Chapter 96: Pregnant Women.

Chapter 96: Pregnant Women.
As Steven prepared to leave for his trip to Italy, Dua draped his coat on him. She felt the surge of emotions welling up inside her. "I'll miss you," she murmured, her gaze dropping to the floor, shyly hiding the tears threatening to spill.
"I’ll be back before you know it," he replied, gently tilting her chin up so their eyes met. "I miss you already too."
"Be careful, don’t get hurt," she said, her voice tinged with worry, her heart racing at the thought of him away from her.
He smiled confidently, attempting to lighten her mood. "What could possibly happen to me? I'm the Devil himself." 
"You're not," she countered, a soft frown knitting her brows together as she shook her head. 
"Okay, fine," he relented, raising his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin still on his face.
"You too, be careful," he urged, and after a moment’s hesitation, she nodded, trying to mask her unease.
Gently, Steven's hands found their way to Dua’s stomach, rubbing it tenderly. "That goes for you two as well," he said with a smile. "Be good and don’t stress Mommy out while I’m gone."
"They don’t," she shot back, a teasing glimmer in her eyes. "You're the one that stresses me out!" 
Steven chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You know I like that," he teased, making her heart flutter despite her annoyance.
"Let’s go downstairs; Shane must be waiting, and so is your team," Dua suggested, leading the way, her eyes already shimmering with the threat of tears.
But before she could take another step, Steven gently grabbed her hand, stopping her in her tracks. He closed the distance between them and pressed his lips softly against hers, their kiss lingering longer than usual, filled with unspoken emotions. Stepping back, he enveloped her in a warm hug, whispering, “Don’t think too much about it, and don’t cry. I’ll be back soon.”
Just then, a knock echoed against the door, shattering their moment. “Come out, will you?” Shane’s impatient voice called from the other side of the door.
Dua held on to Steven's luggage, her grip firm even as he frowned at her effort. 
"It's not like I'm going to carry it!" she huffed. “I’m just going to pull it. It has wheels, remember?”
Steven shook his head, a wry smile breaking through the frown. “Let me handle it,” he insisted, effortlessly taking the luggage from her and pulling it behind him. Dua rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile at his protective instinct.
As they entered the living room, they were greeted by Shane, who waited with Steven’s team, including a striking Victoria. Dua's brows furrowed in surprise. “She’ll be going with you?” she asked, her voice laced with confusion.
“Relax, I won’t snatch him from you,” Victoria teased, catching wind of Dua’s concern. 
“That’s not what I meant! I just wasn’t expecting to see you,” Dua said, flustered.
Victoria laughed, a melodic sound that eased the tension. “I understood you perfectly; I was just trying to pull your leg,” she replied, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Dua chuckled, appreciating the playfulness.
Exchanging a knowing look with Shane, Steven looked at Dua once more. Lingering for just a moment longer. It took great effort to tear his gaze from her, and as he joined others to leave, a pang of sadness tugged at his heart. 
Dua’s heart ached as she watched Steven walk away. Their time together had become a comfort, and even a short trip felt like a lengthy absence. Her thoughts cascaded, filled with unwelcome uncertainty and longing.
“Don’t worry, he’ll be back soon,” Shane assured her gently, noticing the change in her demeanor.
“I know,” Dua replied softly, trying to convince herself more than him. She turned to retreat to her bedroom.
“Dua,” Shane called, halting her in her tracks. She turned back, anticipation lighting her eyes.
For a moment, Shane hesitated, the weight of unspoken words heavy in the air. Dua regarded him expectantly, her gaze curious and encouraging. 
“Never mind,” he finally said, unable to shake off Denise’s and Desmond’s warnings. With a nod, Dua left to her bedroom.
Shane sighed as Dua left. He had planned to tell her about his relationship with Denise and his feelings for her, but remembering Denise's and Desmond's warnings, he hesitated.
Packing up her school bag, Dua sighed tiredly. "Now I don't feel like doing anything or going anywhere again. I just wanna be all wrapped up in bed and have a good sleep," she said.
She rested her hand on her baby bump, "babies, you're really doing a lot of things to me. I eat when I'm not supposed to, I sleep when I shouldn't, I feel tired when I shouldn't, then I get angry for flimsy reasons," she said and sighed again. 
Picking up her school bag, she went out, bidding Shane goodbye in the living room as she left.
As Dua stepped out into the cool morning air, the chill brushed against her cheeks, but she hardly noticed. Her mind was clouded with thoughts of Steven and the impending days without him. Emotions swirled inside her like a tempest, leaving her feeling both vulnerable and overwhelmed.
Walking towards the car, she felt the weight of her school bag pressing down on her shoulder. It was a constant reminder of her responsibilities, but today, they felt monumental. She opened the car door and slid into the back passenger seat, taking a moment to gather her thoughts and collect herself. “Just breathe,” she murmured to herself, placing both hands on her thighs to steady them. She closed her eyes, allowing the hum of the car engine to fill the space around her, a brief reprieve from her worries.
As her chauffeur maneuvered through the familiar streets, the scenery blurred past her. With each turn, she found herself distracted, her mind flickering back to memories of Steven’s laughter, their lengthy conversations, and quiet evenings spent together. She replayed moments when they cooked together; he would inevitably tease her about her skills in the kitchen—only to attempt to help and end up burning something. “Memories,” she whispered to herself, holding onto them tightly even as the road stretched before her.
Arriving at the university, she stepped out of the car and promised herself that she would push through the day. Walking toward the lecture hall, the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, casting a warm glow around her. She spotted some fellow students congregating outside, greeted them with smiles and waves, and for a moment, her heart lightened.
“Hey, Dua! You coming to our study group later?” one of her classmates called out, their enthusiasm infectious.
“No, I'm sorry. I'll be in one with my friends,” she replied, trying to sound upbeat despite her internal turmoil.
"You'd better!" Dua heard Lena's voice behind her. She turned, her heart lifting as she saw her friends, Lena and Jay, approach her.
"Hi, guys!" Dua smiled warmly, but then her expression shifted. "Where's Maya?" 
"Right here," Maya panted, appearing as if she’d just sprinted a marathon, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead.
“Did you run?” Jay blurted, incredulous.
“Yes, I thought the lecture had begun,” she said, still breathing heavily.
"Not yet. The professor hasn’t arrived," Lena replied. 
"Actually, he just walked in," one of their classmates interjected.
"Huh?" Dua looked up, eyes wide with surprise.
"Just got a call from Joan—apparently, that crap old man has entered the classroom," the classmate continued, a look of displeasure on his face.
With a collective movement,  they turned on their heels and hurried to class. Settling into their seats, Dua felt a small weight lift off her shoulders, thankful for the distraction. Focused intently on the lecture, she scribbled notes fervently, though a soft unease began to tug at her thoughts, overwhelming her with worries about Steven.
Classes passed in a blur of information, each lecture blending into the next. As she noted the time ticking away, Dua anxiously counted down the minutes until her next class ended—not because she dreaded it, but simply because her stomach was growling in protest. Finally, the bell rang, and she exhaled a long-held breath of relief. 
"Finally!" Dua exclaimed.
"Why do you look like a heavy load has been lifted off your shoulders?" Maya raised an inquisitive brow, a teasing smile playing on her lips.
"Because it has! You don’t know the hunger I’m battling," Dua replied dramatically, clutching her stomach.
"Pregnant women," Jay shook his head, rolling his eyes in mock disbelief.
They all made their way to the school’s canteen, where Dua ordered a veritable feast. “How are you going to eat all that?” Jay challenged, eyebrows raised skeptically.
“Watch me,” Dua responded with a confident grin, digging into her meal like a champion.
As laughter danced in the air, they shared stories of their lectures and fun gossip, their camaraderie evident. The atmosphere was warm and carefree, a brief escape from the academic pressures that loomed outside.
Feeling pressed, Dua excused herself to head to the restroom accompanied by two of her bodyguards. Being men, they couldn't enter with her so they stood sentinel at the entrance, arms crossed and vigilant. 
After easing herself in one of the cubicles, she stepped out into the dimly lit lobby, the faint hum of fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. As she moved toward the sink, the chill of the tile floor sent a shiver down her spine. Just as she reached for the faucet, a powerful hand suddenly clamped over her mouth, and a fragrant handkerchief was pressed firmly against her nose from behind.
Panic surged through her veins. She instinctively struggled, fighting to cry out, but the muffled sounds that escaped her lips were barely a whisper. The world around her began to fade as the fragrance overwhelmed her senses—sweet yet suffocating, like a dark cloud curling into her mind. 
With her vision blurring, she felt her knees buckle beneath her. The last thing she could remember was the sensation of slipping into an abyss, the edges of her consciousness dissolving into nothingness. Just before everything went dark, she thought desperately of her plans for the day, now slipping from her grasp like sand through her fingers. And then, there was only silence.