Chapter 75: Rollercoaster.

Dua stepped into the living room, her heart racing as she encountered a young woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to her—a backview so identical that it sent a shiver down her spine. "Who...are you?" Dua asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she cautiously approached the woman, who seemed lost in thought.

"I am you, and you are me," the young woman replied, her voice mirroring Dua’s.

A wave of realization washed over Dua. "Crystal?" she ventured, furrowing her brow in a mix of curiosity and disbelief.

The woman turned, her smile illuminating a face that mirrored Dua's own. "Hi," she said warmly.

Dua's mind raced back to the painting she'd glimpsed in the forbidden room, a haunting connection forming. "So you really are Crystal, Steven's first love. The one he thinks is reincarnated in me."

"He's not just thinking; he's sure and he's correct. You are me," Crystal affirmed confidently.

A heavy silence fell as Dua processed her words.

"Starting now, you'll begin to have memories of our past life." Crystal informed Dua who just stood speechless.

"We must ensure we don’t lose him to someone else again, just like in our previous life...It’s tragic how fate has twisted our destinies. He was never truly ours—back then, he was bound to the princess, and now he belongs to Diane," Crystal murmured, her expression tinged with sadness.

"But he loves you as much as he loves me... He loves YOU for who you are—not just as my reincarnation..." Crystal continued.

"Only, our love has never been designed to last. In the past, I left him when I died, and now… he’s facing the same fate—he'll die and leave you behind," Crystal added, closing the distance between them, her gaze piercing.

Dua felt her stomach twist in anxiety as she listened to Crystal's next statement. "But we can save him. We can break the curse he suffers," Crystal proposed.

"How?" Dua's voice dropped to a whisper.

"A life for a life," Crystal replied, her expression ominous and Dua's eyes widened.

"Yes, your life for his life." Crystal confirmed and Dua's heart raced as the words struck her like a physical blow.

"And he doesn’t have much time left," Crystal insisted, her voice serious.

"I know, he has less than 180 days," Dua replied weakly.

"No," Crystal shook her head. "He lied to you... He only has a week left," she revealed, her voice heavy with the pain of her revelation.

Dua chuckled dismissively, "That's enough, you’re pulled my legs enough."

"Why would I joke about something like this?" Crystal insisted, her expression grave. Dua's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

“If you’re still doubting, find out for yourself from his doctor,” Crystal urged. In that moment, Dua found herself at a loss for words.

"Well done," Crystal added, placing a gentle hand on Dua's stomach, a smile breaking through the tension. "But you might lose it," she added, her playful tone now steeped in gravity. Dua’s brows knitted in confusion.

Crystal leaned in, resting her forehead against Dua’s, her voice a whisper as she offered a fervent prayer, "Good luck to us."

Dua gasped, bolting upright in her bed. "It’s all a dream," she sighed, her heart racing. As she scanned her surroundings, she found herself encircled by Steven, Shane, and her siblings—each lost in their thoughts. Clearing her throat to grab their attention, she smiled awkwardly, relieved when they all turned to her, concern etched on their faces.

“I’m fine,” she announced, a tinge of embarrassment coloring her words. They all exhaled collectively in relief.

"Sorry I scared you guys," she added sheepishly.

"You really did," Denise reaffirmed, her face softening into a smile.

As Dua turned to Desmond, she caught him wearing a teasing glint, while Shane beamed at her. Finally, her gaze fell on Steven, who broke the news with a warm smile: "You’re pregnant, Dua."

“Please, not more rollercoaster today. I've had enough,” she rolled her eyes, refusing to believe what she had just heard.

“According to the doctor, you fainted from stress and fatigue, which is common in the first trimester,” Shane chimed in.

"Wait, I'm really pregnant?" Dua’s expression was a blend of confusion and disbelief.

"Turns out," Steven replied, his voice trailing off as Dua let out an ecstatic scream.

"I'm pregnant!" she squealed, joy radiating from her as Steven smiled warmly at her enthusiasm.

"Congratulations to you..." Shane chimed in, a proud grin on his face as he gestured toward Steven. "...and this brat."

"Yeah, congratulations!" added Denise, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

"Absolutely!" Desmond supported, his voice filled with genuine excitement.

“We’ll leave you two alone for a bit,” Shane said, exchanging knowing glances with the others as they exited the room, leaving Steven and Dua alone.

As the door closed behind them, Steven moved closer, placing his hand softly on Dua's stomach, almost as if he were protecting a precious secret. “Thank you, Dua… for this,” he said sincerely, his eyes locking onto hers.

“No need to thank me; I’ve always wanted this,” Dua replied, a soft smile playing on her lips. She looked away for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “One of the things that made me consider marriage was motherhood. I’ve always yearned for the experience,” she continued, her voice tinged with bittersweet nostalgia.

"And yet, here I am, trapped in a marriage that wasn’t meant for me—with a husband who feels nothing for me, a husband still haunted by his first love..." Her words faded into silence, as unspoken emotions hung heavily in the air between them.

“Dua... I love you,” he finally professed, the weight of his words settling over them both.

“Please, don’t say what you don’t truly mean. I don’t need your pity,” she retorted, a hint of defensiveness in her tone.

“It’s not pity,” he insisted, his voice steady.

“Then it’s because I remind you of Crystal,” she shot back, trying to shield her heart from the truth and he sighed.

“I love you for who you are, Dua. Whether or not you’re her reincarnation... It's true I love Crystal and I miss her, she'll never leave my heart. But I love you now...maybe even more than I think I do...I’ve always been drawn to you. Slowly, I found myself falling for you, too. But I fought it, convincing myself to push you away. I was confused—how could I hold two women in my heart? I didn’t want to hurt you. If I told you I love you, there'll be no turning back on your feelings for me," he explained, his voice heavy with an unspoken weight. "I don’t want you heartbroken after I'm gone..."

Dua pressed her finger to his lips, silencing the words that hung in the air like a dark cloud. "Don't say that," she urged, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"It's the truth, Dua," Steven insisted, his gaze filled with anguish.

"I know... but don't keep reminding me that I’m going to lose you. Please, don’t keep reminding me..." Her voice cracked, the sorrow spilling over in waves.

Pulling her into a warm embrace, Steven felt his heart wrench in pain. "I wish I could stay… I really wish I could stay with you and our child," he confessed, the weight of his words crashing over them like a tidal wave.

Hearing his somber admission, Dua’s mind raced back to Shane’s words—about her being the remedy for Steven’s curse. She took a deep breath, gathering the courage to speak as she pulled out of his embrace: "I have something to tell you..."

But just as she prepared to share her secret, Steven’s phone rang, cutting through the tension. "Permit me to take this call," he said politely, retrieving his phone from his pocket.

He spoke softly into the device, a few words exchanged before he ended the call. Returning his attention to her, he asked, "I’m listening."

Dua hesitated, the urgency of her revelation suddenly feeling monumental. "Never mind," she replied, a hint of regret lacing her voice.

"You wanted to say something to me," he pressed, his eyes earnest and searching.

"It’s irrelevant," she evaded, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Still, I want to hear it," he insisted, his tone soft yet firm.

"No, you don’t," she countered, trying to dismiss him gently.

"Dua..." he urged, his voice low, filled with concern.

"It’s really irrelevant," she repeated.

Steven studied her intently, as if trying to decipher the unspoken words swirling between them. After a long pause, he finally nodded. "Alright, I’ll let you rest for a while." He stood, his reluctance

"Alright, I'll let you rest for a while," he said, standing up with a gentle smile.

"I love you," he added, bending over to seal his words with a quick kiss on her lips. The warmth of his affection made her heart flutter, and she returned his smile, feeling a moment of bliss as he walked out of the bedroom.

But as soon as the door clicked shut behind him, her expression shifted to one of deep concern. Doubts gnawed at her, heavy and insistent. She had promised herself to discuss the remedy for the curse with him, but the reality of Crystal's ominous words echoed in her mind: "He has only a week left."

A wave of anxiety washed over her, stark against the warmth of his love. If there was any chance to save him, she had to know the truth. She recalled Crystal's chilling advice: "If you're still doubting, find out yourself from his doctor."

Determined, Dua took a deep breath, steadying herself against the mounting dread as she finally decided to follow Crystal’s suggestion.