Chapter 13: Forbidden.

"Did you enter the room?" He asked.

"No. Have you entered it before?" She said.

"Steven says it's forbidden, so never go in there, okay?" He said, ignoring her question.

"But why is it forbidden?" She still pressed on.

"If he says it's forbidden, then it's better to stay out of it." Shane replied and she sighed.

"Speaking of knucklehead, where is he?" She asked.

Shane gave a little smile hearing her ask about Steven. He didn't tell her about him to see if she'd ask, and she did. "I don't know when he'll come, but he definitely won't be coming home tonight," he replied and she raised a brow at him.

"He's doing some creation in his lab and he won't be coming out until his creation is a success." Shane explained further and Dua nodded, finally understanding the reason they're not eating home cooked food right now.

"Oh, thank goodness," she sighed in relief. "I get to sleep in peace tonight," she added silently.

She talked a little with Shane and afterwards retired to bed. She laid in bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking of her family. "I miss you all," she muttered to herself. Her phone beside her beeped and she checked it to see a text from Mark, "dad wants you at home tomorrow. We all need to talk to you."

Reading this, she sighed, "how hard do I have to explain to you guys that I'm not Diane."

She was about declining the invitation, but something rang in her head, and she ran out of the bedroom.

She barged into Shane's bedroom, almost giving him a heart attack. "Why are you so like your husband?" He sighed.

"I'm sorry." Dua apologized.

With a nod he asked, "what's the matter?"

"I'm leaving this house tomorrow," she said, making Shane fall speechless.

"Please...There's somewhere urgent I have to be," she continued and Shane breathed in relief.

"Why did you have to make it sound like you're leaving the house for good. You almost gave me a heart attack."

"I'm sorry, I'm actually asking permission from you," she said timidly.

"No, problem, but you can't leave the house tomorrow. Steven..." Shane was saying before she interrupted him. "Knucklehead isn't around, and we don't know when he'll be."

"Please, it's urgent that I go out tomorrow," she begged him.

She needed to find out what's between Steven and Diane's family, why they decided to marry Diane off to him, and why they wanted him dead. And tomorrow would be her lucky day since no one knows when Steven will be back.

"Where do you wanna go?" Shane asked.

"Diane's family house," she replied and he raised a brow at her.

"My family house, I mean my family house," she quickly corrected herself to avoid suspicions or questions.

After much thinking and hesitation, Shane sighed, "You have to be back before sunset. He'll be back by at most sunset. The project he's working on seems difficult, so I don't think he'll be back earlier than sunset."

"Thank you." Dua smiled at him, and he smiled back at her.

The following morning, Dua woke up early to prepare for the day. She stood before her sprawling wardrobe, the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint scent of lavender filling the air as she deliberated on the perfect outfit.

"I'm acting as the daughter of a rich family, so I have to ditch my lifestyle for a few hours and be the perfect spoiled brat."

With that, Dua emerged transformed. Her outfit was a masterclass in elegance: fitted white trousers, a crisp blue-and-white striped shirt, and white heels that added a touch of sophistication. A pair of sleek sunglasses perched on her long black hair, completing the look. A white handbag slung on her shoulder, a touch of make-up and a proud smirk on her face which didn't last when the guards refused to let her out.

"Why are you guys still doing this, knucklehead isn't even around?" She was frustrated.

"We apologize ma'am but we follow orders strictly, whether or not boss is around." The head guard replied.

"Oh, fuck shit!" She cursed as she threatened to punch the guard.

"Let her pass." Shane said from behind her and her face lit up.

"But, sir..." The head guard was saying before Shane spoke, "don't make me repeat myself."

Hearing this, Dua smirked at the guards. "Yes, sir." The head guard had no choice but to obey Shane. So they stepped aside and Dua passed, but she paused after taking a few steps. "Where do I know I'm going?" She asked herself. She turned around and pointed at the head guard, "you, drive me to my family house," she said.

"Yes, ma'am," he said and proceeded to a car but before Dua followed him, she looked at Shane and smiled at him. He smiled back at her and she entered the car.

After a while they arrived at the duplex owned by the Sierre family. Dua stepped out of the car and so did the guard, but she asked him to remain in the car and he did. She took a moment to take a good view of the house, and out of nowhere, "Welcome, young madam." A few guards paid respect to her, completely startling her.As she recovered from the unexpected shock, she glared at the guards with a thought in her mind, "is it a common thing for all rich people to have annoying guards?"

She proceeded into the house which was amazing, definitely what she was expecting, but compared to Steven's mansion, this duplex is like an ant.

As she took a look around the living room, Mary, Diane's personal maid came and bowed to her, "young mistress."

Dua looked at the young woman and was about to ask her identity. But before she could, Mary sensed the unfamiliarity in her eyes and spoke instead. "I'm Mary, your personal maid. I've been serving you since we were children," she said and Dua's mouth formed an "oh."

"Oh, my sweet daughter!" Dua heard a voice and she turned to see Sandra walking towards her with a smile. "Welcome home, my child." Sandra hugged Dua who simply stayed still.

"Where is your husband?" Dua asked, making Sandra pull away and look at her.

"Are you still mad at us?" Sandra asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, just get me your husband." Dua replied as she settled on the nearby couch.

"Dad isn't home at the moment." Mark said, approaching them.

"Isn't he the one who asked me to be here this morning, why isn't he here?" Dua said.

"He's out for an unexpected urgent business meeting." Mark said, staring deep into Dua's eyes.

"Whatever," Dua rolled her eyes. "If in the next one hour he isn't back yet, I'm outta here," she said, earning a scoff from Mark.

His gaze bore into hers, a mix of accusation and hurt. "Do all girls ditch their family when they get married like you're doing?" He asked, his tone laced with a deep-seated resentment, as if Dua's actions had personally betrayed him.

"No, they do away with unimportant people." Dua replied.