Just then, the doorbell rang. I looked at my watch — it was exactly 10 o’clock.

I went to open the door, and it was lawyer Villanueva, carrying a briefcase.

“Madam Mila, I’m here,” he said, bowing slightly.

“Come in.”

As soon as he entered, he opened his briefcase and took out a stack of documents.

“These are all the documents related to the sale of the house, I need your signature.”

Clarisse was stunned.

 

“What documents?”

Lawyer Villanueva pushed up his glasses:

“Of course they are the documents to sell this house. Madam Mila wants to sell the house so she needs to complete the procedure.”

“Selling the house?” Clarisse’s voice was high-pitched. “This is our house! What right do you have to sell it?”

“Sorry, you’re wrong.” The lawyer pulled out the red book, “The legal owner is Mrs. Milagros Santos, Madam Mila.”

Clarisse quickly grabbed the notebook, and when she saw my name clearly printed, her face immediately turned pale.

“How… how could this be?”

I calmly replied:
“This house was originally mine. Twenty years ago, I paid for it, and I just let Rafael stay there temporarily because I felt sorry for Rafael. Now that I’m moving out, it’s normal for my house to be sold.”

Rafael stood there dumbfounded.
“Mom… are you really the owner of this house?”

“If not, then what? Do you think a fresh graduate can afford to buy a house in the city center?”

Aunt May, my best friend, interjected:
“That’s right, back then your mother worked hard to buy this house.”

Clarisse still tried to salvage the situation:
“Even if it’s your house, so what? After all, we’re family, you can’t be so heartless!”

I laughed:
“A house? Who said I was an outsider, that I should rent a house outside?”

“Mom… I was just joking,” Clarisse said frantically.

“And I’m not joking.” I turned to the lawyer and asked:
“By law, how long do I give them to move out?”

“Usually, you can give them a month.”

“A month is too long,” I said slowly. “Give them a week — they don’t have much stuff anyway.”

Clarisse sank into her chair, her previous momentum gone.

Rafael finally spoke, his voice choked:
“Mom… how did you get the money to buy a house?”

I sat down and calmly replied:
“Son, maybe it’s time for me to tell you. More than 20 years ago, your father left me because he thought I was poor and ran off with another woman.”

I lifted my teacup and took a sip.
“I was five years old then. Mom worked during the day, and came home to study investment and finance at night.”

Rafael stared — he had never heard of all of that.

“It was really hard back then. The salary was meager, and there was nothing left except for living expenses. But Mom couldn’t bear it — why should women be looked down upon?”

“She learned little by little,” Aunt May continued. “At first, it was just saving, then switching to stocks and mutual funds. Many nights, she stayed up until 2 or 3 in the morning, reading financial reports.”

I smiled:
“Then from a few thousand, to tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands. By 2008, when everyone was selling off, Mom quietly bought in.”

Clarisse heard that, her face pale.

“So… how much money do you have now?”

I shrugged:
“I checked a few days ago, it’s probably around ₱300 million.”

“₱300 million?” Clarisse asked, trembling.

“Not counting real estate and other investments,” added lawyer Villanueva.

“Madam Mila currently owns six houses in Manila, all in prime locations.”

Rafael was stunned:
“Mom… are you a billionaire?”

“Let’s say so,” I replied, my voice as light as air. “But for you, having enough to live on is enough.”

Bang! — Clarisse fell to her knees in front of me.

“Mom… I was wrong. I was really wrong! Don’t be angry with me, please don’t sell the house. We… don’t have a place to live.”

I calmly said:
“Then those designer bags and jewelry you just bought, selling them will be enough to pay for the rent.”

Clarisse choked up, tears streaming down her face.

Rafael bowed his head:
“Mom… I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect you.”

I looked at my son, my heart softened, but remembering his silence when Clarisse chased me away, my heart turned cold again.

“Rafael, you’re 28 years old. It’s time to learn how to take care of yourself.”

I stood up.
“I’ll sell this house. I’ll go back to the lake villa to rest.”

Clarisse rushed over and pulled my hand:
“Mom… please give me another chance.”

I pulled my hand away:
“A chance? When you chased me out of the house, did you think about giving me a chance?”

Aunt May held my bag for me.
“Let’s go, Mila, the driver is waiting.”

I turned back to lawyer Villanueva:
“You’ll handle the rest according to the legal process.”

“Yes, I understand, Madam Mila.”

When I left, Clarisse’s crying and Rafael’s sighs still echoed behind me.

Downstairs, the black Rolls-Royce was already parked in front of the gate.

The driver opened the door, bowed his head:

“Madam Mila, where are we going?”

“To the lake villa.”

Sitting in the car, Aunt May turned to smile:
“You’ve been holding back for so many years, and finally exploded?”

I chuckled:
“I don’t want to make a fuss, but that girl is really too much.”

“Serves her right!” Aunt May said, “The kind of person who looks down on others, if you don’t teach her a lesson, she won’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.”

The car slowly rolled out of the residential area. I looked out the window — my heart was in turmoil, a little regretful, but absolutely no regrets. What happened today really disappointed me.

Just let them suffer for a while and see what happens

pond.

While I was thinking, the phone rang — it was Rafael calling.

I hesitated for a moment, then picked up.

“Mom… where are you? Can I come see you?”

I asked coldly:
“Did your wife agree to let me go?”

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds, then Rafael whispered:
“Mom, I’m going to break up with Clarisse.”

I was a little stunned.

“Because of the house?”

“It’s not just that, Mom. After you left, I saw her true colors. She scolded me for being useless, saying that if it weren’t for the house, she would have broken up with me long ago.”

I sighed softly.

“My business, you decide for yourself.”

“Mom, can I come see you? I have a lot to say…”

“No need. From now on, I have to learn to live on my own.”

I decisively hung up.

Aunt May looked at me:
“Rafael wants to come?”

“Yeah. He said he wants to break up with Clarisse.”

“That’s great. That kind of woman, the sooner you break up, the better.”

That afternoon, Mr. Tan, my investment manager, came to visit.
“Madam Mila, the 50 million you requested has been transferred to your account,” he said.
“Oh, there are some potential projects recently, do you want to take a look?”

I took the documents, flipped through a few pages, and said:
“Let’s put it aside for now. I’m not in the mood these days.”

Mr. Tan smiled:
“I heard you finally revealed your true identity.”

I just smiled lightly.
“You were forced to.”

“You should have done it a long time ago. You hid it so well, even I forgot you were once the ‘investment queen’ in the financial world.”

I smiled, not saying anything more.

After a few words about investments, Mr. Tan left.

I went out to the garden alone. My phone rang with several messages from the bank — all of them about investments that were due to mature.

It was funny to think that Clarisse had scolded me for being wasteful because I spent ₱5,000 on food every month, not knowing that my daily interest was ten times that amount.

At that moment, a message popped up — it was Clarisse.

“Mom, please forgive me. I know I was wrong. I swear to be filial to you…”

Below it was a long paragraph of apologies, which looked fake.

I didn’t reply, and blocked the number directly.

A while later, another message came from an unknown number:

“Auntie, this is Clarisse. I know you’re angry, but please, for the sake of the relationship between me and Rafael, give me another chance…”

I chuckled.
“This girl is really stubborn.”

For dinner, Mr. Tran, my butler, cooked a few simple dishes.

“General Manager Mila, I made it according to your taste — light, less greasy.”

“Thank you.”

While eating, I remembered the days at my son’s house. Every time I cooked, Clarisse complained about the smell of oil and the “rustic” food. To please her, I learned a bunch of Western dishes, made salads, and European-style soups.

Now that I think about it… it’s ridiculous.

After dinner, I video called my sister who lives abroad.

“Sister, I heard you finally stopped ‘pretending to be poor’?” she smiled brightly.

“I just live a private life.”

“Too private! Even my son doesn’t know you’re a tycoon!”

I smiled bitterly.

“Now he knows, but the result is not happy.”

The younger sister comforted:
“It’s okay, Rafael is still a good kid. He was just blinded by that girl. One day he will understand you.”

I nodded, ending the call.

That night, lying on the bed, looking at the ceiling… I felt both relieved and heartbroken.

My life, from now on, officially entered a new chapter.

The next morning, I was awakened by the doorbell.

Mr. Tran knocked lightly:
“Madam Mila, there is a girl outside who claims to be your daughter-in-law, and she insists on meeting.”

I smiled softly.

“I knew it. She won’t give up easily. Let her wait in the living room.”

After washing my face, I leisurely walked downstairs.

Clarisse sat on the sofa, and as soon as she saw me, she rushed over:
“Mom! You finally agreed to meet me!”

I took a step back, avoiding her hug.

“If you have something to say, say it directly, don’t pretend to be close.”

Clarisse awkwardly withdrew her hand.

“Mom, I thought about it all night yesterday… I really know my mistake.”

“Really?” I asked, my voice cold. “Know where I went wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have criticized you for being a spendthrift, and shouldn’t have kicked you out of the house.”

I laughed coldly. “Is that all?”

Clarisse bit her lip:
“You… you shouldn’t have looked down on me, judging people by their appearance.”

I sat down on the sofa, looking straight at her:
“You only know now? It’s too late. I hate the type of people who value money over others the most.”

Clarisse lowered her head, silent.

“Don’t call me mom anymore,” I said firmly. “I don’t have a daughter-in-law like you. Security guard, see off the guests.”

Clarisse was about to say something, but was politely and firmly asked out by the security guard.

Not long after, Rafael called again.
“Mom, is Clarisse here to see you off?”

“Yes. She was chased away by Mom.”

“Sorry, Mom, she came on her own. I made it clear that we were going to break up. I didn’t expect her to bother you again.”

Hearing her say that, my heart softened a little. But then I doubted it — maybe it was just a play between the two of them.

“Have you thought it through?”
“I have, Mom. I submitted a transfer request, wanting to start over. Clarisse and I… are done.”

I nodded.
“That’s your business. As for future feelings, remember to look at people with your eyes open. And from now on, Mom won’t interfere anymore. You have to go your own way.”

Rafael’s face turned pale.
Obviously, he didn’t expect me to be so decisive.

“Okay, Mom

I’m going to rest.”

Rafael clenched his fists and took a deep breath:
“Then I’ll go. Take care of yourself. I won’t come again.”

I nodded.
“Don’t worry, Mom is doing well.”

The door closed. The last of my softness disappeared.
If she had chosen to break up, then so be it.

A few days later, Clarisse came to see me again. Sometimes she brought gifts, sometimes she wrote letters of apology, and even asked her parents to come and beg for her.
It was obvious that she couldn’t let go of the money in my hands.

If she had known this day would come, she should have been more reasonable.

Now, seeing her play, I just find it ridiculous.

I absolutely will not forgive her.

Lawyer Villanueva called:
“Madam Mila, Clarisse absolutely refuses to move out and is making a mess in the house. Do you want to proceed with enforcement?”
“Okay. Just follow the procedure.”

Sure enough, she couldn’t take it anymore.

On the day of the move, I asked Aunt May to come along.

Clarisse was urging the workers to carry things, and Rafael was there to help — it turned out they hadn’t made up their minds yet.

Rafael coldly turned away when he saw me. Clarisse rushed forward:

“Mom, please give me another chance!”

I didn’t answer, just walked straight into the house.

Twenty years — this house holds so many memories.

From the time Rafael learned to walk, to the day he graduated from college…
I never thought that one day, everything would end like this.

Actually, there was a secret I never told Rafael —
He’s not my biological son.

It was time to tell him, so as not to hold any grudges later.

“Madam Mila, I’ve checked everything, there’s no damage,” lawyer Villanueva reported.

Behind her, Clarisse was still crying:
“Mom, I know I’m wrong, please forgive me!”

Aunt May said coldly:
“Girl, that’s enough. If you’re truly sorry, then quietly leave, don’t act here anymore.”

Clarisse was speechless, completely silent.

Just then, my phone rang — Rafael texted:

“Mom, I didn’t expect you to go this far. Just because of a small matter, you’re so heartless?
I said I was going to break up with Clarisse, why don’t you give me any rights?

Then we’re over. When you’re old and weak, don’t even think about coming to me. That’s the consequence you brought upon yourself.”

Along with that were a few photos — he cut the photos of us together.

I laughed coldly. Was he trying to soften my heart? It was useless.

I texted back:

“Okay, it’s up to you. By the way, there’s something I haven’t told you yet:
You were originally the child I adopted from the orphanage.
If you want to leave, then go. I can still adopt another child — a better, more grateful one.

From now on, don’t call me mom anymore. Between us, it’s over.”

After sending it, I saw Rafael standing not far away —
His face was pale, his eyes were blank, as if he had just been struck by lightning.

He had not expected to be exposed like this — and that he had destroyed everything with his own hands.

Rafael suddenly shouted loudly, rushed forward and strangled Clarisse:
“It’s all your fault! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have lost everything! You vile woman!”

The two people were arguing, cursing, fighting… the scene was chaotic.

I didn’t want to see more.
Holding Aunt May’s hand, I turned and walked away.

A month later, I heard that Rafael had quit his job and was wandering around like a homeless person all day. People said he often stood on the street corner, carrying a bottle of wine, muttering sorry to his mother.

As for Clarisse, after Rafael’s beating, she had to stay in the hospital for half a month.
Not long after leaving the hospital, Rafael himself denounced her on TV — becoming the “typical bad daughter-in-law” all over social media.
Her reputation was ruined, no one dared to mess with her. In the end, she fled back to her hometown and disappeared.

And what about me?
Life gradually returned to normal.
Every morning I woke up early, listened to music, made tea, and walked around the flower garden by the lake.
I smiled and said to myself:

“From now on, Mila Santos will only live for herself. There is no one else worth hurting.”