Same day, evening, at One Serendra Residence. 18th floor.

Timothy was in their unit along with his mother and little sister, Evelyn and Angela.

His mother was cooking food for them in the kitchen, and the smell of the chicken adobo was already wafting in the air, hitting his nose, and causing his stomach to rumble.

"How much longer ma?" Timothy asked.

"It'll be done in two minutes," Evelyn replied.

Timothy glanced at Angela who was doing her homework. She was studying at one of the prestigious university in the BGC, Everest Academy.

"How was school, Angela?" Timothy asked.

"It's fine, I made a lot of friends, and they all speak English which is hard for me to communicate, but I can manage."

Timothy smiled. "That's good to hear. If someone is bullying you there, just tell me, I'll teach them a lesson okay?"

"Oh brother, no one is going to bully me there. Everyone knew you as the CEO of this technology company that is making waves in the country."

"Well good thing they do, they are rich students for a reason," Timothy chuckled.

"But am I not a rich student?" Angela titled her upright.

"You are, but we was once poor. But that's beyond our past now."

"Alright, dinner's ready," she said, her voice bright and motherly as she placed the bowl at the center of the table. "Angela, put away your notebook first. You can finish your homework later."

Angela obeyed immediately, sliding her papers into her school bag. "Okay, Ma."

Timothy stood and helped his mother with the rest of the dishes—garlic rice, a small plate of lumpiang shanghai, and a fresh tomato salad drizzled with calamansi. "Smells great," he said, genuinely impressed.

Evelyn chuckled softly. "It should. I don't get to cook for you both often anymore. You're always busy in your meetings and Angela's out late with school."

Timothy smiled, taking a seat. "That's true. I've been surviving on Hana's takeout orders and office food."

"Well," Evelyn said as she sat down across from him, "then tonight, you'll eat properly."

Angela giggled. "Kuya's company is famous now, Ma. Maybe he can hire a private chef."

Timothy shook his head, amused. "No chef can beat your cooking, Ma."

Evelyn smiled at that, the lines around her eyes softening. "You always know what to say."

Angela spooned adobo onto her plate. "Brother, is it true you're building a skyscraper?"

Timothy glanced up, surprised. "Who told you that?"

"I saw it on my phone! It was trending on TikTok—'TG Tower, the future of Filipino innovation.'"

Evelyn raised a brow. "Already trending? That's your company?"

Timothy chuckled lightly. "Yeah, that's ours. We just signed the contract yesterday."

Angela looked awestruck. "Wow… so we'll have our own building?"

"Not just ours," he said. "It'll be for the company. You can show off to your friends once they are completed."

Evelyn's expression softened. "I remember when we couldn't even afford rent," she said quietly. "And now you're talking about towers."

Timothy looked down, smiling faintly. "Those days remind me why I don't stop."

She reached across the table, resting her hand on his. "Just don't lose yourself, son. Success is good, but don't forget to breathe and live a little."

He met her eyes and nodded. "I won't, Ma."

Angela, already halfway through her meal, looked up with a grin. "As long as we still have dinner nights like this!"

Timothy laughed. "Deal…and mother. I have something to ask.

"What is it?"

"You are always at home right? Isn't that boring to you?"

"Now that you mentioned it, yes it is kind of boring since I don't have to work for money anymore and everything is provided. Still, I love the part that I'm still serving both of you with my cooking and making sure everything looks clean."

"Mama is the one who always pick me up from the school via Grabcar."

"Yeah…grab a car huh? Thinking about it, I haven't gave you guys a car and a personal driver. I'll put it on my list so that way you have the hassle of booking for every trip you want to make, you can just call your personal driver and they'll take you there."

"Really brother? Yey!" Angela cheered.

"How about running a business?" Timothy added. "Any business that you want to do? That way you won't feel bored?"

Evelyn paused mid-bite, the question catching her off guard. "A business?" she repeated, her brow creasing slightly in thought. "Hmm… I haven't really thought of that in years."

Timothy leaned back, curious. "You've managed money well before, Ma. You used to handle small sellings back when things were hard. Maybe something that fits you, simple but steady."

Evelyn smiled faintly, her eyes drifting as memories flickered across her face. "You know, before… when you were still in college, I used to dream of owning a small sari-sari store. Just a place where I could sell rice, canned goods, snacks, and soap , nothing fancy, just the kind of shop mothers always run in their neighborhoods. A grocery business is perfect for people like me."

Angela looked up from her food, interested. "A grocery? Like a convenience store?"

Evelyn chuckled. "A bit more than that, son. Something homely. People come to buy food for their kids, or maybe borrow a bit of sugar. A place where neighbors talk and share stories. But now," she looked around the high-rise condo, "I guess those days are gone."

Timothy smiled. "They don't have to be. If you want that kind of business, we can make it happen."

His mother blinked, surprised. "You're serious?"

He nodded confidently. "Of course. If that's what you want, I'll help you build it, but not just a small sari-sari store. Think bigger, Ma. A grocery chain. Something that can rival Puregold or SM Hypermarket."

Angela's eyes widened. "Wait, you're saying Mama could be the owner of a supermarket?"

Timothy grinned. "Exactly. A modern, homegrown grocery brand managed by her. You know how many people would love a Filipino-run chain that treats customers like family?"

Evelyn laughed softly, though disbelief colored her tone. "Ay, Timothy, you're always thinking too big. I just wanted a small store to keep myself busy, not an empire."

"That's how every empire starts," Timothy replied with a smirk. "So, that's a deal okay?"

"Okay…" Evelyn let out a chuckle.

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