Chapter 23: Silent War.

Over the next few weeks Dua tried to hasten her freedom. She kept doing the things Steven hates so he would hate her and send her away. Sometimes he'd try in the most possible ways to bear her, and other times he'd explode. This dawn they had just finished another episode of fight and Steven stormed into his study. He began pacing back and forth with his hands on his waist. As he was storming out again, he met Shane at the door who pulled him back into the study. "Try to calm down," Shane persuaded him.

"I can't, she's driving me nuts." Steven was going crazy.

"I've never been so frustrated and angry in my life before, until I married her. She's turned my whole life upside down. I've been talking a lot more than I do!" Steven vented out his frustration.

"I know, but still try to calm down." Shane said but Steven wouldn't have it.

"You know I'm surprised she's doing all of this. A few weeks ago she asked me about the things you hate, and I told her, thinking that she was asking so she could avoid them. But she's actually doing those things she shouldn't be doing." Shane explained, putting a temporary stop to Steven's pacing activity as he paid attention to what Shane was saying.

Shane thought for a while and then scoffed. "I understand her game now."

Shane looked at him silently asking him what game.

"She wants me to get so frustrated that I won't be able to bear it again so I'll send her away and she'll get the freedom she wants badly." Steven explained.

Shane nodded, "that's a plausible reason, but are you sure that's it?"

"Trust me, that's it." Steven replied and opened the door.

"Where are you going?" Shane asked.

"Kitchen. To prepare breakfast." Steven replied and left.

An hour later, there came the loudest sound of music that vibrated the whole house.

Shane rushed out of Steven's study to the living room to stop Dua, thinking she's responsible for this. But as he rushed out, he met Dua on the staircase, "it isn't you?" He was surprised.

They ran down the stairs together to the living room to find Steven dressed in pink shorts and shirt, sitting on the couch, nodding to the music he played on the home theatre and eating a maxi-sized pack of chips, dusting off the crumps from it on the couch. The whole floor was littered with books, magazines and papers.

Dua's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets and her lips parted in disbelief, while Shane was too stunned to move.

Finally, Dua moved and turned off the music.

"Oh, come on." Steven sulked.

"What the heck is all this?!" Dua yelled.

"Oh, hi, sweetie." He smiled at Dua which shocked her. This was actually the first time she would see him smile and she couldn't deny that she was lost in it. And did he just call her sweetie?

"Come sit here," he patted the space very close to him on the couch, bringing Dua out from her thoughts. She scoffed and stormed into the kitchen.

"Steve, what..." Shane was saying but got interrupted by Dua's "KNUCKLEHEAD, COME OVER HERE NOW!!!"

Shane rushed into the kitchen and exclaimed, "Jesus Christ!"

The kitchen looked like it was flipped upside down, so messy.

Shane went back to the living room and touched Steven's forehead, checking if he was alright. "I'm alright." Steven said.

"No, you're not. You would never do anything of what we're seeing now." Shane said.

"I'm fine. I'm just letting her know that she's not the only crazy person around." Steven replied and Shane sighed.

"I'm seriously fed up of you both," he said and went to his bedroom.

Soon, he came back down. "I can't let you both stay alone in the same space, if not you'll kill each other." He said and went to the kitchen.

He began cleaning up while Dua sat and ate breakfast.

Steven strode into the kitchen and sat directly opposite Dua who shot him a glare. He smirked and kept his gaze on her and she also didn't take her eyes off him.

Shane turned and looked at them and he sighed. They weren't saying anything to each other, but they were fighting a silent war with their eyes.

"Alright that's enough. Steven get your eyes off her right now!" Shane ordered.

"No, I can't. I'm so attracted to my beautiful wife's face that I can't take my eyes off her." Steven replied, his gaze still fixed on Dua.

Before Shane could even speak to Dua, she spoke, "me neither, I can't seem to look away from him."

Shane's eyes widened in surprise. "What's going on with you two?" he asked, but neither Steven nor Dua responded. They were too busy staring at each other, their eyes locked in a silent battle.

Shane sighed and rubbed his temples. They were always fighting, but this was different. This was... intense.

"Okay, that's enough," Shane said, trying to break the spell. "Steven, take your eyes off her."

But Steven didn't move. He just kept staring at Dua, his eyes burning with an intensity that made Shane uncomfortable. Dua, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the attention. She leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips.

Shane tried again. "Sister-in-law, please. Just look away."

But Dua shook her head. "No, I'm good," she said, her voice husky.

Shane threw up his hands. "Fine. You two want to play it that way? Be my guest." He stormed out of the kitchen, leaving Steven and Dua alone.

The silence between them was palpable. Steven's eyes never left Dua's face, and Dua seemed to be savoring the attention. But as the minutes ticked by, the tension between them began to build. Steven's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in frustration. Dua, on the other hand, seemed to be getting more and more agitated. Her eyes flashed with anger, her breathing quickening.

Suddenly, Steven pushed back his chair and stood up. "You know, I've had enough of this game," he said, his voice low and menacing. Dua's eyes locked on his, a challenge in their depths. "Oh, I'm peeing in my pants already," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Steven's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't move. He just stood there, his eyes burning with intensity. Dua, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying the moment. She leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips.

The air between them was electric, charged with tension. It was as if the entire room was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.

"There's nothing you're gonna do now that I can't handle," he smirked.

Dua's eyes locked on his, a challenge in their depths. "Good, because I'm just getting started," she smirked too.

But as Steven watched her on, he began to lose focus as his eyes began to trace her features. It was like her face carried a charm that called him in. He quickly looked away and left the kitchen, trying to recompose his focus.