I smiled.
“I want everything back… quietly.
And I don’t want Marissa or Carlo to know I’m behind it.
Not yet.”
He nodded slowly.
“I can do that.”
When I left his office, I felt alive.
For the next weeks, I lived a double life:
To the world, I was a poor widow abandoned by her daughter.
But secretly, I was reclaiming every piece of my life.
The neighbors whispered.
People offered pity.
I accepted it all with a smile.
Until one morning, Atty. Ramon called.
“Ma’am Lourdes, good news.
We’ve recovered the Tagaytay house.
And we’re finalizing your full control of the Manila apartment building.”
I thanked him and hung up.
And for the first time, I whispered to myself:
