The Contracted Stripper

Ivy remained in her room, reminiscing about what Bella said.

“You look so much like your brother’s wife,” the voice from the show echoed in her head.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She was told this same thing at the fashion show, and now Bella said it again.

“But we don’t look alike, do we?” she asked herself.

She searched for Iris’s pictures but couldn’t find any.

She remembered their wedding pictures and searched for them.

She finally saw a picture of Iris on Instagram. She saved it and compared it to hers. She looked closely and saw that they had a striking resemblance.

Her nose was pointed in the same way, and they had the same shape of eyes too.

She shook her head to get rid of the thought. “It might just be a coincidence,” she thought as she dropped her phone and decided to go take a shower.

After her shower, Ivy felt a renewed determination to get to the bottom of this mystery.

She decided to do some deep findings about Iris. She sat at her desk, opened her laptop, and began searching for any information that could connect her to Iris.

Hours passed as she dug through social media profiles, news articles, and public records. She found a few obscure mentions of Iris and her mother, but nothing that provided any substantial clues.

Frustrated, she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. “There has to be something I’m missing,” she muttered to herself.

Ryan and Luca arrived at the police station, their faces grim.

They approached Detective Ramirez, who was leading the investigation

.”Detective, any updates?” Ryan asked, his voice filled with desperation.

Detective Ramirez shook his head. “We’ve been following up on leads, but nothing concrete yet. We’re doing everything we can.”

“That’s not good enough,” Ryan snapped. “Iris and her mother are in danger. We need to find them.”

“We understand your frustration, Mr. Kendrick. We’re working around the clock on this case,” Detective Ramirez said calmly.

Ryan clenched his fists, feeling helpless. “I need to do something. Sitting around and waiting is driving me crazy.”

“Let us handle the investigation. If you have any new information, please share it with us,” Detective Ramirez said.

Ryan nodded reluctantly. “I will. Please keep me updated.”As they left the station, Luca placed a reassuring hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “We’ll find them, Ryan. We’ll find a way.”

Back at home, Ivy continued her search. She decided to focus on Mrs. Jessica, thinking there might be something in her past that could provide a clue.

As they stood there, digesting the new information, Ryan’s phone buzzed again. He glanced at the screen and saw another unknown number. He answered it, his heart pounding. “Hello?”

“Mr. Kendrick, we have new terms. If you want to see your wife and her mother alive, you need to bring the documents you signed with Iris. Meet us at the same warehouse, and come alone. No tricks this time,” the voice said before the call ended.

Ryan’s blood ran cold. “They want the contract documents. They think it’s important.”Luca looked at him, concern etched on his face. “We need a plan, Ryan. We can’t let them control this situation.”

Ryan nodded determination in his eyes. “We’ll get Iris and Mrs. Jessica back. Whatever it takes.”As they began to strategize, the weight of the new revelations hung over them, complicating an already dangerous situation.

Ryan decided to head home after visiting the police station and reaching out to his men and investigators.

His phone buzzed, and he saw it was a call from Ivy.”Hello, Ivy,” Ryan answered.”Ryan, I’m home. Are you coming back?” Ivy’s voice sounded urgent.

“Yeah, I’ll be there soon,” he replied, feeling a pang of concern for his sister.

He would have returned to the hotel where he was staying, but because of Ivy, he headed back home.

The guards and maids greeted him as he walked in. He climbed the stairs and entered his room, finding Bella there as usual.

“Welcome home, honey,” she greeted warmly.”Thank you,” Ryan replied coldly, barely looking at her

.”So, you have been avoiding us?” Bella asked, her tone sharp.”Who’s the ‘us’?” Ryan asked, feigning ignorance.”Your baby and I, of course,” Bella replied, annoyance creeping into her voice.

“I am not avoiding anyone. I’ve just been busy with work,” Ryan replied, taking off his tie and suit.”Busy with work or busy looking for your lost whore?” Bella barked.

Ryan’s vision blurred with rage. He rushed to Bella and held her by her neck, his grip tightening. “How dare you speak of her like that? Don’t you ever repeat that nonsense, do you understand?” His voice was a dangerous growl, and he didn’t realize he was choking Bella.

“Ryan, stop! Leave her alone. She’s pregnant, can’t you see? Are you trying to kill her?” Ivy’s voice cut through the fog of his anger.

She rushed towards them and pulled Ryan’s hands off Bella’s neck.

Bella staggered backward and fell onto the bed, gasping for air and holding her neck. Ivy handed her a glass of water, which she gulped down, coughing and struggling to breathe.

Ryan stormed out of the room in frustration, his hands shaking.”Are you okay?” Ivy asked Bella, concern in her voice.”Yes, I’m fine. Your brother tried to kill me. I will have to report him to the authorities,” Bella gasped.”I’m sorry about that. I will go talk to him. Sorry, Bella,” Ivy said, making sure Bella was stable before leaving to find Ryan.

Ivy found Ryan in his study, sipping whisky from a glass. She sat across from him, her expression serious.

“That wasn’t so good, Ryan. You almost killed her,” Ivy said.”I don’t care. She should just leave me alone,” Ryan replied, his voice void of emotion.

“What is happening around here? Where’s Iris? And why is Bella now living with you?” Ivy asked, confusion and concern in her voice.”You should ask your mom, who keeps insisting I marry Bella, even though my wife is nowhere to be found,” Ryan said bitterly.

“What do you mean by ‘nowhere to be found’? What happened to Iris?” Ivy asked, her eyes wide with shock

.”Iris and her mother have been missing for days now. Her mother was abducted at the hospital, and Iris was taken when she left the house.

All efforts to find them have been in vain. The abductors left no trace. The company needs me, but I can’t do anything. I’m helpless. I can’t even think straight. It’s all my fault,” Ryan said, his voice cracking as he gulped down the whisky, his face contorted in pain

. Ivy felt goosebumps all over her body. She didn’t know why, but she felt a deep sense of pain. “How did all this happen, and you never told me? When did it happen?”

“I’ve told the police and hired private investigators, but no one has any positive news,” Ryan said, his despair palpable.

She stood up and went close to her brother. In all their lives together as siblings, she had never seen Ryan in this state. It was terrible to watch him like this. She hugged him, sharing in his pain.

“We will find them, don’t worry, Ryan. We’re in this together,” she said, resting her head on his as he cried.

Bella, who had been eavesdropping on them, quickly went to her room and locked the door behind her. She took her phone and called Mrs. Rose.

“Hello, ma. Good day,” Bella greeted.”How’s my grandchild doing?” Mrs. Rose asked.”Your grandchild is doing great, ma,” Bella replied.

“Ma, I have something to tell you. Ryan almost choked me to death today, if not for Ivy’s intervention. He tried to kill me. And now he is still talking about finding Iris. He doesn’t care about me and his child. He doesn’t sleep at home or stay around us. He only came home today because Ivy is around,” Bella complained.

“Alright, ma. I will be expecting you,” Bella said as she hung up.

A few hours later, Mrs. Rose arrived at Ryan’s house. Ryan and Ivy were surprised to see her.”Mum, you didn’t tell us you were coming,” Ryan said.

“Well, that’s because I don’t need to inform anyone before I come to see my grandchild,” Mrs. Rose said as she heard footsteps coming down the staircase. She looked up and saw it was Bella and a broad smile spread across her face.”Oh, my darling, come here,” Mrs. Rose said, beckoning Bella.

Bella had her hands on her waist as she walked towards Mrs. Rose, smiling. She sat down beside her.”How’s my grandchild doing?” Mrs. Rose asked.”She’s doing great, ma,” Bella replied.”Good,” Mrs. Rose said, her attention focused on Bella, as though Ryan and Ivy were invisible.

“Mum, is it only Bella and your grandchild that are here?” Ivy asked.”Well, they are the most important people right now,” Mrs. Rose replied.