Chapter 43: A Bait And A Target.

"It's not what you think it is." Dua finally spoke.

"Then what is it?" Steven's voice resonated.

Dua kept quiet, trying to gather up her words.

"How dare you barge into my study and steal a file of mine?" Steven's voice reeked of despise.

"I didn't steal your file." Dua tried explaining to him but it wasn't working.

"Get out," he spat. His voice low and menacing.

"At least hear me out, please," she pleaded but she received an icy look in return.

"Fine. I won't convince you to believe me or trust me. Think whatever you want and do whatever you want, but I'll not stop doing what I think is right." She said and left the study.

Steven rubbed his temples, trying to calm himself. He picked up the file, putting it back in its place, and left the study.

Reaching the kitchen, he met Shane already having dinner, and he joined him too.

"Where's Dua?" Shane asked.

"How should I know?" Steven replied, a frown etched on his face.

Shane stopped eating and gave Steven a glare, "what do mean by how should I know? She's your wife, and you're just coming from upstairs."

Steven just kept quiet and put some food into his mouth.

Shane looked at him skeptically, giving him a careful scan. "You two had a fight," he said, but Steven ignored him.

"What happened between you two?" Shane asked but got no response.

"Hey, little brat!" Shane shot him a glare and he sighed. He narrated his encounter with Dua and received a harder glare from from Shane.

"What?" He asked.

"Why didn't you hear her out?" Shane asked.

"What's there to hear out?" Steven asked again.

"Everything is there to hear out, little bro." Shane replied.

"There's no need hearing out lies." Steven said.

"Does Dua look like she fears you, why would she lie to you?" Shane asked him but he looked away and continued with his food.

Just then Dua skipped into the kitchen, singing a song, being in a happy mood like nothing happened between her and Steven that night. "Hi, brother-in-law," she sang, settling at the table.

She happily began to eat, not minding anyone, and Steven scoffed. "You even have the guts to eat."

"What should have stopped me from eating?" She said, stuffing food into her mouth.

Steven scoffed and left the table, storming out of the kitchen, but Dua cared less and continued with her food while Shane chuckled.

Steven stormed into the bedroom, his anger boiling over like a pot left unattended. He paced back and forth, his hands fixed on his waist as he struggled to contain his emotions. Soon he stopped pacing and decided to cool of a little with a cold bath.

The cool water enveloped Steven, its icy touch intertwining with the heated thoughts in his mind. He closed his eyes, trying to push away the frustration that had built up. It was just so infuriating - Dua’s cheerful demeanor seemed to mock the reality of their situation. He was freaking mad at her and she didn't even care.

But as he stood under the water, he replayed Shane’s words: "Does Dua look like she fears you? Why would she lie to you?" Those questions lingered, nagging at the edges of his anger. He thought back to the fierce determination in Dua's voice when she said she wouldn’t stop doing what she thought was right. Could there have been something more to it that he didn't give her a chance to say?

After several minutes he stepped out dressed in his nightwear. He paced the room for a few moments before forcing himself to head back downstairs, anticipating another round of confrontation with Dua. But this time he decided to at least give her a chance, maybe talking was the key.

As he walked back into the kitchen, he found Shane sitting across from Dua, both sharing a laugh over something that he could not hear. For a brief moment, Steven felt a pang of jealousy. It was infuriating to see her so carefree even after what happened between them.

"Can I have a word with you?" Steven’s voice was firm, and an air of seriousness returned to the atmosphere. Both Shane and Dua turned to look at him, Shane’s expression shifting to one of concern.

"Uh, yeah? What’s up?" Dua said, her smile faltering slightly.

"In private," he insisted, eyes locked on her. She looked hesitant but nodded.

"Alright," she replied, standing up. She exchanged a quick glance with Shane, who urged her with a nod.

They moved into the bedroom, and as soon as the door closed, Steven felt an overwhelming weight in his chest. "Let's hear you out," he forced out of his mouth.

"Huh?" Dua blinked at him.

"I want to know why you took that file," he said, keeping his voice steady.

"I didn’t take it to hurt you." Her voice held an undercurrent of steel. "It was never about betrayal; it was about…" she hesitated, searching for the right words, "doing what’s right."

"Right?" he echoed incredulously. He felt the waves of anger rise again. "You think going behind my back is the right thing?!"

"I was trying to protect you!" Her eyes flashed, and Steven flashed at her in return, "what god-damned protection? What makes you think you can protect me?!"

"Hey, you said you wanted to hear me out. If you know you're not gonna shut the fuck up and listen to me, then let me know so I can go to bed." She said, her tone low but strongly showing her anger.

Her words helped to make him swallow down his anger a bit. "I'm listening."

"I went to see Diane's family today," she began and his eyes flashed at her.

"So taking a file behind my back isn't the only thing you've done, you also went out without telling me," he glared at her.

"Are you gonna listen to me or not?" She glared back at him and he looked away.

She told him everything about her conversation with Diane's family and Steven's darkened.

"So I took the file, because I was curious to know why it's so important to them," she said.

"So what's your plan?" He asked.

"Making them a bait and a target," she replied and for the first time she saw him surprised. He understood her plan well and never expected her to come up with such.

"And why should I trust you?" He raised a brow at her.

"I don't need you to trust me, I'm gonna do what I think is right," she replied.

He studied her for a while, his eyes searching her soul. "Why are you even doing this?" He asked.

"Like I said, I'm trying to protect you," she said, moving closer to him.

"Protect me?" He laughed.

"Being the all powerful Mafia King doesn't make you invincible and immortal," she replied. "So let's be a team, let's work together...let me help you," she stretched her hand to him, the tension heavy in her as she anticipated his reply.