“ARRANGED TO MARRY A WOMAN HE DIDN’T KNOW—SO HE HAD TO WORK HARD TO FIND SOMEONE WHO WOULD LOVE HIS WEALTHLESSNESS.”

Lucas  Dela Vega  is the son of one of the richest families in the country —
a clan that has businesses in real estate, banking, and owns almost half of the buildings in Makati.
He grew up in a life of luxury, but despite everything,
he feels  trapped in gold.

Every time he sits at the dining table, he doesn’t hear about food but about his parents’ plans.

“Lucas, get ready. You are getting married to Senator Villanueva’s daughter. That will be a good party.”

He remained silent, but deep inside, a question kept popping up in his mind:

“When will I experience loving freely?”

He didn’t answer at first.
But one night, while looking out the window of his high-rise condo,
he made up his mind.

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THE DECISION THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The next day, he called his best friend.

“Miguel, I’m leaving now. I want to see if you can love me even when I’m not here.”

A few days later,
Lucas disappeared from the sight of his parents, friends, and the media.
No one knew where he was.

But in reality,
Lucas was in a small barangay in Batangas,
wearing an old t-shirt, and had applied as a helper at a small cafeteria.

The name he used:  “Louie.”

No car, no money, no last name.
A new beginning.

THE WOMAN WHO SHOWED THE REAL WORLD

On his first day at the café, he met  Althea ,
a twenty-two-year-old girl, a simple saleswoman,
but with eyes like stars — bright, gentle, and full of life.

“Are you a beginner?” Althea asked as she arranged the dishes.
“Yes,” Lucas replied. “They say it’s good to work here if you’re hungry.”
“That’s right,” Althea said with a laugh. “Here, smiles are free, but vomit is expensive.”

They laughed, and that’s where an unexpected friendship began.

Every day, they cook together, offer food,
and whenever they take a break, they just laugh under an old umbrella.

But every time Lucas returns home to his small rental,
he stares at the photo of his parents in his wallet.
He knows the day will come when he will have to return.

LOVE WITHOUT A MASK

Two months passed.
His friendship with Althea deepened.
While they were walking along the beach one evening,
Althea opened up to him.

“You know, Louie, I don’t know why I feel comfortable with you.
Even though you’re quiet, it seems like you understand me.”

Lucas smiled.

“Maybe it’s because we’re both not looking for wealth, but for peace.”

“Rich? Haha! If I were rich, I would buy nice shoes.
But you know, Louie, even though we are like this… I am happy.”

And that night, as they watched the waves,
Lucas felt something he had never experienced before—
the feeling that he was enough, even though he had no name.

THE OPPORTUNITY OF TRUTH

One day, a convoy of cars arrived in the village.
Bodyguards and a woman in high heels and an expensive dress emerged—Lucas’ fiancée, whom his parents had arranged for,  Monique Villanueva.

“Lucas Dela Vega!” the woman shouted. “What are you doing?
Your whole family is looking for you! Your Daddy is on his way here!”

Everyone in the cafeteria stopped.
Lucas was silent, not knowing how to explain.
He turned to Althea—her eyes were full of shock and pain.

“Is that true, Louie? You’re Lucas?”
“Althea, you don’t understand. I was just trying…”
“You were just trying? You fooled me!”

Althea ran, while Lucas was left behind,
holding the old apron she had given him.

THE DAY OF BAPTISM

Two weeks later, Lucas and Monique’s engagement party was held at a large hotel in Makati.
But as Lucas held a glass of champagne,
he saw himself in the mirror—
a man wearing a mask again.

He can’t do it anymore.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said into the microphone, “I’m sorry.
I can’t marry a woman I don’t love.
The truth is, I loved someone else—
a woman who taught me how to be real without money,
and how to love life without luxury.”

Everyone was silent.
He left, without looking back.

THE RETURN TO TRUTH

Lucas returned to Batangas,
carrying a small flower and Althea’s old apron.
But when he arrived at the cafeteria, Althea was gone.
It was closed.

He asked the neighbors,

“Where is Althea?”
“She left, my child. She applied to be a nurse in the province.
But before she left, she left this.”

An envelope was handed to him.
He opened it.

“Louie—or Lucas, whoever you really are.
I don’t know whether to be angry or sad.
But thank you, because in your company, I learned to love people, not the state.
If your love is true, find me—not as Dela Vega, but as you.”

Lucas fell silent.
And for the first time,
he walked away from the car,
toward the bus station—carrying only his heart and his real name.

THE REUNION

A year passed.
At an outreach program of Dela Vega’s company,
Lucas arrived—now simply dressed, without jewelry.

While he was distributing free medicines to patients,
he saw a woman in a white uniform.
She smiled at him.

“You’re here too, Louie.”

He smiled back,
came closer, and hugged the woman tightly.

“I’m no longer Lucas Dela Vega.
I’m still the guy who cleaned your table at the cafeteria.
And now, I want to work for the rest of my life—just to make you happy.”

Althea’s tears flowed,
and in the middle of a simple village,
two hearts separated by wealth met—
now joined by  true love.

💔 Moral of the Story:
True love is never measured by a last name or possessions.
Because in the end, no matter how luxurious your world is —
gold is worthless if you are not loved for who you are.