A YEAR AFTER THE DIVORCE, MY EX-MOTHER-IN-LAW CAME TO INSULT ME AND TELL ME THAT I WAS WORTHLESS… BUT WHEN A MAN ENTERED, SUDDENLY HER FACE TURNED PALE IN EXTREME FEAR!
I. The Bitterness of Yesterday and the Sweet Awakening
A year ago, my ex-husband Rico’s family threw me out. During our five years of marriage, I did everything I could to be a good wife. I took care of him, took care of their house, and endured all the hurtful words of his mother, Donya Carmela. To Donya Carmela, I was nothing but “hampaslupa” and “trash” because I came from a poor family and had no proud last name.
When their company got into trouble, Donya Carmela forced Rico to divorce me so that she could marry a politician’s son. Because Rico was a subservient son of his mother, he signed the divorce papers and threw me out of their mansion with nothing but my clothes.
“Remember, Maya,” Donya Carmela told me that night with her eyebrows raised. “You are worthless. You will starve to death outside and come back here crawling like a dog!”
But she was wrong. I used all that pain and anger as fuel to pursue my dreams. With the help of a small savings and a lot of hard work, I was able to build my own business—“Lumina,” an exclusive and famous high-end fashion and jewelry boutique that is now frequented by the wealthiest people in the country.
II. The Unexpected Guest
One afternoon, I was quietly arranging a new set of diamond necklaces in the VIP section of my boutique. I was wearing a simple but elegant black silk dress.
Suddenly, the door to the VIP room opened and a familiar and piercing voice entered.
“Is this the VIP room? Make sure you show me the most expensive jewelry. We’re going to have a big celebration because our company is finally joining forces with the Santillan Empire!” a woman proudly announced.
Turning around, I saw Donya Carmela, along with her two impoverished friends. When our eyes met, the old man suddenly stopped. His brow furrowed, and his face gradually turned into an insulting smile.
“You guessed it,” Donya Carmela laughed sarcastically as she approached me. “I thought you were picked up somewhere. You only work here as a lowly saleslady? Or maybe a glass cleaner?”
III. The Humiliation in Front of Friends
I didn’t flinch. I looked at him with a perfectly calm and formal smile.
“Good afternoon, Donya Carmela. How can I serve you?” I asked calmly.
The old man’s head grew even bigger. He turned to his friends. “Look at this woman, my friends. She is the ex-wife of my son Rico. A leech who sucked our wealth. It’s a good thing I threw her out. Look now, she’s just a polisher of jewelry that she could never afford to buy!”
Her friends laughed.
“That’s what happens when you’re uneducated and worthless,” Donya Carmela added, smiling and pointing at me emphatically. “Do you know, Maya? Tomorrow we’re going to sign a contract with Mr. Alejandro Santillan, the richest and most powerful billionaire in Asia. When that happens, our family will be even richer. So if you want a coin, I can give you a tip now.”
She was about to open her mouth to utter another insult when the doorbell suddenly rang.
IV. The Arrival of a King
The large glass door of the VIP room opened and a tall man entered. He was wearing a perfectly tailored Armani suit. His presence carried so much authority and power that it seemed to stop the world from spinning in the room. Two bodyguards and an assistant followed him.
When Donya Carmela saw him, the old man’s eyes almost popped out. His appearance immediately changed—from being arrogant to looking like a gentle dog.
“M-Mr. Santillan!” Donya Carmela exclaimed, running over to greet the billionaire. “It’s a great honor to see you in person! I am Donya Carmela of the Vergara Group… the company you will be partnering with tomorrow!”
But Alejandro Santillan ignored her. He just looked at Donya Carmela coldly like a passing wind, and continued walking… towards me.
When he got close to me, his cold and scary eyes were suddenly replaced with overwhelming love and tenderness. He gently grabbed my waist and kissed my forehead in front of everyone.
“My love, are you done with your work here?” Alejandro asked softly. “I’ve been waiting for you for a while. Our yacht is ready for our dinner date.”
V. The Fall and the Sweet Revenge
It was as if heaven and earth had fallen on Donya Carmela. Her entire face turned pale, and her knees trembled. Her friends were speechless and speechless.
“M-Mr. Santillan…” Donya Carmela’s voice trembled. “M-Do you know that saleslady?”
Alejandro turned to Donya Carmela. His face darkened and was full of menace.
“Saleslady?” Alejandro’s cold and terrifying answer. “I introduce to you Maya. The owner of this entire boutique… and my future wife.”
Donya Carmela stepped back, seemingly out of breath. “M-Owner? M-Future wife?!”
“I heard everything you said to her before I came in,” Alejandro continued, his voice like boiling acid. “You called her worthless? You called her trash?”
“N-No, Mr. Santillan, it was just a p-mistake…” the old man stammered and almost cried.
Alejandro took out his phone and called his secretary in front of them all. “Cancel all deals and contracts with the Vergara Group. Pull out all our investments, right now. And make sure no other company helps them. I want to see them collapse tomorrow.”
“Don’t! Please!” Donya Carmela knelt on the expensive floor of my boutique. Her arrogance was completely crushed. “Maya! Maya, I apologize! Please, talk to him! He’s going to bring down our family!”
I approached and looked at her from above. I stared at the woman who had tortured me for years.
“You’re not my family anymore, Donya Carmela,” I replied calmly and with a smile. “And like you said earlier… that’s what happens when you’re uneducated and worthless. What a pity.”
I grabbed Alejandro’s arm and we walked out of the boutique together, leaving Donya Carmela crying and begging on the floor as her own friends watched her complete collapse.
