Chapter 32: Baby Making Machine.

"Make sure Steven never finds out about what?" Steven asked as he entered the house.

Shane's eyes widened in fear at the sight of Steven. It wasn’t that he feared Steven himself, but rather the unpredictable storm that bubbled beneath the surface.

"I asked a question," Steven reiterated, his tone sharp.

“I...” Dua began, but Shane cut her off, his desperation leaking into his voice. “Lunch,” he blurted. Steven raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched on his face.

"We don't want you to find out that we haven't had lunch." Shane continued, though his words felt feeble and ridiculous against Steven's piercing gaze.

Steven’s confusion was palpable, but he chose to ignore it as he moved toward the bedroom. Dua’s voice sliced through the air, halting him in his tracks.

"Who is Crystal?" She asked, her tone challenging.

Steven turned sharply, his expression darkening like a brewing storm. “You went into that room.”

“Yeah, the last room on the left on the second floor. I went into it.” Dua met his gaze defiantly.

“Why did you go against my rule?” Steven's voice was icy, the living room's lights flickering as he spoke, underscoring his intensity.

“It’s still on? Oh, come on! I thought we were moving past this rules nonsense since we're starting over newly,” she said, her exasperation evident.

“Secondly, I'm your wife. I’m not a prisoner to your rules,” she added firmly.

“Diane, you should...” Shane attempted to interject, but Steven’s voice cut through like a knife.

“She’s not Diane. She’s someone else, Dua.”

“What?” Shane’s surprise was evident. “How did you discover?”

“Later, bro. For now, there’s an important issue we need to address.” Steven’s gaze locked onto Dua, relentless and unyielding.

“Yeah, we need to address that issue right now,” she echoed, her voice steady.

“Stay away from me.” Steven’s command dripped with venom as he stormed out of the living room, and the lights went off.

"What's wrong with the power?" Dua murmured in the dark, her confusion clear in her voice.

Shane sighed, knowing Steven was responsible for this. He put on the lights again without moving an inch from where he was.

"It's back." Dua breathed in relief, as she stood up from the couch she was on.

"Where are you going?" Shane asked.

"To the bedroom." Dua replied.

"Listen, I think you should allow him be for now until he calms down." Shane said.

Dua scoffed, "allow him be until he calms down? I'm not that patient," she stormed out too.

"I thought they're passed all this fights and they were finally getting along." Shane sighed. "Something always comes to tear them apart."

She stormed into the bedroom where she met Steven taking off his jacket.

"Hey, knucklehead, who is Crystal, and why does she look a lot like me?" She asked him straightaway but he kept silent.

"I'm talking to you!" she yelled at him.

"Listen here, young woman. I'm trying hard to control myself and stay calm, don't make lose it." Steven said, his voice dripping with a cold warning and Dua let out a sarcastic laugh.

She walked up to him and smirked, her eyes challenging and defiant, "lose it. Because I'm not gonna let you be until you give me answers to my questions!"

"What the fuck makes you think you deserve to get answers from me?" He said.

"Listen here, young man. You have no choice but to give me answers because I'm your wife," she replied.

"Oh," he let out a low and dark chuckle. "I seem to have not told you that you're here for a reason. I brought you back for a reason. The reason I agreed to marry Diane in the first place," he said.

"You're here to bear my child!" He spat.

His statement was like a blow to Dua. And there she was thinking he brought her back because he really wanted to start over newly with her.

"What?" Her voice was almost like a whisper.

"Yeah. You're my baby making machine, so learn your place and serve your purpose," he said, his voice lacking emotions, and began walking out.

With rage boiling in her as his statement kept playing in her head, she took off her slipper and threw it at him. Being skilled, he caught the slipper before it got to him.

She clenched her fists as her eyes turned wet. She felt deceived by him. "Here I was thinking he's a good person... you're a fool, Dua," she scoffed at herself.

"You're a Devil," she spat.

"Did you just realize," he smirked. "Little girl, I am The Devil," he said, his voice dark, sending shivers down her spine.

He continued his movement, and after taking two steps, he paused. He took two more steps and stopped again, this time Dua noticed and looked at him, wondering what was wrong with him. She began to get closer to him, a weird look on her face.

Steven continued walking and after three steps, he slumped to the floor.

Dua rushed to him, fear and panic gripping her. She rested his head on her thigh and tapped him, calling his name but he couldn't reply as he struggled internally.

Steven's heartbeat and pulse was a mess, his vision became blurry, his chest tightened, breathing became difficult for him, and he began losing strength. He struggled to speak to Dua but he couldn't.

Dua felt afraid and stood up to go call Shane but then he held her leg, stopping her.

"Knucklehead, you need help, let me go get Shane," she said, her voice shaking from fear. She tried to move but he held her still.

"Don't," he was finally able to get something out of his mouth.

"What?" She was confused.

"My drawer... pills...one each....pink one...two..." he stuttered a few words.

Putting the pieces together, Dua ran to his bedside drawer. She opened it and found a few packs and containers of pills, she quickly took one each from each pack and container, and for the pink one she took two.

She ran back to him with the pills and a bottle of water. She quickly administered the pills to him and waited for the pills to take effect, and for what will happen next.