The Mistress 2012

Architect John Lloyd Cruz is troubled by his businessman father Ronaldo Valdez Rico, who never fully accepts him as his son. Rosario Alfonso / Bea Alonzo is a seamstress striving to support her family. By chance they meet, and JD aggressively pursues Sari’s affections despite the social and moral tensions that surround their budding connection. Although they are clearly a good match, a powerful obstacle stands in their path: Sari is the mistress of JD’s father. Even after he learns the bitter truth, JD persists, clinging to the idea that their love might still rewrite the family drama. He conceals his own paternity, pretending to be just another suitor while Rico’s shadow looms over them, and fights to win Sari’s heart. Rico’s wife Lola Lina, Anita Linda, is dismayed to see Sari.

On a trip to the province to deliver their client’s barong tagalog, Sari and JD finally admit their feelings as they witness the wedding ceremony. Despite the complicated link to JD’s father, Sari finally gives in to JD’s feelings and they become romantically involved as they make love. Upon their return, Rico confronts them, and a fierce argument between father and son escalates into a fistfight; Rico suffers a heart attack. At the hospital, JD apologizes to his dying father, and Rico appoints his son as CEO and president, handing over the family business before he dies.

The two part ways in Rico and Sari’s house, their love nest, with heavy hearts because they know they can only love each other when they pretend. In the end, after JD delivers a speech to his father’s employees about his father’s life and his business, people applaud him. Then he passes by the shop, pauses, and watches Bea Alonzo as she fixes a formal suit she had sewn in the dress shop. The two make eye contact and flash back to the Tuguegarao scene where they pretended and thought about the “what ifs.” Sari saw JD before he drove his car away, smiling at each other.