Chapter 1
Years ago, in the quiet corners of Greenland City, Raphael and Pearl had been inseparable. They were the kind of high school couple others envied young, passionate, and completely devoted. Their love had been the kind that felt eternal, pure and innocent, the kind that made people believe in love. But fate had other plans.
Pearl left for college in Asia, as her parents wanted her to study closer to their homeland. She came from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in Greenland City, a family that held power like royalty. Raphael, on the other hand, stayed behind to care for his father the only family he had left. His father, diagnosed with lymphoma, needed him. While his classmates pursued higher education, Raphael took on multiple jobs to cover medical bills, sacrificing his own dreams in the process.
Raphael had never been lucky in life. Born into an average family, he had lost his mother and siblings in the crisis that shook Greenland City decades ago. His father, now sick, was the only survivor besides him a reminder of everything the war had taken.
Their separation had always been a possibility, but neither of them had truly accepted it at the time. Raphael, knowing how society worked, feared what was to come. He had promised to wait for Pearl, but deep down, he doubted she would return to him.
Pearl's father, Don Antonio, was one of the most feared and respected men in Greenland City. A firm believer in social class divisions, he upheld the belief that the rich and the poor should never mix. He was a ruthless businessman, known for exploiting the lower class, and he would never approve of someone like Raphael for his daughter.
Years passed, and Raphael was no longer the boy Pearl had left behind. Hard labor had shaped him into a man whose presence couldn't go unnoticed. Despite the struggles, his rugged handsomeness stood out. At six feet tall, with sharp, defined features, he had the kind of look that made people stop and stare. His brown eyes held a quiet intensity, a weight of unspoken stories. His jawline was sharp, his nose perfectly straight, and his dark hair though often neatly combed had a natural curl that only added to his effortless charm.Women noticed him. They always did.
His lean, muscular build, shaped by years of hard work, made him even more desirable. But despite his looks, Raphael was a man from the lower class a fact that always overshadowed his appeal. He was the kind of man wealthy women admired but never brought home. A man to flirt with, but never to love.
Still, life gave him a small break.
After years of sending out applications, he finally got a job at one of the biggest enterprises in Greenland City, ANTIO Enterprises, owned by none other than Don Antonio himself. When he received the email, he could hardly believe it.
"Yesss!" he shouted, staring at the screen in disbelief. Finally, a real chance at life. With this salary, he could afford better living conditions and proper treatment for his father. He hurried to get dressed, eager to share the good news.
But when he reached the hospital, his excitement shattered.
His father's bed was empty.
Confused, he turned to a nearby nurse. "Where's my father? The man in this ward?"
The nurse hesitated, then asked if he was the patient's son. When he nodded, she sighed. "I'm sorry… He passed away last night. His body has been moved to the morgue."
The world blurred.
Raphael didn't hear anything else. He walked out of the hospital, his chest tightening, his legs heavy. His father was gone. All the hard work, the sacrifices, the sleepless nights it had all been for nothing. The bills, the treatments, the desperate prayers. None of it had saved him.
He swallowed hard. He wouldn't cry. A man wasn't supposed to cry. That was what he had been taught.
But the grief was suffocating.
He walked aimlessly through the city, his body moving on its own. When he finally reached home, the emptiness hit him like a punch to the gut. His father's favorite chair sat untouched in the corner. Memories flooded his mind the laughter, the scoldings, the warmth of a home that no longer felt like one.
His vision blurred, and before he knew it, a tear slipped down his cheek. Then another. And for the first time, he let it out. He let himself grieve.
Sometime in the night, exhaustion took over, and he fell asleep where he sat.
Morning came too soon. The chirping of birds and the cool touch of morning air woke him, but he felt no urgency to move. His daily routine waking up early, tending to his father before heading to work was gone. There was nothing left to rush for. Then his phone rang.
The sharp sound jolted him back to reality. He hesitated before answering.
"Hello, is this Mr. Raphael?" A female voice came from the other end.
"Yes…" His voice was hoarse. "We're calling from ANTIO Enterprises regarding your employment. We'd like you to resume on Monday. Will that be possible? For a moment, he said nothing.
The news that had once filled him with joy now felt hollow. It was this job offer the thing he had waited years for that had led him to the hospital, only to find out his father had died.
He forced himself to answer. "Yes, that won't be a problem."
His voice was steady, but inside, he felt nothing.
Monday was just a day away, and Raphael had to pull himself together and prepare for his job. As he got up to start his day, he heard a knock on the door. Wondering who could be there so early, he thought of his only friend, Harry, who would usually visit at odd hours. But Harry was out of the city for an internship program. Walking to the door, still contemplating who it could be, he opened it before the third knock landed and was met with a shocking news.
"Hello, Mr. Raphael. We have come to take possession of the house your late father used as collateral for a loan of over 12 million dollars, which he failed to repay before his passing," the young man in a black suit stated. Raphael froze in shock. His father hadn't just left him alone in this world, he had left him buried in debt. Why hadn't his father told him about this? "We will return on Wednesday to seal the property unless you are able to pay your father's debt," the official continued, handing him a document before turning to leave.
Raphael stood still, his mind racing. Twelve million dollars? How in the world was he supposed to come up with that kind of money?
Meanwhile, in Asia…
On the other side of the world, Pearl graduated with high honors, receiving the award for Best Graduating Student. Her father wasn't present but her mother Madam Portia was seated in the high table being one was the most influential people to graced the occasion. She beamed with so much pride as her daughter has held high the family known legacy. After the ceremony, Pearl rode home with her mother in a sleek Porsche, her mother's favorite car brand, while security escorts followed behind.
Their mansion was already alive with celebration. Soft, serene music played in the background, and elegantly dressed staff moved around, ensuring everything ran smoothly. A grand banner hung at the entrance, "WELCOME HOME, OUR PRIDE."
She was indeed their pride, the only surviving twin of Madame Portia.
The moment Pearl's car arrived, a security guard quickly stepped forward to open the door. She stepped out, her presence effortlessly commanding attention. Every detail of her attire from the shimmering elegance of her dress to the flawless styling spoke of wealth and sophistication.