The Contracted Stripper

“Don’t you dare speak to me in such a manner again!” he yelled.

“Honey, that’s enough, please. Spare her. She’s a low life; what do you expect from people like her?” Bella said, walking towards him and wrapping her arms around him.

Iris, holding back more tears, left her dinner and rushed upstairs to her room.

Ryan, coming back to his senses and realizing what he had just done, felt angry with himself.

“Honey, it’s alright. Let’s go upstairs,” Bella said soothingly

“Please,” Ryan lifted his hand to stop her. “Go home, Bella.”

“What?” Bella was taken aback.” I said go home!” he yelled, causing Bella to flinch.

“Alright, fine. I will see you tomorrow,” she said, placing a kiss on Ryan’s cheek before walking out.

Ryan walked to his mini bar near the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of whiskey, and began drinking directly from it.

The burning sensation in his throat mirrored the turmoil inside him. He continued drinking until he was heavily intoxicated, mumbling incoherently.

“Why… why did this happen?” he slurred.

“She deserved it… no, she didn’t… I’m a monster… she’s a bitch… no, she’s not…” he mumbled to himself…as he stumbled up the stairs, pushing open the door to Iris’s room.

She was on her bed, crying.

Ryan murmured more incoherent words.”Iris… I’m sorry… didn’t mean to… but why? Why did you…” His words were a jumbled mess, barely making sense

He fell onto her bed, and Iris was scared for a moment. He tried to speak but ended up mumbling more gibberish.

“Ryan, please… leave,” she said, her voice trembling.

Instead, Ryan, in his drunken state, tried to get closer to her.

Iris’s heart raced with fear and confusion. She pushed him away as gently as she could, but he was persistent.

Fear gripped Iris as Ryan’s body pressed against hers. His hands fumbled with her clothes, his movements clumsy and forceful. She tried to resist, but her strength was no match for his.

Tears streamed down her face as Ryan ripped her clothes off her body, his actions a stark contrast to the tender words he had uttered moments ago.

With each thrust, she felt a part of her dying, replaced by a cold, empty void.

Finally, in his intoxicated stupor, he collapsed next to her, mumbling incoherently until he fell asleep.

Iris, shaking and terrified, managed to push him off her and slipped out of the bed.

She went to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

She turned on the shower, hoping the water could wash away the night’s events.

She sat under the stream of water, hugging her knees, and cried uncontrollably.

The water couldn’t wash away Ryan’s touch or the emotional pain she felt.

Hours passed, and Iris stayed in the bathroom until the water ran cold. She finally stood up, wrapped herself in a towel, and slowly made her way back to her room.

Ryan was still asleep on her bed. She covered him with a blanket, then took a pillow and blanket and settled on the floor, too exhausted and broken to care about anything else.

As she lay there, she wondered how her life had taken such a dark turn. She had once believed in the possibility of a real marriage with Ryan, but now, she was trapped in a nightmare.

Her mind raced with thoughts of escape, justice, and finding a way to clear her name. She knew she had to be strong, not just for herself, but for the future she still hoped to build.

In the following days, Iris avoided Ryan as much as possible. She threw herself into her fashion school, finding solace in her work.

Her determination to succeed and prove herself kept her going, even when everything else seemed to be falling apart.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Ryan, on the other hand, continued to struggle with his conflicting emotions. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong, that maybe he had been too harsh on Iris.

But with Bella constantly by his side, reinforcing the narrative that Iris was the one to blame, he found it hard to see through the fog of his anger and confusion.

Meanwhile, Luca kept a close eye on the situation, hoping to find a way to help his friend see the truth. He knew that there was more to the story than what met the eye and that the real culprit behind Ryan’s poisoning was still out there.

Weeks later, Iris sat at her desk, staring at the incomplete sketches scattered across its surface. Her promotional exams at the fashion school were drawing dangerously close, and the pressure was mounting.

Yet, there was still no sign of her original sketchbook. The new sketches she had started were far from completion, and she felt the weight of distress settle heavily on her shoulders.

Ryan’s recent behavior did nothing to ease her anxiety. They barely spoke, and the house felt colder and more distant than ever. She noticed him constantly checking on her, standing by her door before leaving without a word. She couldn’t decipher his intentions, and it only added to her stress.

“He hasn’t even acknowledged my efforts at fashion school,” she thought bitterly. “It would have been nice if he showed some interest, maybe even attended our first promotional event. But why would he? He doesn’t care.”

Her thoughts drifted back to her lost sketchbook. It contained some of her best work, inspired pieces that seemed impossible to replicate under the current strain.

The promotional exam was just a few weeks away, and Iris feared she wouldn’t be able to meet the standards with her new designs.

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “I need to focus,” she muttered to herself. “I have to at least try to create something new, even if it’s not as good as the originals.”

Meanwhile, across town, Ivy was visiting Bella at her house. As they sat in Bella’s living room, Ivy showed her the sketches she had been working on.

“Wow, these are so beautiful,” Bella exclaimed, flipping through the pages. “I never knew you could draw like this. These designs are incredible.”

“Thank you,” Ivy replied with a shy smile. “It’s been a special skill I’ve had since childhood.”

“I can’t believe I never noticed,” Bella said, shaking her head. “Well, maybe I didn’t pay much attention before, but these are outstanding. They’re fresh and unique. I haven’t seen anything like this in a long time.”

“I was thinking,” Ivy began, “since Beth Fashion School is having their annual audition, I’d like to get some of these designs on the models. Top fashion brand owners will be there.”

“That would be fantastic, Ivy,” Bella said, her eyes lighting up. “A lot of fashion icons will be there. This is your moment-grab it!”

Ivy nodded in agreement, feeling a surge of excitement. She hugged Bella tightly. “Thank you so much,” she said, her voice full of gratitude.

“Don’t mention it,” Bella replied, smiling. “What are family for? I’ll get a team together for you and secure a space for your models. This is going to be great.”

Ivy’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Awww, thank you, Bella. I owe you big time.”

“Stop it, girl,” Bella said, waving her hand dismissively. “You owe me nothing. But, speaking of family, I have some good news for both our families.”Ivy looked at her curiously. “What is it?”…