The Contracted Stripper

Mrs. Rose stormed out of the company, her heart racing, palms sweating, as the weight of the situation sank in.

Bella had caught her completely off guard at the company earlier, and now Ryan’s health state was the final nail in the coffin.

“How did Bella know about the affair with Parker?” That thought kept bouncing around her mind. Was it possible she had more dirt on her or was this just the tip of the iceberg? She clenched the steering wheel, driving back to the mansion.

Once inside, Mrs. Rose sank into a plush armchair, rubbing her temples, attempting to process everything.

The shock of losing control over both her personal and professional life gnawed at her relentlessly. The affair with Parker was meant to be her secret, no one was supposed to find out.

And now, everything was slipping out of her hands, and the worst part was that Bella held all the cards.

Meanwhile, at the hospital, Ryan stirred once more, slowly opening his eyes to see Ivy standing by his bedside. Confusion swirled in his mind.

His memories were a blur, faces like distant shadows. But one name stood out from the fog-Iris.

“Iris…” he mumbled weakly, his voice raspy. “Where is Iris?”Ivy’s heart sank. “Ryan, it’s me, Ivy,” she said softly, trying to hold back her emotions.

“Your sister…”Ryan blinked, his face wrinkling in confusion. “Iris…” he repeated, his voice a faint echo. It was clear he didn’t recognize Ivy at all.

Startled, Ivy called for the doctor, her voice shaky. Dr. Parker arrived within moments, and after a quick examination, he asked, “Where’s Mrs. Rose?”

“I called her,” Ivy replied, pacing the room anxiously. “She’ll be here any minute.”Dr. Parker’s expression darkened, but he said nothing. Moments later, Mrs. Rose entered the room, her face composed despite the internal turmoil she was experiencing.

“Ryan, sweetheart, how are you feeling?” Mrs. Rose’s voice was sweet and calm, masking the chaos in her head. Ryan looked up at her, still confused.

“Who are you…?”

” it’s me. Your mother. You’re going to be alright,” she said, trying to reassure him.

But his expression was still distant, like he couldn’t piece together who she was. He turned his head, still searching.”Iris…” he muttered again.

Just then, the door swung open, and Bella strutted in, her eyes gleaming with purpose.

“Iris is right here,” Bella declared, walking over to Ryan’s side as if she had been there the whole time.

She took his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. “I’m here, honey. Iris is here.”Ivy’s eyes widened in disbelief. “What the hell are you doing, Bella?” she spat, stepping toward her.

“That’s not Iris, Ryan! Bella’s lying-” Oh, stop it, Ivy,” Bella interrupted with a smirk. “Ryan has been calling for Iris this whole time, and I’m simply giving him what he needs.” She looked down at Ryan with a saccharine smile.

“I’m your wife, remember, darling? Iris Kendrick.”Ryan’s face softened slightly at the sound of her voice, the confusion in his eyes dulling. “Iris…” he murmured again as if trying to believe her.

Mrs. Rose stood frozen, trying to maintain control over the rapidly deteriorating situation.

Bella had Ryan under her thumb, using his memory loss to her advantage. She knew it was a dangerous game Bella was playing, but Mrs. Rose couldn’t afford to expose the truth just yet.

Ryan’s grip on Bella’s hand tightened as he struggled to focus. “You’re…my wife?”

“That’s right, sweetheart,” Bella purred, shooting a triumphant glance at Ivy.

“Your wife, Iris.”

Mrs. Rose, sensing she was losing this battle, stepped forward. “Ryan, honey, listen to me. This is Iris, your wife,” she said, emphasizing Bella’s lie to appease Bella’s threat. “Ivy’s just upset, that’s all. But she’ll come around.”

Ivy’s face twisted in anger. “Mum! What are you talking about? She’s not Iris! You’re playing along with this?”Mrs. Rose shot Ivy a warning look, silently urging her to play along.

Ivy clenched her fists in frustration, but before she could protest further, Mrs. Rose grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to the side.

“We need to talk,” Mrs. Rose hissed through clenched teeth. “Now.”Ivy reluctantly followed her mother out into the corridor. As soon as the door closed behind them, she exploded. “What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you going along with Bella’s nonsense? She’s trying to destroy us!”

Mrs. Rose sighed, trying to maintain her composure. “Ivy, you don’t understand the situation. Bella knows things… things that could ruin us if they get out.”

“What things?” Ivy demanded, her voice rising.

“So, you’re just going to let her manipulate Ryan like this?!” Ivy fumed, her eyes blazing with anger.NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.

“We don’t have a choice,” Mrs. Rose snapped, her voice cold. “Right now, our priority is keeping the family together, keeping our secret buried. Do you understand?”Ivy’s fists trembled at her sides.

“This is insane.”Mrs. Rose’s eyes softened for a moment. “I know, darling. I know it’s a lot to take in, but we have to be smart about this. We need to outsmart Bella, not confront her head-on.”

“And how do you plan to do that?” Ivy asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.”I’m working on it,” Mrs. Rose replied, glancing over her shoulder toward the hospital room. “For now, we need to keep up appearances. Ryan believes she’s Iris, and we have to play along until we figure out how to deal with this.”

Ivy shook her head, disbelief flooding her mind. “This is a disaster.”Inside the room, Bella continued her charade, gently stroking Ryan’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re awake, love. I’ve missed you so much,” she said sweetly, through her eyes glinted with malice.

Ryan stared up at her, his expression dazed. “Iris…?”

“Yes, it’s me,” Bella cooed, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “We’ve been through so much together, but now we can finally be happy.”Ryan’s brow furrowed as if trying to remember. “What… happened to me?”

“You were in a car accident, darling,” Bella replied smoothly. “You were on your way to meet me. I was pregnant, and we were going to start a new life together.”

“Pregnant…?” Ryan’s voice was weak, his memory faltering.”Yes, but don’t worry,” Bella said, her tone softening. “We have everything we ever wanted. I’ll take care of you.”As Bella continued to weave her web of lies, Ivy and Mrs. Rose reentered the room, their expressions tense.”

How’s he doing?” Mrs. Rose asked, her voice carefully neutral.”He’s recovering,” Bella said with a fake smile. “We’re just catching up.”Ivy glared at her, barely containing her rage. “This isn’t over,” she muttered under her breath.

Mrs. Rose placed a hand on Ivy’s arm, silently urging her to stay calm. But just as they were about to leave the room, Bella’s phone buzzed. She glanced down at the screen and smirked.”Well, isn’t this interesting…” Bella said, her voice laced with intrigue.”What is it?” Ivy asked, her suspicion growing.

Mrs. Rose and Ivy exchanged worried glances, knowing full well that whatever was coming next was bound to shake their already fragile world.