"Sarah, please call me when he gets back. Here's my number." She handed Sarah a card.Sarah took it with a nod. As Bella left, Sarah quickly picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Hello, sir. There's something I need to tell you……."Bella, confused and angry, He isn't at the office nor is he at home. She stopped by a bar to clear her mind with a drink. She needed to figure out her next move.Bella's mind replayed every interaction she’d had with Ryan, each moment stoking her determination.She would not be sidelined so easily. This pregnancy was her trump card, and she intended to use it to secure her place in Ryan’s life once and for all.Back inside the mansion, Sarah closed the door with a satisfied smile. She twirled around the empty house, pleased with how she had handled Bella’s intrusion. At the hospital, Iris sat by her mother’s bedside, her hand gently resting on Jessica’s. The room was filled with the soft beeping of medical monitors and the faint scent of antiseptic.
Her thoughts are a whirlwind of anger and desperation. “I need to act fast,” she muttered to herself. “I can’t let Iris ruin everything I’ve worked for.”She gulped down her drink, her mind formulating a plan. Sarah, having finished her call, continued her duties, the secret conversation weighing on her mind. She knew that the information she had shared could have significant repercussions, but she also knew it was the right thing to do.As night fell, Ryan and Iris remained by Jessica's side, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment. Unbeknownst to them, the storm brewing outside the hospital walls threatened to upend their fragile peace.Meanwhile, Bella’s mind was a whirlwind of schemes and plans. She needed to ensure that Ryan accepted the pregnancy, but she had to do it in a way that would guarantee he would choose her over Iris. Days turned into week with still no word from Ryan, and Bella grew increasingly anxious. She had expected Ryan to reach out to her and k
“Bella, what are you doing here?” he asked, his tone guarded..Bella pushed past him, stepping into the foyer. “We need to talk, Ryan.”Ryan closed the door behind her, his expression unreadable. “Alright, what’s this about?”Bella took a deep breath, steeling herself. “I’m pregnant, Ryan. And it’s your child.”“I’ve taken multiple tests. There’s no doubt about it.” Bella said her voice steady.Ryan ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. “This… this changes everything.”Bella stepped closer, her eyes pleading. “Ryan, I know this complicates things, but we need to figure out what to do. We can’t ignore this.”Ryan sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I need some time to think, Bella. This is a lot to process.”Bella’s heart sank, but she nodded. “I understand. But please, don’t take too long. We need to make a plan.”Ryan nodded, his mind clearly elsewhere. “I’ll call you soon, Bella. I promise.”As Bella left the mansion, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in h
“Oh, Ken, stop comparing my daughter to that whore. She has class and taste, unlike Iris.”“Honey,” Mrs. Rose said, walking close to him and holding his hands, “we’re supposed to be happy and celebrate. We finally get what we wanted. You can finally release the empire to Ryan.”Mr. Kendrick looked at his wife, not knowing what else to say. “This isn’t right, Rose,” he said finally, going back to his newspaper.“Don’t worry, honey. Leave it to me,” she said, picking up her phone and walking out of the room. Once she was outside, she dialed a number. “Hello, I have a job for you. Don’t fail me this time.”Bella couldn’t shake her excitement as she drove home. Her plan was unfolding perfectly.Later that evening, Mr. Kendrick sat alone in his study, his mind a storm of conflicting thoughts. The news of Bella’s pregnancy had shaken him to his core. He couldn’t understand how his son could be so reckless, even within the confines of a contracted marriage.Mrs. Rose entered the room quiet
“Never!” Ivy exclaimed. “I despise Iris. I’d never go soft on her.”“Good,” Mrs. Rose said. “By the way, what’s been keeping you so busy lately?”Ivy’s face lit up. “After the fashion show, a lot of top brands were amazed by my designs. They offered me collaborations. I’ve been busy. Soon, I’ll be the number one fashion designer and model in the world.”Mrs. Rose beamed with pride. “You’re so hardworking and focused. I’m proud of you. But I have to ask you something important. At the show, you showcased many amazing pieces, which you said you drew yourself. We both know you can’t draw or sketch. So how did those designs come about?”Ivy’s eyes widened, clearly uncomfortable. “Well, Mum...” she began, struggling to find the right words.Mrs. Rose leaned in, her eyes narrowing. “Tell me the truth, Ivy.”Ivy sighed, realizing she couldn’t lie her way out. “Okay, Mum. I didn’t design those pieces myself. I hired a talented designer to create them. I knew I needed something extraordinary t
“I need to face her sooner or later.”Skylar nodded. “Do you want me to come with you?”I shook my head. “No, I need to do this alone.”As I left the hospital and headed to the Kendrick mansion, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions.Betrayal, anger, fear, and a glimmer of hope all fought for dominance. I had no idea what awaited me, but I knew I had to be strong.Mrs. Rose greeted me with a cold smile as I entered the mansion. “Iris, thank you for coming.”“What do you want, Mrs. Rose?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.She motioned for me to sit. “We need to discuss the future. Specifically, your future in this family.”I felt a chill run down my spine. “What do you mean?”Mrs. Rose leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Bella is pregnant with Ryan’s child. You understand what that means, don’t you?” My heart sank. “I understand.”“Good,” she said, her smile widening. “Then you know that it’s time for you to step aside. Ryan needs to focus on his future with Bella and the
“You’re not mad at me?” Ivy asked, relief evident in her voice.“Mad? No way. I’m proud of you, dear.”Ivy sighed with relief and smiled.“Now, let’s focus on getting Ryan to marry Bella,” Mrs. Rose said, her eyes gleaming with determination.“Mum, isn’t that too fast? Ryan hasn’t made a decision yet. Shouldn’t we let him decide?” Ivy suggested.“No, dear. We’ll decide for Ryan. He’s too confused to make the right choice. Bella needs to move into his house. I’ll go shopping for my grandchild later.”“Mum, isn’t it too soon to shop? We don’t even know the baby’s gender yet,” Ivy pointed out.“It doesn’t matter. I’ll buy for both genders, just in case they’re twins,” Mrs. Rose giggled.Ivy shook her head, smiling. “You’re something else, Mom. I have an appointment at 4 PM, so I can’t go shopping with you.”Mrs. Rose pouted. “I thought you’d come with me.”“No way, Mum. I have things to do. Bye,” Ivy said, kissing her mother’s cheek before leaving.Mrs. Rose picked up her phone and called
Iris sighed. “My life is a mess. I’m pregnant, and the father doesn’t care about me. He’s having a baby with another woman.”Jason’s eyes softened with empathy. "You... what are you doing here? You almost killed me earlier today, and now you're here to finish the job?" she blabbed, her words slurred."Did anyone send you to kill me? I know they all want me dead. I want myself dead too, so I understand," she chuckled bitterly."Stop saying rubbish, Iris," he replied sternly."So you know my name. Wow, they must have given you a lot of information about me," Iris said, laughing dramatically."That's enough for tonight. Let's get you home," he said firmly."But the fun just started. The party just begun. I want to stay," she protested weakly.He didn't respond as he grabbed her arm and lifted her onto his shoulder. He reached into his pocket, pulled out some money, and placed it on her table before carrying her out of the bar. As they walked, Iris continued to mumble incoherently."Ryan.
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