As Lucia closed the door to her hotel room, she let out a slow, deep breath, the weight of the day settling on her. Her mind raced with fragments of moments from Diego's apartment, their confrontation, and her unexpected encounter with Lucas at the restaurant. She'd known that today might come, but it didn't make it any easier. She dropped her bag on the table and sat down, almost numb, as she processed the whirlwind of emotions. Just as she reached for a glass of water, her phone buzzed. She looked down to see Ivy's name, relief washing over her.
"Hey, Ivy," she answered, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Lucia! Finally!" Ivy's familiar voice rang with warmth and curiosity. "I've been waiting to hear from you. How did it go? Did you talk to him?"
Lucia sighed, slumping onto the edge of the bed. "More than just talk. I quit, Ivy. Today, I told him I was done pretending."
A pause stretched over the line before Ivy responded, her tone tinged with surprise. "Wait—you quit? You mean you resigned as his driver? But… did you tell him who you really are?"
"No," Lucia replied, her voice tight with the weight of her secret. "To him, I'm still just 'Emily,' the hired driver. And honestly, I think that's how it needs to stay… at least for now."
Ivy's tone softened. "Lucia, that must have been incredibly hard. What happened?"
Lucia's mind flickered back to her heated conversation with Diego, the final straw that had led her to walk away. "We argued. For the first time, I felt like I was truly seeing him—who he really is, Ivy. He's so disconnected from the world, so wrapped up in his image of me as his fiancée, this idealized woman he's convinced himself he loves. He doesn't even see how his actions have affected me. Watching him flirt with other women, knowing he has no clue who I am… it hurt."
"God, Lucia," Ivy murmured, her voice full of empathy. "I can't even imagine how painful that must have been. But I'm proud of you. You finally stood up for yourself, even if he doesn't know who you really are. Did he even try to stop you?"
"No," Lucia whispered, feeling the ache of his silence all over again. "He was stunned, I think, but he didn't stop me. I told him he'd lost sight of what mattered, and he just… sat there. I think he's as lost as I am, trying to figure out who he is and who he wants to be."
Ivy's voice grew more certain. "That's his problem, not yours, Lucia. You went through all this to test his loyalty, and now you're seeing him for who he truly is. It may hurt, but at least you know where he stands."
Lucia leaned back against the headboard, letting Ivy's words sink in. "You're right. But it doesn't make it easier. And to complicate things even more, I… met someone today. I ran into that guy from the other night. Lucas."
"What?" Ivy's surprise was immediate. "You mean the one you bumped into?"
Lucia chuckled softly. "Yes, him. We ran into each other again at breakfast. He was kind, Ivy. Genuinely interested. He even gave me his card and asked if we could meet again."
"And?" Ivy's voice carried a mix of curiosity and excitement. "Did you take it?"
"No," Lucia said firmly, though a part of her felt conflicted. "I couldn't. I'm still too wrapped up in everything with Diego. Meeting someone else right now wouldn't be fair to either of us."
"I get it," Ivy said thoughtfully. "But maybe this is a sign, Lucia. Meeting Lucas could be a reminder that there are other men out there, ones who can see you for who you really are. Diego's had more than enough chances, and he's shown you where he stands. Maybe it's time to think about what you need, rather than what Diego needs."
Lucia thought about Ivy's words. She wanted to be free of Diego's emotional grip, to start fresh, but it was easier said than done. "I wanted to believe he'd see me, even if he didn't know it was me," she admitted quietly. "That he'd recognize something… someone beyond just a driver. But Ivy, he didn't. All he saw was someone convenient, someone he could rely on when he needed it."
"Then you know the truth," Ivy replied gently. "He's shown you who he really is. And now, you can choose to move on."
Lucia closed her eyes, letting the silence settle between them. "I feel foolish, Ivy. This whole thing—it started because I wanted to protect myself, to be sure he wouldn't betray me. And now I'm the one feeling betrayed."
"Lucia, you're not foolish," Ivy insisted, her voice warm and reassuring. "You've taken a huge risk to guard your heart. That's bravery, not foolishness. And now you have clarity. You know he isn't the man you thought he was."
Lucia nodded, Ivy's words offering a small sense of relief. "Maybe. But it doesn't make the hurt go away. And now… now I don't know what to do next."
"Think about it this way," Ivy said softly. "You've been wrapped up in his world for so long, trying to fit into this role, to live up to his expectations. Maybe it's time to focus on you and what you want, rather than what he wants."
A small smile touched Lucia's lips, feeling the first glimmer of hope in days. "You're right. I can't keep living in his shadow, waiting for him to change. It's time I started making decisions for myself."
"That's the spirit!" Ivy said, her voice full of encouragement. "So, what are you thinking? What's your next step?"
Lucia took a deep breath, feeling a sense of clarity settle within her. "I'm going to stay here a little longer, give myself time to figure things out. But I think it's time to let go, Ivy. For real. I can't keep pretending that he'll suddenly become the person I want him to be."
Ivy's voice held a tone of approval. "That's a bold choice, Lucia. I'm here for you, no matter what you decide. Just promise me you won't let him pull you back into his world."
"I won't," Lucia promised, feeling her resolve strengthen. "Thank you, Ivy. For everything. You're the only one who knows the truth, and I don't know what I'd do without you."
"Anytime, Lucia," Ivy said softly. "Just remember, this isn't the end of your story. It's the beginning of something new. And I can't wait to see where it takes you."
After they hung up, Lucia set her phone down, feeling a sense of peace. She looked out the window at the city lights below, her mind racing with possibilities. For so long, she'd been wrapped up in Diego's world, hoping he'd see her for who she was. But now she saw that the only person who needed to see her was herself.
As she watched the night deepen outside her window, Lucia made a quiet promise to herself. The days ahead were hers to shape, and she would no longer be defined by someone else's expectations. She was ready to step forward, to face whatever lay ahead with newfound strength and independence.
For the first time in a long time, Lucia felt a surge of excitement for what was to come. She didn't have all the answers, but she knew that whatever happened next would be her choice. She would live her life on her terms, free from the constraints of her past.
And with that thought, she let go of the last remnants of her attachment to Diego, ready to embrace the next chapter of her life.