Ryan’s hands trembled slightly as he slid the phone into his pocket, pacing in the hospital hallway. Luca stood next to him, concern etched across his face, while Ivy leaned against the wall, still on her call. Her conversation seemed calm, almost too calm for everything happening around them. Ryan kept glancing at Ivy, waiting for her to finish, but his thoughts were clouded with the disturbing messages he had been receiving ever since his father’s sudden collapse. The anonymous texts, the cryptic warnings—something wasn’t right, and it was driving him mad.Finally, Ivy ended her call and looked at him, her usual cold demeanor softening a little. “What’s going on, Ryan? You look stressed.”Ryan hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. “Luca, check the number that’s been sending me those anonymous messages. I need to know where they’re coming from. They’ve been popping up ever since all these problems started, and it can’t be a coincidence.”Luca frowned but nodded in agreem
The air in the small, enclosed room was thick with tension. Ryan sat on the edge of a chair, his fingers running through his hair as his mind replayed everything that had happened in the last few hours. Ivy stood in front of them, pacing as she recounted her conversation with the mysterious man she had been speaking to. Luca leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his face etched with concern. Ivy finally stopped pacing and looked at both of them. "It wasn’t easy at first, but I convinced him. He was hesitant, but when I showed him those pictures and videos... he couldn't resist. He thinks he’s going to meet up with the girl from the photos—he thinks it’s me."Ryan blinked, brought back to the moment by Ivy’s words. His mind had been elsewhere, haunted by the shocking discovery he had made on his father’s phone. The intimate photos, the betrayal—it was all too much to process. Luca, noticing Ryan’s distant gaze, nudged him. "Ryan, are you with us?"Ryan shook his head slightly, bringi
Iris jolted awake to the blinding sunlight filtering through the barred window of her room. For a moment, she felt disoriented, the events of the last few weeks crashing back into her mind with a painful clarity. She had been locked up here for what seemed like an eternity, and every day was a reminder of the uncertain future that awaited her.She shifted on the thin mattress, her body stiff from the confinement. But just as she tried to get comfortable, a sharp, unbearable pain shot through her waist and stomach, radiating down to her legs. A sudden sensation gripped her, one she had felt creeping for days but had brushed off out of fear. This time, it was undeniable.Iris gasped, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach, her fingers trembling. The pain increased, a sensation unlike anything she had ever felt before. Her breath caught in her throat, and before she could process what was happening, a scream ripped from her mouth. The sound echoed off the walls of the small room
Ivy's heart raced as she stepped out of the car at the hotel where she was supposed to meet her anonymous date. Her dress clung to her figure, making her look every bit the part she needed to play, but inside, she was anxious. The recorder taped to her inner dress was secure, and she had made sure to give Ryan and Luca the address earlier. Still, nothing could shake the sense of danger hovering over the night.As she entered the hotel lobby, she scanned the room, searching for any signs of her contact. She spotted him leaning casually against the wall, a young bald man who looked neither familiar nor particularly friendly. There was something about his body language that put Ivy on; perhaps it was the way he was scanning the crowd with too much intent or the sharpness in his eyes as they zeroed in on her."Ivy?" he asked, his voice low and rough as he walked up to her."Yes," she replied with a nod, keeping her tone neutral."You look... different from your pictures." His brow furro
The tension in the room was palpable as the door burst open, and the police officers stormed inside, guns drawn."Freeze!" they shouted in unison, their voices echoing against the walls. "Hands in the air, where I can see them!"The bald man, who had been just inches away from undressing Ivy, froze. His eyes bore into hers for a long, uncomfortable moment before he slowly climbed off the bed. The room was thick with silence as he lifted his hands in surrender.A police officer cautiously stepped forward, his eyes never leaving the man's form as he patted him down, searching for any hidden weapons or illegal items. After a few moments, the officer shook his head. "Clean," he muttered, stepping back."Put your clothes back on," another officer ordered, his voice firm but calm.The bald man did as he was told, slowly pulling on his shirt and pants. The officers didn't take their eyes off him for a second, their guns still pointed directly at him. Once he was fully dressed, they snapped h
Ryan’s face was stone cold as he held the sharp instrument just inches away from the bald man’s ear. The man’s screams echoed through the dimly lit warehouse, but Ryan showed no emotion, no hesitation. His hand was steady, his eyes dark and calculating. The scent of blood filled the air as the bald man’s desperation grew.Luca watched silently, his arms crossed over his chest, ready to step in if Ryan needed him. He knew exactly what Ryan was doing—pushing the man to his breaking point. Torture was a last resort, but when dealing with someone who wouldn’t speak, it became necessary.As Ryan’s grip tightened on the bald man’s ear, the man finally broke."I’ll talk! I’ll talk!" the man screamed, his voice hoarse from the pain. "The pregnant lady’s name is Iris!"Ryan’s hand froze mid-air, his heart skipping a beat. The name Iris sent a chill down his spine. He had suspected it, but hearing it confirmed shook him to his core."Iris?" Ryan repeated, his voice low and dangerous. The bald
Ryan stood outside the emergency room, pacing back and forth as Iris was rushed inside on a stretcher. His heart was pounding, worry etched into every line of his face. Doctors and nurses moved swiftly, tending to her, but the moments felt like hours as he waited for news.Luca was on the phone with Ivy, his voice low but urgent. "We found her," Luca said. "She’s at the hospital now, but she’s in bad shape. You need to come down here, Ivy."Ivy's voice, strained with concern, crackled through the phone. "I’m on my way."Ryan glanced at Luca, grateful for his support but still on edge. Every second that passed felt like a lifetime. He kept replaying the scene of Iris collapsing in his arms, the terror in her eyes before she lost consciousness. He had failed her once; he couldn’t afford to fail her again.After what seemed like an eternity, Luca ended the call. "Ivy’s coming," he said, leaning against the wall next to Ryan. "She should be here soon."Ryan nodded absently, his eyes still
Iris blinked several times as her vision slowly came into focus, the haze in her eyes gradually clearing. She could see familiar figures hovering around her bed, their faces tense with concern. She struggled to piece together the fragments of her memory, and then it hit her—Ryan.“Ryan,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Ryan, who had been pacing at the foot of her bed, immediately rushed to her side. His heart raced as he took her hand gently, gazing into her eyes with a mixture of relief and anxiety."Hey, honey. How are you feeling?" he asked softly, his voice laced with worry. Iris's brows furrowed in confusion. “What happened, Ryan? Where am I?” She glanced around the sterile white hospital room. "Where's our baby?.”Ryan froze, his hand still clasping hers. "Our baby?" he asked, his voice faltering. He didn’t know what she meant.“Yes,” Iris nodded weakly, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. “She took her away from me.”Ryan leaned closer, his eyes narrowing with