When the Last Peso Falls

Chapter 10

The Fallout

The Manlapig household, once a symbol of unity and warmth, was now a battlefield of emotions, torn apart by the aftermath of Lola Remedios's death. Her will, once thought to be straightforward, had instead become a catalyst for exposing long-buried secrets and igniting bitter rivalries. What was meant to be a passing of legacy had become a test of loyalty, love, and greed.

Mila sat at the dining table, her fingers tapping restlessly on the polished wood. The room, usually filled with laughter and conversation, was now eerily silent, save for the occasional clinking of dishes and the faint hum of the refrigerator. Her thoughts were consumed by the recent revelations, and Tonyo's harsh words echoed in her mind, replaying in an endless loop of accusation and regret.

"I still can't believe it," Mila muttered under her breath, her voice barely audible in the stillness. The arguments that had erupted over the past few days played over in her mind like a broken record. The pain of seeing her family unravel was almost too much to bear.

Her daughter, Patricia, entered the room, her expression a mix of frustration and worry. "Mom, have you seen Dad?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation. "He's locked himself in his study all day, and Luis has been avoiding everyone."

Mila shook her head, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. "No, I haven't. He's probably still brooding over this mess. We all are."

Patricia sighed heavily and took a seat across from her mother. "This is getting out of hand. I never thought things would escalate like this. What's going to happen to us now?"

Mila's eyes softened, a mix of sorrow and helplessness reflecting in them. "I don't know, honey. Your father and I—we've always tried to keep this family together. But now, it feels like everything is slipping through our fingers."

Meanwhile, in the study, Tonyo paced back and forth, the tension in the room palpable. His son, Luis, sat at the desk, his face drawn with worry. Their relationship, already strained, had been pushed to its breaking point by the reading of the will. The father and son, once so close, now found themselves on opposite sides of a growing chasm.

"I'm telling you, Dad," Luis said, his voice rising in frustration, "we need to address Aling Ising's claims. Ignoring them won't make them go away. It'll only make things worse."

Tonyo's face flushed with anger. "And you think I don't know that? But how can we just give away part of the inheritance based on a promise no one can prove? What about our own future?"

Luis met his father's gaze, his eyes filled with a mixture of disappointment and determination. "What about our integrity? We're supposed to be a family that values loyalty and honor. Shouldn't we be doing the right thing, even if it's difficult?"

Tonyo's hands clenched into fists, his frustration boiling over. "It's not that simple, Luis. We have to think about what's fair to everyone. Emotions can't dictate our decisions."

In the living room, Patricia had joined her mother, Mila, as they tried to make sense of the escalating tensions. The conversation took a somber turn as Patricia voiced her own fears.

"I've never seen Dad like this," Patricia said, her voice trembling with emotion. "He's so consumed by anger and fear that he's shutting everyone out. And Luis—he's struggling to cope with everything. It's tearing us apart."

Mila nodded, her own heart heavy with the weight of their troubles. "I know, sweetie. We're all trying to hold on, but it's like we're slipping further and further away from each other. I just wish there was a way to fix this without destroying our family."

As the day wore on, the family members retreated to their separate corners, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions. The fallout from Lola Remedios's will and Aling Ising's revelation had ignited a firestorm of conflict that seemed impossible to quell. The bonds that had once held the Manlapig family together were now fraying under the pressure of greed, betrayal, and fear.

Later that night, Mila found herself alone in the living room, staring out at the moonlit garden. The memories of her mother's legacy and the promises made weighed heavily on her heart. The pain of seeing her family unravel was almost too much to bear. Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of footsteps behind her.

Tonyo appeared in the doorway, his face lined with exhaustion. He hesitated for a moment before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mila, can we talk?"

Mila turned to him, her eyes filled with the same weariness and sorrow that he felt. "Of course," she replied, her voice soft.

They sat down together on the couch, the silence between them heavy with unspoken emotions. Tonyo took a deep breath, his words slow and measured. "I don't know how we ended up here. I never imagined we'd be fighting like this, at odds with each other."

Mila reached out and took his hand, her touch gentle and reassuring. "Neither did I. But we can't let this tear us apart, Tonyo. We need to find a way to come together, for the sake of our family."

Tonyo squeezed her hand, the resolve in his eyes matching her own. "We will, Mila. We have to."

As they sat together in the quiet of the night, the weight of their decisions pressed heavily upon them. The fallout from Lola Remedios's will had set in motion a series of events that challenged everything they held dear. And as the Manlapig family faced the aftermath, they were left to confront the complex and often painful interplay of love, money, and legacy that had brought them to this crossroads.