Chapter 82: Darling.

Dua awoke to an inviting aroma wafting through the bedroom, her senses stirring as she blinked into the soft morning light. The sight of a tray filled with a sumptuous breakfast on her bedside table took her by surprise. "Morning, darling," came the warm, familiar voice of Steven, pulling her hazy thoughts into focus.

“Darling?” she echoed, disbelief flooding her expression.

“Do you prefer honey instead?” Steven teased, striking a playful pose as he feigned a guess.

“Wait, what?” Dua trailed off, still trying to process his unexpected use of endearments.

“Is ‘darling’ not to your liking? Sweetheart? My love?” His eyes twinkled with mischief, yet there was an underlying seriousness to his demeanor.

“Can you come here?” Dua asked, her heart racing as she beckoned him to close the distance.

With a curious tilt of his head, Steven settled on the edge of the bed, his brows knitting together in concern. Dua reached out, her fingers brushing through his hair as she sought comfort in the depths of his gaze.

“What’s going on?” he asked, genuine confusion written across his features.

“Just checking if you’re alright,” she replied, her heart aching with unspoken worries.

When he scoffed playfully and swatted her hand away, Dua couldn’t help but smile. “Have your breakfast,” he said with a frown as he stood up.

“Darling!” she called after him, a hint of desperation in her tone. He turned, surprise flickering in his eyes. “You can call me darling,” she clarified, her smile warming the space between them.

“May I feed you, darling?” Steven asked, his words draped in sincerity.

Dua nodded eagerly, a smile blooming on her lips as he pulled the tray closer, the intimate action igniting a spark of joy in her chest. This side of him, gentle and nurturing, was a welcome surprise, yet a hollow ache gnawed at her. The fleeting nature of these moments felt almost unbearable.

“Don’t be too surprised by this side of me. It’s been there all along; I just couldn't express it. I was afraid you'd love me too much and it would be pointless to invest your feelings in someone who might not stick around for long…” He sighed, laying bare his vulnerabilities.

“But now I regret it. All the things I should’ve done for you and with you, I wish I could go back and change it. I only wish I had more time.” His voice was raw with emotion as he spoke.

Dua took his hand in hers, running her fingers softly over his knuckles. Love sparkled in her eyes as she met his gaze. “I love you, regardless of all those unresolved moments. While I wish we had more time together, I don’t regret a single day we’ve shared.” Her words wrapped around Steven like a warm embrace, kindling hope in his heart.

“Thank you,” he breathed, his sincerity evident. She responded with an even brighter smile, momentarily pushing away the sadness nagging at them both

“What are you waiting for? My mouth is empty!” she teased playfully.

With a chuckle, he resumed feeding her, pausing momentarily to collect his thoughts as he reflected on their conversation.

Suddenly, his phone rang, shattering the intimate atmosphere. He hesitated, but Dua gently urged him, “You should take it.” Moving out of the other room, Steven’s figure grew distant, leaving Dua alone with her swirling emotions.

As the solitude settled in, tears threatened to spill over. She had poured so much energy into maintaining a brave face for Steven, not wanting to add to his burdens. With a shaky breath, she made a silent promise: she would do everything to save him, even if it cost her own life.

A text from Bob buzzed on her phone, catching her off guard. “I want you home tonight.”

With a scoff, she flung her phone across the room, anger surging through her. It felt like another weight pressing on her already heavy heart.

Once she finished her meal, Dua quickly got ready and gathered her things for school, and when Steven returned, a cigarette dangled from his lips. Her irritation flared instantly. “Give me one good reason you’re smoking,” she demanded.

"I'm sorry, I know how much you hate smoking, but I truly don't have a choice," Steven replied, his voice laced with resignation.

"You don't have a choice?" Dua scoffed, her frustration evident. "This is coming from someone who has a hole in his heart? Are you really that enthusiastic about dying?" she yelled, anger bubbling beneath her surface.

He sighed deeply, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I wish I could explain it to you."

"Please, just don't. I'm not interested in hearing your excuses," she hissed, storming out of the bedroom with her school bag swinging at her side.

Steven sank onto the edge of the bed, his heart heavy with regret. As he sat there, lost in thought, Dua collided with Shane on the stairs. The moment he caught sight of her stormy expression, he sensed something was wrong.

"Good morning," she greeted him, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, a note of concern threading his voice.

"Wrong?" Dua mimicked, feigning cluelessness.

"I saw the frown on your face. What did my brother do this time?" Shane prodded, searching her expression for truth.

"Oh, that…" she trailed off, weighing her words carefully. The last time she confided in him about Steven didn't result in a good outcome, so she opted to keep this one to herself. “The food he brought me wasn’t enough,” she finally made up something.

Shane chuckled lightly. "That should be an easy fix. There’s still some food left in the pots; you could just..."

“I can’t. I’m running late for class!” she interjected before he could finish, hurrying down the rest of the stairs and out the door.

Outside, she met her siblings, who were also gearing up for school. Denise raised an eyebrow, glancing at Dua’s stomach. "Can't believe you're still going to school in your condition."

"Is that really how you want to start my morning?" Dua shot back, irritation creeping into her tone.

"Good morning, sis, but Denise isn’t wrong," Desmond chimed in, a hint of concern in his eyes.

"I'm not the first pregnant woman in the world," Dua replied defiantly, the flicker of annoyance in her voice palpable.

"But you're carrying a billionaire's heir in your womb," Desmond countered, the smirk on his face irking her even more.

"So what if his father is a billionaire?" Dua shot back, rolling her eyes dramatically before turning on her heels and striding toward her car, the weight of the comments lingering like an unwanted shadow.

Upon arriving at school, the familiar hum of student life enveloped her. The chaotic energy of her friends, the laughter echoing down the halls, and the myriad of classes made her briefly forget the gravity of her situation. It felt like just another day, albeit with a glowing secret she was still coming to terms with.

During break, she and her friends made their way to the cafeteria, the chatter around them a comforting blanket. They settled down with drinks when Jay, ever the purveyor of new trends, sparked their curiosity. "Hey guys, have you heard about this new smoothie that's spreading like wildfire in the city?"

"What smoothie?" Lena asked, leaning in with intrigue.

"It originated from this little town nearby and has this amazing mix of coconut, banana, milk, cashew nuts, and... something else I've forgotten," Jay explained, his eyes lighting up with enthusiasm.

Dua felt her mouth water at the mention of the tropical flavors, a sudden longing surfacing in the pit of her stomach. "What's it called?" she interjected eagerly.

Jay scratched his head, looking sheepish. "I can't remember the name. But I know they sell it here!"

With that, Dua and Maya shot out of their seats, excitement buzzing between them. But Jay’s next words brought them to a halt. "Though, I also heard it’s been sold out here."

"Really took you a while to mention that vital detail," Maya hissed, crossing her arms in mock indignation as she sank back into her chair.

"Yeah! Why bring it up when it’s not even available?" Dua added, frowning in disappointment.

"I didn’t say it’s totally gone! Just that you can’t get it right now from the cafeteria," Jay defended, raising his hands in surrender.

"It feels like the same thing," Lena replied with a teasing grin.

Feeling the craving intensify, a spark of inspiration ignited in her, brightening her mood. With a smile tugging at her lips, she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone.

She dialed Steven’s number, the familiar sound of ringing filling her ears. Yet, after numerous rings, silence hung in the air, stretching uncomfortably. She frowned, a hint of concern creeping in. Normally, he would pick up without delay even if they had a fight.

Without overthinking it, she decided to send him a text. The message flowed effortlessly as she detailed the smoothie she craved. Patience tested, she waited, but ten minutes ticked by with still no response.

Feeling a knot tightening in her stomach, she tried calling again. And again, there was no answer. “He never ignores my calls or texts, even if we have a fight,” she muttered, a deep sense of worry settling over her. The statement slipped from her lips unconsciously, drawing the attention of her friends at the table.

"Who?" Maya asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

"My husband," Dua replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

As the reality of their situation hit her, she recalled the dreadful circumstances surrounding him recently. Panic surged through her veins, her heart racing as the vivid images of the uncertainty clouded her mind.

Without bidding her friends goodbye or explaining her sudden urgency, Dua shot up from her chair, the chair scraping against the floor with a loud noise that turned heads. She grabbed her bag and dashed out of the caféteria, her friends exchanging confused glances behind her.

Each hurried step felt heavier than the last, as a sense of dread filled her. She had to find Steven.