Chapter 60: It's Over.

“I’m sorry,” the doctor began, his voice measured yet shattered. “We did everything we could, but there were complications…” He trailed off, and the air filled with a silence that seemed to envelop everyone present, an uninvited shroud of despair that laid heavily across their shoulders.

“No. No. No…” Denise whispered, shaking her head violently, as if willing the terrifying truth to evaporate into thin air.

“Please… you can’t… my mom… she was so strong…” Desmond stuttered, his voice cracking under the weight of sorrow.

The doctor instinctively took a step toward Denise, his compassion evident but his words clumsy and overwhelming. “I know this is—”

“Don’t say it!” Denise interrupted, her voice rising, a raw mix of anguish and anger spilling forth. “Don’t you dare say that!”

Shane moved to her side, wrapping his arms around her as she leaned into him, her sobs echoing against the sterile walls of the hospital. Dua felt her heart drop, the grip on the armrest of her plastic chair so tight that her knuckles turned white, like a child clinging to the last vestiges of hope. Her mind raced, frantic thoughts colliding, desperately trying to make sense of what she had just heard.

Steven moved beside her, his hand on her shoulder grounding her, but before he could even speak Dua pulled away from his touch. "Leave me alone," she warned.

“How...? She was so strong,” Desmond managed to utter through choking tears.

“Was she?” Dua replied, her voice raw. “She wanted to reunite with Dad so badly... and now she’s gotten what she wanted.”

“We’ll lay her to rest tomorrow. You all get ready, I’ll make the arrangements,” she added, her heart heavy yet resolute.

“What?” Her siblings sprang at her in disbelief.

“That soon?” Desmond faltered, unable to process her words.

“She’s gone, so what’s there to delay? She’s gone for good, and she’ll never return,” Dua said.

“We can’t just rush into this, sis! What is wrong with you?!” Denise queried, her voice trembling.

"My decision is final," Dua declared, her voice trembling yet resolute.

With a heavy heart, she exited the ward, desperately seeking to escape the unbearable reality crashing down around them. The corridor blurred past her, each footstep echoing like a chaotic heartbeat, reminding her of the turmoil within. Pushing through the double doors, she stepped outside into the crisp air, only to find that the outside world felt just as suffocating as the hospital.

She leaned against the cool stone of the building, letting the tears flow freely as she sought solace. Crying in front of her siblings was not an option; she had to remain strong for them, even as each breath felt like a betrayal that did nothing to alleviate the insurmountable pain of loss.

In the midst of her sobs, Steven appeared before her, a figure she was both grateful for and wanting to avoid. "I told you to leave me alone," she said, hastily wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.

She turned to seek another place where she could be alone, but the world around her blurred; it felt as though the earth was trembling beneath her feet, dissolving into nothingness. Steven, sensing her fragility, caught her just before she crumpled to the ground. His arms wrapped around her, lifting her with urgency as he rushed back into the hospital.

Upon reaching the Emergency Department, the chaos swirled around them as doctors and nurses sprang into action. After a whirlwind of activity, the attending physician turned to Steven, her expression a mixture of concern and professionalism. "She’s suffering from emotional stress, but she’s stable now," she reassured him.

"For this period of time, she needs all the physical and emotional support she can get—especially from you, her husband," the doctor added, her gaze meaningful, and Steven nodded. Slowly, the medical staff retreated from the room, leaving him alone with Dua.

He approached the bed, pulling up a chair and resting his elbows on his knees, looking intently at her peaceful face. A sigh escaped his lips, filled with the weight of unspoken words. Suddenly, Dua's phone vibrated in her pocket, ringing insistently. He fished it out and answered, noting the caller ID was her brother, Desmond.

"Where are you, sis? Your attention is needed here; there are some papers you have to sign," Desmond said, urgency lacing his tone.

"Dua's been hospitalized. We're in Ward 25 of the Emergency Department," Steven replied, his voice a mix of fear and concern.

Within minutes, they rushed into the ward where Steven and Dua were. Denise's sunken eyes were heavy with tears as she dashed to Dua’s side. “Sis, please... we still need you,” she cried, her voice cracking.

Desmond knelt beside Dua, grasping her hand gently. Words eluded him; all he could do was press a soft kiss to her fingers.

Shane stood a few steps back with Steven, the sight of the broken family before him tightening his heart. “You don’t need anyone to tell you what to do, do you?” he asked quietly, trying to gauge the depth of Steven’s resolve.

Desmond turned to Steven, his voice thick with emotion. “Please take care of my sister, especially her heart. She’s all we’ve got now…” His words faltered, the weight of his plea hanging heavily in the room. “She’s been strong for us all this time, but now she needs extra strength. She won’t let us in, but she might let you. Even if she doesn’t want you to, don’t leave her... please,” he urged, desperation creeping into his voice.

Dua's eyelids fluttered open, and seeing the sorrow etched on their faces, she spoke, her voice a whisper, “What’s with you all? I’m not dead yet.”

Her words, though faint, breathed a spark of life into the heavy atmosphere surrounding them. She blinked against the harsh fluorescent lights, trying to piece together the chaotic moments leading up to her blackout.

“Sis!” Denise exclaimed, her relief palpable as she clutched Dua’s hand tightly. “You gave us such a scare!”

"I'm fine," Dua assured them, managing a shaky chuckle as Desmond helped her sit up.

Desmond returned her smile, relieved to see her rallying. “We’ll go sign the papers on your behalf. Just focus on resting, okay?” he suggested, and she nodded, a hint of gratitude in her smile.

Shane gave Dua a reassuring touch on her shoulder, his warm smile radiating comfort. Dua met his gaze briefly, then instinctively placed her hand over his, returning the gesture with a faint smile. They stepped out of the ward, leaving Steven and Dua alone once more.

Steven glanced at Dua, feeling the weight of her silence pressing down on him. She didn’t even look his way. "Are you alright?" he asked softly, but his words fell into the void, met with silence.

"Dua, we need to talk," he prompted, desperation creeping into his voice. Still, she remained silent, her gaze fixed somewhere distant.

"I'm sorry about yesterday… I didn’t mean to push you away," he continued, his heart racing. Each word felt heavier than the last. "I never wanted to hurt you."

Her eyes flickered momentarily toward him but quickly returned to the floor. "You don’t have to compromise your decisions for me," she finally said, her voice steady yet laced with pain. "I can manage on my own… I’m sorry I ever bothered you. I'll keep my feelings to myself, and I promise to never bother you  again. Let’s just stay out of each other’s lives until the day we part ways."

Dua’s voice trembled as she added, "Our partnership still stands, though. I’ll help you conquer the Sierre family, uncover Diane’s disappearance, and give you the child as I promised. But it’s over between us." A bitter chuckle escaped her lips. "What am I even saying? Nothing ever really started between us for there to be an end."

"Dua…" Steven reached out, but the look in her eyes stopped him. The raw emotion there was heart-wrenching.

"Please leave… I want to be alone," she whispered, her voice barely a murmur, filled with a sense of finality.

Steven’s hands itched with the urge to pull her into his arms, to soothe her pain and share in her burden. But her words echoed in his mind, a painful reminder of the distance that had suddenly grown between them, and he turned away, leaving the ward.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind him, Dua felt the weight of silence envelop her like a shroud. Tears streamed down her cheeks, each drop a testament to the ache blooming in her heart. The moment he walked away, she realized how much she had wanted him to stay, despite the tumult of emotions swirling within her.