The Contracted Stripper

The atmosphere in the house was finally calm, or so it seemed. After everything they had been through-the betrayals, the conspiracies, and the almost impossible escape from danger-Iris, Kendrick, and Jessica were relieved to be back home.

The past few days had been nothing short of a nightmare, but now, with Ryan by her side, Iris felt like she could finally breathe again.

Ryan had transformed into the kind of husband Iris had always dreamed of. He was attentive, caring, and endlessly devoted, especially when it came to their newborn.

Late-night feedings and diaper changes-Ryan was right there with her, helping in every way he could. The chaos and distrust that once clouded their relationship were gone, replaced by a bond forged through hardship and love.

One afternoon, as Iris cradled their baby on the living room couch, Ryan returned from the front door, holding a small package.

There was no return address, just his name scribbled hastily across the front. He furrowed his brow as he inspected it.”Who’s it from?” Iris asked, her eyes still on their child.”I don’t know,” Ryan replied, flipping the package over.

“No sender information, no note. Just my name.”His curiosity piqued, Ryan walked into the kitchen and grabbed a knife to cut open the box.

Inside, he found several sheets of paper neatly folded, along with a large manila envelope.

As he flipped through the pages, his face blanched. His hands shook, and before he could stop himself, he staggered backward, barely managing to stay on his feet.

“Ryan?” Iris’s voice was laced with concern as she looked up from the baby, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of her husband. She immediately placed the baby down and rushed to his side.

“What is it?”Ryan’s face was ashen, his eyes wide with disbelief. Without speaking, he extended the papers to Iris, his hand trembling. Iris took the papers from him cautiously.

As her eyes scanned the first page, her heart sank. It was a hospital report. But not just any report-it was about Ryan, his father, and Dr. Parker. The contents were shocking, so much so that her hands flew to her mouth, stifling a gasp as tears welled in her eyes.”Ryan…” she whispered, her voice barely audible, “this can’t be true…”

Ryan turned away, pacing the room as his thoughts raced uncontrollably. “I don’t understand. Why would this even exist? How could this have happened without me knowing?”Iris, still holding the papers, was at a loss for words. She reread the report, her vision blurring from the tears that filled her eyes.

It detailed something that neither of them had ever suspected-something that would unravel the very fabric of who Ryan thought he was.

“Ryan, it says here that…” Iris trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.”That I’m not my father’s biological son,” Ryan completed for her, his voice strained. His entire world felt like it was crumbling. “Parker was my biological father all along.”

The weight of the revelation hung in the air like a dark cloud. Ryan’s breath grew ragged as the shock overwhelmed him. Everything he had known-his identity, his family, the man he had thought was his father-had been built on a lie.

“How could this have been kept from me?” Ryan muttered angrily, pacing the room. “Parker was my mother’s lover, but for him to be my father… how did no one ever tell me? How could my mother hide this from me?”Iris, her tears falling freely now, stepped closer to Ryan, trying to find the right words.

“Ryan, I… I don’t know what to say. This is… it’s beyond comprehension.”Ryan slammed his fist onto the kitchen counter, rattling the dishes and startling the baby.

“I’ve spent my entire life living a lie, Iris. My whole life. And now… now I don’t even know who I am anymore.”Iris wrapped her arms around him, holding him close as he fought back his emotions.

“You’re still the same person,” she whispered. “No matter what these papers say, you’re still Ryan. You’re still the man I love, the father of our child. Nothing changes that.”Ryan let out a long, shaky breath as he pulled her into a tighter embrace.

“But how can I face my father-Mr. Kendrick-now? How can I look him in the eye, knowing I’m not even his son?”Iris rested her head on his chest, feeling his heart race beneath her touch.

“We’ll figure it out together,” she said gently. “We’ll confront this truth head-on, just like we’ve faced everything else.”Ryan looked down at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Iris. I don’t even know how to process this.”

As the couple stood in silence, the doorbell rang, interrupting their moment of vulnerability. Ryan straightened up, exchanging a concerned glance with Iris.”Are you expecting anyone?” Iris asked, wiping away the last of her tears.”No,” Ryan replied, his voice still a bit shaky. He walked toward the door, opening it cautiously.

Standing in the doorway was a police officer, his expression serious and unreadable. Ryan’s heart skipped a beat. “Can I help you?” he asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

The officer nodded. “Mr. Kendrick, I’m here to inform you that Victor has been apprehended. He was found hiding in one of his safehouses. He’s been arrested, and during questioning, he confessed to collaborating with Bella to take over the Kendrick Empire.”

Ryan’s mind reeled. “Victor? He’s been wanted for years. How did they find him?”

“Turns out Victor had been hiding in plain sight,” the officer explained. “He thought he could lay low, but our team tracked him down.”

“And what about Bella?” Ryan asked, his voice cold with anger. “What did Victor say about her?”

“According to his confession, the entire scheme to take over the Kendrick Empire was Bella’s idea,” the officer continued. “Victor has been involved in various illegal operations for years, but his parents’ influence kept most of the cases against him buried.

Now that he’s been caught, it’s all coming to light.”Ryan felt a surge of both anger and relief. Bella’s plan had fallen apart, and Victor’s capture meant that justice was finally on the horizon.

But the officer wasn’t finished.”There’s more,” the officer said gravely. “Victor’s parents have refused to get involved. They’ve turned a deaf ear to everything, not offering him any help.”Ryan nodded slowly, feeling the weight of it all crash down on him. “Thank you for letting me know.”

The officer gave a curt nod and turned to leave, but before he could step away, he added, “One last thing, Mr. Kendrick. Victor mentioned something about unfinished business. We’re still investigating, but it seems like there’s more to this than we initially thought.”

Ryan’s heart sank again. He closed the door and turned back to Iris, who had been listening from the living room. She was sitting on the couch, cradling their baby, her face filled with worry.

“What did the officer say?” she asked quietly. Ryan let out a deep sigh. “Victor’s been arrested. He confessed that Bella was behind the plan to take over the Kendrick Empire. But… the officer said Victor mentioned something about unfinished business. There’s still more we don’t know.”

Iris’s expression darkened. “Unfinished business? What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know,” Ryan admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “But I’m worried, Iris. After everything we’ve been through, it feels like this nightmare isn’t over yet.”Iris held their child close, her protective instincts kicking in. “We need to stay vigilant, Ryan. Whoever else is involved, they might still be out there.”

Ryan nodded, his mind racing. “You’re right. I’ll make some calls and see if we can get more information.”As the couple sat in silence, processing everything, a new wave of dread washed over them.

The hospital report, Victor’s arrest, Bella’s betrayal-it all felt like the tip of the iceberg. And now, with the mention of unfinished business, they both knew that their fight for justice wasn’t over.

A sudden noise outside the house broke their silence. Iris jumped up, startled, as Ryan rushed to the window. What he saw sent a chill down his spine.

A black SUV was parked across the street, its windows tinted. It had been there for a while, but now the engine roared to life, and the car slowly pulled away.”Ryan, what’s going on?” Iris asked, her voice trembling.

Ryan’s face was grim as he turned to her. “I don’t know… but I have a feeling we’re being watched.”Iris clutched their baby tighter, her heart pounding with fear. Just when they thought the worst was behind them, a new threat seemed to be lurking in the shadows. And this time, it felt even more dangerous than before.