He Chose Love

Chapter3

Peter and Sandra were preparing for their wedding. To Sandra, this was more than a union — it was victory. At last, she would bear the name she’d always desired: Sandra Bernardo. She wore it like a crown long before the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Amor sat in her small room, staring at a crumpled slip of paper. Her hands trembled. Her eyes welled with tears.

Pregnant.

She couldn’t believe it. She was carrying Peter’s child — a man who had abandoned her, who now stood beside another woman preparing to say “I do.” How could she raise a child alone? What about her education? Her dreams?

The day of the wedding arrived. The sun blazed over the grand church where Peter and Sandra stood at the altar. Their families beamed with pride, oblivious to the sorrow watching from a distance. Amor had come, not by invitation, but as a silent witness. She watched Peter vow to love another woman, her heart shattering with every word exchanged.

She returned home, eyes red and spirit crushed. Her mother, her rock through it all, comforted her the best she could. When the baby came — a beautiful girl with eyes like Peter’s — Amor named her Ina. She was the light in her darkest chapter.

Peter and Sandra settled into married life. Soon, Sandra gave birth to a son, Angelo. But the love she longed for from Peter never came. He remained distant, his heart clearly elsewhere. Fights became frequent. Sandra begged for affection. Peter gave her silence. The house was filled with wealth but void of warmth. Angelo grew up in the shadow of their constant arguments and his father’s infidelity. Sandra clung to status. “At least,” she often muttered, “I’m still a Bernardo.”

Back in Sabang village, little Ina grew into a sweet, grateful child who loved her mother dearly. Amor crafted her a necklace with a pendant bearing her name — Ina. She told her, “Whenever you miss me, hold this necklace and speak to it. I’ll always be with you.”

When Ina turned three, Amor received news from the school in the U.S. she had applied to before her pregnancy. A scholarship had been awarded. Her joy was overwhelming. She danced and shouted, her family rushing in, alarmed but soon swept up in the excitement.

But joy quickly turned to worry. Her daughter was still too young. That evening, brushing Ina’s hair, Amor spoke gently. “Mummy is going to the States to seek a better life, but I’ll come back for you. Be a good girl, listen to your grandparents, and never take off your necklace.” She kissed her daughter and put her to sleep.

A few days later, Amor left Sabang village with heavy steps and a hopeful heart.

A year passed.

At the Burnacorp headquarters, Peter sat at the head of a tense board meeting. Talks of expanding mining operations were heating up. The target: Sabang village. Peter strongly opposed it. “You can’t just displace these people. Their lives, their homes — this matters.”

Sandra disagreed. “Peter, stop pretending you’re better than the rest of us. If the board votes for it, you can’t stop it.”

Sabang’s residents were given a three-month notice to evacuate. They protested, refusing to leave. Burnacorp continued operations regardless.

Then came the day no one could forget.

The skies were calm, but beneath the earth, something had shifted. It began with a loud c***k, then a roar. A landslide swept through Sabang village like a monstrous wave. Screams filled the air. People ran in chaos. Buildings crumbled. Families were buried beneath earth and rubble.

Among the rescuers was a woman named Margaret. She had seen a child under a collapsing roof and pulled her out just in time. The police found her cradling the girl, who wore a dirt-stained necklace.

“She’s not my daughter,” Margaret explained. “I found her.”

The officer, Francisco, took the child. She was shaken, silent, and unable to say her name. He brought her home. His wife was suspicious at first, but when she saw the frightened girl, her heart softened. They named her Kathryn.

News of the disaster spread. In a quiet apartment in the U.S., Amor was pouring soup for the elderly man she worked for, Mr. Elorde Powers. The television blared in the background:

“A tragic landslide has wiped out Sabang village. No survivors have been found…”

Amor dropped the bowl. Her knees buckled. Her heart stopped. Her family… her daughter?

Gone?

Her screams pierced the walls. Grief consumed her. She cried for days. Elorde comforted her as best he could. Over time, he grew even fonder of her and proposed. Amor, broken and with nothing left, said yes.

Years later, Elorde passed away from illness. He had left everything to her. Amor, once the poor girl with nothing, was now a wealthy widow — Amor Powers.

Sixteen years passed.

Amor had built a foundation in her late husband’s name, dedicated to supporting displaced communities. Her return to the Philippines was widely publicized.

The grand event hall was packed. Lights flashed. Guests stood as music filled the air.

The host took the stage: “Now, ladies and gentlemen, please rise to welcome the woman behind the Powers Foundation…”

Amor Powers!.

The curtains opened.

From the front row, Peter and Sandra clapped politely—at first.

Then, they saw her.

Their smiles froze. Their hands stopped clapping. Their eyes widened in disbelief.

The past had just walked back into their lives.

Amor stepped onto the stage, her face glowing with a warm smile. She stood tall, full of grace and confidence, as the lights shone brightly on her. Holding the microphone, she spoke gently, “Thank you, everyone, for welcoming me so warmly. I left the Philippines over sixteen years ago, and I’m happy to be back. This foundation was born from pain, struggle, and healing. It exists for people with stories, like mine, who need hope.” The crowd clapped loudly.

But in the corner, Peter and Sandra sat in shock, unable to believe their eyes. Amor was even more beautiful than before.

“Look, Mum, she’s so beautiful,” Angelo whispered playfully.

Sandra turned to Peter who could not stop staring. She gave him a light shove. “Will you concentrate?” she snapped, rolling her eyes. Peter looked away, but it was clear—his heart was pounding.

Amor glanced their way and noticed Peter. Her expression turned cold. Her smile vanished.

She froze.

It couldn’t be…

Not him.