Chapter 7

"Oh my God!" Iris screamed, curling up on the floor like a frightened child. "It's me, Ryan, please don't kill me!" Her body trembled violently as she cried, her hands shielding her face.

"Iris?" Ryan called, his voice colder than she'd ever heard it before. He lowered his gun slightly. "What the hell are you doing in here? Are you trying to steal from me?"

"N-no!" Iris stammered, still shaking. "I swear I wasn't! I just... I was bored, and I-"

"I said, get up!" Ryan barked.

Iris jolted to her feet, her head bowed in submission, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face. Her legs felt like they might give out at any moment, but she forced herself to stay standing. The weight of Ryan's gaze and the sight of the gun in his hand sent waves of terror through her body.

"Follow me," Ryan commanded, turning toward his room without looking back.

With no choice, Iris followed him silently, each step feeling like it could be her last. When they entered his room, Ryan shut the door behind them with a sharp click. He turned to face her, the gun still in his hand, glinting under the light.

"Kneel," he ordered.

Iris dropped to her knees instantly, heart pounding, her entire body trembling. "Please don't kill me, Ryan," she begged, her voice breaking. "I wasn't trying to steal anything. I swear... I just-"

"Shut up." Ryan's voice was like ice. "So you weren't trying to steal from me, huh? Then what were you doing?"

"I... I was bored," Iris stuttered, her eyes fixed on the floor. "I just wanted to look around, that's all. I didn't mean any harm, I swear. Please, I'll never go in there again. Just... please don't kill me."

Ryan studied her for a long, agonizing moment, the silence hanging in the air like a dark cloud. The tension was suffocating. Then, with a twisted smirk, he spoke. "If you don't want me to kill you, Iris, then what should your punishment be?” 

"P..punishment?" she stammered, glancing up at him in confusion. "Anything. I'll do anything... just please, don't kill me."

Ryan's smirk grew darker, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "Anything, huh?"

"Yes," Iris whispered, her heart racing faster than ever.

"Alright then," he said slowly, leaning closer to her. "You'll give me something in return. You'll birth me a child before this contract is over."

Iris's eyes widened in horror. "What?! Are you serious right now? A child? This was never part of the deal! I won't do it!"

Ryan's eyes darkened, and he chuckled coldly. "You think you have a choice, Iris?" He leaned closer, his face inches from hers. "Let's make it interesting. Maybe I kill your mother first, right in front of you. That way, you get to watch her suffer before I end your miserable life."

"No!" Iris screamed. "Don't you dare touch my mother!”

"Then do as I say," Ryan hissed, his lips curling into a cruel smile. "Or I'll make sure her death is slow... and painful."

Iris's heart sank. She felt trapped, like a mouse cornered by a cat. "You... you monster," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I'm helping you, Iris," Ryan said, his voice calm and calculating. "Do you know how many women would kill to be in your position? You're nothing but a stripper. A low-life, good-for-nothing. I'm offering you a chance to be more than that. To carry my legacy."

"I'm a stripper, so what?"

"You dare speak to me like that?" Ryan growled. "You ungrateful, good-for-nothing, wretched stripper."

"You don't get to judge me. You were born into privilege. You have no idea what it's like to struggle!"

"Don't get too comfortable. You never know what's coming for you. Watch your back." 

"I don't care what you think of me!" Iris spat, anger flaring in her chest. 

Ryan's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You ungrateful little-" He grabbed her wrist, squeezing it so tightly she gasped in pain. "You have 24 hours to decide, Iris. Don't keep me waiting." He pulled her close, his breath hot against her ear. "And watch your back too," he whispered, his lips brushing against her skin before he kissed her neck softly.

Iris shivered, her knees weakening as a cold sensation shot down her spine. She could barely breathe.

"Now, get out of my room," he growled, releasing her.

Without a word, Iris scrambled to her feet and fled the room, her legs barely able to carry her. She reached her own room and collapsed onto the bed, tears streaming down her face. Her body shook uncontrollably as the weight of Ryan's words settled in. How had her life spiraled into this nightmare?

Her phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of her daze. She glanced at the screen: Mom.

Wiping her tears hastily, she answered, trying to steady her voice. "Hello?"

"Hi, sweetheart," her mother's gentle voice came through. "How are you doing?"

"I'm... fine," Iris replied, forcing a smile through her tears. "I've just been busy with work, that's all."

"Iris, you don't sound fine," her mom said, concern evident in her voice. "Are you sure everything's okay?"

"I'm just... tired, Mom," Iris said softly. "It's nothing. How are you? How's Skylar?"

"Oh, Skylar's been wonderful," her mom said, her tone lightening. "She's been taking good care of me."

"That's good to hear," Iris murmured.

"Sweetheart, my medication is almost out," her mom added hesitantly. "I hate to ask, but-"

"I'll send you some money for it," Iris interrupted quickly. "Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything."

"Thank you, Iris," her mother said gratefully. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mom," Iris whispered, fighting back more tears as she hung up.

She buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed with guilt and despair. How could she protect her mother if she couldn't even protect herself?

Her mind drifted back to the rainy day when she had found her mother collapsed on the floor, unconscious, gasping for breath. It was the day everything had changed. That memory haunted her now as the clock ticked, and Ryan's cruel ultimatum loomed over her.

She just got back from the club where she strips, she got home, took a hot bath and went to bed.

Surprised her mother hasn't come to wake her up, like she normally does, she went to her mother's room to check on her, only to find her lying helpless on the floor.

"M....mom, mom wake up, Please mom, wake up" Iris immediately ran into her room, picked up her phone and called an ambulance….