Episode 1

Maisa

My sister Luna and I were always a duo.

Our mother passed away days after Luna's birth. Her pregnancy had been fraught with complications due to a late-stage leukemia diagnosis.

Following my sister's arrival, our mother couldn't hold on and succumbed to her illness.

Our father remains a mystery to us; our grandmother despises him, painting him as a vile and dangerously violent man. I won't pretend I'm not curious to meet him, but we haven't a clue about his identity or whereabouts.

We grew up in our grandmother's home, alongside our jobless Uncle Aluisio.

Our contempt for him ran deep, as he was her favorite and made our lives unbearable, something only we two shared in our daily ordeal. The threats he made if we ever spoke out to our grandmother—or dared to tell anyone outside—kept us silent. Besides, it would have been futile; she would always take his side over our truth.

Despite the hardships, I devoted myself to academics, but opportunities to further my education stalled after high school due to its mandatory nature and my grandmother's desire to avoid legal trouble.

She made me hawk sweets at traffic lights and clean neighbors' homes, yet fear of hard work was foreign to me.

Upon reaching adulthood, I secured a cleaning job at a wealthy family's residence, where I met Diego. We forged a strong friendship, and with his support, I won my sister's custody. We left that oppressive household under the cover of night, unnoticed.

For a year, we huddled in a small studio apartment. Cramped, yes, but together.

One day, a grave incident shattered our quiet life, forcing us to flee. This time, with Diego's aid, we managed to leave the country. His compassion and stability were evident; he confessed his love for me, leading to our loving relationship.

Now, Luna and I share an apartment with Natalia, whom I met at the cafe where we work.

Diego lives in a luxurious downtown apartment and studies accounting at the university.

While I have yet to attend university, I've completed some online administration courses, saving my earnings to support Luna through her nursing studies.

Diego often argues with me, urging me to accept his financial help, which I resist. My priority is Luna's education—for now.

I am Maisa Souza, 25, a Brazilian living in Madrid—an optimistic, hardworking, and kind-hearted individual. Luna sometimes teases that my goodness teeters on naivete. Despite my trials, the zest for life and inherent sweetness remain undiminished.

Derek

Life on Madrid's streets was all I knew until a compassionate couple took me in. I carry indelible scars from a nightmarish childhood. Even surrounded by the love of my adoptive family, I remain a guarded man, skeptical of romantic love in today's world.

My love for my family is unwavering; I would sacrifice everything for them.

I stepped into my father's shoes as company president two years ago, having spent a year traveling for business and missing their company. Despite the distance, daily calls and video chats keep us connected. I pride myself on expanding our business empire, excelling in my trade.

Engaged to Ariana, a woman of striking beauty yet fickle nature, our relationship hinges on commerce. We both seek to enlarge our wealth, so merging business with pleasure was logical. My parents would disapprove, hence they remain unaware of its contractual basis.

I see life as a transaction, romance as a weakness. I am resolute, never to be swayed by a woman that might disrupt my tranquility. I savor life, free to engage with various women, a lifestyle I refuse to compromise.

I am Derek Lago, 30, a Madrid resident. Characteristics that define me: charismatic, possessive, and ultra-wealthy. The success I've achieved surpassed my father's and uncle's accomplishments, borne of relentless toil.

I show no mercy, relentlessly pursuing my ambitions. The company is my passion; my perfectionism brooks no employee errors, ensuring only the elite comprise my team.

Can fate intertwine such disparate souls and inspire change? Might love reach deep enough to disentangle Derek from his darkness?...

And Luna, what has destiny in store for her, a life equally etched by hardship?

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