In a small village far from the city, life moved at a slower pace. The people here were hardworking, yet many struggled just to put food on the table. Among them was Bella, a twenty-two-year-old woman who had once dreamed of a bright future but was now trapped in a life of hardship.
Two years ago, Bella had graduated from college, hopeful and excited to find a stable job. However, fate had other plans. She met Glen, fell in love, and soon after, she became pregnant. In her heart, she believed that love was enough to build a happy family, so she married Glen despite his financial struggles.
But love alone couldn't provide food, shelter, or security. Glen was jobless, relying on odd part-time work and occasional handouts from his mother. Bella, now a mother to their one-year-old baby boy, Ham, had postponed her job search to take care of him. She planned to start looking for work once Ham turned two, hoping that Glen would take responsibility for their child while she earned for their future.
It was a particularly hot afternoon when Bella decided to walk home from the town market instead of spending money on a tricycle fare. She carried her baby in a cloth sling wrapped around her body, while both hands struggled to hold two heavy brown bags filled with the baby's food, diapers, and other necessities.
The journey was exhausting. Sweat trickled down her back, and her arms ached from the weight of the bags. Still, she pushed forward, determined to save every last cent.
Finally, she reached their small wooden house, her body screaming for rest. But before she could even turn the doorknob, she heard laughter from inside. Her steps froze. It was a woman's voice—light, flirtatious, and far too comfortable. She felt nervous. Who was in her house?
Before she could process her thoughts, the door swung open. Standing there was Glen, his arm wrapped around another woman's waist.
Bella's breath caught in her throat. The woman, a striking beauty with perfectly curled hair and bright red lips, turned to her with a smug smile. "Don't worry," she said sweetly, "I paid."
Bella's vision blurred. She felt her entire body tremble as her grip tightened around the brown bags. The woman casually picked up her purse and sauntered past Bella, leaving behind the scent of expensive perfume.
The moment she was gone, Bella stormed inside, rage exploding from within her. She dropped the bags and lunged at Glen, her hands flying toward his face. "How could you?!" she screamed, slapping him repeatedly.
"Hey! Stop it!" Glen yelped, grabbing her wrists to defend himself. "What's wrong with you?"
Tears streamed down Bella's face. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with YOU?" she shouted, trying to yank her hands free. "You're supposed to be my husband! You're supposed to be a father to our son! Instead, you're bringing another woman into our home?"
Glen sighed, as if bored by her reaction. "Bella, calm down," he said, releasing her hands. He pulled a thick wad of cash from his pocket and waved it in front of her. "See this? That woman—her name's Diana—gave me five thousand dollars." He smirked. "This money can buy food, milk, and diapers for Ham. So what's the problem?"
Bella's stomach twisted in disgust. She stared at the money in his hands, feeling sick to her core.
"You think that makes it okay?" she whispered. "You think money makes this right?"
Glen chuckled and tried to pull her into a hug. "Don't be dramatic, baby. You're the only woman in my life. That woman? It's just about her money."
Bella shoved him away with all her strength. "Don't you ever touch me!" she cried. "Is this the kind of life you want to give us? I know we're poor, Glen, but I would rather struggle with dignity than take money from… from that!" She pointed furiously toward the door.
Her raised voice woke their baby. Ham whimpered, shifting in his sling. Bella immediately wiped her tears and turned her attention to him, gently rocking him back to sleep.
Just then, the door creaked open again, and Glory, Glen's mother, entered.
"Bella, let me take Ham," she offered kindly. "You should rest. My sister Jill told me she saw you walking all the way from town. You must be exhausted."
Bella hesitated, then sighed. She unwrapped the sling and carefully handed Ham to her mother-in-law. "Thank you, Mother."
Unlike Glen, his parents were kind and supportive. Glory always scolded her son whenever he acted irresponsibly. That day was no different.
Glory turned on her heel and stormed into the other room, where Glen stood counting his money. Moments later, the sound of an argument erupted.
"You ungrateful boy!" Glory's voice boomed. "How dare you humiliate your wife like this?"
"I was just trying to—" Glen began, but his mother cut him off.
"No excuses! If you want money, work for it like a real man!"
A door slammed. Silence followed.
Bella didn't know whether Glen had left or if Glory had thrown him out, but she didn't care. She slumped onto the bed, exhausted and emotionally drained.
Glory returned, sitting beside her. "I'm sorry, Bella," she said softly. "I raised him better than this. I don't know what went wrong."
Tears welled in Bella's eyes. "I just want a husband who respects me," she whispered.
Glory wrapped an arm around her. "I know, sweetheart. And you deserve better.
Meanwhile in the city, far away from the struggles of the small village, Rio Hilton sat in his luxurious office, tapping his fingers against his desk. His mood had been lighter than usual that day, and the reason was clear.
His younger brother, Allen, had just video-called him.
"Hey, dude! How are you?" Allen's excited voice had echoed through the phone.
"I should be asking you that," Rio had chuckled. "You're the one living the dream, traveling the world."
Allen, standing against a blurry tropical background, grinned. "I'm in Boracay. The beaches here are amazing! But I'll be home in three days—I miss Mom and Dad."
"And me?" Rio had teased.
"Of course, I miss you too! It's been forever since we hung out."
They had chatted for a while longer, with Allen sharing stories of his travels. Before hanging up, he had made a request.
"Bro, pick me up from the airport—but alone. No creepy bodyguards."
Rio had laughed. "Your wish is my command."
Even now, as he drove home that evening, a rare smile lingered on his face. The thought of Allen's return warmed his heart.
The moment he stepped into the mansion, his mother noticed his good mood.
"What has my son eaten today? He looks happy!" Stef teased, hugging him.
Rio chuckled. "Nothing, Mom. I just came straight home."
"Well, go change. Your father and I have a dinner date tonight."
As Rio watched his parents head out, he couldn't help but admire their bond. Despite their years together, they were still deeply in love.
Would he ever find that kind of love?
He shook off the thought. Right now, he had no time for romance.
Instead, he focused on the one thing that truly made him happy—his work.
And in just three days, his beloved brother would be home.
Little did he know, his life was about to take an unexpected turn—one that would change everything forever.
Days passed and the day Rio had been eagerly waiting for had finally arrived—his brother Allen was coming home. For days, he had looked forward to this moment, thinking about how they would catch up and spend time together as a family. He had even considered taking a few days off from work, something he rarely did. His company was stable enough now, and he felt confident that stepping away for a short while wouldn't hurt.
As dawn broke, Rio sat by his bedroom window, watching the sky slowly brighten. The soft hues of orange and pink spread across the horizon, marking the beginning of a new day. A rare smile played on his lips as he thought about the upcoming reunion.
He stretched his arms and got up from bed, heading straight to the shower. The cold water refreshed him, washing away any lingering drowsiness. Once done, he walked to his massive closet, scanning his neatly arranged collection of suits and ties. Today, he wanted something different. Instead of his usual formal attire, he reached for a comfortable yet stylish denim jacket and pants.
Checking his reflection in the mirror, he nodded in approval. "Not bad," he murmured. It had been a long time since he had worn something this casual.
Downstairs, his mother, Stef, was already at the dining table, sipping her morning tea. She raised an eyebrow when she saw her son's outfit.
"You're dressed unusually today. Where are you off to?" she asked, taking another sip.
"It's a secret," Rio replied with a smirk, sitting across from her.
Stef chuckled. "Let me guess—you're taking Trisha out on a date?"
"With this outfit?" he teased, shaking his head.
They shared a lighthearted laugh, a rare moment of warmth between them.
"By the way, where's Dad?" Rio asked, noticing the empty seat next to his mother.
"He's still asleep. He stayed up late watching a movie," Stef explained.
At that moment, Rio's phone beeped with a message. He glanced at the screen and saw a text from Allen: "Just landed! Can't wait to see you!"
Rio stood up immediately. "Mom, I have to go now. I'll be back later with a surprise," he said, grabbing his car keys.
"Alright, son. Drive safely," Stef called after him, though she couldn't shake the strange feeling that something was off.
Rio felt an unusual sense of freedom as he drove his sleek black sports car through the city streets. For years, he had relied on his drivers, but today, he wanted to drive himself. With the windows down, he let the wind rush past him, carrying away the stress of his corporate life.
The stereo played his favorite songs, and he sang along, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. He had been so caught up in work that he barely noticed how much the city had changed. New buildings had appeared, roads had been improved, and the once-familiar streets looked different.
As he sped up, he felt a rush of adrenaline. He had missed this feeling—the thrill of driving on his own terms. But in that moment of excitement, he lost control of the steering wheel.
The car swerved violently.
Time seemed to slow down as Rio struggled to regain control, but it was too late.
The vehicle crashed head-on into a massive tree.
The impact was devastating, shattering the windshield and crushing part of the car. Rio's body was slammed against the seat, his head hitting the steering wheel with force.
A crowd quickly gathered, some rushing forward while others pulled out their phones to record. Someone called for an ambulance, their voice trembling as they explained the situation. The sound of sirens soon filled the air, growing louder as they approached.
Blood covered Rio's face, making it nearly impossible for anyone to recognize him. Despite being a well-known businessman, none of the bystanders realized who he was.
The paramedics worked quickly, carefully lifting him onto a stretcher. "He's unconscious. We need to get him to the hospital immediately," one of them said.
As they drove away, a few people uploaded the accident videos online, hoping someone from his family would see it.
Allen had just arrived at the airport and was scrolling through his phone while waiting for Rio. His smile faded as he came across a viral video of a terrible car accident. The denim outfit the victim wore looked eerily similar to what Rio had shown him in a photo earlier that morning.
His heart raced fastly.
Without wasting a second, he tried calling his brother. No answer. He called again. Still nothing.
A cold wave of fear washed over him.
Grabbing his suitcase, he rushed outside and hailed a taxi. "Take me to Saint Luke's Hospital. Fast!" he instructed the driver, his voice shaking.
During the ride, he debated whether to call their parents. He didn't want to panic them unless he was sure, so he kept his phone tightly gripped in his hand, waiting to confirm the truth himself.
When he arrived at the hospital, he ran straight to the front desk. "There was a car accident earlier today. I think my brother was the victim. Where is he?" he asked, breathless.
"The patient is in the ICU," the nurse replied. "Visitation isn't allowed yet."
Allen's knees nearly gave out. The reality of the situation hit him like a storm. He gripped his phone tightly, trying to steady himself.
Just then, a group of police officers entered, speaking with the hospital staff about the accident. Allen forced himself to approach them.
"Do you know the identity of the victim?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
One of the officers glanced at his notes. "Yes. The name is Rio Hilton."
Allen felt like the ground had been pulled from beneath him. His vision blurred, and his breath came in short gasps.
"No… no, this can't be happening," he muttered.
Taking a deep breath, he dialed his father's number.
The call was answered immediately. "Allen! How are you?" Gavin's voice was cheerful.
"Dad… come to Saint Luke's Hospital," Allen said, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"What? You're in the hospital? Gavin asked in confusion.
"I'm with Rio. Please, just come," Allen replied, hanging up before his father could ask more questions.
When Stef and Gavin arrived at the hospital, their worried expressions spoke volumes.
"Allen! What's going on?" Stef demanded as she hugged her younger son.
"Where is Rio?" Gavin asked, his voice filled with urgency.
Allen swallowed hard. "He's in the ICU."
Stef's hands flew to her mouth. "No… no, tell me this is a joke," she whispered, tears forming in her eyes.
Allen didn't respond. Instead, he pulled out his phone and played the accident video.
The moment Stef saw Rio being pulled from the wreckage, she screamed. "No! My son!" Her legs gave out, and she collapsed into her husband's arms.
Allen, tears streaming down his face, whispered, "Mom, it's my fault. I told him to pick me up alone… I didn't think…"
Stef pulled him into a tight embrace. "No, sweetheart. Don't blame yourself. It was an accident."
Gavin, who had been silent, finally spoke. "What we need to do now is pray. We must have faith that God will give Rio another chance."
Darkness had settled outside by the time the doctor finally came out.
"How is my son?" Stef asked, gripping her husband's hand tightly.
The doctor sighed. "The accident caused a severe brain injury. He's in a coma. But we're doing everything we can."
Stef sobbed uncontrollably, and Gavin held her close. Allen clenched his fists, guilt crushing him from within.
All they could do now was wait—and pray for a miracle.