“Not well,” Ivy admitted. “He’s so stubborn, Bella. He won’t listen to reason.”Bella sighed sympathetically. “I’m sorry to hear that. But don’t lose hope, Ivy. Sometimes, these things take time.”“I hope you’re alright,” Ivy said. “I just feel so helpless.”“You’re not alone,” Bella said firmly. “We’ll figure something out together. In the meantime, focus on your upcoming audition. You need to be at your best.”“You’re right,” Ivy said, feeling a surge of determination. “Thanks, Bella. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”“Anytime, darling,” Bella said. “Now go out there and show them what you’re made of.”The Following WeekIvy received an email confirming her audition for the CHANNEL campaign. She spent the next few days preparing, pouring over her portfolio and practicing her runway walk. Bella’s support had given her the boost she needed, and she was determined to make the most of it.On the day of the audition, Ivy arrived at the CHANNEL headquarters, feeling a mixture of nerv
He was tall, with messy dark hair and an air of confidence that made heads turn, with a defined jaw.His uniform neatly ironed, cutely on him as he walked like a god amongst men. His name was Ryan Kendrick, and from that day forward, their lives would be intertwined.Ryan's arrival didn't go unnoticed. With his striking good looks and natural charm, he quickly became the center of attention. Girls whispered and giggled as he passed, while the boys eyed him with a mix of admiration and envy. Bella, however, felt an inexplicable pull toward him that went beyond mere attraction.Their parents, as fate would have it, also met that day. Both sets of parents had arrived to drop off their children, and a chance conversation led to an instant connection. The Kendricks and the Reeds soon became friends, cementing the bond between Bella and Ryan even further.In the classroom, Bella found herself seated next to Ryan. She couldn't believe her luck. From day one, he was friendly and approachab
"Us? Dating? That's funny, Bella. You're like my sister. It would be weird." Ryan replied, chuckling."Yeah, weird... right." Bella replied, faking a smile.Her heart sank every time he laughed off her attempts to steer their relationship into romantic territory. To him, she was a constant, a reliable friend who would always be by his side. But to Bella, Ryan was the love of her life, even if he didn't know it.After high school, Bella pursued her dreams in the fashion industry. She became a successful model and influencer, working with top designer brands like Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton.Despite her busy career, she stayed in touch with Ryan and Ivy, visiting them whenever she could.Ryan went on to join the family business, excelling in his role and making his parents proud. He continued to date different women, but none of them seemed to stick. Bella watched from a distance, her old feelings never fully fading away.ReconnectingYears later, Bella found herself back in Ryan's l
Sarah, tell Iris to get ready. We're going to a family dinner tonight."Sarah nodded and headed upstairs, where Iris was scrolling through Instagram, a knot forming in her stomach as she saw Ivy's latest post. Ivy had just passed an audition for CHANNEL, one of the brands Iris had always dreamed of working with. It was ironic how Ivy seemed to be living the life Iris had always wanted."Iris, Mr. Kendrick asked me to tell you to prepare for a family dinner tonight."Iris sighed, closing her phone. She suspected the dinner was to celebrate Ivy's success. She got up and headed to the bathroom to take a bath.As she soaked in the warm water, her mind wandered to Ryan. His sudden shift from being sweet and caring to cold and distant was becoming unbearable. She thought his loving treatment after her kidnapping would last, but it had quickly faded away.After her bath, Iris carefully chose an elegant dress for the evening. She picked a floor-length, midnight blue gown with a subtle shim
Bella gave a faint smile from across the table, her eyes flickering with amusement. It was clear that the digs at Iris were for their entertainment.“Ivy, be kind. Iris is trying her best,” Mrs. Rose interjected, though her words lacked sincerity. The undercurrent of condescension was impossible to miss.Iris clenched her jaw and forced a smile, biting her tongue to keep from lashing out. She knew she had to endure this, if not for her own pride, then for Ryan’s sake.As the dinner progressed, it became increasingly clear that Mrs. Rose and Ivy had taken the night as an opportunity to belittle Iris at every turn. With each new course, came another backhanded remark.“Ivy, darling, tell us more about your Chanel audition. Such a prestigious opportunity! We’re all so proud of you,” Mrs. Rose chimed in, smiling proudly at her daughter.“Oh, it was incredible, Mother,” Ivy replied, her voice brimming with confidence. “The directors were so impressed with my portfolio. They said I had
By the time they arrived home, she felt drained, both emotionally and physically. She went straight to their bedroom, collapsing onto the bed, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.Ryan followed her, standing at the doorway with his arms folded. After a few moments, he walked over and sat beside her.Iris looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy. “Why do they hate me so much?” she whispered. “What did I do wrong?”Ryan sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “You did nothing wrong. They’re just... difficult,” he said. “But you don’t deserve to be treated that way.”Iris leaned into his embrace, feeling a glimmer of hope despite the night’s events. It wasn’t much, but knowing Ryan was on her side gave her the strength to keep going.“Thank you, Ryan,” she whispered. “That means a lot.”He kissed her forehead, a tender gesture that momentarily made her feel safe, even loved. Yet the doubt still lingered in her mind. Could she truly endure the cold cruelty of his family forev
"I only want what’s best for him," she said, her voice almost too smooth. "If Iris makes him happy, then I’m happy for him."Ivy snorted dismissively. "Please. Iris is a parasite. She’s only clinging to Ryan for his money and status. She’ll never be one of us."Mrs. Rose nodded in agreement, her expression hardening. "It’s true. The sooner Ryan realizes the mistake he’s made, the better. He should have been with someone like you, Bella. Someone who understands our world—our expectations.”Bella’s smile remained, but there was a glint in her eyes, a flash of something dangerous. "It’s Ryan’s decision," she said softly, but her words carried an edge. "We should all respect it. For now.”The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Ivy looked to her mother, her frustration evident. "But why should we wait? Why let that woman ruin our family?”Mrs. Rose sighed, her voice low and calculated. "Patience, Ivy. We mustn’t act rashly. Iris will expose herself in time. People like her always do.
Mrs. Rose entered the master bedroom, its grandeur reflecting the wealth and status of the Kendrick family. The room was enormous, with high ceilings and elegant crown moldings. Plush carpets cushioned her footsteps as she approached her husband, who was in the middle of changing.A large, king-sized bed with a canopy draped in luxurious fabrics dominated one side of the room. On the other side, a seating area with a chaise lounge and a coffee table overlooked the manicured gardens outside through floor-to-ceiling windows.Mr. Kendrick was unbuttoning his shirt, his back turned to her. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his broad back."Honey," she began softly, she was cut short by her husband."I don't like the way you spoke to Iris. She's your son's wife. She should be given and shown respect. What you and Ivy did was wrong."Mr. Kendrick said as he sighed deeply, removing his shoes and placing them neatly by the bed."Rose, I
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
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
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
The tension in the hospital room hung heavy as Iris took a deep breath and prepared to explain everything. The faces of those around her—Jessica, Ryan, Kendrick, and Ivy—were etched with a mixture of concern, curiosity, and shock. Ryan, especially, seemed anxious, as though every word Iris spoke would shift the very foundation of what he believed to be true.“I found out I was pregnant,” Iris began slowly, her voice steady but filled with emotion, “on the same day that Mrs. Rose asked to see me. She called me out of the blue and said she needed to talk. I thought it was something important about the family, but when I got there…” She paused, her gaze shifting to Ryan before continuing. “She told me to leave you, Ryan. She wanted me gone so you could be with Bella.”Ryan’s jaw clenched at the mention of his mother’s betrayal, but he remained silent, allowing Iris to continue.“I was devastated,” Iris admitted, her voice cracking slightly. “I didn’t know what to do, and on my way back t
The tension in the room had begun to settle after the police escorted Mrs. Rose and Dr. Parker out in handcuffs. The silence that followed felt like the calm after a storm, but there was still an air of unease.Mr. Kendrick stood in the center of the room, his expression heavy with guilt and regret. He turned toward Jessica, who stood with her arms crossed, looking as though she wasn’t quite sure what to make of him yet. Ivy and Iris, standing side by side, had barely spoken a word since everything unfolded.Kendrick cleared his throat, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m sorry,” he began, his eyes filled with sincerity as he faced Jessica and the twins. “Jessica, Iris, Ivy… I know words aren’t enough to make up for the years I’ve spent apart from you all, the lies, and everything else that’s happened. But please believe me when I say that I’ve regretted every single moment I wasn’t with you.”Iris remained silent, her face pale from shock, while Ivy’s gaze flickered between Jessica a
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
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 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…
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