The next morning, Lucia slipped into her driver's uniform and arrived at Diego's apartment right on time. As she entered, she found Diego descending the stairs, fully dressed for work, a wide smile spread across his face.
"Oh, Emily, you're here!" Diego said, his voice full of excitement.
"Yes, sir. Did you win a jackpot or something?" Lucia asked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.
"I won more than a jackpot," Diego beamed. "My fiancée called me yesterday! Your words came through!"
"Wow, congratulations, sir," Lucia replied, forcing a polite smile.
"Thank you, Emily! You have no idea how much you brightened my day. You're such a joy giver. I mean it—you made me smile yesterday. I really appreciate you," Diego said, his eyes gleaming with gratitude.
"Thank you, sir," Lucia said, keeping her expression neutral.
"Come here, give me a hug," Diego suddenly said, stepping forward.
"Huh?" Lucia replied, caught off guard.
"Come on, I'm happy!" Diego insisted, clearly in a celebratory mood.
Lucia hesitated, but then gave him a quick shoulder hug, keeping it professional. "That's all you're getting, sir," she said with a playful smirk. "You're not my man for a full hug."
Diego chuckled. "Fair enough," he said, patting her shoulders. "But thank you, really. I mean it."
"You're welcome, sir," Lucia replied, subtly clearing her throat. "But... work's calling."
"Right, right, let's get going," Diego said, laughing as they both headed to the car.
As the day wore on, Lucia drove Diego to his office and, as usual, waited until evening to take him back. The day seemed like any other—until Diego spoke up halfway through the drive.
"Today was hectic as hell," Diego sighed, leaning back in the seat.
"Sorry to hear that, sir," Lucia replied, her hands steady on the wheel.
"Take me to the club," Diego said suddenly, his tone casual.
"Okay, sir," Lucia replied, her heart sinking as her mind raced with anger. You'll never change, you bastard.
When they arrived at the club, Diego got out, instructing Lucia to wait for him as usual. "Wait here for me," he said, before disappearing inside.
"Okay, sir," Lucia replied calmly, though her mind was seething.
Not long after, Diego returned, but this time with a woman—a stunning woman, laughing and clinging to his arm. He opened the car door for her, giggling like a schoolboy as they both slid into the back seat. Lucia's heart clenched in her chest, but she said nothing, keeping her expression blank as she drove them back to Diego's residence.
As they reached the gate, Lucia honked, and the security guard, Andre, opened it for them. She pulled into the driveway, and Diego, still laughing with the woman, got out. He hurried around to the other side of the car to open the door for his companion, playfully tickling her as they made their way into the house.
Lucia sat in the driver's seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as she watched them walk off, her heart heavy with a mixture of disgust and sorrow. Andre, who had been watching from the gate, shook his head in disbelief as the scene unfolded.
"He'll never change," Andre said, his voice low as he handed Lucia the keys to lock up.
Lucia glanced at him briefly, her emotions in turmoil, but she said nothing. Taking the keys, she got out of the car and headed toward the door, her mind already spinning with thoughts of Diego's lies, and how much longer she could endure the charade.
After dropping Diego and his new companion off at the house, Lucia drove back to the hotel, her mind swirling with emotions. The drive felt longer than usual, the weight of Diego's deceit pressing down on her chest. As she parked the car and made her way to her room, all she could think about was how much longer she could maintain this façade.
Once inside her room, Lucia kicked off her shoes, pulled out the phone she used to contact Ivy, and collapsed onto the bed. She dialed Ivy's number, desperate to vent.
"Hey, girl!" Ivy answered, sounding cheerful. "What's up?"
Lucia let out a deep sigh before speaking. "You won't believe what happened today."
"Try me," Ivy replied, her voice now filled with curiosity.
Lucia sat up, running a hand through her hair. "I took Diego to the club, like he asked. No big deal, right? Well, when he comes back out, he's with some girl—giggling, touching her, acting like a love-struck fool."
Ivy gasped. "Oh, hell no! Another one?"
"Yep," Lucia said bitterly. "He was all over her. And the worst part? He opened the door for her like she was some queen. I was sitting there, driving them like nothing was wrong. It was so humiliating. Andre, the security guard, saw everything too. He didn't say much, but you could tell he was just as shocked."
Ivy groaned on the other end. "That man is shameless. How can he be so sweet to you on the phone as his fiancée and then turn around and do that in front of you as his driver?"
Lucia bit her lip, her eyes stinging with frustration. "Exactly. He has no clue that it's all me. And today, he had the nerve to hug me before work, thanking me for making his day because I called him last night. Can you believe that?"
Ivy was silent for a moment, taking it all in. "It's like he's living two different lives, and he's so damn comfortable with it. But girl, you're playing both roles perfectly. How are you even keeping it together?"
Lucia shook her head, even though Ivy couldn't see her. "Barely. It's hard, Ivy. Seeing him act this way, knowing what I know… I don't know how much longer I can keep this up. It hurts. It's like I'm watching him disrespect me over and over, but he has no idea it's me."
"I know, Lucia," Ivy said softly. "But remember why you started this. You needed to know the truth about him, and now you have it. It's clear he's not the man he pretends to be. You've already proven that."
Lucia sighed, her chest tightening. "Yeah, but it doesn't make it any easier. I thought maybe—just maybe—he'd be different when he didn't know it was me. But he's worse than I ever imagined."
Ivy's voice was firm. "You've seen enough now. Don't let him make a fool out of you anymore. What's your next move?"
Lucia fell silent, staring at the ceiling. "I don't know," she admitted. "I want to confront him, but I also want to make sure he really understands the depth of his betrayal before I reveal everything. I need him to see how much he's hurt me without even realizing it."
"You'll know when the time is right," Ivy reassured her. "But whatever you decide, just know I'm here for you. This whole thing sucks, but you're strong. You've got this."
"Thanks, Ivy," Lucia said, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
They chatted a bit longer, with Ivy offering words of comfort and encouragement before they finally said their goodbyes. As Lucia hung up, she couldn't shake the heaviness in her chest. She had come this far, but now she was at a crossroads. How much more of Diego's deceit could she bear before it all came crashing down?
For now, though, all she could do was wait—wait for the right moment to show Diego who she really was, and what he had lost.