The Contracted Stripper

Ryan’s fingers trembled as he held the delicate lingerie, the silky fabric triggering something deep within him. The scent that lingered on it was hauntingly familiar, stirring a sense of deja vu so powerful that it sent a shiver down his spine.

As he pressed the fabric closer to his face, memories began flooding his mind in disjointed flashes.

There was a woman-a stripper. Her face was shadowed by the dim lights of a nightclub, but her eyes sparkled with defiance. “Marry me,” he had said to her once.

The memory hit him like a punch to the gut, and his breath hitched.

Who is she? Ryan’s head began to throb as more images flickered in his mind: a crowded strip club, the scent of perfume mingled with sweat, the sound of music thumping in the background, and then… that woman again, her lips curled in a seductive smile.

He could feel her presence, almost tangible, but just as quickly as the memories appeared, they dissolved into nothingness, leaving him with more questions than answers.

“Who… are… you?” Ryan whispered, clutching his head in agony as the images overwhelmed him.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his skull, and his vision blurred. The room spun violently around him as he staggered backward, collapsing to the floor with the lingerie still clutched in his hand.

Darkness crept in at the edges of his vision, and just before everything went black, he saw her face again-this time clearer, with her almond-shaped gray eyes staring right at him.

Back at the Kendrick Empire’s Rebranding Event…

The grand ballroom was alive with the sounds of applause, laughter, and the clinking of champagne glasses.

Bella stood at the center of it all, dressed in a sleek, dark emerald gown that accentuated her sharp, statuesque beauty. Her smile was poised and perfect, as she greeted guests, mingled with dignitaries, and schmoozed investors from around the world.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Beside her, Ryan moved through the crowd like a puppet on strings, his hand resting in Bella’s as they made their way through the high society maze.

To everyone watching, they were the perfect couple-powerful, poised, and in control. But in Ryan’s mind, the illusion had shattered.

He was only playing along now, and every step he took felt heavier with the weight of the truth he was hiding.

At one point during the speeches, Ryan slipped away unnoticed, making his way outside where Luca was waiting.

Luca had been watching the event from the sidelines, careful not to draw too much attention

When Ryan appeared, Luca’s face lit up in surprise. “Ryan, what’s up? Everything okay?”

Ryan pulled Luca aside, lowering his voice. “I remember everything,” he said, the words escaping his mouth like a secret too heavy to bear. “I remember Iris, the stripper… the marriage… you and everything.

But I don’t want anyone to know. Not yet.”Luca’s eyes widened in shock, then turned to excitement.

“You remember everything? That’s incredible, man! I knew something was off this whole time. So, what’s the plan? What are you going to do about Bella?”

“Keep pretending,” Ryan replied, glancing around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. “I don’t want her or anyone else to suspect that I’ve regained my memory. I need to figure out what her endgame is first… and then expose her when the time is right.”

Luca nodded, his mind already racing with possibilities. “Of course, you can count on me. No one will know. But man, this is huge!”

Ryan grinned slightly. “I know. But we need to play it smart.”

Before Luca could say more, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor made them both freeze.

Bella was approaching, her sharp eyes scanning the scene. Ryan instantly straightened up, his expression smoothing into an easy smile, the perfect mask of ignorance.

“Hey honey, there you are!” Bella called out, her voice lilting with a sweetness that only Ryan could see through. Her eyes flicked to Luca for a brief moment, narrowing slightly as if warning him not to overstep.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

“Oh, I just needed some fresh air,” Ryan said casually, throwing an arm around Luca’s shoulder.

“Ran into Luca out here. He works for the company, right?”

Bella’s smile tightened, though her tone remained light.

“Yes, that’s right. But we should get back inside. The speeches are about to start, and we can’t afford to miss them.”

She slipped her arm through Ryan’s, pulling him away from Luca. “Enough chit-chat.”Ryan allowed himself to be led back into the event, but as they walked, his mind raced. He had to stay ahead of Bella, had to make sure she didn’t catch wind of his true intentions.

He squeezed Luca’s shoulder lightly as they parted ways, signaling his trust in him.

Luca watched them walk back inside, his heart racing with excitement.

Finally, Ryan was back, and Bella’s reign was about to come to an end. It was only a matter of time.

Later that Night..

The rebranding event was winding down, the final speech was given, and the last round of champagne was passed around.

Bella was basking in the success of the evening, standing in the middle of a crowd of investors and executives, laughing and chatting as if nothing in the world could shake her confidence.

But beneath her calm exterior, a sliver of unease gnawed at her. Something was off about Ryan.

His demeanor was too calm, too… controlled.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something from her.”

Ryan, darling,” Bella said, walking over to him, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “You’ve been quiet all night. Everything okay?”Ryan smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Yeah, just tired, I guess. It’s been a long day.”Bella’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied him, searching for any cracks in his facade.

“You’re sure? You’ve seemed a little… distant lately.”

“Just tired, Iris. Nothing more.” He kissed her cheek, playing his part perfectly.

“I’m going to head up to bed early. You should stay and enjoy the rest of the night.”Bella’s gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she nodded. “Alright. Don’t wait up for me.”Ryan left the ballroom, his mind still buzzing with the revelations from earlier.

As he walked down the long hallway back to their penthouse suite, his thoughts returned to Iris-the woman he had loved and married.

The woman Bella had somehow erased from his life. And now, he needed to find her.

Hours Later, in the Quiet of the Night…

Ryan stood in the darkened study once more, the documents spread out before him. His head still throbbed from the earlier barrage of memories, but his determination had only grown stronger.

Iris was out there somewhere, and she held the key to everything.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the marriage certificate again.

The words seemed to burn into his mind: “In the event of my disappearance or death…”He traced his fingers over Iris’s name, trying to summon another memory-anything that could help him piece together what had happened to her.

But the more he thought about it, the more elusive the truth seemed.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen and froze. A text message from an unknown number:

“Iris is alive. Find her before Bella does.”Ryan’s heart stopped, his mind racing. Who sent this? How did they know?

Before he could react, the door to the study creaked open, and Bella stepped into the room, her eyes dark with suspicion.

“Ryan,” she said softly, her voice tinged with a dangerous edge. “We need to talk.”Ryan turned slowly in his chair, meeting her gaze.