She had a life most people could only dream of: a handsome, wealthy, and loving British husband, a beautiful home in an exclusive subdivision, and a generous allowance that allowed her to live in luxury. By all accounts, Evelyn Bohol was living a modern-day fairytale. But behind the facade of a perfect life, a dark plot was brewing—one fueled by greed and infidelity that would end with her “perfect husband” dead and a grieving mother launching a relentless, international quest for justice.

The story began like a romance novel. Steven, a successful 25-year-old British computer programmer, met Evelyn, a 15-year-old working in a bar in Angeles City. He was instantly captivated. In what he saw as a chivalrous act, he “rescued” her, paying off her bar contract so she could leave that life behind. They married when she was just 17; she was so uneducated she couldn’t even read her own wedding vows. But for Steven, it didn’t matter. He was deeply in love.

He showered her with a life of unimaginable luxury. He provided a £1,000 monthly allowance, built a new house for her impoverished family in Samar, and gave them a business for their livelihood. They had two children, Jessica and Joshua, and lived a life that was the envy of many. But according to Evelyn’s own relatives, the wealth changed her, making her arrogant and entitled. Steven, blinded by love, saw no flaws.

The fairytale, however, began to crumble. Steven noticed his wife becoming cold and distant. His parents, Margaret and his stepfather, saw it too, even capturing her strange, angry behavior on video. Soon, the reason became clear. Confronted by her own sister who worked as their maid, Evelyn admitted she was having an affair with a local security guard.

The betrayal deepened when Steven discovered her financial deceit. He had given her a large sum of money to enroll their daughter, Jessica, in a private nursery school. To his profound shame, he found out months later from the school itself that Jessica was never enrolled. The money had simply vanished. The ensuing argument was explosive, with Evelyn dramatically removing her wedding ring. Still desperate to save his family, Steven gave her an ultimatum: return the stolen money and either get an education or a job. When she refused, he cut off her allowance and threatened divorce, warning her that a separation would mean a return to the poverty she came from. It was a threat that likely sealed his fate.

A friend warned Steven to be careful, that Evelyn or her family might do something desperate, but he shrugged it off. One night, while he slept at a separate business apartment, three men broke in. After briefly holding his business partner at gunpoint, they found Steven’s room, confirmed his identity, and shot him dead.

The official police investigation was painfully slow. With no evidence initially linking Evelyn to the crime, it seemed the case might go cold. But the perpetrators had not counted on the determination of a grieving mother. Margaret flew to the Philippines and, dissatisfied with the pace of the investigation, hired her own private investigator.

The PI’s 24/7 surveillance on Evelyn quickly paid off. He documented two men constantly visiting her: her lover and his security guard friend. After Margaret reported this to the police, the two men were arrested, and Steven’s business partner identified one as an intruder from the night of the murder. Fearing for her grandchildren’s safety, Margaret executed a daring plan. She asked to take Jessica for a weekend trip but instead flew her back to the UK with her father’s ashes. She then sent her investigator to Samar, where Joshua was staying, and offered Evelyn’s parents £2,000. They accepted, and Joshua was soon reunited with his sister and grandmother in England.

For over two years, Margaret funded the private investigation, tirelessly building relationships with Evelyn’s own relatives in Samar. Her persistence was rewarded when they finally gave up the key to the entire case: the hiding place of Evelyn’s brother-in-law, Robin, who had been present on the night of the murder.

Robin’s confession laid the conspiracy bare. He told investigators that Evelyn had recruited him, her lover, and his friend for the hit. The three men entered the apartment while Evelyn waited in the car, acting as the lookout. Her lover was the one who pulled the trigger. The motive was simple, cold-hearted greed: Evelyn believed she would inherit her husband’s millions.

With this confession, the case was broken. The two hitmen were sentenced to life in prison. Robin received immunity for his testimony. And Evelyn Bohol, the woman who had everything, was arrested. Despite her claims of innocence, she was convicted of murder, qualified by treachery, and sentenced to reclusion perpetua. After a two-and-a-half-year battle, a mother’s love had finally secured justice for her son, exposing the ultimate betrayal hidden behind a perfect life.