The Contracted Stripper

Ryan blinked as he lay in the hospital bed, still groggy from the medication and the accident. His head throbbed, and the unfamiliar faces around him seemed like ghosts from another life.

The only name that rang clear in his muddled mind was “Iris.” It was the name he clung to, the only tether in the sea of confusion.

But as Bella sat beside him, calling herself “Iris,” he felt a strange dissonance. Still, he had no reason to doubt her-his memory was scattered like shattered glass.

Bella squeezed Ryan’s hand, her eyes welling with practiced tears. “Ryan, I know this is hard for you,” she began, her voice soft and trembling, “but we’ve been through so much together. I thought I’d lose you after the accident…… and I did lose something very precious to us.

“Ryan looked at her, his expression blank as he tried to process her words.

His eyes flickered to her stomach. “The… baby?” he asked, his voice weak and hoarse. “What happened to the baby?”

Bella sniffled, lowering her head in what appeared to be sorrow. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through, Ryan,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she dabbed at her tears with a tissue.

As she began to speak again she wiped her tears that couldn’t stop flowing, her eyes red. “I was scared, Ryan. You were so focused on your career and your family. I didn’t think you’d want the baby.”

Ryan’s anger flared. “You thought I’d abandon you? Our child?”

Bella looked away, ashamed. “I didn’t know what to do. I was alone and terrified.”Ryan took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart. “What happened, Bella? How did you lose the baby?”

“It was four months into the pregnancy,” Bella began, her voice shaking. “I started feeling sharp pains. I went to the hospital, but it was too late. The doctor said it was a miscarriage. and… and I lost the baby. I lost our child. I was devastated.”

Ryan felt a surge of guilt and sorrow.

“After the accident, I was under so much stress… you were in a coma… I didn’t know if you would survive. I felt so alone, Ryan’s heart clenched as he saw the tears streaming down her face.

He didn’t know what to feel; he didn’t even remember the child. But the sight of Bella’s grief twisted something inside him, making him feel guilty for his lack of connection.

“I’m… I’m sorry,” he managed, struggling with the words. “I should have been there for you.”

Bella quickly wiped her eyes, her voice gaining strength as she continued. “It’s not your fault, Ryan.

You were in that horrible accident because you were rushing to see me. If it weren’t for that other driver, none of this would’ve happened.” She paused, her lips trembling again.

“You don’t know how much I’ve needed you.”Ryan’s brows furrowed. “I don’t remember anything… I can’t remember you, the baby… any of it. It’s like my mind’s been wiped clean.”

Bella leaned closer, taking his hand and gently rubbing it between hers. “That’s why I’m here, honey. I’m going to help you remember. We’ve been through so much together, and we’ll get through this too. Just lean on me, and we’ll make it.”

Ryan stared at her, confusion still clouding his thoughts. “But why… why do I keep calling Iris?” He hesitated as if expecting her to have the answers he desperately needed.

Bella’s eyes flashed for a brief second before she forced another soft smile.

“Iris… was a nickname you gave me,” she said sweetly, lying without missing a beat. “You said it was because I was your light, like the goddess Iris in mythology-the one who carried messages between the gods and humans.”

Ryan nodded slowly, the explanation soothing the lingering doubts in his mind. It made sense in a way, and he had no memories to contradict it.

Just then, Ivy walked into the room, her eyes narrowing at the sight of Bella seated so comfortably by Ryan’s side.

She had overheard enough of the conversation to know what Bella was doing. “What’s going on here?” Ivy asked, her tone sharp as she shot Bella a pointed look.

“Bella tensed but didn’t look up. She continued holding Ryan’s hand, her fingers wrapped around his possessively.

“We were just talking, Ivy. Ryan’s starting to remember things.”

Ivy folded her arms, glaring at Bella. “Remembering what? More of your lies? Ryan, you need to be careful about who you trust right now.”

Ryan looked between the two women, his mind spinning. He still felt so lost. “I don’t understand,” he muttered.

Bella leaned in closer, whispering in a voice meant only for Ryan.

“She’s always had issues with me, Ryan. But I’ve been patient. I know she cares about you, but sometimes she just doesn’t understand how hard it’s been for us.”

“Hard for us?” Ivy snapped, stepping closer to the bed. “You mean hard for you, Bella. You’ve always been selfish. Everything is always about you.”Ryan winced at the tension, not knowing how to handle the confrontation.

“Please, I just need some peace. I’m trying to remember… but all I can think about is this name, Iris. And now Ivy telling me…”

“She isn’t Iris” Ivy cut in, her voice growing more insistent. “Ryan, listen to me. You’ve been manipulated by her from the start.

She isn’t who you think she is. The real Iris-” she stopped herself, unsure of how much to reveal.

Bella stood up abruptly, her eyes flashing with anger. “That’s enough, Ivy!” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. “You’ve been trying to tear us apart for years, but I’m not going to let you. Ryan needs stability right now, and you’re making everything worse.”

Ivy scoffed, unfazed by Bella’s outburst. “What Ryan needs is the truth. And he’s going to get it, whether you like it or not.”

Ryan’s confusion deepened. He could sense the hostility between the two women, and it was tearing at the fragile trust he was trying to rebuild.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Stop… please,” he murmured, his head throbbing with the strain of trying to piece everything together.

The door to the room swung open again, and Mrs. Rose walked in with Dr. Parker close behind. “What’s going on here?” she demanded, her eyes darting between her children and Bella.

“Why are you both arguing in front of Ryan?”

“Ivy is just trying to cause trouble,” Bella said smoothly, her voice regaining its composure. “But Ryan’s doing better. We were just talking about… the baby.”

Mrs. Rose’s eyes widened, and she shot Bella a warning look. “Bel.., Iris this isn’t the time to bring up such painful memories. Ryan is still recovering.”

Ryan, sensing the tension in the room, looked up at his mother. “Mom, what… what happened?” His voice was desperate, pleading for clarity. “I can’t remember anything, and I don’t know what’s real.”

Mrs. Rose exchanged a glance with Dr. Parker before stepping closer to her son. “Ryan, honey, you had an accident. You’ve lost some of your memory because of it. But everything’s going to be fine. You just need time to heal.”

Ryan looked at her, frustration bubbling up inside him. “But I keep hearing this name… Iris. It’s like it’s the only thing that makes sense to me.”

Bella moved closer to Ryan again, her voice soft and soothing. “That’s because I’m Iris, remember? I’ve always been here for you.”Ivy, unable to take it any longer, clenched her fists and spat out, “You’re not Iris, Stop pretending!”

Dr. Parker, sensing the growing tension, cleared his throat. “Ryan, let’s focus on your recovery for now. You’ve been through a lot, and your memories will return in time.

The most important thing is that you rest.”Ryan closed his eyes, his head pounding from the conflicting voices around him. He felt like he was being pulled in different directions, and none of it made sense.

As the room fell into an uneasy silence, Bella’s phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at it, her eyes widening at the message she received. Without saying a word, she stepped out of the room, leaving everyone staring after her.

Mrs. Rose watched her go, her suspicion deepening. “What was that about?” she muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile, Ivy’s gaze followed Bella, her instincts telling her something wasn’t right. “She’s hiding something,” Ivy whispered to herself. “And I’m going to find out what.”

Outside in the hallway, Bella glanced at her phone again, reading the cryptic message.