--
The morning sun filtered through the tattered curtains of a modest room, casting golden rays on the only mirror nailed to the cracked wall. Luna Charlotte stood before it, tying her thick, dark hair into a ponytail, humming softly to a song only she could hear. Her long hair danced behind her with every sway, framing a face so radiant and skin so flawless, you'd think she was the daughter of a rich oil tycoon. But her reflection knew better.
Her tiny room, shared with her younger brother Ashy, barely held their belongings. Clothes were neatly folded on makeshift shelves, and the bed was always made a habit their mother instilled early. Their home, tucked inside one of the crowded blocks of the old Eden District, smelled of warm bread and faded dreams.
"Luna, come and eat!" her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Coming, Mama!" she replied, her cheerful voice laced with love.
Luna quickly adjusted her simple dress blue with small floral prints and stepped out of the room. In the kitchen, the smell of beans cake and pap welcomed her. Her mother, Grace, had tied her wrapper firmly around her waist as she stirred the pap in a blackened pot. Her skin glistened with sweat, and strands of gray peeked out from under her scarf. She was aging, not from years, but from the weight of life.
"Morning, Mama," Luna greeted, planting a kiss on her cheek.
Grace smiled, her tired eyes lighting up at the sight of her daughter. "Always cheerful," she said. "Even the landlord's wahala can't shake you."
"Because if I frown, will he forget to collect rent?" Luna joked, making her mother chuckle.
Ashy came into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes. At just ten, he already acted like the man of the house, trying to carry responsibilities he didn't fully understand. Luna dished food for him and herself while her mother grabbed her bag.
"I'm off to the Collins mansion," Grace said. "Today is general cleaning. That big house never gets tired of dust."
Luna nodded. "Tell Madam Regina I said good morning, and please take it easy. You worked late yesterday."
Her mother looked back at her, a mix of pride and worry in her eyes. "If I rest, who will pay for your university form? You'll go back to school this year, Luna. I promise."
Luna smiled, hiding the sting in her chest. She was intelligent everyone in Eden District knew that but poverty didn't care how bright your future was. It just placed a price tag on your dreams and dared you to pay.
After breakfast, Luna stepped outside to her usual routine greeting neighbors, helping Mama Ruth, an elderly widow down the street, with her morning bucket, and stopping by her best friend, Tomi's house.
Tomi was her ride-or-die, the only person who'd been there through every pain, especially the day her father died.
"Guess who got a call from Mr. Charles?" Tomi asked, waving her phone.
"Don't tell me you got that internship!" Luna gasped.
Tomi nodded. "i'll start next week! Can you imagine? Me, in an office with AC!"
They both laughed, hugging tightly.
"I'm so happy for you," Luna said. "It's your time to shine, babe."
"You too," Tomi replied. "Your time is coming, and when it does, the whole city will know that one star has risen."
Luna smiled. "Amen."
---
Meanwhile…
In the wealthier part of town, beyond the iron gates and glass towers, Steve Collins adjusted the cuffs of his designer shirt and walked into the boardroom of Collins & Co Holdings. He was tall, broad-shouldered, and devastatingly handsome. The kind of man women wrote fantasies about. But his expression? Cold as steel.
"Morning, sir," his assistant greeted, handing him a tablet.
"Who approved this marketing proposal?" Steve asked as he scanned through.
"Uh… that was Rachel from…"
"Fire her," he said without emotion. "We don't run a charity here."
The assistant nodded quickly, already used to his boss's ruthlessness.
Steve sat at the head of the table as executives filed in. One glance from him was enough to silence even the loudest. He ran his empire with discipline. Emotions were a weakness he refused to entertain especially not the romantic ones. He saw relationships as distractions, women as liabilities, and love as an illusion created for the weak.
After the meeting, he stepped into his sleek black car and instructed his driver to head to the hospital his grandmother had called earlier, complaining of a headache. What he didn't know was that the old woman had no intention of staying home.
~~~
Back in Eden, Madam Regina Collins a spirited old woman with a stubborn streak slipped out of the mansion unnoticed. Dressed in her flowing native wear and with a walking stick in hand, she insisted on walking to the market.
"I'm old, not dead," she told the gatekeeper. "Exercise is good for me!"
Ignoring all protests, she walked into the sunny street.
And just a few blocks away, fate was preparing a twist.
The market buzzed with life, the kind only Eden District could provide. Vendors shouted over one another, trying to outsell their competition, as the thick scent of roasted corn, fresh pepper, and dried fish wafted through the air. Madam Regina moved slowly, her stick tapping against the dusty ground with every step. She greeted the sellers with warmth, buying small items here and there a bunch of plantains, a pack of dry crayfish, and some ripe tomatoes.
She paused near the fruit stall, pressing an orange gently to test its firmness, when a loud blare of a horn shattered the moment.
A reckless car swerved around the corner at high speed.
"Madam move! Move oh!" a woman screamed.
Regina froze. The sun blinded her eyes, and her frail legs wouldn't move fast enough. The vehicle came charging toward her like a bull with no brakes.
And then…
A blur of blue and brown flew across the street.
Luna tackled the old woman from the side, pushing her out of the car's path. The vehicle screeched past, the bumper grazing Luna's arm before vanishing into the chaos.
They both crashed to the ground, groceries flying in every direction. Bystanders rushed forward, shouting, checking for injuries.
Madam Regina, in shock, sat up slowly. "My child… my God! Are you alright?!"
Luna winced, clutching her left arm, already bruised. "I think… I'm fine. You?"
"I'm not hurt… thanks to you!" the old woman gasped, grabbing Luna's hands with tears in her eyes.
Someone offered to help them up, while another called for a taxi to the hospital. Luna tried to wave it off hospitals cost money but Regina wouldn't have it.
"No argument. You're coming with me. That's final."
~~~
Twenty minutes later, they sat in a small private hospital. Luna, now bandaged and sitting on a plastic chair, kept glancing at her phone. She had texted Tomi to let her know she was okay. Madam Regina, meanwhile, had phoned her grandson.
"He's coming," she said with a mischievous grin. "I told him what happened. He'll want to see you."
Luna blinked. "Your grandson?"
Regina chuckled. "You probably know him. Steve Collins?"
Luna's heart skipped. Steve Collins? The Steve Collins?
The man whose name was spoken in whispers and awe the billionaire everyone admired but no one could approach. She'd never seen him in person, but she'd heard stories: heartless businessman, too fine for his own good, a walking ice cube.
She straightened her dress unconsciously.
Moments later, the hospital door opened.
And he walked the storm himself.
Steve's presence was instant tall, commanding, dressed in a crisp black shirt tucked into fitted slacks. His expensive cologne mingled with the sterile hospital scent, and his eyes sharp, cold, calculating swept the room like a laser.
"Grandma," he said, walking briskly to Regina. "What happened?"
"I nearly got knocked down. But this young girl," she gestured to Luna, "saved my life."
Steve turned slowly, his eyes meeting Luna's for the first time.
She stood.
It wasn't just beauty Luna had a warmth that made her glow, even in that small, dull hospital room. Her skin glistened from the heat, and her bandaged arm rested gently across her stomach. But her eyes held a calm confidence, not fear.
Steve frowned slightly. "You got hurt?"
"A little. I'll be fine," she said politely.
He scanned her up and down, then turned back to Regina. "You shouldn't be walking around like that."
"I'm not a prisoner," the old woman replied with sass. "Besides, if I hadn't gone out, I wouldn't have met her."
Luna gave a small smile. "I'm just glad she's okay."
Steve turned to her again, as if trying to figure her out. She didn't fawn, didn't flirt, didn't try to impress him. That was new.
"I'll take care of your medical bills," he said.
"Oh no, that's not necessary…"
"I wasn't asking," he replied flatly.
Luna opened her mouth, then shut it. Arguing seemed useless.
Regina leaned forward. "Luna, dear… where do you live?"
"Eden District, ma."
Steve's brow twitched. "That's… far."
Luna nodded. "Yes. But not that far to save a life."
A pause stretched between them.
Steve broke it first. "I'll have my driver take you home."
"I don't want to trouble anyone"
"It's not trouble. My grandmother insists."
Luna looked at Regina, who gave her a wink. "Don't argue. I raised a hard head, now you're meeting him."
Luna chuckled softly. "Okay. Thank you."
Steve nodded once and walked out with his phone, already making a call.
Luna sighed and sat down again. What a strange day.