Author's POV:
It had been 10 years since Nia left her hometown with her mom, and two years later, her mom passed away. Since then, she had been struggling to make a living on her own.
During that time, she met Matthew in college, and they became very close, falling in love. Matthew Hawkins was always there for her, making her feel special and loving her for who she really was. It was as if they were alone in the world, inseparable.
Matthew was a Business major and became highly successful after college, taking over his dad's company. Two years later, after becoming one of the youngest top CEOs in LA, Matthew started to change. One day, Nia discovered that Matthew was having an affair with another woman. She was heartbroken and decided to confront him.
Matthew lied, saying it was a mistake and that it would never happen again. He looked at her with a pained expression on his face. A few months later, he apologized, and because of the love she had for him, Nia went back to him, and they continued their relationship. Little did she know that he would never change.
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The Present Day
♡Nia's POV ♡
I got up after crying and loosened my ponytail before heading to have a long shower. As soon as I finished showering, I heard my phone ringing. Ignoring the first call, I assumed it was Matthew trying to reach me.
However, I had to answer the second call and smiled when I saw it was Sofia, my best friend.
"Carmen!" she squealed. "Guess what?" she asked. But her smile faded as she noticed my swollen eyes, and she asked, "Oh no, what happened, Carmen?"
Tears welled up in my eyes again as I explained everything to her.
"Matthew is such a jerk. I can't believe you've been through so much. I thought he was a really good guy. I'm so sorry about what happened," she said with an innocent face.
I asked, "You wanted to tell me something earlier?" She replied, looking excited, "Yeah, I'm contesting for Miss San Casas!" I smiled at her and said, "The beauty contest in San Casas? I'm really happy for you! I wish you could come see me. It's been so hard convincing you to come visit San Casas..." I paused and responded, "It's not that, it's just that I'm really busy."
She suggested, "I have an idea. What if you came to design my dress for the contest ? I heard top judges and designers would be there . You could even get a contract when they see your design." I replied, "That isn't a bad idea." Lost in thought, I added, "I would love to design your outfit, Miss San Casas," and we burst into laughter.
She asked, her face nervous, "Please, please come to San Casas. I'm here for you." I replied, "Hmm, okay, I will." She screamed with excitement, "Yes!" and thanked me repeatedly.
Taking a deep sigh, I grabbed the picture of my mom from beside my bed and said, "Mom, I'm so sorry. I have to go back. I don't fit in here in LA, and I never did. I'm not happy here, Mom. Please help me."
I walked over to the refrigerator and grabbed a soda. Nervous yet determined, I had made a decision. It was time to pack my belongings and return to San Casas for a while. Despite the fear, I felt a sense of relief, as if I had made the right decision for myself.
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The next morning, I woke up early, had breakfast, and headed straight to work. I was nervous because I was quitting my job after two years and moving on to something new. When I arrived at my office, everything was quiet and calm. I went to the coffee stand and saw Ms. Amber there.
"Good morning, Ms. Amber," I greeted her calmly.
"I realized there are some files upstairs that haven't been arranged according to the years. Go upstairs and take care of that now," she commanded.
"Okay," I smirked and went upstairs.
As I was about to step into the office, I heard my boss's voice coming from the conference room. Curiosity got the better of me, and I approached to eavesdrop. "You told me to demote her, Matthew, and I did. Now you're telling me to fire her. I can't afford to lose Nia; she's one of my favorite designers, and her designs are unique," he said on the phone.
"So, it was all a plan. At first, I felt relieved, but also saddened. I thought my designs were genuinely outdated..."
I slowly backed away and made my way to the filing room. I started sorting out the files, and once I finished, I went to my boss's office to hand in my resignation letter. He looked surprised and asked, "But why, Nia? You're one of the best designers here. Did Matthew force you to do this? Please don't jeopardize your future because of him. I've already taken care of everything."
"I appreciate your kindness," I replied, "but I'm ready to move on to bigger and better things. It's not about Matthew; I have chosen a different path. Besides, you already have Amber, and she's more than capable of securing the contract." I smirked.
Just then, Amber barged into the office without knocking. "Babe, I don't understand," she began but stopped abruptly when she saw me. I walked out of the office as if nothing had happened, but Amber stopped me.
"Have you arranged the files?" she asked.
"Go check for yourself, Amber," I retorted.
"How dare you speak to me in that manner? Do you know who I am?" she raised her voice.
"You are nothing but an ill-mannered person. Now, please excuse me," I said calmly as I walked away.
"Fine, then leave," she screamed at me from afar, standing in shame. I left the office with my head held high, relieved that I didn't have to go back there again. I had just made a huge decision, and I felt liberated. I knew I had made the right choice, and I couldn't wait to start a new life.