Chapter 104: Smoothie.

Chapter 104: Smoothie.
As Steven stepped out of the kitchen, Diane entered with an air of indifference. She walked directly to the refrigerator, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the perfectly arranged cups of smoothie. With a scoff and without a second thought, she thrust them into the trash can. She moved to the dining table, settling down for her meal just as Dua walked in. 
Dua headed straight for the fridge to grab her treasured smoothie, but to her dismay, the shelves were bare. "That's strange; I put them in here myself. Where could they have gone?" she wondered, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Her thoughts shifted when a nearly empty pack of cookies caught her eye. She pulled it out and devoured the rest, her mind still buzzing with unanswered questions. Satisfied after her impromptu snack, Dua approached the trash can to dispose of the cookie wrapper. But to her shock, she found her smoothie buried underneath the trash.
Her eyes widened, disbelief morphing into fury as a scoff escaped her lips. “Hey, Diane Sierre!!!” she yelled, her voice echoing through the kitchen. 
Diane continued to ignore her, nonchalantly savoring her meal. By this time, Denise and Steven had rushed in, halting at the entrance as the electrifying scene unfolded before them.
Dua, fueled by anger, fished one cup of smoothie out of the trash and marched right over to Diane. Without warning, she doused Diane’s face with the cold concoction. 
A chill cascaded down Diane's cheeks as she gasped, “Hey!!” Her eyes flashed in indignation as she made a gesture to slap Dua.
But Dua, quick and determined, caught Diane’s hand mid-air. With a swift motion, she twisted it behind Diane's back, securing her in place. “Let go of me!” Diane struggled, but Dua held her firmly.
In an impressive display of rage, Diane elbowed Dua in the stomach, forcing her to release her grasp. Just as Steven stepped forward to intervene, Denise placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.
Dua regained her balance and, with renewed determination, landed a sharp slap across Diane's face. 
"How dare you?!” Diane shot back, her voice laced with fury as she raised her hand to retaliate.
Dua caught Diane's wrist firmly, throwing her hand back down. “No, how dare you?!” Dua retorted.
“How dare you torment me in my own house?!” Dua hissed, her voice sharp as a blade.
Diane scoffed, her expression dripping with disdain. “Since when? Since when did this become your house, husband snatcher?”
“Is it yours then?” Dua retorted, her eyes blazing.
“Now, listen to me," Dua said, her patience wearing thin. "I've had enough of your trash!”
“I can’t stand you too,” Diane shot back. The air between them crackled with tension.
“Good. I can’t stand you either. And that’s why one of us is going to leave this house for the other. And that person is going to be you, Diane Sierre,” Dua declared, her voice unwavering.
Diane smirked, unfazed. “And you think I’m going to do as you say? You’re delusional.”
“Believe me, Diane, you don’t want to see me angry,” Dua warned, her tone icy and resolute.
“Oh, I’m so afraid,” Diane mocked, theatrically raising her hands to her cheeks as if taken by fear, followed by a sharp laugh. “I can’t wait to see you get mad.”
Dua’s lips curled into a smirk as she walked past, shoulder-checking Diane deliberately, a show of defiance as she passed.
“Now that's the feisty and strong Dua I recognize,” Steven said with admiration sparkling in his eyes.
“Told ya,” Denise chimed in with a knowing grin. “She just…”
“All she needed was a spark,” Steven completed her sentence, a proud smile stretching across his face.
As Dua reached the hallway, her hands instinctively cradled her baby bump, suddenly aware of a faint ache caused by the earlier confrontation. “I’m sorry, babies. I hope you’re not hurt in any way,” she murmured softly to her unborn children. “I just needed to teach that woman a little lesson.”
In that moment, strong, warm arms wrapped around her from behind, enveloping her in a familiar scent that brought her an immediate sense of comfort. She smiled, knowing exactly who it was.
“Hey, are you okay?” Steven whispered, his voice laced with concern as he sensed the tension radiating from her.
“I will be,” she replied, attempting to keep her tone light, though a storm churned within her. “Just had a little disagreement with Diane, but I’m fine.” 
A moment of silence enveloped them as Steven tightened his hold around her waist, a comforting anchor against the chaotic memories of the earlier conflicts. The warm aroma of the kitchen mingled with the crisp scent of fresh flowers in a nearby vase, creating a soothing atmosphere that sharply contrasted with the turmoil in Dua's heart.
"That was one delicious smoothie you served her," Steven chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Yeah, I...” Dua began before realization surged through her. “You saw that?” She turned to him, a mix of surprise and embarrassment coloring her cheeks.
“And I loved it,” he teased, gently brushing his fingers against the tip of her nose. 
Dua couldn't help but smile, though the memory of Diane's taunts lingered at the edges of her mind. "I didn’t plan to do that, but she kept stepping on my toes, and throwing that smoothie was the last straw," she confessed, a hint of defensiveness creeping into her voice.
"You don’t need to justify yourself," he said with a warm chuckle. "Honestly, I’ve missed that fiery side of you." His admiration sent a ripple of confidence washing over her.
"I’m still gonna beg you again, Dua, please don’t leave." His sincere plea hung in the air like a lifeline.
"No need to beg," she replied, her voice gaining strength. "I’ve changed my mind. I owe it all to her—Diane finally motivated me to stay. So now, I’m going to make sure she knows she can’t run me out of my own home," she declared, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
Steven raised an eyebrow, surprise mingling with admiration on his face. “Wow, I didn’t see that coming! You’re serious about this?”
“Absolutely,” Dua affirmed, the steel in her voice unwavering. “I’m not going to let her treat me like I don’t belong here. This is my home, and I have every right to stand my ground.”
His expression softened, pride shining in his eyes. “I’m with you every step of the way. We can tackle this together.” 
The tension from earlier seemed to dissipate as they stood in their own little world, the remnants of their earlier conflict fading into the background. Dua felt a warmth spreading inside her, a feeling of empowerment. Having Steven there by her side made her feel invincible.