Chapter 103: Get Her To Act Up.

Chapter 103: Get Her To Act Up.
Night fell as the aroma of bubbling sauces and sautéing vegetables began to fill the kitchen. Steven was deep in thought as he prepared dinner, his mind a tangled web of worries and regrets. He hadn’t noticed the faint scuff of footsteps approaching until Dua walked into the kitchen, a mix of determination and hesitation in her eyes. She intended to help, but the underlying tension between them made her feel like an intruder in her own home.
As Dua began to scramble through the kitchen, searching for something to do, her nerves got the better of her. In a moment of distraction, she accidentally knocked a glass off the counter. The sound of shattering glass echoed, causing her heart to race. “Oh, God!” she gasped, bending down quickly to clean up the mess.
But in her haste, a shard of glass grazed her palm, and she gasped as fresh blood welled up. 
“You and the kitchen are clearly not friends yet you insist on trying,” Steven sighed, moving to her side, concern etched on his face.
“I was trying to help you out,” Dua sulked, avoiding his eyes.
“Your help could be a little less chaotic,” he shot back, though his frown softened as he knelt beside her. His fingers gently grasped her wrist, a jolt of warmth coursing through her at his touch. “You need to be careful,” he said softly, his voice like honey, soothing her frayed nerves. “Let me see.
As he examined her wound, his brow furrowed in concentration. “It’s not that bad,” she insisted with an attempt at bravado, but he shook his head, his expression serious.
“Not that bad? Dua, you’re bleeding!” He tore off a paper towel and pressed it against her palm, his grip surprisingly gentle. Their fingers lingered together for a moment longer than necessary, igniting a spark that had nothing to do with the mishap.
Once he cleaned the wound, a heavy silence engulfed them, charged with unspoken emotions. Dua felt as if they were cocooned within the confines of the kitchen, apart from the chaos outside.
“There. All fixed,” Steven finally said, a light returning to his expression. He wrapped a clean bandage around Dua’s palm, their fingers brushing lightly as he secured it. The touch sent a spark igniting between them.
“Thanks,” she said, attempting to stand. But a sharp pain gripped her stomach as a result of her sudden movement, and she paused, a frown tugging at her lips.
“Are you alright?” Steven’s voice was laced with concern as his hands instinctively hovered around her midsection. “That didn’t look good.”
“I’m fine,” she replied, forcing a reassuring smile despite the turmoil brewing inside her. “I think it’s just the sudden move.”
“Why did you do that? You didn’t even wait for me to help you up! You could have hurt yourself and the babies just now,” he scolded, his tone half-frustrated, half-harrowed.
“Can you help me up?” she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice, hoping to ease his worry.
“Stay down for a little longer,” he advised, though she could see the storm of fear still raging in his eyes.
“I really am fine,” Dua chuckled, her spirit lifting ever so slightly.
After a moment’s hesitation, he extended his hand and carefully helped her to her feet. Yet, his anxiety lingered, evident in the deeply etched concern on his face.
His worry sent a warmth flooding through her, and she smiled softly. “They’re really lucky to have a father like you.”
“And I’m honored to have you as the mother of my babies,” he said, his thumb grazing her chin as he held her gaze, deepening the connection between them.
“So...Please, Dua… don’t leave me,” he pleaded, vulnerability cracking through his usually steadfast demeanor.
“I wish I didn’t have to,” she replied, sadness shadowing her eyes, revealing cracks in her own resolve.
“You don’t have to! You really don’t! I swear,” he insisted, his grip firm and comforting.
“I’ll fix this, Dua… Please let me,” he added, his plea resonating within the silence.
“How… how can you fix this? Diane doesn’t seem like someone who would give up easily. She’s determined to have you all to herself,” Dua said, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
"She won't because it's you I want…” The weight of his words hung in the air, vibrating with a resolute sincerity that enveloped her. Dua felt her heart flutter in her chest like a trapped bird at his confession. 
“Steven…” she began, her voice faltering as the tension thickened between them, imbued with the complexities of their situation. She could see the earnestness in his eyes, the way his brow creased in worry, yet a flicker of determination brightened the depths of his gaze.
“I know it sounds complicated, and I can’t make all of the uncertainty vanish overnight,” he said, his grip on her chin gentle yet firm. “But I want you to know that I will fight for us. For our family. Diane may think she can come between us, but I won’t let her. Not now, not ever.” 
Emotions cascaded through Dua, empowering her yet leaving her feeling vulnerable. “It’s not just about her. There are so many things we need to figure out… and I’m scared,” she admitted, her voice trembling ever so slightly. “I don’t want to put our children in a position where they have to deal with conflict.”
Steven stepped closer, his warmth enveloping her like a shield against the fears tightening around her heart. “I get it, and I promise I will work on it,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring. “There are decisions to be made, but I won’t make them without you. We’re a team now.”
She looked deeply into his eyes, searching for the certainty she desperately needed. “What if it’s not enough? What if she doesn’t back down?”
“Then we won’t back down either. Together.” His words held a weight of conviction that resonated within her. “I need you to trust me. Trust that I will be the partner you deserve and the father our children need. You and I… we’ve been through so much already, and I believe we can face anything as long as we’re together.”
She inhaled slowly, feeling the warmth of hope blossom within her, battling the remnants of fear. “Together,” she echoed softly, savoring the prospect like a delicate promise.
“Together,” he repeated with a gentle smile, one that made her heart swell.
But just as she felt the flicker of optimism, doubt crept back in. Taking a step closer, she hesitated. "I'm sorry, Steven," Dua stepped back, her voice trembling slightly. "I can't do this."
"Believe me, I'm doing this for our children too," he replied, his tone firm but laced with concern.
"It's not just the two of us anymore. There are two extra lives at stake," she added.
"Dua..." Steven called, trying to hold her gaze.
"If Diane isn't completely out of the picture," she continued, her expression hardened, "our kids will never be safe."
"If she has her own children..." Dua's voice trailed off.
"I'll never have children with Diane." He cut her off, desperation creeping into his voice.
"That's when our kids are at their most vulnerable," she interjected, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
"You don't have to worry, Dua. As long as I'm alive, no harm will come to them," he assured her, trying to infuse strength into his words.
"How? You're no longer immortal... you no longer have those supernatural abilities," she said, her voice cracking under the weight of reality.
"How did you—" He was taken aback, genuinely shocked by her insight.
"I've noticed," she replied quietly, almost sadly.
"So tell me, how are you gonna keep them safe? You're refusing the surgery for the hole in your heart. You’re... you're going to die soon," she said, the finality of her statement hanging heavily between them.
"Dua..." he tried to say something, anything that would ease her pain.
"So please, for our kids' sake, let me walk away peacefully," she implored, turning and heading out of the kitchen, her footsteps echoing her decision.
Steven sighed heavily, his heart aching as he watched her retreat. Resuming his task of preparing dinner, he moved mechanically, setting the table while his mind raced with thoughts of her words. 
Being done, he lost his appetite and decided to go  upstairs, but he bumped into Denise on the stairs. She greeted him with a bright smile, but he could only muster a nod in reply.
"What's wrong? Did you speak to my sister?" Denise asked, her eyes narrowing with concern.
"I did, but as expected, it ended badly," he sighed, the weight of the conversation pressing down on him.
Denise’s brow furrowed in sympathy. "My sister knows how to play it safe… but to get her to act or ignite her temper is to make Diane step on her. Diane has to step on her really hard..." She said and just then they heard Dua's yell from the kitchen, "Hey, Diane Sierre!!!!"