Chapter 90: Choice.

After spending a wonderful time with her friends, Dua felt a wave of sadness wash over her as they said their goodbyes and left her alone once again. Sighing deeply, she made her way to the bedroom, where she found Steven engrossed in some documents on the couch. Plopping down beside him, she let out another long sigh. “They’re gone,” she said, sounding more defeated than she intended.

“Is that the reason you’re sulking?” Steven glanced at Dua, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, but seriously, why did you have to embarrass my friend Jay?” she confronted him.

“I didn’t embarrass him; I just asked him a question. Besides, someone needed to tell him to take his eyes off you,” Steven replied, defensiveness creeping into his voice.

“Why would you even say that? I told you he’s gay! He wouldn’t have eyes for me,” Dua pressed, frustration seeping into her tone.

Steven scoffed, shaking his head. “Who told you that? Just because he’s gay doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate a beautiful woman.”

Dua rolled her eyes. “Or maybe he just appreciates men.”

“Look, darling, it’s a fact: no man can resist a beautiful woman,” he insisted.

“And that includes you, right?” Dua shot him a glare, and Steven suddenly realized the implication of his words.

He swallowed hard, his heart racing as he scrambled to calm the situation. “I couldn’t resist you, too,” he said with a small, genuine smile.

“‘Too’? So, I’m not the first woman you couldn’t resist?” Dua accused, her glare intensifying.

“No, that’s not what I meant… I… it…” Steven stammered, caught off guard.

“No, I get it. Thank you for enlightening me on the ways of men.” She gave him a forced smile that didn’t reach her eyes and attempted to stand up to leave, but Steven quickly grasped her hand, pulling her back.

“That’s not what I meant! Really, it’s not,” he began, but she wasn’t convinced.

“In the past and even now, I’ve never been able to resist you,” he continued, cradling her face tenderly. His gaze locked onto hers with sincerity.

He leaned in slowly, and Dua closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his breath on her skin. Just as their lips were about touching, Dua's ringing phone pierced through the silence, interrupting their moment.

Dua opened her eyes and pulled away as she reached for her phone, the screen flashing with Mark's name. A scoff escaped her lips, her frustration boiling over at the unwelcome interruption. "What is it?" she answered, her voice dripping with annoyance.

"We need to see you," Mark replied, urgency lacing his tone.

"That can't be possible; I can't leave the house right now," she countered.

"It's okay. All you have to do is come down to the living room," he insisted.

"Come down to the living room," Dua echoed, her voice laced with mockery. But then realization hit her like a cold wave. "Wait, what?" she asked, her heart pounding slightly faster.

"We're waiting for you in your living room," Mark stated again, the urgency still clear.

"What?!" Dua burst out as the line went dead, Mark hanging up before she could protest further.

Scoffing in disbelief, she set her phone down, her heart racing at the unexpected turn of events.

"What's wrong?" Steven asked, concern creeping into his voice as he noticed her tension.

"Mark is in the living room, and I don't think he's alone," she replied, anxiety seeping into her tone.

Anger flickered across Steven's features as he sprang to his feet, his fists clenched by his sides. "I'll go meet them."

"No, you'll ruin everything," Dua objected, rising from the couch. "I'll go," she declared.

"Be careful," he warned, his brow knitted with concern.

Dua chuckled softly, trying to ease the tension. "They can't harm me in my husband's house. Besides, there are bodyguards outside."

"No, that's not what I mean... Be careful of the choices you make down there," he said, and she nodded, the gravity of his words resonating within her.

With a gentle kiss on her lips, he let her go, and as she walked toward the living room, her expression morphed into a cold mask of composure.

Upon entering the living room, Dua's demeanor turned sharp as she faced Mark and Bob, who sat  together like wolves ready to pounce.

"To what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Dua asked, her voice curt as she settled onto the couch.

“Why have you been refusing to come home?” Mark asked, a hint of concern lacing his tone.

“I’ve been busy,” Dua replied, her voice tinged with defensiveness as she avoided eye contact. Bob scoffed, an incredulous sound that made Dua's stomach lurch.

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Bob declared, his demeanor shifting to an ominous seriousness. “Good job on convincing him to become the Mafia Lord. Tonight, there’s a Mafia meeting, and you will attend.”

Dua’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Why would I do that? This is none of my concern.”

“Your husband is the Mafia King, and that makes you the Mafia Queen. The Mafia is very much your business,” Mark interjected, his tone steady but urgent. “Let’s not forget you come from a Mafia family as well.”

Bob leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Your mission tonight is to make the Devil agree to whatever it is we request.”

“And what are those things you'll ask him?” Dua raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across her face.

Bob smirked, the satisfaction evident in his eyes. “That’s none of your concern.”

Fury boiled within Dua, and she straightened defiantly. “I won’t be doing what you ask!”

Bob chuckled—a low, menacing sound that sent shivers down Dua’s spine. “Oh, but I think you will.” His gaze flicked to her baby bump, his grin widening. “You’d want to think carefully about how you proceed. After all, I believe you want that bastard to arrive safely.”

“My children are not bastards!” Dua spat, her voice raw with indignation.

“Oh, it’s more than one,” he laughed, savoring her outrage. “How delightful!”

With a flourish, Bob rose from his chair, donning his hat with a self-satisfied air. “Just remember, if you want to keep those bastards of yours safe, you know what needs to be done.” He turned sharply and sauntered toward the door.

“Think wisely, Dua,” Mark advised as he prepared to leave as well. There was a sadness in his eyes, mixed with a sense of helplessness. “Make the right choice.”

"I look forward to seeing you at the meeting tonight," he added, his voice tinged with an unsettling finality before he stepped out of the house, leaving Dua in a cold, oppressive silence.

She wrapped her arms protectively around her growing bump, as if it could shield her and the small lives within from the snares and unseen threats of the world. Her heart raced, pounding against her ribcage like a drum of dread, as Bob's words echoed in her mind—taunting and chilling.

"No... I won’t let any harm come to my husband or my babies," she whispered, her voice trembling but resolute. Taking a deep breath, Dua closed her eyes, summoning every ounce of determination within her. Afraid yet fiercely protective, she felt the weight of impending motherhood press upon her, igniting a fierce instinct to safeguard her family against all that lay ahead.