Carmen Cortes: The matriarch of the Cortes family, widow of the late Don Julian Cortez, billionaire and founder of the Cortez empire. Hernan is her natural son from a previous marriage. When she marries Julian, she becomes Rodrigo's stepmother. Rodrigo and his daughter Angela are the true blood heirs of the Cortes empire. In his will, Don Julian leaves everything to Rodrigo. She is dismayed when she learns that she and her son Hernan were left with nothing. Confused at the turn of events, Rodrigo discovers a letter written by his father to him, to which he confronts his step mother: his father warns him of his suspicions that Doña Carmen killed Rodrigo's mother so she could marry him. Rodrigo confronts his stepmother and a heated argument ensues. As Herman tries to defend his mother, the two brothers have a violent fight and Hernan accidentally stabs him. She pulls the distraught Hernan away and they flee the scene. Stella returns to finish her brother in law and stabs him with a pitchfork. Doña Carmen is very protective of her crown jewel, Nostalgia. She is closest to her youngest grandson, Inno, who takes over the Cortes organization after Hernan resigns from the position. She is reduced to impoverished circumstances when the court rules for Eva and declares Eva as the sole legal beneficiary of the Cortes wealth. Although she rejected Eva for Inno, she changes her attitude in the end and encourages Inno to follow his heart. Rebecca returns the Nostalgia to her at the end. References Ngayon at Kailanman