The Contracted Stripper

Ryan sat in the massive living room, the silence of the house almost suffocating.

His fingers absentmindedly trailed along the arm of the sofa as he stared at the empty walls, void of any warmth or personality.

Bella had cleared everything. All the paintings, the photos, and any semblance of the life he once shared with Iris.

But Bella was his wife now or so she told him. And she seemed to care about him more than anyone else. She told him how his family had turned on her, how they had never accepted their relationship.

Bella claimed they had even tried to sabotage her when she took over the company, forcing her to step in and save the empire in his absence.

Still, Ryan couldn’t help but feel a nagging doubt. It gnawed at the back of his mind, small flashes of memories that didn’t add up, but with no concrete evidence, he had nothing to cling to.

He rubbed his temples as the confusion lingered. “Maybe I’m overthinking this,” he muttered to himself.

The door creaked open, and Bella stepped into the house, carrying several files in her arms. She smiled when she saw Ryan but quickly noticed the weariness etched on his face.

“Ryan, you look exhausted,” she said, placing the files on the kitchen counter and walking over to him.

Ryan glanced up, offering her a weak smile. “I’m tired of being home all day, Iris. I feel like I’m in a cage.”

Bella’s expression softened, and she walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I know it’s hard, darling,” she cooed. “But you need time to heal. You’re still recovering from the coma. The doctor said that if you rush it, you might never regain your memory fully.”

“I don’t know if I even want to regain it,” Ryan admitted, his voice heavy. “All I know is what you’ve told me. And I trust you, but it’s… hard. There are these… flashes in my mind sometimes, but they’re so blurred.”

Bella’s grip on his shoulder tightened, though her voice remained sweet. “I understand it’s frustrating, Ryan. But I’m here for you. I’ve always been here for you, even when your family turned their backs on us.”

Ryan’s brows furrowed. He had been grappling with this for weeks now, his memories hazy at best.

He couldn’t recall much of his past, who his family was, or what kind of person he had been before the accident.

Everything felt like a distant dream, except for Bella. Bella had been the one constant. She had been taking care of him, and while his instincts screamed that something was wrong, he had no choice but to rely on her version of the truth.

“They hate you that much?” he asked, doubt creeping into his voice.

Bella’s face turned somber, her eyes filling with what appeared to be pain.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She let out a sigh as she sat beside him on the couch. “Ryan, they never accepted me. They didn’t think I was good enough for you, especially your father and Ivy.

He wanted you to marry someone else-” Ryan’s head snapped up. “someone else?”

Bella’s eyes hardened slightly before she forced a soft smile. “Yes, She’s… well, she was around a lot before the accident. But she never cared about you, Ryan. I was the one who stood by your side.”Ryan rubbed his forehead, sending a strange jolt through him.

“Why don’t I remember her at all?”Bella hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand gently on his knee. “You don’t remember because your mind is protecting you. Trust me, Ryan. She hurt you, and that’s why your brain is blocking it out. It’s best not to think about her. We’ve moved on. We’re building a new life together.”

Ryan nodded, though his unease lingered. “I guess you’re right. I’m just… tired of feeling like a ghost of myself.”Bella smiled again, though her eyes remained cold.

“That’s why you need to stay home and rest. Once you regain your strength, you’ll be able to return to the company full-time. Until then, I’m taking care of everything.”

Ryan shifted uncomfortably. “And the company? How’s that going?”

“Everything’s going accordingly,” Bella said, her voice filled with confidence.

“I’ve made a few changes, of course, but it’s all in the best interest of the business.”

Ryan frowned slightly. “Changes? What kind of changes?”

Bella waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing too drastic, just a bit of rebranding. The Kendrick Empire needed a fresh face, something modern. Trust me, Ryan, once you’re back on your feet, you’ll see it was the right move.”

Ryan’s mind wandered back to those flashes of memories.

“I just… I don’t understand how everything could change so quickly.”

Bella leaned in, cupping his face with her hands. “Ryan, you don’t need to understand everything right now. What matters is that I’m here, and we’re in this together. You trust me, don’t you?”

Ryan hesitated, his mind battling with the conflicting emotions. The logical part of him wanted to ask more questions and dig deeper into the fragments of memories.

But he was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Bella had been there for him through all of it, and without any proof to the contrary, he forced himself to believe her.

He nodded.”I trust you,” he said, though his voice lacked the conviction he once held.

Bella’s smile widened as she brushed a stray hair from his face. “Good. Now, let’s focus on getting you back to full health.”

Ryan leaned back into the sofa, closing his eyes. “I just want to feel normal again.”

The next morning, Ryan woke up to find Bella already dressed and ready to leave for the office.

She had been busier than ever, constantly running the company while he remained stuck at home. Ryan hated it, but every time he tried to push himself to leave the house, Bella reminded him of how dangerous it could be for his recovery.

“Are you heading to the office again?” Ryan asked, sitting up in bed.

Bella glanced over at him, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “Yes, love. There’s a lot to take care of, but I promise it’s only temporary. Soon, you’ll be able to come back and take over, and everything will be as it was.”

Ryan nodded, though something still didn’t sit right with him. “Maybe I could come with you? I’m tired of just sitting around.”

Bella’s smile faded slightly, and she walked over to him, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Ryan, you’re not ready. The stress of the office could set you back. The doctor said you need time, and I don’t want to risk anything.”

“I feel fine, though,” Ryan argued softly. “I’m getting stronger every day.”

Bella shook her head, her tone firm. “You need to trust me on this. Give it a little more time, and then we can talk about going back to work. Right now, your health is the most important thing.”

Ryan sighed, defeated. He couldn’t argue with her-she had been his rock through all of this, after all.

He leaned back into the pillows, resigning himself to another day of isolation.

Bella stood, smoothing her dress as she prepared to leave. “I’ll be back before dinner. If you need anything, just call. And please, don’t try to do too much. Rest is key.”

Ryan nodded, though his mind was already elsewhere, thoughts swirling with the possibility that he was missing something crucial.

As Bella grabbed her purse and walked toward the door, she paused and turned to face him one last time. “Remember, Ryan-no matter what happens, I’m here for you. I always will be.”Ryan forced a smile. “I know.”

The door clicked shut behind her, and Ryan was left alone once again, trapped in his thoughts. Something wasn’t right. But without his memories, he was a prisoner to Bella’s version of events.

He stood up slowly, pacing the room as his mind raced. He felt fine. Stronger than he had in weeks. Maybe Bella was being overprotective, or maybe… maybe there was something else she didn’t want him to see.

His eyes drifted to the front door, temptation building inside him. After weeks of being cooped up in the house, he needed to do something-anything-to feel like himself again.

He grabbed a jacket, his heart pounding in his chest as he opened the door and stepped outside.

As he walked toward the driveway, the cool air hit his face, invigorating him. But before he could take more than a few steps, a black car pulled up, and two men in suits got out, blocking his path.

“Mr. Kendrick,” one of them said, his tone polite but firm. “You shouldn’t be out here. Mrs. Bella gave strict instructions for you to stay inside and rest.”Ryan’s eyes narrowed. “Who the hell are you? Bella didn’t mention any guards.”

“We’re here for your protection,” the man said, his expression unreadable. “Please, go back inside.