Chapter 99: Identity.

Chapter 99: Identity.
Seeing the jet parked outside the house, Dua couldn't believe her eyes. "You flew all the way here from Italy?" She felt a rush of surprise mixed with gratitude.
"I'll go anywhere for you," Steven replied, his warm gaze holding hers, and Dua's heart fluttered at his words. But before she could respond, the sharp sound of gunshots echoed from the house, her panic rising. "I think Victoria is in trouble," she expressed breathlessly.
Steven chuckled, trying to lighten the tense moment. "You're wrong, darling. Victoria is the trouble." 
Just then, the door swung open and Victoria stepped out, her demeanor casual as if she had just finished a workout. "Those guys are a bunch of idiots," she cursed lightly, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Dua couldn't help but admire her strength and bravery. In that moment, she found herself wishing to embody Victoria's fearless spirit.
Feeling Dua's gaze on her, Victoria flashed her a confident smile. "How are you doing?" she asked, clearly unfazed by the chaos surrounding them.
Dua responded with a nod and a smile, gratitude blossoming in her chest.
Steven gently settled Dua in the jet, tucking her hair behind her ears and brushing the beads of sweat from her forehead. His presence was a comforting balm, relief washing over him at the sight of her safe. He couldn't shake the lingering fear of what could have happened, especially with their unborn babies in the mix.
"Umm...ahem," Victoria cleared her throat, her playful tone breaking through the tension. "A friendly reminder, guys, I can't pilot an aircraft," she quipped.
Dua chuckled but then her eyes widened as she turned to Steven. “You can…” she started tentatively.
"Yes, darling, I'm also a pilot," he said with a playful peck on her lips that sent butterflies swirling in Dua's stomach.
"Okay, guys, don’t make me miss my husband right now," Victoria warned with a grin, and Dua's laugh rang out, a rich sound that momentarily eased the tension.
“Well,” Victoria teased, stepping close to Dua as Steven made his way to the pilot's seat, “how does it feel to have almost lost your life and your unborn children?”
“Victoria!!” Steven called out.
"Just kidding," Victoria laughed, and Dua joined in, her mood lifting.
"So, Diane," Victoria began, her tone shifting to something more serious, "what's the deal between you and that scumbag who abducted you? He’s not part of the Mafia, so he has nothing to do with Steven, right?" 
Dua felt a hint of surprise at being called Diane by Victoria. "I guess he hasn't told you yet," she thought, hesitating before answering. "He was my boyfriend before I got married to Steven."
Victoria sighed, sympathy etching her features. "Seeing how desperate he was to get you back, he must have loved you a lot."
"But sadly for him, you're Steven's woman now, and he really loves you," Victoria added, her tone brightening again.
Dua felt a warm flush at Victoria’s words and smiled.
As they arrived at Steven's house, Victoria’s earlier excitement faded. “So now I go back home,” she said, her voice losing its luster.
Steven, sensing her disappointment, turned to his bodyguard. “Zack!” he called, and Zack rushed over. “Take her to Italy,” he ordered.
Victoria’s face lit up, and she beamed at him. “Thank you, Steven!” she chirped, waving goodbye to Dua as she skipped happily toward the jet.
Dua chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Don’t mind her; she just loves traveling,” Steven remarked as they walked inside.
Shane’s eyes widened when he saw Steven, but they softened with relief when they spotted Dua. “Why are you back?” he asked, worry lacing his voice. He turned to her, anxiety evident in his expression. “Why are you back so late, and you weren’t answering your phone?”
"Dua was kidnapped," Steven replied flatly.
Shane's eyes went wide in horror. He rushed to Dua, inspecting her for injuries. “Are you alright?” he asked, genuine concern etching his face. He focused intently on her baby bump, as if it were a fragile treasure.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Dua reassured him, her heart swelling at his concern. "And oh, please don't let my siblings know about my kidnap. I don't want them getting worried," Dua said, her voice trembling slightly. 
"Okay," Shane nodded, his expression serious. 
"So you're heading back to Italy?" Shane asked, redirecting the conversation to Steven.
"No, I'm done with my business there," Steven replied.
"That quick?" Dua’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Yeah," Steven nodded. "And guess what?" he said, a slight smirk forming.
"What? Spit it out!" Dua's impatience bubbled over.
"Your suggestion of settling for a negotiation worked out. No blood was spilled," he proclaimed, watching as Dua's lips curled into a relieved smile.
"Wow," Shane breathed, his surprise evident in his wide eyes. "Never knew negotiation could ever work out in the Mafia," he mused.
"Turns out it did," Steven shrugged casually, but Dua could see the tension in his shoulders relax a fraction.
Suddenly, Steven’s phone buzzed, and Dua’s name flashed on the screen. Without hesitation, he handed it over, knowing it was her concerned friend, Maya. 
"Have you been able to reach her?" Maya's voice burst out, laced with worry.
"I'm fine, Maya," Dua reassured, her heart lifting at the sound of her friend’s voice.
"Dua?" Maya asked, needing confirmation.
"Yeah, I’m good. My husband came in time," Dua replied, a wave of gratitude washing over her.
Relieved sighs echoed on the other end of the line. 
"We were so worried about you, Dua," Jay said, his voice tinged with the burden of concern.
"Yeah, I couldn't stop imagining so many horrible things," Lena chimed in, her tone heavy.
"Lena cried her eyes out," Jay added, clearly still shaken.
"And Jay and Maya couldn't stop praying for your safety," Lena voiced, a hint of guilt in her words.
Dua felt her heart swell at the love and concern from her friends, her eyes brimming with tears. 
"Dua, are you there?" Maya pressed, sensing her distress.
"Yeah... I am," Dua's voice barely rose above a whisper, choked by emotions. "Thank you, guys. You're the best friends anyone could ever wish for."
"And we want you to know that we love you," Lena declared firmly.
"I love you all too," Dua replied, her voice softening with warmth.
"Okay, we'll leave you to rest. Goodbye, and take it easy," Jay said, ending the call with a gentle smile.
"Let's go upstairs," Steven suggested, and Dua nodded, taking his hand as they made their way to the bedroom.
As they settled into bed, Dua turned to him, curiosity piqued. "So, how did you find me that easily?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering. “I tracked you. I put a tracker in your ring."
Dua’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You did what?” The shock rippled through her.
“Yeah, I know it sounds invasive, but I had to keep you safe. The world we live in is unpredictable... my world is dangerous, and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you—especially now.” His gaze dropped to her baby bump, a protective tenderness evident in his expression.
“I appreciate your concern, but next time, can you just talk to me about these things?” Dua replied, her voice steadier now. “I don’t want to feel like I'm being watched.”
“I understand,” he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “Truthfully, my initial reason for putting the tracker in your ring was to keep an eye on you... I didn’t fully trust you then.”
Dua pulled back, a flash of hurt crossing her face. “What? You didn’t trust me?”
“I know, it sounds terrible,” he admitted, remorse etched in his features. “But I promise you, that’s behind us now. My only concern is your safety... especially after everything we’ve been through.” He moved closer, wrapping his arms around her, the warmth of his embrace soothing her racing heart.
Nestled against him, Dua sighed softly, grateful for his presence. “I’m just glad you’re here,” she murmured, words barely escaping her lips.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” he whispered back, his breath warm against her hair. “You mean everything to me, Dua. I’d fight for you—for us—any day.”
They laid in silence, the chaotic events of the day slowly fading as they focused on each other. Dua closed her eyes, feeling safe and loved. But the euphoria felt fleeting, a shadow lingering at the back of her mind. She thought of Victoria and her bold, fearless attitude. “Do you think I’ll ever be as strong as Victoria?” Dua asked after a moment, breaking the quiet.
“Of course,” Steven replied firmly, pulling back to look into her eyes. “You have an incredible strength within you that you may not even realize yet. You’ve faced so much, and you come out stronger every time. Just because you’re not like her doesn’t mean you’re any less formidable. Your strength is different, but it’s just as important.”
Dua’s expression softened at his words, feeling a flicker of hope ignite within her. “You really think so?” 
“Absolutely. Plus, you’re fiercely spirited. A person with your fire isn’t weak. Remember the first time we met at the bridge? You gave me that punch!” He grinned at the memory, and she couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer awkwardness of it all.
“Yeah, that was quite the introduction!” she chuckled. 
“See? You’ve always had that strength. So yes, darling, you are strong.” His warm smile made her heart swell with pride.
“Thanks, Steven. That means more to me than you know.” 
Shifting topics slightly, she furrowed her brow. “So, about Victoria… Seeing as she still calls me Diane, you haven’t told her the truth about my identity, have you?”
“Not yet,” he replied, the hint of hesitation in his voice palpable.
“Why? What if Diane returns? How will you explain it to her then?” Dua felt a wave of worry crash over her.
“Shhhhh...” He hushed her gently, placing a finger on her lips with a tenderness that made her heart race. “Let’s not dwell on those possibilities. She’ll never come back… She could be gone for good.” His expression turned somber, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on them.
“We don’t know that,” Dua countered, her voice steady but laced with concern. “We can’t just assume.”
“Forget about that for now, darling,” he urged, leaning in closer, the moment between them tinged with warmth and hope. He moved in to kiss her, but suddenly grimaced, clutching his chest in excruciating pain. 
“Steven!” Dua panicked, her heart racing as confusion settled over her. “What’s happening? I thought the curse was broken!” She quickly reached for his pills, her hands shaking slightly as she administered the pills to him.
"I have a hole in my heart... it's not related to the curse... so even after the curse has been broken, the illness remains," he replied, his voice heavy with an unshakeable weight.
She met his gaze, her expression unwavering. "We'll go see the doctor tomorrow," she insisted, leaving no room for argument or negotiation. The quiet determination in her eyes made it clear that this was not a suggestion but a promise.
He sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly under the warmth of her resolve. "Fine," he conceded, the word escaping his lips like a reluctant surrender.