Chapter Four

By the time I reached the apartment building, every part of my body felt exhausted. My elbow still hurt from falling on the road with Noah, my feet were aching, and dragging the suitcase behind me felt harder with every step. I entered the building, took the elevator to the fourth floor and stopped in front of the apartment I had not visited in almost two years. My hands shook slightly as I searched through my handbag for the keys. When I finally opened the door and stepped inside, I stood there for several seconds without moving. The apartment was small, quiet and nothing like the mansion I had just left behind, but at least it belonged to me. There was nobody here who could tell me I was not good enough because I could not have a child, and there was no husband bringing his pregnant mistress through the front door.

I pulled my suitcase inside and closed the door behind me. The moment the lock clicked, whatever strength had carried me through the day disappeared. I leaned against the door and slowly sank to the floor. Tears filled my eyes before I could stop them, and within seconds, I was crying so hard that my chest hurt. I covered my mouth with one hand, but there was nobody around to hear me anyway. Four years. I had given Nathan four years of my life, and for two of those years, he had been sleeping with Vanessa. I kept remembering how calmly he admitted it, as though betraying me for half our marriage was something I was simply expected to accept.

“What am I supposed to do now?” I whispered as I wrapped my arms around my knees and lowered my head.

The question frightened me because I genuinely did not know the answer. I had no job. I had not worked since shortly after marrying Nathan because he convinced me that I did not need to. At first, I had loved the idea of having enough time to build our home and eventually raise our children. I had told myself I could return to my career whenever I wanted, but one year became two, then three, then four. Somewhere along the way, I stopped being Angela, the woman who loved drawing clothes and dreamed of becoming a successful designer, and became Angela, Nathan’s wife.

I wiped my face and pushed myself from the floor. The apartment had been cleaned regularly, but it still felt abandoned. I opened some windows, carried my suitcase into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. My phone was still inside my handbag. When I checked it, I found missed calls from Nathan. I stared at his name before blocking his number. If he needed to speak to me about the divorce, he could contact me through a lawyer.

There was only one person I wanted to talk to.

I found Ellie’s number and called her.

“Angela? Finally! I have been calling you since afternoon. Where have you been?” Ellie asked as concern immediately entered her voice and I heard movement on her end.

Hearing my best friend’s voice broke something inside me again. “Ellie, can you come over?” I asked as my lips trembled and fresh tears gathered in my eyes.

There was a short silence. “What happened? Are you crying?” Ellie asked as her voice became serious and everything around her suddenly went quiet.

“I will explain when you get here. I am at my apartment.” I wiped my cheeks with the back of my hand and tried to control my breathing.

“I am coming right now. Do not go anywhere.” Ellie ended the call as I heard keys jingling in the background.

I almost smiled despite everything. Ellie had been my closest friend since university, and she had never liked Nathan. She tolerated him because I loved him, but she always complained that I had given up too much of myself after marriage.

Less than forty minutes later, someone knocked repeatedly on the door. I opened it and barely had time to move before Ellie rushed inside.

“What happened to you?” Ellie asked as her eyes moved from my swollen face to the scrape on my elbow before she grabbed both my shoulders.

“It is a long story.” I closed the door and released a tired breath as I walked toward the couch.

“I have time. Start talking.” Ellie dropped her handbag on the table and sat beside me, her brows pulling together.

I told her everything. I told her about going to the clinic, meeting Vanessa, discovering she was pregnant and hearing her tell me Nathan was the father. I told her about rushing home, finding the divorce papers and learning that Nathan and Vanessa had been having an affair for two years. By the time I finished explaining how Vanessa walked into my home as though she already belonged there, Ellie was on her feet.

“I am going to kill him.” Ellie grabbed her handbag from the table as anger flashed across her face.

“No, you are not.” I quickly reached for her wrist and pulled her back before she could reach the door.

“At least let me slap him once. Just once, Angela. Two years? That bastard watched you cry over not getting pregnant while he was sleeping with another woman?” Ellie threw her handbag back onto the couch and started pacing around the room.

“It will not change anything. I already signed the divorce papers.” I rubbed my palms together and looked down at my bare ring finger.

Ellie stopped walking. “You signed them already?” she asked as her anger slowly changed into concern and she sat beside me again.

“Yes. There was nothing left to save.” I swallowed painfully and leaned back against the couch.

Ellie wrapped her arms around me without saying anything. I rested my head against her shoulder, and for several minutes, neither of us spoke.

Eventually, I pulled away and wiped my face. “The worst part is that I do not even know what happens next. I have this apartment, but I have no job. I have been out of work for four years, Ellie. I do not even know who would hire me now.” I looked around the small living room as fear tightened my stomach.

Ellie stared at me as though I had just said something ridiculous. “Do you suddenly have no hands?” she asked as she folded her arms across her chest.

“What?” I frowned and turned toward her.

“Did your talent disappear because you married Nathan? You were one of the best designers in our class. You used to make half my clothes because I could not afford the expensive ones I wanted.” Ellie raised one eyebrow and pointed toward me.

“That was years ago.” I shook my head and picked at my fingernails.

“So? Fashion did not ban you because you got married.” Ellie leaned closer and nudged my shoulder.

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Ellie smiled when she heard it.

Then her eyes suddenly widened.

“Wait.” Ellie grabbed her phone from the table and immediately started searching for something.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I watched her scroll quickly.

“I saw an advertisement yesterday. A fashion company is looking for designers. I remember because the salary almost made me regret choosing my own career.” Ellie continued scrolling until she suddenly smiled and turned the screen toward me.

I looked at the advertisement. The company name was Blackwood Fashion Group, one of the biggest luxury fashion companies in the city. They were searching for new designers for an upcoming international collection.

I immediately shook my head.

“Ellie, look at the company. They will have hundreds of experienced designers applying.” I handed her phone back and rubbed my forehead.

“And one of those applicants can be you.” Ellie pushed the phone into my hand again and gave me a determined look.

“I have not designed professionally in four years.” I stared at the advertisement as doubt settled heavily inside me.

“But you still design. Do not lie to me. I saw the sketches you posted privately a few months ago.” Ellie pointed at me as a knowing smile appeared on her lips.

I had continued drawing throughout my marriage, mostly whenever Nathan was away. I had sketchbooks filled with dresses I never believed anyone would see.

“What if I am not good enough anymore?” I asked as my fingers tightened around the phone.

“What if you are?” Ellie asked as she squeezed my hand and held my gaze.

I stared at the advertisement again.

Maybe she was right.

I had already lost my marriage. I could either sit inside this apartment feeling sorry for myself or try to rebuild the part of my life I had abandoned.

“Fine. I will apply.” I nodded slowly as nervousness twisted inside my stomach.

“That is my girl.” Ellie grinned and pulled me into another hug before reaching for my laptop.

Ellie stayed with me that night. We spent hours going through my old sketches and choosing the best designs for my portfolio. She helped me complete the online application, and to my surprise, I received an email less than an hour later asking me to attend an interview the following morning because they were completing the final stage of recruitment.

I barely slept.

The next morning, I stood in front of the mirror wearing a simple black dress and holding my portfolio against my chest. My stomach was filled with nerves.

“You look like someone who deserves that job.” Ellie stood behind me and adjusted my hair before smiling at my reflection.

“I feel like someone who is about to embarrass herself.” I released a nervous breath and tightened my grip around the portfolio.

“Then embarrass yourself beautifully and come back with an employment letter.” Ellie winked and gently pushed me toward the door.

An hour later, I stood inside the enormous lobby of Blackwood Fashion Group. Everything about the building made me feel underqualified. Models appeared on digital screens across the walls, employees hurried through the lobby carrying garment bags, and several designs from the company’s latest collection were displayed behind glass.

I almost turned around.

Instead, I remembered Nathan telling me I could never give him what he needed.

I straightened my shoulders and walked toward reception.

“My name is Angela Williams. I am here for the designer interview.” I handed the receptionist my identification as I forced myself to smile.

She checked her computer. “You are on the list, Mrs. Williams. Please take the private elevator to the twentieth floor. The CEO is personally meeting the final applicants.” She returned my identification and pointed toward the elevators.

I thanked her and entered the elevator. When the doors opened on the twentieth floor, an assistant led me through a quiet hallway and stopped outside a large office.

“You can go in. Mr. Blackwood is expecting you.” The assistant opened the door and stepped aside with a polite smile.

I took a deep breath and walked inside.

The office was enormous. Floor-to-ceiling windows covered one side of the room, and behind a large desk sat a man reading through several documents.

I stepped closer.

“Good morning. I am Angela Williams. I am here for the designer position.” I held my portfolio tightly against my chest and forced myself to keep my voice steady.

“Well, Angela.” His eyes moved from my face to the portfolio in my hands before a slow smile appeared on his lips. “It seems we meet again.”