to protect Sofia from the rain.
Derrick froze.
“Who are they? Is there some VIP here?”
The door of the first vehicle opened.
An elderly man in a tuxedo stepped out—Mr. Hans, the renowned Chief Legal Counsel of the Montenegro family.
He walked toward Sofia.
In front of everyone—
In front of Derrick and Doña Miranda—
Mr. Hans knelt before Sofia.
“Welcome back, Lady Sofia Montenegro,” he said respectfully.
“Your grandfather, the Chairman, is waiting for you.”
Everyone gasped.
“M-Montenegro?” Doña Miranda stammered.
“Isn’t that the family that owns this hospital—and half of BGC?”
Sofia turned to them and gently handed her baby to Mr. Hans.
She removed the mask of weakness she had worn for so long.
“Surprised?” Sofia asked calmly.
“S-Sofia… how?” Derrick whispered, his face pale.
“Yes, I was an orphan,” Sofia explained.
“Because I was kidnapped as a child and ended up in an orphanage.
But last year, my real family found me—the Montenegro family.”
“I hid it from you on purpose, Derrick.
I wanted to know if you would love me even without money.
I wanted to see what kind of people you truly were when you had nothing to gain from me.”
She turned to Tiffany.
“Governor’s daughter?” Sofia smiled.
“Funny. Your father begged my grandfather just yesterday to fund his campaign.
And after what you did today—I’ll make sure he loses.”
She then faced Doña Miranda.
“And you, Doña. You said you didn’t want the blood of a beggar?
Well, congratulations. Because of the annulment papers you forced me to sign earlier,
you stripped Derrick of all rights to my child.”
“My son is the sole heir to the Montenegro Empire.
And not a single cent will ever go to you.”
“Sofia! Babe!” Derrick suddenly fell to his knees, clutching her legs.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it! They forced me! I love you! We’re family!”
Sofia kicked him away.
“Family doesn’t abandon you at your weakest.
Family doesn’t measure love by money.”
“Goodbye, Derrick.
We’ll meet again in court—after I buy your company and throw you out of your own house.”
Sofia entered the Cadillac.
The convoy drove away, leaving Derrick, Tiffany, and Doña Miranda kneeling in the mud, drenched by rain and regret.
The world soon learned what happened.
Derrick’s businesses collapsed.
Tiffany was disowned by her father.
Doña Miranda suffered a stroke from stress.
And Sofia?
She lived as a powerful mother, raising her child with love—
and teaching him never, ever to judge a person’s worth by money.