That night, after the heated moment in Cleopatra's office, Louis walked toward his small house on the outskirts of the city with mixed feelings. His lips still burned from Cleopatra's kiss, and his mind spun endlessly. Cleopatra was no ordinary woman. She was a storm, tearing apart every boundary he tried to maintain.

When he arrived home, Louis opened the old wooden door, which creaked slightly. The small room was dark, illuminated only by a dim overhead lamp. His mother, Linda Toreto, was asleep on the worn-out sofa, wrapped in a thin blanket that barely kept her warm against the night's chill. The house lacked luxurious furniture—just a rickety dining table and a wooden shelf holding a few old belongings that had survived their hard times.


Louis walked to the tiny kitchen and drank a glass of water from the frequently leaking tap. His hands trembled slightly. He wasn't sure if it was due to emotions or the lingering effect of Cleopatra's presence. But one thing was certain—their relationship was becoming inevitable.

Yet, deep in his heart, Louis felt doubt. How could a poor man like him, who wasn't even sure if he could pay the electricity bill tomorrow, have a relationship with a woman like Cleopatra? She was accustomed to luxury, while Louis didn't even own decent clothes for a business meeting.

His thoughts returned to his mother, who worked day and night just to ensure they survived. Cleopatra lived in a completely different world, one he could never truly enter. Louis clenched his fists, trying to suppress the emotions growing in his heart.


He must not fall in love with Cleopatra. It would only bring greater pain. Their worlds were too different, and Louis wasn't sure he was strong enough to face that reality.

________________________________________


The next morning, Louis woke up feeling restless.

Sunlight streamed through the small, grimy window of his bedroom. He heard his mother's voice from the kitchen, preparing a simple breakfast—just dry bread and unsweetened coffee. Louis let out a long sigh. Their life had always been like this, full of limitations, yet his mother always tried to give her best.

'Louis, come eat before you leave for work," Linda's gentle voice called from the kitchen.

Louis walked into the small dining area and saw his mother, looking more exhausted than usual. Her face bore the lines of fatigue, yet her familiar smile remained. Louis knew she had been working since dawn, cleaning other people's houses.

As he sat down, his mother looked at him attentively. 'You seem troubled. Is there a problem at work?"

Louis gave a small smile, trying to hide his anxiety. 'No, Mom. Just more work than usual."

Linda nodded slowly. 'If you're tired, don't push yourself too hard, son. I know you want to change our lives, but don't hurt yourself in the process."

Louis lowered his gaze, feeling a tightness in his chest. His mother had no idea how far he had stepped into Cleopatra's world or how hard it was to resist his feelings for her.

After breakfast, Louis said goodbye to his mother and left for work on the old, crowded bus. This journey always made him feel even smaller compared to Cleopatra's world, filled with luxury cars and skyscrapers.

When he arrived at the Dimitri Group building, his steps felt heavy. Cleopatra was probably already inside, sitting in her spacious office with a panoramic view of the city from the top floor. The contrast between them was glaring, as if an invisible chasm separated their worlds.

But as he entered the office, another surprise awaited him.

Cleopatra stood near his desk, wearing an elegant cream-colored dress, her expression unreadable. In her hands, she held a small black box.

'You're here earlier than usual," Cleopatra said, her voice calm but sharp.

Louis swallowed. 'Yeah. Is there something you want to talk about?"

Cleopatra stepped closer and handed him the box. 'Open it."

Carefully, Louis opened the box, and his eyes widened in shock. Inside was an expensive watch—one that could probably cover his rent for an entire year.

'Cleopatra, this is…"

'A gift," Cleopatra interrupted quickly. 'I know you'd never buy one for yourself. So I got it for you."

Louis stared at her intently. There was something in Cleopatra's gaze that was more than just arrogance. Perhaps this was her way of showing she cared.

But to Louis, this gift wasn't just a watch. It was a reminder that they came from different worlds. And the deeper he stepped into Cleopatra's life, the greater the risk of losing himself.

Louis looked at the watch in his hands. The metal was cold, gleaming under the bright office lights. He knew its price could feed his mother for months, and that made him feel even smaller.

'Cleopatra…" His voice was hoarse, filled with hesitation. 'I can't accept this."

Cleopatra raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp. 'Why not?"

'Because it's too expensive. I'm not a wealthy man, Cleopatra. I don't even know if I can pay my electricity bill tomorrow," he admitted, trying to explain without sounding too emotional.

But Cleopatra only smiled—a smile Louis knew was not just any smile. It was the smile of a woman who knew what she wanted and wouldn't let anything stand in her way.

'Wealth and poverty are not written in my father's will," Cleopatra said, repeating her words from their previous encounter. 'I choose who I will marry—not the media, not my father, and certainly not social status."

Louis gazed at her, searching for sincerity in her words. But could he truly believe her? Cleopatra's world was full of people ready to judge, ready to tear him apart simply because he didn't belong.

'So, you're really going to announce this publicly?" he asked, still unable to fully believe it.

Cleopatra nodded firmly. 'I've prepared everything. In one hour, we will go out and face the media. I will announce our engagement."

Louis felt his chest tighten. Everything was happening so fast, too suddenly. But before he could say anything else, Cleopatra had already taken his hand.

'Come," she said, pulling him out of the office.

Louis felt his body move involuntarily, his heart pounding as they descended to the lower floors, heading toward the main entrance of Dimitri Group. As they stepped outside, dozens of reporters were already waiting. Camera flashes exploded, voices overlapping as they threw countless questions.

Cleopatra stood tall before them, still gripping Louis's hand tightly. Then, with a strong and unwavering voice, she declared:

'Today, I have an important announcement. Louis and I are getting married."

A chorus of shocked gasps, cheers, and even more camera flashes erupted around them. Louis felt his entire body freeze.

There was no turning back now. Cleopatra had made her decision, and she had dragged him into her world of blinding spotlight.

And Louis wasn't sure if he was ready for it.