— THE MAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING EXCEPT PEACE

The night sky reflected on the glass windows of the most expensive apartment in São Paulo.
Inside, Lucas Ferraz — one of the most powerful businessmen in the country — swirled the whiskey in his glass as he watched the city glitter beneath him.

Another expensive night.
Another disposable companion.
Another empty feeling.

To him, love was a game of control.
No emotions. Only power.

But that night, something unexpected happened.

The cleaning lady who always took care of his apartment called in sick.
The company sent a replacement.

And that was how Marina walked into Lucas’s life.

A 27-year-old single mother from the outskirts of the city, wearing a simple uniform and worn-out shoes — and carrying a gaze filled not with fear, but with dignity.

When she entered the apartment, shy but composed, Lucas raised an eyebrow. She was nothing like the women he was used to having around.

“Are you new here?” he asked, his voice cold.

“Yes, sir. I’m just covering for Mrs. Sônia,” she answered, not looking away from her work.

No fear.
No hidden intentions.
No flattery.

Just honesty.

And that unsettled Lucas more than he expected.

— THE MILLIONAIRE WHO DISCOVERED WHAT MONEY CAN’T BUY

As Marina cleaned a whiskey stain on the floor, Lucas approached, expecting her to flinch, blush, or treat him with excessive politeness — like everyone else did when they realized who he was.

But she simply continued working.

Focused.
Calm.
Unimpressed.

For Lucas, that made her more intriguing than any glamorous model he had ever dated.

When she finished wiping the table, their eyes met for a moment. Marina smiled — a genuine, warm smile.

Lucas couldn’t remember the last time someone smiled at him without wanting something in return.

The silence of his penthouse no longer felt oppressive.
It felt alive.

Little by little, Lucas began asking questions.
At first out of curiosity.
Then out of interest.
And finally… out of need.

Marina spoke about her son, about the difficulties she faced, about the dreams she had given up on.
She wasn’t bitter — only truthful.

And the more Lucas listened, the smaller he felt… and the more human he became.

For the first time in a long while, he didn’t call any of the women he usually used to numb his loneliness.

He stayed there.
Watching Marina pack up her supplies, adjust her uniform, tie her hair.
Discovering a peace he had forgotten existed.

When she said goodnight, Lucas said — surprising even himself:

“Come back tomorrow. Not as a replacement. I want you working here.”

She smiled, surprised.

“I’ll come back… if it’s just for work. Only for work.”

Then she left.

And for the first time, Lucas found himself waiting for someone.

— THE LOVE NO ONE SAW COMING

In the following days, Marina returned.
And with each visit, Lucas changed a little more.

He started to notice the small things:
— how she hummed softly while cleaning;
— how she organized everything with care;
— how she treated everyone — from the doorman to the driver — with the same respect.

She brought a light he didn’t know he was missing.

Lucas, who once hid behind arrogance, started helping her carry supplies.
Asking about her son.
Skipping lavish parties just to talk with her for ten minutes in the kitchen.

A man who commanded boardrooms tripped over his own words when Marina smiled.

One evening, after she finished her work, Lucas said:

“Marina… you’ve changed something in here.”

He touched his chest.

She looked at him seriously.

“I only cleaned what was dirty, Mr. Lucas.”

He smiled.

“I wasn’t talking about the apartment.”

For the first time since they met, Marina blushed.

And then, she finally allowed him to come closer.

Not because he was rich.
Not because she needed anything.
But because he was no longer acting like a billionaire.

He was simply Lucas.

And she was simply Marina…
The only person who managed to clean something no amount of money ever could:

His heart.