Sanza and Jofrey had been married for 12 years but never had a child.

One day, they had a big

fight that Jofrey decided he needed some time away from her, so he went to his home town in
Coron, Palawan. His mother Cerza, was very happy to see him again after years of absence. To
cheer him up, she made sure that Jofrey attended all the fiestas in their own town and nearby
areas. Jofrey was glad to oblige to forget about his big fight with Sanza. All he cared about was
getting drunk on every fiesta he went to. On one of such occasions, he got so drunk that he lost
his way home. Fortunately, Marjorie, Cerza’s neighbor, recognized Jofrey, and helped him get to
his room safely. Overcome by a mixture of emotions and drunkenness, Jofrey took Marjorie to
his bed. The next day, Jofrey awoke in sweat, overcome by a terrible guilt and fear of losing
Sanza forever because of what he did the night before. He realized that he could not live without
Sanza. He begged Marjorie to keep this incident secret from their relatives and friends. He told
her that he has no intention of confessing to Sanza under any circumstance and hastily took the
next flight back to Manila.

Back together, Sanza and Jofrey have never been happier. They decided to put the past behind
them and think of their future. Since Sanza could not be pregnant, she broached to Jofrey the
possibility of adopting a child. Jofrey was lukewarm to the idea and asked for time to mull it
over.

The following month, Jofrey received word from Marjorie that she was pregnant with his baby
and that she wanted support for herself and the child . Jofrey asked Atty. Tyrion, his tax lawyer, to
draft a contract where Marjorie promised to drop all claims against Jofrey if he took full responsibility for
Marjorie’s financial needs until a year after her delivery and the baby’s until he/she finished College.
Marjorie agreed to this and the provison that should Jofrey exercise the option of supporting the
child in his home, she will give up all her parental rights over the baby since this was clearly “in
the best interest of the child.”

Triumphant, Jofrey informed Sanza that he wanted to adopt a relative, of whose background
they could be sure. He suggested they adopt the child of Marjorie, whom he passed off as a
distant cousin, without telling Sanza that the baby was actually his. Sanza agreed to this. They
also were of the same mind about not wanting the baby and their neighbors to know of the
arrangement. Neither did they want to bother going through adoption proceedings. They thought
it would be best for Marjorieto enter the hospital under Sanza’s name, so that the birth
certificate would immediately show that the baby was Sanza’s and Jofrey’s very own child.

At a birthday dinner among friends, the couple decided to ask the advice of Jofrey’s lawyer
friend Bran, on this matter. Furthermore, after the party, Jofrey sent an email to Bran, confiding
that his real reason for wanting to simulate the birth of the baby was because the baby was his,
and he wanted the baby to be with him, but did not want Sanza to know that he was adulterous.
Baby Shae was born and she grows up with the couple, Jofrey and Sanza, knowing them to be
her real parents.

Jofrey left a will wherein he left P10,000,000.00 to Marjorie, and the rest of all his properties,
amounting to P20,000,000.00, to Sanza and Shae equally. Atty. Bran, entrusted with the will,
knew that if the will was to be followed, it would be unfair to Sanza, since Shae was really
Jofrey’s illegitimate child. Bran advices Sanza to contest the will. He adds, however that if she
contests the will, she has to tell the whole world that Shae is not her biological child. Sanza
does not want to give Shae up to his biological mother, since she (Sanza) has learned to love
her. However, she is adamant about not giving Marjorie the P10,000.000.00.