In the days that followed, Maricel confronted Rafael privately. Their conversations were difficult, emotional, and long overdue. With guidance from counselors and trusted advisers, she untangled herself from plans she never agreed to and from expectations she never deserved.
It became clear that Rafael had been struggling with personal issues he had hidden from everyone. His worries and unwise decisions had led him down a path that risked not only his marriage but the future he and Maricel had been building together. In the end, they chose to separate—peacefully, with understanding rather than bitterness.
Today, she and I share a modest but comfortable apartment in Quezon City. We cook together, talk openly, and plan gently for the future. When friends ask whether I regret stepping in, I always shake my head with a small smile.
“A mother’s instinct is there for a reason,” I tell them. “If I had stayed silent, my daughter might have lost far more than I could bear to imagine.”
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