FORCED BY HER MOTHER-IN-LAW TO SIGN DIVORCE PAPERS FOR BEING “BROKE” AND POOR — THREE YEARS LATER, THE OLD WOMAN NEARLY FAINTS IN SHOCK WHEN SHE COMES FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE CEO SHE WAS ABOUT TO BEG

Night. Heavy rain poured down as lightning split the sky, as if the weather itself mirrored the weight in Rea’s heart. She was inside the library of the Villafuerte mansion. Standing before her was her mother-in-law, Doña Miranda, while her husband Jake stood silently in a corner, head bowed.

“Sign this!” Doña Miranda shouted as she hurled a folder straight at Rea’s face. The edge of the folder struck her cheek, leaving a small cut, but Rea ignored the pain.

“M-Ma… what is this?” Rea asked, her voice trembling.

“Annulment papers!” the old woman barked. “Let’s end this madness. You’ve lived here for three years, but what have you contributed to this family? Nothing! You’re a freeloader! You came from poverty, and you’ll die poor. My son needs a woman with class, connections, and money—not the daughter of a laundress like you!”

Rea turned to Jake. “Jake… you love me, don’t you? Please, stand up for me.”

But Jake didn’t look at her. “I’m sorry, Rea,” he whispered. “Mom controls my inheritance. If I don’t leave you, she’ll cut me off. I don’t have a choice.”

Rea’s heart shattered. The man she trusted had traded her for money.

“What are you waiting for? Sign it and get out!” Miranda ordered. “Don’t worry, I’ll give you fare money. One thousand pesos. That should be enough for someone like you.”

Rea wiped away her tears and picked up the pen.

“I don’t need your money,” she said firmly as she signed. “I’m signing not because I want to, but because you’ve proven what a worthless family you are.”

After signing, Rea picked up her old bag. She took nothing from them.

“Remember this night, Doña Miranda,” Rea said before stepping out into the rain. “The day will come when the ‘pauper’ you drove away will be the very person you bow down to.”

Miranda merely laughed. “In your dreams! You’ll die poor!”

Three years later.

The Villafuerte family business collapsed. Because of Jake’s gambling and Doña Miranda’s poor decisions, they were buried in debt. Their construction firm was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Their only hope was to partner with a rising giant known as Phoenix Real Estate Developments, rumored to be the fastest-growing company in all of Asia.

Doña Miranda received an invitation to Phoenix’s Grand Launching and Gala Night.

“This is our chance, Jake!” she said excitedly while fixing her old gown. “We need to win over the CEO of Phoenix. He’ll surely save our company.”

They arrived at the venue. Everything was extravagant. The guests were all billionaires. Jake felt ashamed of his worn-out suit, but Miranda still held her head high, pretending they were still wealthy.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” the host announced into the microphone. “Please welcome the Founder and CEO of Phoenix Real Estate—the woman of the hour…”

The massive doors at the center of the stage opened. Smoke filled the air as spotlights flashed.

“…Ms. Andrea ‘Rea’ Santos!”

Doña Miranda’s eyes widened. Jake’s jaw dropped.

From the smoke emerged a stunning woman in a red velvet gown adorned with diamonds. Her hair was perfectly styled, her skin flawless, and her presence radiated power.

There was no doubt. It was Rea—the former “pauper” they had thrown out into the storm.

“N-No… this can’t be…” Miranda whispered. “How? How did she become rich?”

Thunderous applause filled the hall as Rea stepped up to the podium.

“Good evening,” Rea began, her voice calm and confident. “Many people ask why I named my company Phoenix. The answer is simple. Three years ago, certain people burned my life to the ground. They trampled on me and threw me into the mud. But from the ashes of that destruction, I was reborn—stronger and tougher.”

Her gaze shifted toward Miranda and Jake. Their eyes met.

Miranda turned pale. She wanted to hide, but it was too late.

After the speech, networking began. Investors flocked around Rea.

With shameless audacity, Doña Miranda dragged Jake toward her.

“My child! Rea!” Miranda called out with a forced smile. “Oh my God, it really is you! You’re so beautiful now! I’m so proud of you!”

The surrounding crowd fell silent. Rea looked the old woman up and down, her gaze colder than ice.

“Excuse me?” Rea said. “Do I know you?”

“My child,” Miranda laughed nervously, sweating. “It’s me—Mommy Miranda! And this is Jake, your husband! We’re here to support you! Maybe… we could talk about a partnership? We’re family, after all.”

“Family?” Rea raised an eyebrow. “The last time I remember that word was when an old woman threw me out into a storm because I had no money—and when my husband chose his inheritance over me.”

The guests began whispering. “So it was them?” “How shameless.”

Jake stepped forward, tears in his eyes. “Rea… I’m sorry. I still love you. Can we start over?”

Rea let out a bitter laugh.

“Jake, look around,” she said, gesturing to the grand ballroom. “Everything you see here—my success, my wealth—I achieved because you were no longer in my life. You were the burden I had to remove. So why would I ever go back?”

She turned to her security team.

“Guards,” Rea commanded, “please escort these people out. They are not invited. This event is for decent and honorable people only. Trash is not allowed here.”

“Rea! You can’t do this to us!” Miranda screamed as the guards grabbed her arms. “I’m your mother-in-law!”

“I used to be your daughter-in-law,” Rea replied, turning away. “Now you’re just a bad memory.”

Miranda and Jake were dragged out of the hotel, their humiliation witnessed by everyone. The once-arrogant Doña was now thrown out by the very woman she had oppressed.

Rea remained inside, surrounded by success and respect. She had proven—to herself and to the world—that a person’s true worth is not measured by the money in their pocket, but by the strength to rise again after being crushed by others.