My mother—a woman who had lived her entire life surrounded by wealth, shielded from cruelty and deception—looked like a wounded animal for the first time. Every year she had trusted Ramon Delgado, giving him her love, her life, her fortune… had finally turned into betrayal.
After returning from my studies abroad, I decided not to tell my father anything. I wanted to surprise him, so I went straight to his corporate headquarters.
She wiped her tears and slowly stood up.
Her hands were no longer shaking.
When she spoke, her voice was so cold it sent a chill down my spine.
“Valeria… take me to the lawyer.”
Today, I’m not just getting divorced.
Today, I’m tearing down the Delgado Group.
Three days later, Attorney Luis Mendoza sent a message:
Everything is ready.
My mother and I arrived at the Delgado Group Tower in Bonifacio Global City.
The lobby was buzzing with noise—executives, assistants, employees rushing everywhere. No one knew we were coming.
Standing on a small platform was Marina Cruz, proudly addressing the staff, announcing that “in a few months, she would be the next CEO.”
When she saw me, she lifted her chin arrogantly.
“Valeria,” she said smugly, “the real daughter of a successful man should know how to accept reality. Father already chose me.”
I smiled calmly.
“Yes… your ‘father’ chose.”
I turned and gestured toward my mother, who walked in with the presence of a true Filipina queen—calm, dignified, untouchable.
“But he doesn’t know that every single share of the Delgado Group is registered under my mother’s name.”
The entire lobby fell into dead silence.
At that exact moment, Ramon Delgado, who was descending the staircase, turned pale.
Attorney Mendoza opened his folder.
“According to the authorization letter signed years ago, and considering that Mr. Delgado transferred shares without the consent of the legal owner, all those contracts are now null and void. All shares immediately revert to Mrs. Teresa Ramos.”
Whispers exploded across the lobby.
“Then who is Marina?”
“And the ‘Mrs. Irene’…?”
“So everything was a lie?”
Irene Cruz, trembling, stepped forward to shield Marina.
“Teresa… Valeria… please, let’s talk—”
SLAP!..
My mother struck her so hard the sound echoed through the entire building.
“That,” she said with fury, “is for the gift my daughter bought me—and that you wore as if it were yours.”
Irene collapsed to the floor.
Marina stammered, tears streaming down her face.
“I—I just wanted a family…”
I looked at her coldly.
“If you want a family, don’t try to steal another woman’s life.”
Inside the boardroom, Ramon stood frozen, pale, desperate.
My mother sat down in the chairman’s seat with natural authority.
“Ramon Delgado,” she said firmly, “you lived off my money, deceived me, and humiliated my daughter. Today, I declare the following.”
She slammed the file onto the table.
“You are removed from your position. Every illegal transfer to your mistress or her daughter is revoked. Both are permanently banned from the Delgado Group.”
Ramon dropped to his knees.
“Teresa… please… let me explain—”
She looked at him as if he were 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.”
Everyone turned to me.
“Starting today, I will take over the leadership of the Delgado Group. And in this company, there will never again be a ‘fake princess.’”
The applause erupted—loud, thunderous, unstoppable.
Ramon couldn’t even lift his head.
When everything was done, my mother and I walked out of the building.
The Manila sun shone brighter than ever.
She held my hand, her eyes red, but her smile proud.
“Valeria… thank you. If it weren’t for you, I would have lived a lie forever.”
I hugged her tightly.
“Mom, from today on… we live our own lives. Not the life of a traitor.”
At that moment, the building’s internal announcement echoed through the speakers:
New Chairwoman: Teresa Ramos
Interim Chief Executive Officer: Valeria Delgado
The employees cheered.
Below, Marina and Irene could only watch from a distance, hands trembling, completely defeated.
And Ramon—escorted out of the building—turned back to look at me, pleading.
I met his eyes and said calmly:
“Dad… I’m no longer the little girl you could fool.
And the Delgado Group… is no longer a place for traitors.”
The glass doors closed behind us.
A painful chapter ended.
A glorious one had just begun.