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
Ryan paced the length of his father’s study, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. He held the hospital reports tightly in his hand, his knuckles white from the grip. The reports confirmed his worst fears—the man he had called his father for his entire life wasn’t his biological father at all. Dr. Parker was. The revelation had shaken him to the core, and he knew he couldn’t keep this secret any longer. He had to tell Mr. Kendrick.Taking a deep breath, he walked over to where Kendrick sat in his leather chair, his eyes already filled with concern. Kendrick had noticed Ryan’s turmoil the moment he entered the room, but he hadn’t pressed him to speak."Dad," Ryan began, his voice trembling slightly. He rarely ever called him anything but ‘Dad,’ but now, with this new information, it felt like a lie. Still, it was all he had ever known. "I received something today. It’s… complicated, and I don’t know how to explain it."Kendrick raised an eyebrow, worry etching deeper into his
Months had passed since Parker waited in vain for Ryan to come to his rescue. As the cold reality set in, the hope that had once flickered inside Parker’s heart dimmed until it was nothing but a distant memory. The prison walls around him felt like they were closing in, suffocating him with the weight of his past mistakes. Every day, he wondered if his son would ever come, but no sign of Ryan emerged. He had gambled on the wrong side of history, and now he was paying for it with every lonely second that ticked by.Meanwhile, Mrs. Rose Kendrick, once a woman of unmatched power and deceit, was locked away in her world of doom. She had seen the writing on the wall long before now. When the truth came to light, when all the lies she had crafted so carefully unraveled before her eyes, she knew no one was coming to save her. The empire she had tried to manipulate for herself and her lover Parker had crumbled. Her final days were filled with silence, the kind that came not from peace but
The neon lights flickered, casting an ethereal glow over the dimly lit club where Iris worked as a stripper. As she moved her body to the rhythm, her thoughts drifted like the swirling smoke hanging heavy in the air. But something tonight felt different. A heated gaze pierced through the usual crowd of men, pulling her attention toward a figure seated in the shadows.It was rare to see someone so young, so composed, in this place. Most of the men that came here were older, their gazes lingering with more desperation than allure. But this man... he was different. His dark brown eyes held a dangerous edge, framed by chiseled features and slicked-back hair. He was hard to miss.Iris felt his eyes fix on her, watching her every move. Confusion crept over her as he motioned for mama peepee to come over, he whispered into her ear.She nodded in understanding and walked towards the stripping pole where Iris was dancing, and whispered into her ear.She walked towards him, and got to where he
Iris hurried out of the restroom and into the changing room, quickly switching out of the skimpy lingerie and sky-high perspex heels. Her heart pounded-she couldn't shake the sense of urgency. She fumbled with her clothes, yanking them on, and bolted out of the club. Her mind raced, thinking about her mother. She wasn't in great health, and Iris couldn't ignore the gut-wrenching fear that something was wrong.She tried her mother's phone again. It went straight to voicemail."Pick up, pick up..." Iris muttered, her hands trembling as she dialed again. No answer.Without wasting any more time, she flagged down a cab and gave the driver her home address. The trip felt like an eternity. Her thoughts spiraled-what if something had happened? Who was going to call her then? No one but her.When she finally arrived at the house, she practically threw herself through the front door. "Mom?" she called out, rushing into her mother's room.Her mother lay there peacefully, asleep.Iris felt her k
Ryan stood frozen for a moment before letting out an exasperated sigh. "Ivy, what are you doing in my room?"Ivy smirked, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed. "Hello, big brother. That's not a good way to welcome your little sister. Won't you even give me a hug?" She pouted, her tone playful but sharp.Ryan forced a smile. "You know you're always welcome, Ivy, and I missed you. But I wasn't expecting you in my room this early."Ivy gave a dramatic roll of her eyes. "I got back last night. Went to see Mom and Dad first thing. Came here this morning, thinking you'd be at the office, but then I saw you coming in with... her."Her eyes darted toward Iris, who stood quietly beside Ryan, looking slightly uncomfortable under Ivy's cold gaze."Who is she, Ryan?" Ivy's voice was dripping with disdain. "Your newest plaything?"Ryan stiffened, shooting Iris a quick, apologetic glance before answering. "Ivy, this is Iris, my.... my fiancée."Ivy blinked, her face falling in disbelie
"I know you're a stripper, but you should still have some dignity left in you," Ryan's voice dripped with sarcasm as his gaze swept over Iris from head to toe.He sauntered away from the shattered glass on the floor but couldn't resist stealing another glance. Her breasts were firm, her skin smooth, and her neatly shaved body almost... tempting."Oh my God, I'm sorry!" Iris scrambled for the towel lying on the bed, wrapping it around herself as quickly as possible. "You could at least knock before coming in!""You scared me," she added, her voice a mix of embarrassment and anger.Ryan, his expression unbothered, crossed his arms. "I don't need to remind you, this is my house. I can enter any room I like, however I want."The lingering image of Iris's naked form was still fresh in his mind, making it hard to focus. He took a few steps closer, slowly but deliberately. Each step caused Iris's heart to race, her pulse quickening, making her feel both anxious and exposed.By the time he st
Ryan sprinted down the stairs, Sarah's words echoing in his mind. "Ma Ivy came in with some policemen to get her arrested..." He barely heard the rest, rushing to see for himself.As his feet missed a step, Ryan plummeted to the ground, his body crumpling at the bottom of the staircase."Sir Ryan!" Sarah screamed, running to his side.Ryan groaned in pain, his words barely audible. "My he...hea..." His voice trailed off as his vision blurred, and his eyes fluttered shut."Ryan! Ryan!" Iris cried as she rushed to him, cradling his head. "Someone, please call an ambulance!" Her voice cracked with panic. "Sarah, now!" she screamed, her hands trembling as she held Ryan close."This is all your fault!" Ivy stormed into the room, eyes flashing with anger. "Get away from him, you-" She shoved Iris aside, her voice laced with venom. "Ryan, wake up! Please!"The sound of the approaching ambulance pierced the tense air, and the EMTs quickly loaded Ryan into the stretcher. Iris made a move to en