“IN THE MIDDLE OF A HAPPY FAMILY HOSTING, WHILE EVERYONE WAS LAUGHING AND DRINKING, HER MOTHER-IN-LAW PULLS A CHAIR FROM BEHIND — AND THE 7-MONTH PREGNANT WOMAN FALLS. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT IN THE HOSPITAL ROOM MADE THE ENTIRE FAMILY CRY.”

Her name was Althea , 28 years old — a quiet, loving wife and mother.
She had been married to Renz for three years , and finally, after two years of praying, she became pregnant.
She was seven months pregnant that night — the night of a family dinner with the Santiagos , her husband’s wealthy family.

But unlike in the teleseryes, he was never wholeheartedly accepted by his wife, Doña Regina — a conservative, brave woman, and contemptuous of women who were supposedly of lowly origins.

THE NIGHT OF DESTRUCTION

Doña Regina was in the middle of the table, sitting on her throne, and to her right was Althea, smiling, while rubbing her belly.
Everyone was happy. There was wine, laughter, and music.

But Althea knew — behind every smile her mother-in-law gave, there was hidden disdain.
With every compliment from others, there was a whisper of mockery from her mother-in-law.

“You’re still very thin, Althea,” Regina said, grinning. “Are you sure the baby in your womb is still alive?”

Althea just smiled.

“Yes, Mom. He’s getting stronger. He’s even moving now.”

“Hmm. I hope that’s Renz, huh?” Regina laughed, but no one joined in.
The room was silent.

Not long after, Regina stood up and said,

“Oh, Althea, why don’t you get your husband some water?”

Despite her heavy stomach, Althea stood up, smiled, and slowly approached the table.
When she sat back down, everyone was surprised — Regina pulled out the chair before she could sit down.

A flash.
A scream.
A loud thud .

Althea fell, straight to the floor.
Her stomach hit.
The glass shattered.
And the laughter — was replaced by screams.

“ALTHEA!” Renz shouted, as he ran closer.
But before he could get close, there was blood on the floor.
And Althea’s eyes, slowly closing.

THE SILENT HOSPITAL

He was rushed to the hospital.
No one spoke in the car.
Renz’s hands were shaking, while Doña Regina was silent, emotionless.

Upon arriving at the emergency room, the nurses shouted.

“Placental abruption! We need to deliver the baby now!”

Two hours later, the doctor came out.

“Mr. Santiago, your wife is safe… but the baby…”

He stopped.

“He’s in critical condition. He’s in the incubator now. We have to wait 24 hours.”

Renz hugged his wife, sobbing.
Doña Regina, sitting to the side, was still silent.
She couldn’t bear to look at Althea — or perhaps, she just didn’t want to admit that she was at fault.

THE AWAKENING

The next day, Althea woke up.
Pale, weak, but alive.
Beside her, Renz sat, bent over, holding her hand.

“Where is our son?” he asked softly.
Renz was silent.
“He’s in the ICU, my dear. But he’ll fight. The doctor said he’s strong — just like you.”

Althea’s tears flowed.

“Renz…”
“Hmm?”
“I know what happened last night wasn’t an accident.”

No one could speak.
Outside the door, Doña Regina listened silently.

THE FRONT

A few hours later, Regina entered the room.
Her steps were weak, her hands were shaking.

“Althea…”
“Mom,” Althea replied weakly, “why did you do that?”

Quiet.
There was no anger in Althea’s voice, but her question was like a knife piercing Regina’s heart.

“I don’t know… I’m just annoyed. I don’t like you for Renz. I thought you were just playing with him.”
“And is that the reason you killed your grandson?”

Regina is crying.

“I didn’t mean to… Oh my God, I didn’t mean to…”

At that moment, the doctor’s phone rang.
His voice trembled:

“Mrs. Santiago, the child’s heartbeat has stopped.”

Althea’s world collapsed.
Renz screamed.
And Regina — sat on the floor, sobbing, saying,

“Apo ko ‘yun… apo ko ‘yun…”

THE LAST GIFT

Two weeks passed.
They buried the child.
No one looked at Regina, and she herself hardly left the house.

One night, he knocked on Althea’s room.
Carrying a small box.

“This is Renz’s grandmother’s ring,” she said, her hand shaking.
“It’s for you. Because you are the true woman who knows how to love unconditionally — even to the person you hate.”

Althea remained silent, but tears flowed down her face.

“Mom, I can’t hate you forever.
But I hope you can also learn to love without having to hurt.”

They hugged.
And for the first time, Doña Regina cried not as a mother-in-law, but as a grieving mother.

THE LESSON OF LIFE

Sometimes, sin is not always intentional —
but the wound it causes cannot be healed by money, apologies, or time.
But with every mistake, there is still an opportunity for change,
if you have the heart to admit and forgive.

The loss of a life can destroy a family,
but sometimes, it is also the reason for hearts that have forgotten the true value of love to realize.