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
Ivy hesitated for a moment, the words on the tip of her tongue, but her emotions kept holding her back. She glanced at Iris, whose face was already filled with shock and pain from all she had learned. How could she add more to that? Just as she was about to speak, the door to the hospital room swung open, and a nurse wheeled in Mrs. Jessica.Jessica looked frail but alert, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Iris. Her expression softened, and she gasped, tears welling up in her eyes."My daughter," Jessica whispered, her voice breaking. “My sweet, sweet Iris.”At that moment, everything else faded away. Ivy's confession stalled in her throat as Jessica reached out her hand toward Iris, trembling. The reunion was so overwhelming that even Ivy, who had built up a wall around her heart, felt the warmth of the moment as tears pricked her eyes."Mom?" Iris whispered, her voice fragile, a mix of joy and disbelief.Jessica reached out her hand, her fingers brushing Iris's cheek.
Mrs. Rose paced anxiously around the hospital room, her heels clicking against the cold tile floor. She glanced at her watch for the hundredth time, her impatience growing by the second. Where were Ivy and Ryan? What were they up to? Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the door open. She turned swiftly, only to see Ryan step into the room, followed closely by Ivy. Relief washed over her for a split second, but it quickly faded as she saw the grim looks on their faces. Something was wrong.“Where have you two been?” Mrs. Rose demanded, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’ve been looking all over for you!”Ryan didn’t respond immediately. His face was hard, his jaw clenched. Ivy, too, seemed distant, her eyes fixed on the floor as if she couldn’t bear to meet her mother’s gaze.Before Mrs. Rose could demand answers, a weak cough sounded from the hospital bed. Her husband, Mr. Kendrick, had woken up. Slowly, he turned his head toward her, his eyes filled with anger and betray
The tension in the room was so thick it felt as though it could suffocate them all. Mrs. Rose stood frozen, her heart hammering against her chest as her eyes darted from Jessica to Kendrick and then to her children. Her worst nightmare was unraveling before her eyes, and there was no escape. Kendrick, too, was motionless, his face a mixture of disbelief and confusion. His eyes met Jessica’s, and a flood of memories rushed back—memories he had buried for years. He tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat."Je… Jessica?" Kendrick’s voice was barely above a whisper, his shock palpable. Ryan, standing by his father’s bedside, turned to Kendrick, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Dad, do you know her?"Jessica stood tall, her eyes blazing with the fire of long-buried resentment. She ignored Ryan’s question and locked eyes with Mrs. Rose, whose face was now dripping with cold sweat. Rose’s hands trembled as she took a step backward, her composure slipping with every second."No…
The silence that followed Mr. Kendrick's confession was deafening. Everyone in the room seemed frozen, processing the weight of his words. Mrs. Rose’s face was a mixture of shock and rage, her hands trembling as she gripped the back of a chair for support. Ryan and Ivy exchanged uneasy glances, while Jessica stood still, her expression unreadable, though her eyes glistened with the pain of memories that had long since scarred her.Kendrick took a deep breath, his voice thick with regret as he continued. "I was in love with Jessica," he admitted, his eyes locked on the floor as if unable to meet anyone’s gaze. "We were both so young, and I couldn't resist her. But I was already married to Rose. There was no way I could marry Jessica. I was the heir to the Kendrick family fortune, and it would have been a scandal—a disgrace—to have an affair and a child out of wedlock."Rose scoffed, her voice laced with venom. "So instead, you chose to keep me in the dark and raise the child of your
The room was suffocating. Ryan sat up straighter in his hospital bed, his eyes narrowing as Luca entered, his expression grim. The air felt thick with anticipation as everyone waited for the news. Luca cleared his throat and looked directly at Ryan. “The anonymous messenger? It was Sarah—your house help,” he said quietly. Ryan’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Sarah?” He glanced at Ivy, then back at Luca. “What do you mean? She’s just a housemaid. Why would she—" “She’s been traced and caught,” Luca interrupted his voice firm. “We got her while she was trying to flee the country. She’s been feeding information to your enemies, Ryan. She’s been working with Mrs. Rose.”The room went still. Ivy gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, and Kendrick’s face drained of color. Mrs. Rose stood frozen, her eyes wide in disbelief as all eyes turned toward her.“What… what are you saying?” Ryan’s voice was low, but it shook with barely restrained anger.“She confessed everything,” Luca continued, h