The husband took his girlfriend and her child on a trip, leaving his wife at home because she was sick in the hospital, and the child had no money to pay for school. The mother-in-law came from the home town to witness the heartbreaking scene of her daughter-in-law. She did something surprising…
One hot afternoon in Quezon City, Maria – a 35-year-old woman, thin and pale-faced – suddenly fainted at home.
The doctor said she was anemic and extremely weak, and needed to be hospitalized for observation.
Her husband, Roberto, was indifferent. He coldly retracted a sentence:
“Take care of that, I’m busy with work.”
But the “work” Roberto mentioned was preparing for a trip to Europe with his girlfriend – a young woman named Lara, an employee of the same company, smart and attractive, with a child at home who was about three years old.
Not only that, Roberto also generously spent over 400,000 pesos for a “fun trip for three”: he, Lara, and her child.
Meanwhile, in the hospital, Maria lay quietly in an IV bed.
Her body was weak, her eyes were dark, and her little daughter – Bea, eight years old – sat hunched over in the hallway, no one to pick her up, no one to take care of her.
The teacher called to urge Maria to pay the tuition, but she had less than 500 pesos left in her wallet.
She had to ask a neighbor for help to pick up her daughter and borrow money to temporarily pay the tuition.
She knew clearly that until Roberto returned, she would have no more money left.
That day, in Batangas, Lola Teresita – Roberto’s mother – kept calling her son but she couldn’t answer.
She called her daughter-in-law but no one answered.
Feeling that something was wrong, she boarded a bus to Manila.
And the scene before her eyes made her dizzy.
Maria lay alone in the hospital bed, very thin, and still had an IV in her arm.
And her granddaughter Bea sat on the floor, holding the half-finished carton of milk from this morning, sucking it in small sips.
Teresita was stunned.
“My God, Maria… what happened to you?”
Maria forced a smile, tears welling up in her eyes:
“It’s nothing, Mama. I’m just tired. Maybe tomorrow, I’ll be home.”
She looked around the empty room, then down the hallway – there was no sign of her daughter.
“Where is Roberto? Why isn’t he here? How did he leave you like this?”
Maria bowed her head and said softly:
“He said he was very busy with work, Ma.”
But innocent little Bea looked up:
“That’s not true, Grandma. Papa is in Europe with Aunt Lara and baby Bi. He said, Mama and I will just wait at home.”
That naive statement was like a knife piercing the old woman’s heart.
She sat down heavily on the chair, her hands shaking as she held onto the bed.
That night, after feeding her granddaughter, Grandma Teresita quietly called home:
“Mang Mario, tomorrow you will send the three sacks of rice, some chickens, and the land title to Manila, okay? I will take care of something here.”
The next morning, Grandma went to the bank, withdrew all 1.3 million pesos in savings – the money she had saved for her old age.
Then she took her to the hospital, paid all of Maria’s hospital bills, and paid Bea’s one-year school fees.
Maria burst into tears and knelt before her mother-in-law:
“Mama, why did you do this? Save that. It should be for you!”
She held her daughter-in-law’s hand and said firmly:
“I’m old, hija. I don’t need money anymore. But you and your son — you are the flesh and blood of this family. My son is the one who committed the crime, but I know who truly loved him.”
Then she added, her eyes shining with determination:
“When Roberto returns, I will show him what shame means.”
Three weeks later, Roberto returned home.
He entered the house, laughing and pulling out his suitcase, not expecting to see his mother waiting for him, with two neighbors and a ward official by his side.
She placed a stack of papers on the table, her voice calm:
“This is the title to the house. I have had your name removed. Maria is now the owner. I have given her my money in the bank. And you — get out of this house. I don’t have a child like you anymore.”
Maria was silent, holding her daughter’s hand tightly.
Mrs. Teresita looked at the mother and daughter, her eyes blurred with tears but shining with pride:
“Daughter, live well. Heaven takes care of those who know how to love. In the end, the true and good heart will remain.”
Outside the veranda, the afternoon sun poured down on the tin roof, the wind gently shaking the bougainvillea trellis.
For the first time in years, Maria felt relieved –
because at least she still had a mother-in-law who considered her a true relative in this stormy life
Roberto turned pale, murmuring:
“Ma… please… why are you treating me like this?”
He looked straight into her eyes, his voice trembling but firm:
“Because you let your wife and child starve to d:eath while you made others happy. If you still have any shame, go away.”