Sofia was a simple woman who married Jason for love. For two years, she endured the abuse of her mother-in-law, Doña Elvira.
“You’re useless!” Elvira would always shout. “A freeloader! A poor nobody! My son is wasted on you. You bring no wealth to our family!”
What Jason and Elvira didn’t know was that Sofia was only pretending to be poor. She was the hidden heiress of the Montemayor Group of Companies—one of the wealthiest families in Asia. Sofia only wanted to be sure that Jason truly loved her before revealing her fortune.
But she was disappointed.
Sofia had just given birth to their first child in a public ward of the hospital (because Jason refused to pay for a private room). She was utterly exhausted, still bleeding, and holding her baby tightly.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
Jason walked in—but he wasn’t alone. With him were Doña Elvira and a richly dressed mestiza woman dripping with jewelry—Tiffany, Jason’s wealthy ex-girlfriend.
“Jason?” Sofia called softly. “Look at our child…”
Jason didn’t look at the baby. He just lowered his head.
Doña Elvira stepped forward.
SMACK!
A thick folder was thrown straight into Sofia’s face.
“What is this?” Sofia asked, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Annulment papers and a separation agreement,” Tiffany replied sharply, clinging to Jason’s arm. “Sign them. Stay away from Jason. We’re the ones getting married now.”
“J-Jason…?” Sofia sobbed. “Why? I just gave birth! This is your child!”
“I’m sorry, Sofia,” Jason said, unable to meet her eyes. “I need money. Our business is collapsing. Tiffany is the only one who can save us. She’s rich. You? You contribute nothing. You’re just a burden.”
Doña Elvira laughed. “You heard him! We gain nothing from you! You’re poor! So sign those papers and get out with your child! We don’t want trash blood in our family!”
Tiffany pointed at Sofia. “Get lost, loser. This hospital bill? I’ll even pay it myself since you don’t have money. You’re embarrassing.”
Sofia wiped her tears and stared at the three of them. The pain in her eyes turned into cold fury.
“Are you sure?” Sofia asked, her voice suddenly calm and icy. “Once I sign this, there’s no turning back for you.”
“As if!” Elvira scoffed. “Just sign it!”
Sofia signed the papers.
“Good,” Tiffany said. “Now, get out.”
They were about to leave when the ward door suddenly opened again.
Ten men in suits entered. In the middle of them were the Hospital Director and the Chief of Staff.
Elvira was startled. “Oh, Director! You’re here? I’m Doña Elvira. Do you recognize me?”
The Director ignored her completely.
The doctors and bodyguards walked straight toward Sofia.
All of them bowed 90 degrees in front of the woman lying on the bed.
“Good afternoon, Chairman Sofia,” the Director said respectfully. “We apologize for placing you in a public ward. We didn’t know you were here. The Presidential Suite and the helicopter are ready to transfer you.”
Jason’s jaw dropped. Tiffany’s eyes widened. Doña Elvira nearly fainted.
“C-Chairman…?” Jason stammered.
Sofia slowly stood up. A bodyguard handed her an expensive silk robe and helped her put it on.
“Director,” Sofia said calmly, “please tell these people who I am.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The Director turned to the three of them. “This is Ms. Sofia Montemayor—the owner of this hospital and the CEO of the Montemayor Empire, which owns the company where you work, Mr. Jason.”
It felt as if heaven and earth had collapsed on Jason. His “poor” wife was the boss of his boss’s boss.
“Sofia!” Jason rushed forward, trying to grab her. “Hon! I was just joking earlier! I love you! This is for our child!”
“Don’t touch me,” Sofia ordered.
The guards blocked Jason.
Sofia then approached Doña Elvira and Tiffany, both trembling in fear.
“You said I had no contribution? That I was a burden?” Sofia smirked. “Doña Elvira, the mansion you’re living in? It’s mortgaged to my bank. And you, Tiffany—your father owes my company 100 million.”
Sofia picked up the annulment papers she had signed.
“Thank you for this document. I’m finally free from you. But as for you three? Starting today, your lives will be hell.”
“Director,” Sofia commanded, “blacklist these three from all my hospitals. Call the bank and foreclose Elvira’s house immediately. And Jason… you’re fired.”
“Sofia, please!” Doña Elvira dropped to her knees. “Don’t take our house!”
“Hon, forgive me! Don’t fire me!” Jason cried.
Sofia didn’t listen.
“Guards,” Sofia ordered as she carried her baby and walked toward the door, “throw this trash out. They’re polluting the air in my hospital.”
Security dragged Jason, Elvira, and Tiffany outside. They were left on the street—crying and full of regret—while Sofia boarded a helicopter back to her true world, a world where she was the Queen, and no one would ever oppress her again.