The Contracted Stripper

She dialed Ryan’s number, her fingers shaking with anticipation. The call went straight to voicemail. Frustrated, she tried again, and again, with the same result.

Bella threw her phone onto the bed in exasperation, her mind spinning with scenarios of where Ryan could be, for weeks now she has been unable to reach him.

Bella paced her apartment, frustration seeping into every corner of her mind. She had imagined that announcing her pregnancy to Ryan would finally make him see her worth, solidify her place in his life, and distance him from Iris.

But the reality was a cruel twist. Since her announcement, Ryan had become more distant, leaving her to stew in uncertainty

. Determined to confront him, Bella made her way to Ryan’s office, only to find Luca, his best friend, instead.

“Luca, where’s Ryan? I need to speak with him,” Bella demanded, her voice laced with irritation.

Luca looked up from his desk, his expression calm. “Bella, he hasn’t been in for days. He just dropped by briefly to check some stuff and dashed out. Haven’t you tried calling him?”

Bella’s face tightened with frustration. “Of course, I have! His phone goes straight to voicemail.”

Luca shrugged, a sympathetic look crossing his face. “Maybe he’s busy with something important. Try not to worry too much.”Bella stormed out, her frustration mounting.

She drove to Ryan’s house, and the drive to Ryan’s mansion felt interminable.

When she finally arrived, the house seemed eerily quiet. She rang the doorbell and waited, tapping her foot impatiently. After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, revealing Sarah the house help.

“Sarah, is Ryan home?” Bella asked, trying to mask her desperation.

Sarah shook her head. “No, ma’am. Ryan and Iris have been away. Iris’s mother is ill, and he’s been there for her.”Bella’s eyes widened in fury.

“So Iris is more important than his child?” she muttered under her breath. Sarah’s ears perked up. “Child?” she asked, curiosity piqued.

Bella shot her a hard stare. “Never mind,” she snapped but then reconsidered.

“Sarah, please call me when he gets back. Here’s my number.” She handed Sarah a card.

Sarah took it with a nod. As Bella left, Sarah quickly picked up her phone and dialed a number.

“Hello, sir. There’s something I need to tell you…….

“Bella, confused and angry, He isn’t at the office nor is he at home.

She stopped by a bar to clear her mind with a drink. She needed to figure out her next move.

Bella’s mind replayed every interaction she’d had with Ryan, each moment stoking her determination.

She would not be sidelined so easily. This pregnancy was her trump card, and she intended to use it to secure her place in Ryan’s life once and for all.

Back inside the mansion, Sarah closed the door with a satisfied smile. She twirled around the empty house, pleased with how she had handled Bella’s intrusion.

At the hospital, Iris sat by her mother’s bedside, her hand gently resting on Jessica’s. The room was filled with the soft beeping of medical monitors and the faint scent of antiseptic.

Jessica’s condition had stabilized, but she still needed time to heal and recover. Iris had been a constant presence at her side, her heartache pushed aside in favor of her mother’s well-being.

Ryan entered the room quietly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful atmosphere. He placed a comforting hand on Iris’s shoulder, his presence immediately comforting Iris. “How is she?” he asked, nodding to Skylar in greeting.

“The doctor said she’s not improving yet,” Iris replied, her voice tinged with frustration. Ryan nodded, pulling up a chair beside her.

“Do we need to take her to another hospital? Our family doctor can take care of her, and the facilities there are very good.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“No need for that, Ryan,” Iris said, shaking her head. “The doctor said moving her wouldn’t be a good idea. She just needs rest, and this hospital is good too. You’ve done a lot already. I don’t want to stress you.”

“It’s nothing, Iris,” Ryan said, his eyes locking with hers. “I would gladly do more.”They were both lost in each other’s gaze until Skylar, trying to sneak out, bumped into the door, causing them to turn.

“I’m okay, sorry for the interference,” Skylar said, wincing in pain. “I want to go get food for us. I’ll be right back.” She hurried out, leaving Iris and Ryan smiling.

Just then, Ryan’s phone rang. He pulled it from his suit pocket and glanced at the caller ID. He noticed Iris’s eyes fixed on his phone, her countenance changing at the name she saw.

“Who is it?” Iris asked, her voice barely masking her curiosity and hint of jealousy

Ryan hesitated for a moment before answering. “It’s Bella.”Iris’s expression hardened. “You should answer it.”Ryan sighed and stepped out into the hallway to take the call. “Bella, what is it?”

“Ryan, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you!” Bella’s voice was a mixture of anger and desperation.

“I’m at the hospital with Iris. Her mother is very ill,” Ryan replied, trying to keep his voice calm.

“I thought you didn’t love her! Why are you suddenly so attached to her?”

“She’s my wife, Bella,” his voice softened. “I need to be there for her.”Bella clenched her fists, her mind racing.

“So Iris is more important than our child?” Bella spat, her words laced with venom.

Ryan’s patience wore thin. “Bella, this isn’t the time. I’ll talk to you later.” He hung up and took a deep breath before re-entering the room.

“Everything okay?” Iris asked, her concern genuine. Ryan nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, just some minor stuff.”

Iris didn’t press further, but she could sense the tension. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “Thank you for being here.

“Ryan covered her hand with his own. “I’m here for both of you. Whatever you need.”Iris leaned into him, grateful for his support.

Despite the complicated nature of their relationship, she had come to rely on Ryan’s steady presence during this difficult time.

Back at the bar, Bella drained her glass and signaled for another. Her mind raced with thoughts of how to reclaim Ryan’s attention.

Her thoughts are a whirlwind of anger and desperation. “I need to act fast,” she muttered to herself. “I can’t let Iris ruin everything I’ve worked for.”She gulped down her drink, her mind formulating a plan.

Sarah, having finished her call, continued her duties, the secret conversation weighing on her mind.

She knew that the information she had shared could have significant repercussions, but she also knew it was the right thing to do.

As night fell, Ryan and Iris remained by Jessica’s side, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment.

Unbeknownst to them, the storm brewing outside the hospital walls threatened to upend their fragile peace.

Meanwhile, Bella’s mind was a whirlwind of schemes and plans. She needed to ensure that Ryan accepted the pregnancy, but she had to do it in a way that would guarantee he would choose her over Iris.

Days turned into weeks with still no word from Ryan, and Bella grew increasingly anxious. She had expected Ryan to reach out to her and know how she was faring now she was pregnant with their child.

But there had been no word from him. She decided to take matters into her own hands once again. Bella returned to Ryan’s mansion, determined to confront him directly this time.

She parked her car in the driveway and marched up to the front door, her heart pounding. She rang the doorbell and waited, her patience wearing thin. Finally, the door opened, and Ryan stood before her, looking both surprised and wary.

“Bella, what are you doing here?” he asked, his tone guarded.

. Bella pushed past him, stepping into the foyer. “We need to talk, Ryan.

“Ryan closed the door behind her, his expression unreadable. “Alright, what’s this about?”

Bella took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I’m pregnant, Ryan. And it’s your child.”

“I’ve taken multiple tests. There’s no doubt about it.” Bella said her voice steady.

Ryan ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. “This… this changes everything.”

Bella stepped closer, her eyes pleading. “Ryan, I know this complicates things, but we need to figure out what to do. We can’t ignore this.”Ryan sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I need some time to think, Bella. This is a lot to process.”

Bella’s heart sank, but she nodded. “I understand. But please, don’t take too long. We need to make a plan.”Ryan nodded his mind elsewhere. “I’ll call you soon, Bella. I promise.”

As Bella left the mansion, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. She had expected Ryan to react more decisively, but his hesitation left her feeling uncertain. She knew she needed to act fast because she couldn’t wait.