Emilia Takes Drastic Action To Preserve Her Image & Grip On Power. Diego Stands Against The Injustice.
Ivy’s journey to Manila was put on hold when her car suffered a flat tire, forcing her to stop and get it fixed. As she waited, Diego happened to pass by and stopped to offer his assistance. With Ivy’s team working on the car, Diego stayed to keep her company, and they began to form a bond.
He even treated her to banana fritters, which he enjoyed immensely. Their conversation turned to Lily, and Ivy was on the verge of revealing a secret when her secretary interrupted them, announcing that the car was ready.
Meanwhile, Emilia was facing scrutiny from senators who questioned her leadership abilities, citing her inability to control her own son, Diego, after his outburst at the dialogue with the farmers. Raul attempted to make amends with Emilia, arriving with flowers and apologizing for missing their anniversary.
While Emilia accepted the flowers in front of others, she later made it clear to Raul that she hadn’t forgotten his absence. Determined to resolve the issue with the farmers, Emilia sent the police to evict them.
The authorities arrived armed, ready to quell any resistance, but Diego rallied the farmers to defend their land. Ivy received a call from Jepoy, informing her of the situation, and she rushed to the farm, arriving before Arnaldo.
Ivy was shocked to see the eviction team and tried to intervene, but they refused to budge. Diego and the farmers formed a united front, refusing to back down. When the mayor arrived, Ivy appealed to him to stop the eviction, but he remained inactive.
As the situation escalated, Ivy’s concern for Buchoy, a young farmer she had grown fond of, prompted her to stand alongside the farmers. However, Arnaldo dispatched Madrigal to fetch her, and Diego urged her to leave, assuring her that Buchoy would be safe.
Ivy reluctantly departed with Jepoy, while some women whisked Buchoy away to safety. The confrontation between the farmers and Emilia’s men escalated into violence, with Diego fighting bravely to protect the farmers.
Despite being outnumbered, he managed to break through to Arnaldo, fueled by anger and a sense of injustice. Arnaldo, however, seemed unfazed, even daring Diego to hit him. Diego’s restraint ultimately prevailed, but he made it clear that the eviction was unlawful without a court order.
Arnaldo’s sudden decision to order the men to release the farmers was short-lived, as the police cars departed without doing so. Diego’s quick thinking and bravery allowed him to block the road with his car, and the farmers joined him in solidarity.
The men, reluctant to shoot an Ardiente, eventually relented and released the farmers. Raul’s anger towards Emilia and Arnaldo was palpable, but Emilia’s response was cold and calculating. She believed that Diego needed to learn a lesson, and the consequences of his actions were justified.
Ivy, however, was appalled by Emilia’s handling of the situation and confronted her at her house. The confrontation was heated, with Ivy accusing Emilia of destroying people’s homes and Emilia asserting her authority as an Ardiente.
Despite Emilia’s efforts to suppress the news, the story of the eviction was published in one newspaper, portraying Ivy and Diego as heroes for the farmers. Ivy’s concern for Diego’s well-being was evident, and she asked Jepoy to check on him.
Diego, however, refused Ivy’s offer of financial assistance, insisting that the farmers would rebuild their cooperative with dignity. The senators, impressed by Emilia’s decisive action, decided to endorse her after all.
However, the farmers’ protest at her house presented another challenge. Emilia attempted to placate them, promising that the EPZ would help, but Ramon’s threat to expose her actions to her political enemies enraged her.
Julio’s words about her incompetence still lingered, and she decided to have Ramon k!lled. The news of Ramon’s death sent shockwaves through the community, and suspicion fell on Emilia.
Nympha’s eyewitness account of the murder and her identification of the k!ller added weight to the theory that Emilia was behind the crime. Diego struggled to come to terms with his family’s cruelty, and the farmers’ determination to seek justice only intensified the conflict.
