Seeing his mother slap his wife until her mouth bled, the husband left his wife lying there and then brought out this thing that shocked the whole family
Ana and I got married after three years of dating. Ana is a gentle, educated girl who always knows how to behave. But since the day she stepped into her husband’s house, she has become a “thorn” in the eyes of my mother – Aling Rosa. She always wanted me to marry someone “of equal social status”, while Ana is just an ordinary teacher.

Small collisions in daily life are enough to make my mother frown. Ana tried to be patient, but the more she endured, the more she took advantage. I was stuck between my mother’s love and my wife’s love, and many times I could only keep silent.

That day was the anniversary of my father’s death – Mang Arturo. Ana woke up early to cook and bring the tray of food to the altar. Just because she accidentally spilled a bowl of soup, my mother flew into a rage. In front of relatives, she swung her hand and slapped Ana like a bolt from the blue. Blood flowed from the corner of Ana’s lips, and her small body staggered and fell to the floor.

The whole house was dead silent. My wife lay there, her eyes filled with tears; my mother jerked her chin, her voice cold:

— “What a clumsy daughter-in-law, you’ve brought shame to the whole family!”

I stood still. My heart clenched when I saw Ana covering her face, but I didn’t run to help her. I turned away and hurried upstairs. Everyone thought I had abandoned my wife, weak in front of my mother. My relatives shook their heads; my mother was even more pleased.

But no one knew, I walked away to do something else. I went into the room, opened the cupboard, and took out something that should have been prepared…a prepared set of papers: the land ownership certificate of the family house in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, and the will my father left behind. For a long time, my mother had proudly said that the house was her “sweat and tears” to oppress my wife. But the truth was, before he died, my father had made a will to transfer the TCT to me—his only son.

I hugged the papers and walked downstairs. Everyone was stunned. I walked up to my mother, placed TCT and the will on the table, and said calmly but firmly:

— “Mom, I have been silent all this time to keep the peace. But today you have gone too far. This house is the legacy that my father left me according to the will and TCT is in my name. If you cannot accept Ana, my wife and I will move out. At that time, you will live alone in this big house. I have all the documents. Please don’t think that I am weak and can do whatever I want.”

The room was silent. Mom was stunned, her face pale. She did not expect that her son, who she thought was gentle and patient, could be so straightforward.

I helped Ana stand up and wiped the tears from my wife’s face. My voice trembled but was firm:

— “I’m sorry for making you suffer. But from now on, I will not let anyone hurt you again.”

Mom trembled and sat down on the chair. For the first time, she had nothing to say. In front of her relatives, she silently bowed her head.

After that day, my mother’s attitude changed completely. She spoke less, no longer criticized like before. I know that the shock made her understand that if she continued, she would lose both her children and grandchildren.

Ana was still gentle, still took good care of her mother-in-law, even though her heart was still full of wounds. But it was my determination that day that made her believe that this marriage was worth continuing.

I learned one thing: in the family, sometimes silence is not patience, but preparation for the moment to stand up to protect the person you love. And when that moment comes, decisiveness can change everything.