Chapter 102: Leaving.

Chapter 102: Leaving.
Shane returned home with Denise and Desmond, the warmth of friendship camaraderie filling the air as they entered the living room. Seeing Diane's back view in the living room, they mistook her to be Dua. 
"Sis!" the siblings called, their voices bright with expectation. But silence hung in the air, Diane was lost in her own world, her ears plugged with earpods, blissfully unaware of their presence.
Just then, Dua emerged from the stairs, her radiant smile instantaneously lighting up the room. "You guys are back?" she asked, joy sparking in her eyes as she approached.
Denise and Desmond exchanged glances, bewildered by the sight of Dua and the unfamiliar figure lounging on the couch. "If you're here... then who's that?" Desmond asked, gesturing toward Diane.
Shane, always quick on the uptake, pieced the puzzle together. "Diane," he replied flatly, his voice unraveling the mystery.
"I thought you said her hair is brown; why's it black like yours?" Denise chimed in, her brows furrowing.
"She must have dyed it," Dua offered, uncertainty flickering in her gaze.
Before any more questions could be posed, Diane turned, her casual smile suddenly morphing into feigned niceness. "Oh, hi guys. I don't know who you are, but hi!" Her tone dripped with insincerity as she glanced over Denise and Desmond, earning cringes in return.
"Hello, Shane. It's been a long time," she said, her voice attempting to mimic warmth, but Shane merely returned her gaze with a cold indifference. 
Ignoring Dua, Diane drifted to the kitchen, her contempt palpable. Moments later, she reemerged with a cup of smoothie, scrunching her nose in disgust. "Who put this trash in the fridge?" she sneered, her words cutting through the air.
"It's not trash; it's smoothie," Dua replied, forcing a smile though her heart ached. "It's been my favorite since I became pregnant."
"You take trash just because you're pregnant?" Diane scoffed dismissively. "Are you trying to harm my husband's child?" 
"Harm your husband's child?" Denise echoed, incredulity spilling from her voice, but Dua raised a hand, signaling for silence.
"I'll never do anything to harm my babies," Dua replied firmly, her protective nature evident in her voice.
"Babies?" Diane's shock was palpable. She shook her head dismissively. "Whatever. I don't want to see this trash in my fridge again," she warned as she stalked back to the kitchen.
But then she paused, turning back with a scathing glare. "And I hope your time is near, because I want you out of this house as soon as possible. Those babies in your womb are the only reason I’m keeping you here." 
"Hey!" Desmond yelled, his voice rising in defense of Dua, while Denise scoffed in disbelief.
"Understood," Dua interjected quickly, sensing the tension and hoping to de-escalate the situation as Diane re-entered the kitchen, leaving an atmosphere thick with unspoken feelings.
"Where's my brother?" Shane asked, breaking the silence.
"In his study, maybe," Dua answered, her voice quiet.
"Does he know that... that woman has returned?" Denise couldn't hide the disdain in her tone.
“He does,” Dua replied, her expression a mixture of sadness and resignation.
The trio advanced toward Steven's study, and without knocking, Shane threw open the door. "What's going on?" he demanded, his impatience evident.
"Believe me, I’m just as surprised as you are," Steven said, his face buried in his palm, exhaustion etched into his features.
"And what are you doing about it?" Shane pressed again, concern lacing his words.
Steven let out a weary sigh. "For now, I don’t know what to do. Dua has made me weak and confused... and she's planning to leave," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.
"What?" Desmond blurted out, the weight of the revelation hanging heavy in the air.
"My sister is planning to leave?" Denise echoed, shock flooding her system.
Without waiting for another word, Denise and Desmond rushed toward the door to go to Dua, but met her right there at the door. "You're planning to leave?" Desmond confronted her, disbelief written across his face.
"Yes, and I want both of you to come with me," Dua stated firmly.
"No, if you want to leave, you should do it alone," Denise countered sharply. "And you're actually going to abandon your husband...let Diane have him?"
"He was never mine... he belonged to Diane from the very beginning," Dua replied, her tone steady but her eyes clouded with sadness.
Steven scoffed, his frustration boiling over. He rose from his seat, the tension palpable in the room as he strode to the door and shut it hard behind him, wanting nothing more than to escape the conversation and the heartache.
The loud thud of the door echoed throughout the study, separating the siblings from Dua. They stood silent and wide-eyed, their expressions a mix of shock and concern. The tension hung in the air like the stillness before a storm, waiting to break.
“Calm down, Steve,” Shane said calmly, trying to ground his brother who had begun pacing back and forth in the room with his hands on his waist.
“Calm down? You want me to calm down after everything Dua has said?” Steven's voice was edged with anger and hurt.
“Still, you have to find a way to handle this,” Shane urged, his gaze steadying.
“Handle what? Dua has tied my hands. What am I supposed to do when she’s hell-bent on leaving me?” Steven vented, frustration dripping from his words.
Denise stepped forward, her expression softening with empathy. “He’s right; the problem is my sister. And I apologize for that,” she added, her voice sincere as she met Steven’s gaze.
Swallowing hard, Steven stopped his pacing and faced Denise, his expression softening just a fraction. He could see the concern etched into her features, and a pang of guilt washed over him for unleashing his anger on them. Taking a deep breath, he raked his fingers through his hair.
“It’s not your fault, Denise,” he sighed, his tone shifting to one of vulnerability. “I just... I don’t know how to fix this. She’s my wife, but we’re practically strangers now. I thought we could work it out, but the way she talks about leaving... it hurts.”
Shane watched his brother, feeling a mixture of sympathy and frustration. “Have you tried talking to her like you used to? You need to remind her of the good times, Steven. Maybe she just needs to feel valued again,” Shane said gently, his voice laced with empathy.
“And what if she doesn’t want to be reminded?” Steven shot back, bitterness seeping through his clenched fists. The tension in his jaw mirrored the turmoil inside him. “What if she just wants to escape?”
“Then you fight for her,” Shane urged, leaning forward with conviction. His eyes glinted with determination. 
"You can't fight for someone who doesn't have faith," Steven retorted, a hint of despair creeping into his tone.
"At least try," Shane pressed, his voice earnest. “You owe it to both of you to give it a real shot. I’ve seen couples weather storms, but if your heart is still in this, then don’t let fear stop you from trying again. Sit her down, lay your heart bare, and really listen to what she has to say. Show her how much she means to you.”
"I’ve tried that, bro." The frustration in Steven’s voice deepened, his shoulders slumping. “There’s nothing I haven’t tried.”
“Try again. It’s not over until both of you decide it is,” Shane replied, the weight of his words hanging in the air. “But you need to act fast. If she’s even considering leaving, she might take that leap before you show her she still matters.”
A faint flicker of hope ignited in Steven’s eyes, illuminating the shadows of doubt. “You really think that would make a difference?”
“It’s worth a shot,” Shane replied, giving him an encouraging nod that mixed confidence with genuine care. “And remember, vulnerability can be powerful. Sometimes, all it takes is one honest conversation to bridge the distance.”
“Okay,” Steven said slowly, formulating a plan that danced on the edge of his mind. “I’ll try to talk to her. But if she refuses… what then?”
“Then at least you can say you tried,” Denise interjected, her voice softening as she reached out to touch his arm reassuringly. “It’s better than waiting and letting her walk away without a fight. You deserve closure, and so does she. Even if it stings to hear, it will help you both move forward.”
"Yeah." Desmond supported, offering a small nod of solidarity. 
“Fine, I’ll do just that." Steven agreed with a nod.