Family Heirlooms: Legacy of Lies

Prologue

Matet gently placed the homemade rice cakes and caramel pudding into a box. Then she quickly made her way to the room she shared with Javi to get dressed. As she passed through the mansion's grand hall, she paused briefly and glanced around.

Almost all the guests were already there.

"(𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐'𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨,)" she whispered to herself, quickening her pace toward the room. "(𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘶𝘱 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺.)"

As soon as she reached the door, she was greeted by Gelai-or Gelo-the flamboyant stylist Javi had hired to help her prepare.

"You took long enough, Señorita!" he greeted her with a slight scowl.

"I just had to box the food I made," Matet replied, still catching her breath.

"Go take a shower now so I can prep you."

"No time. Just do my hair and makeup," she said, pulling him toward the vanity. She sat down in front of the mirror.

"Señorita, you're gonna smell like cooking oil," Gelai teased as he started on her makeup.

"That's okay. At least I'll be ready to get deep-fried," Matet joked. "In the Middle East, some folks don't even get to shower for a week. Perfume is the trick. Besides, I already took a bath this morning."

"Fair enough, Señorita. Even when you sweat, you still smell good."

"Oh, don't flatter me. And how many times do I have to tell you not to call me Señorita?"

"I'm not flattering you, Tet. I'm just telling the truth," Gelai said, correcting himself and calling her by her nickname

She never liked being called Señorita. It didn't suit her-just a simple woman, temporarily stepping into a world she didn't belong to, all because of her agreement with Javi.

After finishing her makeup, Gelai moved on to her hair. He left it down, curled the ends, and pulled a few soft strands to frame her face.

He then handed her a box containing a dress.

"Go ahead and change, Tet."

She changed into a peach off-shoulder dress, which complemented her fair skin. Then she opened a drawer and pulled out a jewelry box-a gift from the old lady, who had asked her to wear it for this special event. She handed it to Gelai.

"Please help me put this on," she said softly.

After he clasped the jewelry onto her, Gelai stared at her in admiration.

"You look amazing, Tet." He even pinched her cheek.

"There you go again," she said, brushing him off, though a smile broke across her face.

"You're a real princess today," he added, this time with sincerity. Matet fell silent for a moment and simply smiled.

---

In the Grand Hall

Señora Lucy approached her son.

"Where's your wife? Your grandma is already looking for her."

"She's coming down, Mom," Javi answered.

"All the guests are here. When are we starting?" said Emily, Javi's cousin and the daughter of Señora Debie and Don Lacson.

"Let's wait for Matet. She's the one Nana wants to see," Señora Lucy replied.

"And who is she supposed to be? Some kind of VIP?" Emily said mockingly.

Just then, Matet appeared at the top of the staircase, with Gelai behind her. Everyone turned to look.

Her heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't used to having so many eyes on her.

Some faces showed admiration. But the ones from Javi's family? Cold, judgmental, disapproving. She couldn't understand why.

"There's Matet, Mom," Javi whispered, smiling as he saw his wife heading down. She looked stunning-and for a moment, his chest tightened with an unfamiliar feeling.

He stood up and met her halfway down the stairs. As soon as she reached him, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Matet froze in surprise.

"Just a quick one. We have to look like a real couple, remember?" Javi whispered, noticing her cheeks turning red. "And you look really beautiful."

"Thanks, Gelai," Javi said, acknowledging the stylist as he passed. Gelai simply nodded.

"Come on," he said, guiding Matet to the main table.

---

Matet hadn't expected that kiss. She caught the sweet scent of his breath. She paused for a moment, then smiled to herself.

(𝘏𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩), she thought.

She held onto Javi's arm and let him lead her to the table beside the Doña Amanda. Her heart was still racing.

They sat to the right of the matriarch, while Javi's parents sat on the left.

"That was Javi's wife," April whispered to Emily.

"No wonder.But why is she acting like she's someone important?" Emily sneered.

"Save it for later. Let the celebration finish first," Señora Debie warned her daughter. She knew Emily wouldn't hesitate to make a scene if left unchecked. They'd end up embarrassing themselves in front of the Doña.

Doña Amanda stood up, assisted by her nurse. Her voice was frail but still carried authority and presence.

"Since everyone's here, let's begin," she said.

Guests started bringing out their gifts-jewelry, paintings, luxurious items. Meanwhile, Matet, already starving, quietly began eating.

When the gift-giving ended, the Doña turned to her.

"Dear, didn't you prepare something too?"

Matet paused mid-bite. She nodded and motioned to one of the maids.

"Yes, Nana. One moment," she said, calling to Aling Alma and gesturing toward the box she had prepared.

"Thank you, Nanay Alma," Matet said as she received the box and approached the Doña.

"This is for you, Nana," she said, handing it over.

The Doña opened the box with curiosity.

Whispers filled the room.

"So cheap," someone said under their breath.

"Does she want to kill Nana with all that sugar?" commented Señora Emilda.

Matet stayed calm. She kept her eyes on the old woman.

"This is my gift. I know you already have everything you could possibly want. And honestly, I couldn't afford something expensive. But I made this for you, Nana. I hope it makes you happy."

The Doña smiled warmly. "Thank you, dear. You really thought of me."

Some guests softened. Others rolled their eyes, saying she was just putting on a show. But she didn't care. She was just playing her part in this agreement.

"Enough with the drama," interrupted Señora Grasya. "Nana, given your condition, don't you think it's time to draft your last will and testament?

"She's right. Especially about who will inherit the Family Heirlooms," Emily added, eyeing Javi.

Matet noticed everyone turn to Javi in unison.

"(𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 everyone looking 𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘑𝘢𝘷𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘏𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴?) she wondered.

"That's right!" someone agreed, triggering a chorus of support.

"You all shut up!" Don Antonio, Javi's father, suddenly shouted, slamming his hand on the table. He didn't approve of their demands-especially not on a day like this.

Everyone was stunned into silence.

"You're all so disrespectful. Can't you even wait? You've just proven you're here for the inheritance. You're vultures!"

"But, brother-"

"No buts! Enough!" Don Antonio snapped at his sibling. "If you can't show respect for my mother today, you can leave now."

The room stayed quiet. No one dared to speak. You could even hear the sound of cutlery being set down.

The tension was thick. Emily looked down in shame, while Señora Grasya bit her lip in frustration.

And then the old woman spoke, her voice soft but firm.

"Antonio, let them be. We are old now, and I won't be around much longer. All I ask... is unity. In the end, the 'Family Heirlooms'...will go to the one who truly loves this family from the heart."

Matet looked at the old woman, puzzled. Her words felt like a riddle-like there was a hidden message behind them.

Javi looked at her, too. His gaze was intense-not angry, but filled with concern. It was as if he already knew where all of this was heading.

And in that moment, Matet realized...

She hadn't just brought a simple gift that day.

She had unknowingly brought the key to a secret the family had kept buried for years.