Introduction

She was utterly exhausted. She had witnessed the men setting fire to the tiny apartment she had been renting. "If they find me, they'll kill me. I must ensure the contents of this bag remain safe," she thought to herself.

"Remember everything I tell you. Protect these items at all costs," the elderly woman had sternly instructed her, gripping her hands tightly.

"But where am I supposed to take them? The madam will surely kill me if she discovers I have them."

"Don't be afraid. Once you reach the Philippines, seek her out directly. Explain your mission, and she'll take it from there," the old woman had reassured her, handing her a piece of paper from her pocket.

"I need to get out of here," she muttered to herself. A few hours later, she found herself at the airport. Thankfully, the elderly woman had arranged everything necessary for her departure. However, before she could reach her destination, a loud explosion echoed in the distance. Chaos ensued, with people scattering in all directions. Suddenly, she was yanked into a nearby room.

"You?" she gasped, recognizing the person before her.

"Stay quiet if you want to live," the woman warned, scanning their surroundings.

"You ask me to do this, and now you want to kill me?" she retorted, trembling with rage.

"Your loose lips will be the death of you if you don't keep quiet," the woman shot back.

A few minutes later, a cell phone rang. "Are you sure they're gone?" The woman nodded in response to the unheard reply.

"Hand over what you're carrying. Once we're out of here, I'll arrange for you and your family to be taken to a safe place. You'll stay there until we sort this out," the woman instructed after ending the call.

"How can I trust that we'll be safe there? How do I know you won't kill us?" she asked, her voice wavering.

"If I wanted you dead, why would I save you? I could have let them kill you, taken what you're carrying, and walked away," the woman replied, raising an eyebrow.

"Let's go before they decide to return," the woman urged, moving towards the door. She followed her in silence until they reached a waiting car. But as soon as they shut the doors, the car exploded.

Back at their home, the elderly woman nearly passed out as she watched the morning news.

"You can't do anything, mother. Only my children can inherit the family name," Miguel smirked at his wheelchair-bound mother.

"Not to someone as greedy as you. You won't get everything your father and I worked so hard for," the old woman retorted.

"And who will? Dad's illegitimate child? I'm your son, yet you favor him! I'm your son!" Miguel cried out in pain.

"Yes, he may be a bastard, but he was there for your father when you weren't. He stood by us when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy because of your actions. And you wonder why we favor him?"

"I don't care what you say. All that matters is that you transfer the company to me," Miguel demanded, standing up to leave. But his mother's words stopped him.

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't."

Miguel turned to face his mother. "What do you mean?"

"Your father's will states that only his deserving grandchildren can inherit his estate."

Miguel was about to respond when his mother smirked.

"Sadly, those grandchildren won't be yours."

Enraged by what he heard, Miguel slapped his mother.

"Shut up!" he yelled, trembling with anger.

Despite the threat, the woman showed no fear. She smiled and said,

"When your brother returns, he'll set things right, something I should have done long ago."

Upon hearing this, Miguel's vision blurred with rage, and he strangled his mother to death.