The next morning, Lucia woke up with a renewed sense of determination. The decision to resign felt like a weight lifted from her shoulders, and she was ready to take control of her life. She knew that she needed to confront Diego, but this time it would be on her terms.
Lucia spent a few moments in front of the mirror, carefully applying her makeup and fixing her hair in a way that felt both professional and confident. She slipped into her disguise—a fitted blazer paired with tailored trousers, completing the look with a simple blouse. The outfit was sharp but understated, a perfect representation of the persona she had adopted as Emily.
After checking the mirror one last time, she grabbed her bag, which held her uniform and the resignation letter she had written the night before. The letter was straightforward, outlining her decision and expressing her gratitude for the opportunity, but it was also firm—there was no turning back now.
Lucia took a deep breath and headed out of the hotel room, her heart racing with each step. As she approached Diego's apartment, the familiar anxiety began to creep in. What if he didn't take it well? What if he tried to persuade her to stay? She shook her head, banishing the doubts. No matter his reaction, she had made up her mind.
Arriving at his building, Andre approached her with a concerned look.
"Hi, Lucia. Is everything okay? You didn't come to work yesterday, so I thought I'd check up on you," Andre said, his tone filled with genuine concern.
"Yes, I wasn't feeling well, but I'm good now," Lucia replied with a forced smile. Just as they finished talking, Diego stepped out of the house. His expression shifted from surprise to confusion.
"Emily? What are you doing here?" he asked, running a hand through his hair.
Lucia cleared her throat, gathering her composure. "Good morning, sir. I wanted to return my uniform and let you know that I'm resigning."
Andre and Diego's brows furrowed in disbelief.
"Resigning? Why? Is everything okay?" Diego's voice was tinged with frustration, but Lucia could sense the underlying worry.
She squared her shoulders, standing tall. "Everything is fine. I just feel it's the right thing to do, sir. I wouldn't want to destroy myself because of you and your bad habits."
Diego's expression darkened instantly, his anger flaring. "You see, I always thought you had a brain, but now I see how brainless you really are. You want to leave? Leave then. I've got too much on my plate, too much I'm going through, and I won't let you be part of it."
"Andre!" Diego called out sharply.
"Yes, sir," Andre replied, his tone now cautious.
"Collect the uniform from her. I don't even know why I hired you in the first place. That was some online hire, wasn't it?"Diego said.
Lucia stood frozen for a moment, absorbing Diego's harsh words. His sudden anger caught her off guard, but she quickly recomposed herself. Her initial resolve to leave hadn't wavered, but hearing Diego's frustration made her feel a pang of guilt.
Andre, standing by awkwardly, took a hesitant step forward. "Lucia, you can hand me the uniform. It's okay," he said gently, trying to diffuse the tension between them.
Lucia looked at Diego, whose face was still tight with anger. She realized this wasn't about her resignation; Diego was dealing with something much deeper. His fiancée's silence, his work pressure—it had all built up, and she just happened to be the one in front of him when it spilled over.
"Sir," Lucia began, softening her tone. "I'm sorry you're going through all of this. But leaving this job... it's not because I want to abandon you when things get tough. It's because I need to look after myself too."
Diego's eyes flashed with frustration, but he didn't interrupt her. He simply clenched his jaw and folded his arms, his stance tense.
"You've been caught up in your life, and I understand you have a lot on your plate," she continued. "But your actions affect the people around you. What you do, how you live... it's not just about you. I've seen things that make it hard for me to keep working here, and I've lost respect for the man I thought you were."
Diego's expression softened just a bit, but the anger was still there. He turned away slightly, as if he couldn't bear to look at her.
Andre glanced between them, unsure if he should step in or stay quiet.
"You called me brainless," Lucia said, her voice calm but steady. "But the truth is, I've been watching you. You're not just a man with office problems or relationship troubles—you're a man who's lost sight of what's important. I can't be part of that, Diego."
There was a long pause. Diego remained silent, his back to her, his hands resting on his hips as he exhaled deeply. For a moment, Lucia thought she saw him deflate, as if the weight of his world was finally too much to bear.
Andre cleared his throat. "Lucia, let's not make this harder. Maybe we should just—"
"No, Andre," Diego cut him off, his voice low and cold. "Let her speak."
Lucia took a deep breath. "You're right about one thing, Diego. This job was an online employment, but I came into it hoping to work with someone I could respect. Over time, I saw a man who treats his fiancée like she's an afterthought, who doesn't value loyalty or love, and that's not someone I can work for. I'm resigning because I need to move on with my life, and because I deserve better."
The words hung in the air between them, heavy and charged.
Diego finally turned to face her, his expression a mixture of hurt and anger, but there was something else too—perhaps regret. "You're right about one thing," he said quietly. "I have been losing sight of things. But this—" he gestured between them, "this isn't your place to judge."
Lucia nodded. "It's not. But it's my place to decide what I can and can't be a part of."
Diego sighed and glanced at Andre. "Fine. Take the uniform, Andre. Let her go."
Andre stepped forward, his gaze filled with concern as he took the bag from Lucia's hands. "I'm sorry about all this, Lucia," he murmured, trying to offer some comfort.
Lucia gave him a small, tight smile. "It's okay, Andre. You've always been kind to me. Take care of yourself."
She looked at Diego one last time. "I hope you figure things out, sir. I really do."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving behind the job, the lies, and the man she once thought might change. As she left the building, the weight she'd carried for so long seemed lighter. She had spoken her truth, and now, finally, she could move on.
Diego watched her leave, feeling a pang of something he couldn't quite name. Regret? Anger? He wasn't sure. But as the door closed behind her, he felt a part of his world shift, and he knew that from this moment forward, nothing would be the same.
Lucia's face fell, and she felt the sting of his words. But she steadied herself. She wasn't going to let him break her resolve. She was about to turn away when her empathy got the better of her.
"What's the problem, sir?" she asked, her voice softer now.
Diego glared at her, but there was a vulnerability in his eyes that hadn't been there before. "Lucia, just leave. I don't want to talk to you."
"Sir, tell me what's wrong," Lucia pressed, stepping forward.
Diego sighed, running a hand over his face, clearly exhausted. "My fiancée isn't talking to me, and I have a lot of things to battle at the office. I don't have time for your nonsense right now."
For a moment, there was silence. Lucia looked at him, realizing that behind his anger and frustration was a man struggling with his own demons. But she had to remind herself of her own priorities.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Lucia said, her voice steady. "But I can't keep being part of this, Diego. I need to take care of myself too."
Diego looked at her, his anger fading into something softer, something almost like regret. But before he could respond, Lucia handed Andre her uniform, and with one last glance at Diego, she turned and walked away, her heart heavy but her mind clear.
This time, she was walking toward her freedom, not away from it.