Chapter 16: Insomnia.

Denise rushed over to Desmond feeling confused. I went to pay in the little money with me, and I was told you've paid in $900,000, how?" She asked.

"I took a loan." Desmond lied. He knew his sister too well. If she finds out that the money came from Dua, she'll definitely want to speak with Dua. And that can't happen because Dua instructed them not to call unless she does.

"Loan? Who in this countryside would lend a teenager such huge sum of money?" She asked.

"I explained mom's situation and they took pity and helped out," he lied again and Denise looked at him, confused.

"Come on, let's go see how mom is doing." Desmond said, changing the topic and Denise nodded.

As they walked to the ward to see Stella, Denise couldn't shake off the feeling that something wasn't right, so she pulled up a strategy. "Des, I can't find my phone, and I really need to talk to my classmate right now. Could you lend me your phone?" She asked.

"Sure." Desmond gave the phone to her.

Denise handling Desmond's phone now, opened his call log and she discovered the number he called last was a strange number. Being curious she dialed the number and there was no response. She called again and this time she heard a familiar voice, "Des, I told you not to..."

"Sis?" Denise interrupted her.

Hearing Denise say the word 'sis', Desmond quickly snatched his phone from her. "What is the matter with you? Is that the classmate you said you wanted to speak with?"

"Why did you hide it from me?" Denise asked, feeling betrayed but Desmond was quiet.

"Hand over the phone," she ordered.

"Hand over the fucking phone!!" She yelled.

"This is exactly why sis didn't call you and called me instead!" Desmond yelled too.

"I'm sure sis is in a very complicated situation right now, and she doesn't want any issues, that's why she said 'do not call me unless I do.' That's why she didn't call you because she knows you won't stick to the rule, you'll ruin everything for her, and that's why she called me instead!" He continued.

"Still you should have told me. Why stick to such rule, what if she's in a dangerous situation?!" Denise said.

"She's our big sis, she's Dua Sinclair, she'll come out unscathed. I trust and hope in her and I expect you to do the same." Desmond replied and walked away from her.

Denise sighed and rolled her tears back in, "I'm just worried about her," she said to herself.

At The City.

Night fell and they all gathered at the dinning table as Steven set dinner. Dua hurriedly took in a big chump of the meal, savouring its divine taste. She had been waiting the whole day for this. As usual the men only ate little and left the table, and she would eat all the food, leaving none behind. She was such a foodie.

After eating to her heart's content, Dua retired to the bedroom to settle for a goodnight sleep. She met Steven already lying in bed, but he wasn't sleeping. He just stared at the ceiling with his one hand serving as an additional pillow for his head. She laid in bed, ignoring him, and he didn't even bother.

Hours later, Dua woke up to use the restroom, and she still met Steven in the same position. Bothered by it, she went to Shane who was unexpectedly working in the living room. "Hi," she made her presence known to him.

"Oh, hi," he smiled at her. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I just woke up to use the restroom, but why isn't Steven sleeping? He's been in just one position for hours now," she said and Shane sighed deeply, contemplating if he should tell her or not.

Dua sensed this and asked, "what are you trying to hide from me?"

"Nothing." Shane replied.

"Listen, I know me and knucklehead are always on each other's necks, but I'm his wife. I deserve to know when something's up with him," she said and he sighed again, knowing she's right.

"Steven is suffering from severe insomnia. Too severe that drugs don't work on him anymore" he said, making Dua's eyes widen, and all she could say was "oh."

"Goodnight," she wished him and went back into the bedroom. She laid in bed and kept glancing at Steven. Despite everything, she couldn't bear to see him suffer. The capital problem she has; can't look away from someone who has a problem without trying to help, regardless of who the person is.

"Try freeing up your mind, maybe you'll be able to fall asleep" she finally spoke to him.

"Stop say thrash and go back to sleep," he replied.

"I know you have insomnia...and I can help you overcome it," she said and he scoffed.

"I hate you a lot, but the Bible says love your enemies, so I'm gonna help you." She said and turned to him.

"Look at me," she said but he ignored her, so she closed the gap between them and made him face her.

Holding his gaze, she smiled, "empty your mind of everything."

"My mind doesn't know how to stay idle like yours," he smirked provokingly, but she ignored him, being hellbent on helping him out.

"Then just focus your mind on one thing, which is me." She still held his gaze.

He scoffed, "You think you can just hypnotize me to sleep?"

Dua smiled, "I'm not hypnotizing you, I'm just helping you relax."

Steven raised an eyebrow, "Relax? With you? Don't make me laugh."

"You'll never know if you don't try it," she replied and he reluctantly looked back at her. Staring into her hazel eyes that seemed to capture him straightaway, his eyes trailed slowly down her face, and he swallowed. He tried looking away, but he couldn't, his mind and body refused to listen to him. "Fuck! Why do I find this annoying girl so attractive?" He cursed silently.

As his gaze lingered on her lips, the air around them seemed to vibrate with unspoken emotions.

Dua's smile was a whispered promise, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "Focus on me," she breathed, her voice a gentle breeze that rustled Steven's senses.

Like magic, Steven's eyelids drooped, his body surrendering to the weight of his exhaustion. But his mind refused to let go, tangled in a web of thoughts and worries.

Dua's hand brushed against his, sending a jolt of electricity through his veins. Her touch was a spark that ignited a fire, melting the ice that had encased Steven's heart.

As he focused on her gentle caress, his thoughts began to unravel, like the threads of a tapestry slowly coming undone. His mind quieted, his breathing slowed, and his body relaxed into the mattress.

Dua's voice whispered in his ear, a soft melody that wove a spell of tranquility around him. Steven's eyelids grew heavy, his lashes fluttering closed as he succumbed to the allure of sleep.

As Steven's chest rose and fell with a steady rhythm, Dua's smile grew, her eyes shining with a soft, ethereal light. She leaned back, watching Steven sleep, her gaze drinking in the contours of his face. "You look peaceful when you're not scowling at me," she muttered. Her hands itched to trace his features, but she controlled herself, permitting only her eyes to admire him. She smiled again at the thought that she accomplished her mission, he finally fell asleep.