THE FATHER LEFT THE WILDERNESS TO HIS YOUNGEST SON—WHILE THE OTHERS TOOK THE WEALTH…AND LIVED TO REGRET IT
Don Gustavo had three children, each very different from the others.
Rico, the eldest, was sharp-tongued and business-minded, obsessed with profit and appearances.
Selina, the middle child, adored luxury, status, and admiration.
And Mateo, the youngest, was quiet, humble, and happiest working the land beside his father.
When Don Gustavo felt his time nearing its end, he called his children together to hear the reading of his final will.
The lawyer cleared his throat.
“First,” he said, “to Rico, I leave the commercial building in Makati, along with fifty million pesos in cash.”
Rico’s eyes lit up. He laughed triumphantly.
“Perfect. I knew Dad understood real value.”
The lawyer continued.
“To Selina, I leave the mansion in Forbes Park, including all jewelry, artwork, and antiques.”
Selina gasped and clapped her hands.
“Oh my God—this is a dream! Thank you, Daddy!”
Then the lawyer turned to Mateo.
“And to Mateo,” he said, pausing slightly, “I leave the land known as the Mountain of Happiness, located in the province.”
The room erupted in laughter.
“A mountain?” Rico scoffed. “That place is nothing but weeds, rocks, and snakes. You can’t farm it, build on it, or sell it.”
Selina smirked.
“Congratulations, little brother. Dad left you a pile of dirt.”
But Mateo didn’t argue. He bowed his head respectfully.
“Thank you, Papa,” he said softly. “I know that land mattered to you. I’ll take care of it.”
After the funeral, the siblings went their separate ways.
Rico dove into high-risk ventures, gambling, parties, and flashy deals. One by one, his businesses collapsed, draining his inheritance faster than he could earn it back.
Selina sold the mansion, traveled across Europe, and filled her closets with designer labels. Within a few years, the money thinned, leaving little more than photos and regrets.
Mateo, meanwhile, went to the Mountain of Happiness.
What his siblings said wasn’t wrong.
The land was brutal—overgrown grass, massive stones, twisted roots, and soil so hard it seemed impossible to cultivate. Even hired workers refused to help.
“That land isn’t worth the effort,” they said.
But Mateo stayed.
“My father gave this to me,” he whispered one morning, gripping his shovel. “And he never did anything without purpose.”
Every day before sunrise, Mateo worked alone.
He cut through tall grass.
He broke stubborn soil.
He hauled rocks by hand.
His palms blistered and hardened. His skin burned under the sun. His body ached—but he didn’t stop.
Six months passed.
Half the mountain stood cleared.
One afternoon, as Mateo struggled to loosen a massive rock lodged deep in the ground, he swung his pickaxe with all his strength.
CLANG.
The sound wasn’t stone.
It was metal.
Mateo froze.
Heart racing, he dug deeper—clearing dirt, pushing stones aside—until something unmistakable emerged from the earth.
And in that moment, Mateo finally understood why his father had smiled when he spoke of the mountain.
The land wasn’t worthless.
It had simply been waiting for someone patient enough to uncover its true riches.
This is not the sound of stone. This is the sound of iron .
Mateo was surprised. He dug deeper.
He discovered a man- made tunnel covered with rock and earth. It looked old, probably from the war.
Mateo entered with the torch.
Inside the cave, he was exposed to hundreds of steel boxes, each bearing their family’s name.
He opened one.
He was almost blinded by the spark.
GOLD BARS.
Not just one. Not just two. The cave is full of gold, old coins, and precious stones. It turns out that this is his grandfather’s long-lost treasure, and only Don Gustavo knows where it is buried.
On top of a box, Don Gustavo had a letter.
“For my son Mateo,
I know you will be the one reading this. Because of your siblings, you are the only one who has the patience to dig the soil and clean up the dirt. Wealth is not just given; it is earned.
Your brother wants a building that’s already built. Your sister wants a house to just live in. But you, you accepted the forest.
“This gold is for the one who is willing to sweat. It is yours, son. Use it for good.”
Mateo fell to his knees and cried. The “waste” land was the richest inheritance he could have.
The news spread. Mateo became a billionaire. He was richer than his siblings combined.
Rico and Selina arrive. Rico’s building has been foreclosed on by the bank. Selina is in deep credit card debt.
“Mateo!” Rico shouted, panting as he climbed the mountain. “Balato! We are your brothers! Don’t we share the inheritance?”
“Yes, Mateo!” Selina cried. “Daddy’s trickery! Why did he give you the gold? We should share it!”
Mateo faced them. Calm but firm.
“When I was given the land, you laughed at me,” said Mateo. “You said it was trash. You said it was worthless. Now that I worked hard to clean it up and found the treasure, do you want to share?”
The two bowed.
“I won’t abandon you because you’re my brother,” said Mateo. “But I won’t give you money.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Mateo took out two shovels and a spade.
“I will give you work. There is still half of the mountain that has not been cleared. If you want money, work in my Gold Mine . Your wages depend on your sweat.”
Rico and Selina had no choice but to accept the offer.
From then on, people saw the once proud brothers plowing the land under the scorching sun, while Mateo managed the wealth that the father had reserved for the son with the purest and most hardworking heart.