The day she returned to her mother’s house with her suitcase, the whole barangay San Roque in San Miguel, Bulacan was in an uproar. People were gossiping outside the alley, at the sari-sari shop:

— “Her husband kicked her out, I heard she was caught cheating.”

— “It was the husband who cheated, not her. It’s not unfair, if a woman knows how to keep her husband, how can she let him go with someone else!”

The last person she expected to protect her… was the first to give her a painful blow to her pride.

Nanay Lita, seeing that her daughter hadn’t had time to say anything, glared:
— “I’m asking you seriously, how did you live that your husband got bored enough to cheat? Men get bored and go somewhere else. No one has the time to destroy a happy marriage!”

Each sentence, each word was like a knife cutting into her heart. Lia Santos gripped the strap of her suitcase tightly, her throat choking, unable to say a word.

For three years as a wife, Lia cooked, did the laundry, and took care of her in-laws like her own parents. Even when she was pregnant, she still bent down to wash the dishes and clean the house. After giving birth, she took care of everything by herself, while her husband — Paulo Reyes — was busy… busy “on a business trip” with a close female colleague.

She had seen strange lipstick on his collar, had seen flirtatious text messages, had asked – had cried – had been silent. The response was denial, then threats:
— “If you say anything more, I will tell your mother everything.”

But today, her mother knew the truth. And instead of opening her arms to embrace her ragged daughter, she said:
— “My daughter is worthless, that’s why she was sent back to the factory like that.”

Lia’s heart, after being broken so many times, was now truly broken. She smiled faintly:
— “If I am at fault, it is for trying to live well. For believing in my family. For thinking my mother would understand me…”

That night, she left the house — the place where her childhood had been, and also the place where her last illusion had ended.

She did not return. Not because of pride. But because she understood: the woman who knows how to stand up from betrayal and rejection is the one who truly takes control of her own life.

Three years later…

The village was abuzz with new news:
— “That girl who was kicked out by her husband back then… is now driving back to visit the village.”

— “Huh? Lia? My God, what did she do to be so rich?”

The shiny black sedan stopped right in front of Nanay Lita’s house — a place where there was no room for the tears of a daughter betrayed by her husband.

Lia stepped down. Her hair was neatly tied up, her dress was simple white, her face was lightly made up, but her demeanor was cold and proud. The mother who had once nagged her was standing absent-mindedly on the porch, her hands trembling.

— “You… are back?”

Lia nodded, not smiling. She placed the gift bag on the table, her eyes calm:
— “Give me some tonics, I heard the ladies at the home for the aged say I often get dizzy.”

Nanay Lita was bewildered.
— “Home… for the aged?”

— “Yes. I have already booked a place in Quezon City. There is a private doctor there, meals are measured, there are staff to take you for walks and yoga every week. I think living here is enough for you.”

The mother turned pale.
— “You mean… kick me out?”

Lia curled her lips:
— “I’m just giving you back the way you used to ‘welcome’ me back.”

The man from back then — her ex-husband — is now a pre-selling real estate broker, having just gone bankrupt after a stupid investment in Caloocan. The new wife left, leaving behind two small children. Hearing that his ex-wife had returned, Paulo could not control himself and took a tricycle to find her.

— “I… miss you. I was wrong. Can we start over?”

Lia looked at the person who had made her lose all self-respect, her heart cold:
— “Do you miss me or the director’s chair at my company?”

Paulo lowered his head, silent. Lia smiled softly:
— “No need to be ashamed. I used to be someone who was fired like a freeloader. Now I also know what it means to ‘return to the factory’.”

She walked away. This time, she was the one who turned her back. Every step was steady, no longer clinging to the past.

Because the woman who was once left behind… might fall, but once she stood up, she would make the whole world look at her.