The day my stepmother passed away, she left her biological son 50 million pesos, and I sadly received the old, dilapidated house. But on the day of demolition for reconstruction, a secret was revealed that left the whole family speechless.

The day my stepmother passed away, the whole neighborhood in Quezon City was filled with all kinds of gossip. Relatives said she was biased: she left her biological son – my half-brother – a huge sum of 50 million pesos, while I only received a dilapidated house with peeling plaster walls and a rusty metal roof.

In their eyes, I was just “anak sa unang asawa” – an abandoned stepchild. Some even whispered:
– “Mayroon pa rin siyang bahay, dapat magpasalamat na siya. Hindi naman siya tunay na anak.”

I smiled bitterly. Well, since my father passed away early, she had taken care of me. But how can I deny the truth: for years, she has always loved her biological son more than me. So, when I heard the news of the division of property, I was not surprised.

My younger brother, Nilo, could not hide his joy. During the funeral, he whispered in my ear:
– “Kuya, yung bahay mong bulok, kahit ibenta wala ring bibili. Ako? May 50 milyon, hindi ko na kailangang magtrabaho habang buhay.”

His words were like a knife piercing my heart. I silently signed the receipt for the old house, considering it as a last incense stick for the unfinished love between me and my stepmother.

The secret behind the wall

A few weeks later, I went to see that house. It was lying alone in the suburbs of Caloocan, the walls were patchy, the wooden doors were rotten. People advised to demolish it and rebuild. I called the workers.

The sound of hammers was loud. Suddenly a worker shouted:

“Sir, may nakatago sa pader!”

I rushed forward. Behind the old bricks, a safe appeared. I trembled, my heart pounding. It took almost an hour to open it.

Inside was not gold or silver, nor cash, but a thick stack of papers and a notebook.

The first page, in familiar handwriting – it was my stepmother, Aling Teresa:

“Kung binabasa mo ito, ibig sabihin wala na ako. Huwag kang malungkot na si Nilo ang binigyan ko ng 50 milyon. Ginawa ko iyon dahil alam kong sakim siya sa pera – iyon ang magiging tanikala niya. Sa iyo, anak, inilaan ko ang lahat ng totoo.”

I flipped to the next page. Below were land titles, company shares, real estate certificates – the total value of which exceeded 50 million pesos. All of them were in my name.

My legs felt weak. It turned out that the old house was not the “abandoned” part, but where she hid all her real assets.

In the notebook, she added:

“Nang mamatay ang tatay mo, nangako akong aalagaan kita tulad ng sarili kong anak. Pero alam kong lagi mong iniisip na mas mahal ko si Nilo. Anak, kailangan kong gawin iyon. Mainitin ang ulo niya, at kung hindi niya aakalain na mas marami siyang nakuha, baka gumawa siya ng masama. Patawarin mo ako. Ang lahat ng ito, para sa pamilya. Naniniwala akong alam mong gagamitin mo ito sa tama.”

My tears fell. During the years I lived with her, I used to think she didn’t love me. Now, each trembling letter showed me a deep, silent love.

The moment the truth was revealed

The news about the safe quickly spread. Nilo rushed forward frantically, screaming:

“Hindi patas! Ako ang tunay na anak! Bakit sa kanya lahat?!”

I gave the notebook to him to read. After skimming a few lines, his face turned pale. He threw the notebook down, crying like a child. After so many years of being pampered, he finally understood: the 50 million he held was actually just “pang-akit”.

I looked at him, my voice choked:

“Hindi ka kinamuhian ni Nanay. Ginawa niya ito para turuan kang maging tao. Huwag mong hayaang lamunin ka ng pera.”

Nilo collapsed, covering his face and sobbing.

A New Beginning

I decided to use that money to establish the Teresa Foundation Scholarship Fund, to help orphans like me. I want people to remember her not by gossiping about “favoritism”, but by the love she silently gave.

That night, I burned incense in front of her portrait. For the first time in many years, I called her “Inay” completely, without any hesitation.

Outside, the wind blew through the broken window, gently shaking the old curtain. I seemed to hear her smile, at peace after all

When I announced the establishment of the Teresa Foundation – a scholarship fund named after my stepmother – many people in the neighborhood were moved, and the press also reported positively. But the joy was not complete when the storm came.

Nilo, my younger half-brother, suddenly appeared with an angry look. He slammed the newspaper on the table:

“Kuya, paano mo nagawang gamtin ang pera ni Inay nang hindi tinatanong ako? Ako ang tunay na anak, dapat hati tayo!”

I calmly replied:

“Nilo, it’s all in your name. Inay left it clearly. I received 50 million pesos, and this part she wants you to use to help others. Don’t turn your mother’s love into a fight.”

But Nilo’s eyes flashed with resentment:

“Kung gano’n, magkita na lang tayo sa korte!”

A month later, Nilo officially filed a lawsuit in the Quezon City court, demanding that all the assets left by his mother be divided in half, despite the papers being in my name.

The court was called. The press quickly caught wind of the case, turning it into a hot topic:

“Biological son sues half-brother – disputes over hundreds of millions of pesos in inheritance.”

On the first day of court, Nilo appeared with a famous inheritance lawyer. He smiled coldly when he looked at me, as if he was sure of victory.

In the courtroom, Nilo’s lawyer stood up, his voice firm:
– “My client’s honor was trampled. He – just a stepchild – took possession of all the assets. Everyone knows that the late Mrs. Teresa loved her biological child the most. Yet the papers were only in the name of this stepchild, how absurd!”

I clenched my fists. My lawyer, a humble but sharp man, replied:
– “We have evidence. This is the handwritten will of the late Mrs. Teresa, confirming that she left all her real estate assets and shares to her step-son – Mr. Miguel – with clear reasons. Meanwhile, Mr. Nilo has received the full 50 million pesos. The court can compare the handwriting and confirm its legality.”

The whole room was in an uproar when the will and contracts in my name were presented.

But Nilo did not stop. He stood up and cried in front of the judge:
– “Ako ang anak na dugo’t laman! Bakit ganito ang iniwan sa akin? Hindi patas! Kahit anong papel, hindi matutumbasan ng dugo!”

The whole courtroom fell silent. I looked at my brother, saw his red eyes, filled with not only greed, but also the despair of a child who had been pampered all his life, suddenly realizing that he was no longer the center.

After many days of debate, the court issued a temporary verdict:

All property documents are legally in my name.

However, because Nilo filed a lawsuit against the inheritance, the court will continue to review the evidence for the next 3 months.

That means I still hold the rights, but the scholarship fund is forced to temporarily suspend operations until the dispute is resolved.

That night, I returned to my mother’s old house, sitting alone in front of her portrait. The candle flickered, the wind whistled outside the window. I choked up and whispered:
– “Inay, have I done the right thing? I want to keep my mother’s words, but my brother is turning everything into a battlefield…”

In that moment, I understood: this battle was not just a legal one. It is a tug-of-war between love and justice, between greed and compassion – and I, whether I win or lose, will carry a wound that will never heal.