Unbeknownst to them, Luca stood outside, hidden behind a tall hedge, listening intently to their conversation through the window left slightly ajar. His heart raced as he pieced together the fragments of their discussion. Mrs. Rose and Dr. Parker were involved in something far more sinister than he had imagined. The mention of Jessica sent a chill down his spine. He had suspected she was in danger, but now he knew for certain that her disappearance wasn’t an accident—it was orchestrated. Luca reached for his phone, quickly typing out a message to his contact: "They’re discussing Jessica. Something big is happening. Keep watch on their movements."As he slipped his phone back into his pocket, he leaned closer to the window, straining to hear more. Inside, the tension between Mrs. Rose and Dr. Parker grew thicker. Mrs. Rose stood abruptly, pacing again as she spoke. "We need to get rid of Bella. She’s becoming a liability. If Ryan remembers even a fraction of what happened, everything
Mrs. Jessica sat on the edge of the bed, the soft hum of the night surrounding her. She could feel the chill in the air, the silence of the room a heavy contrast to the turmoil inside her. Once again, she had been rescued, this time by Luca, her unlikely savior. The thought of how close she had come to death at Mrs. Rose's hands haunted her like a persistent shadow. For years, she had been running, hiding, and yet, her past — the very thing she had hoped to leave behind had caught up with her.Her thoughts drifted to Iris, the daughter who unknowingly led her straight back into the claws of the woman who had once tried to end her life. "Why now?" she whispered to herself. "Why did it all have to come crashing back now?"The door creaked open slightly, and the nurse stepped inside quietly, holding a tray with a cup of water and a few medicines. Her voice was gentle and comforting. "You should rest, Mrs. Jessica. You need your strength."Jessica gave a weak smile and shook her head
Luca pulled into the driveway, his heart racing as he saw the front door of the house slightly ajar. The house where he had left Mrs. Jessica and the nurse was supposed to be a safe haven, hidden far from the reach of those hunting her. Yet, the ominous silence that greeted him screamed that something was wrong.Jumping out of the car, he hurriedly made his way inside, his voice echoing through the empty halls. "Mrs. Jessica? Nurse?" His heart pounded in his chest as he moved from room to room, seeing the signs of a struggle. The furniture was overturned, and there were broken glass and scattered papers everywhere. Fear gnawed at him with each passing second. His breath caught when he finally stumbled upon the lifeless body of the nurse sprawled on the floor. Blood pooled beneath her, and her eyes stared vacantly at the ceiling. Luca knelt beside her, feeling the weight of the situation crashing down on him."Dammit," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head. She had been so
"Yes, I have everything under control. Ryan is clueless, and soon, this company will be mine. They’re too distracted with their own problems to see what’s really happening."Unbeknownst to Bella, Ryan stood just behind the slightly ajar door, his brows furrowed as he overheard her conversation. His stomach churned as confusion and suspicion gnawed at him. Who was Bella talking to? And more importantly, who was she planning to destroy? He took a deep breath, trying to gather his thoughts, but his mind was racing. He had trusted Bella and believed she had his best interests at heart, but now... Now it sounded like she was plotting something far darker.Stepping into the room, Ryan cleared his throat, causing Bella to whirl around in surprise. She quickly ended the call and pocketed her phone, plastering a smile on her face."Ryan! I didn’t hear you come in." Her tone was sweet, but Ryan could see the flicker of alarm in her eyes. He crossed his arms, his voice low and cold. "Who were y
Iris sat on the cold floor, her knees pulled tightly to her chest. Her body felt heavy, the small life growing inside her a constant reminder of the situation she couldn’t fully understand. Her mind was a fog of confusion, with brief flashes of unfamiliar faces and voices that seemed just beyond reach. How long had she been locked up in this room? She couldn’t remember. The dim light filtered through the small, barred window, casting shadows on the gray walls. She glanced around the room—empty except for the old mattress and a broken chair in the corner. There was nothing to aid her escape, no tools to break the window or pry open the door. It felt as though she was trapped in her mind just as much as she was in this prison.Who am I? Iris thought to herself as her fingers absentmindedly traced the bump of her belly. She knew she was pregnant—there was no denying the growing life within her—but she didn’t know how or why. Was there someone waiting for her outside? Was she married?
You were in a terrible accident, and you’ve been recovering since—"Ryan cut her off. "Don’t lie to me, Sarah. I know there’s more to it. I need the truth."There was a long pause before Sarah sighed. "I’m sorry, sir. I don’t know anything else."Ryan clenched his fists in frustration. "Fine. You can go."After hanging up, Ryan stood up, determination burning in his chest. He wasn’t getting answers from anyone, and Bella had made sure to keep him locked inside this gilded cage. But he wouldn’t sit back and accept it anymore. Something was being hidden from him, and he was going to find out what.He began walking through the house, checking each room as if they might hold the secrets to his past. Room after room revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Just as he was about to give up, he found himself in his study. He looked around, and suddenly, blurry flashes began to assault his mind—vague images, memories that were just out of focus.Ryan’s head spun as he staggered to the bookshelves
Ryan’s fingers trembled as he held the delicate lingerie, the silky fabric triggering something deep within him. The scent that lingered on it was hauntingly familiar, stirring a sense of déjà vu so powerful that it sent a shiver down his spine. As he pressed the fabric closer to his face, memories began flooding his mind in disjointed flashes.There was a woman—a stripper. Her face was shadowed by the dim lights of a nightclub, but her eyes sparkled with defiance. "Marry me," he had said to her once. The memory hit him like a punch to the gut, and his breath hitched.Who is she? Ryan’s head began to throb as more images flickered in his mind: a crowded strip club, the scent of perfume mingled with sweat, the sound of music thumping in the background, and then... that woman again, her lips curled in a seductive smile.He could feel her presence, almost tangible, but just as quickly as the memories appeared, they dissolved into nothingness, leaving him with more questions than answer
Luca quietly opened the door to the guest bedroom in his house, his eyes falling on Mrs. Jessica, who was lying on the bed, looking pale but conscious. Her injuries were healing, but the scars of her captivity were evident. She stirred when she heard the door, slowly sitting up as Luca entered the room."How are you feeling today?" Luca asked, pulling up a chair beside the bed."Better, thanks to you," Jessica replied softly. Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes carried the weight of someone who had been through unimaginable pain. "But... Luca, I need to know about my daughter. You promised to tell me more about Iris."Luca sighed, running a hand through his hair. This wasn’t the first time she’d asked about Iris, and he couldn’t bring himself to tell her the whole truth. "Iris is fine, Mrs. Jessica," he assured her, leaning forward. "She can’t come to see you right now because… well, she’s being watched closely. We have to be careful."Jessica’s face was etched with worry. "But I need