The Contracted Stripper

Ryan sat on the edge of his hospital bed, still groggy from the effects of his recent injuries, when his phone buzzed on the bedside table.

He picked it up, squinting at the bright screen. The notification that greeted him made his stomach churn-“Ivy Kendrick Caught in Stolen Design Scandal!” blared the headline, followed by endless comments tearing his sister apart.

He stared at the screen in disbelief, scrolling through post after post that dragged Ivy’s name through the mud.”What the hell…?” Ryan muttered, his heart pounding as he quickly dialed Ivy’s number. It rang once, twice, before Ivy’s shaky voice came through. “Hello?”

“What the hell is going on, Ivy?” Ryan barked, his voice sharp with concern. “What is this? I’m seeing all over the Internet about you stealing designs. Is this some kind of joke?”Ivy sniffled on the other end, but before she could respond, Ryan cut her off.

“I’ll be at the mansion in ten minutes.”He ended the call abruptly, his blood boiling. Shoving his phone into his pocket, Ryan yanked on a jacket and stormed out of the hospital room, ignoring the concerned looks from the nurses.

There was no time for explanations-he had to get to Ivy and figure out what the hell was happening.

True to his word, Ryan pulled up at the Kendrick mansion less than ten minutes later. He barely spared a glance at the butler who opened the door for him, rushing straight up the stairs to Ivy’s room. The sight that greeted him when he opened the door froze him in his tracks. Ivy was curled up on the floor, her makeup smeared from crying, surrounded by crumpled tissues.

Her hair was disheveled, and she looked utterly defeated.

Ryan knelt beside her, his anger momentarily forgotten. “Ivy, hey, calm down. What’s going on? Talk to me.”Ivy’s sobs quieted slightly as she looked up at him, her eyes red and swollen.

“Ryan, I didn’t mean for this to happen… I….”Ryan held up a hand, his voice softer now. “Just tell me what happened.”Ivy took a deep breath, struggling to compose herself. “It all started a few months ago… I…I came home one day, and Iris’s door was open. I was curious, so I went inside. That’s when I saw it, Ryan-her sketchbook. It was filled with the most beautiful designs I’d ever seen. They were… perfect.”

Ryan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So you took them?”Ivy nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. “I took them. I know it was wrong, but I didn’t think… I didn’t think anyone would find out. I was under so much pressure to create something new, something that would set me apart from the rest, and when I saw those designs… I just thought they would be my ticket. I thought it would be harmless.”

Ryan felt a sinking sensation in his chest. “Ivy, you didn’t draw those designs yourself?” His voice wavered, trying to grasp the situation.”No,” Ivy confessed, fresh tears streaming down her face.

“They were Iris’s… I didn’t know she’d been looking for her sketchbook. I just… I needed them.”Ryan stood up, pacing the room as he processed the information. “So, the designs you claimed as your own, the ones that brought you all that recognition… they were Iris’s?”

Ivy nodded, her face contorting with guilt. “Yes. I was selfish, Ryan. I know that now.”Ryan’s hands clenched into fists, his mind reeling. “Iris has been tearing this house apart looking for that sketchbook. And you had it the whole time. Ivy, that’s low… even for you.”Ivy’s sobs intensified as she buried her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry, Ryan! I didn’t think it would go this far. I thought… I thought I could get away with it.”

Ryan’s voice shook with barely controlled emotion. “You joined Mum in treating Iris like dirt since she stepped her foot into this family, didn’t you? You stood by while she was humiliated, bullied, and ostracized. And all for what? So you could steal from her?”

“I didn’t mean for it to turn out like this!” Ivy cried, her voice breaking.

Ryan’s jaw tightened as he continued pacing, running a hand through his hair in frustration. His eyes blurred with unshed tears, but he blinked them away, refusing to show weakness at this moment.

“You’ve made Iris’s life hell, Ivy. I can’t believe you. All she ever wanted was a place in this family, but you took every chance to tear her down.”Ivy sobbed harder, her guilt overwhelming her.

“I know I was wrong! I know! I’ll apologize to her. I’ll make things right.”Ryan turned to face her, his expression cold. “You think an apology is going to fix this? Do you think it’ll make up for years of cruelty? Iris is the only one in this family who deserved better, and you made sure she never got it.”His words hit Ivy like a ton of bricks. She curled into herself, her body trembling as she cried.

“Please, Ryan… I’m sorry.”Ryan’s eyes softened, but his voice remained firm. “You should’ve realized this sooner. I hope you understand what you’ve done when the truth finally comes out.”Ivy lifted her tear-streaked face to meet his gaze. “What truth?”Ryan sighed heavily, leaning against the wall as he crossed his arms. “You don’t know the full story, Ivy. None of you do.”Ivy sniffed, wiping at her eyes. “What are you talking about?”

Ryan hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to reveal everything he knew. But after seeing the damage Ivy had caused, he knew he couldn’t hold back any longer. “Iris isn’t just some random girl She’s family. She’s my sister-and yours too.”Ivy’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat.

“What… what are you saying?”Ryan’s voice was low, filled with regret. “Mum’s been hiding the truth from all of us. Iris is Dad’s daughter. She’s been part of this family all along, but Mum kept it a secret because she didn’t want her here.”Ivy’s world tilted as the weight of Ryan’s words sank in.

“No… that can’t be true.”Ryan nodded, his expression grim. “It is.

Ivy stared at Ryan, her heart pounding in her chest.

“How… how do you know this?”Ryan clenched his jaw, the bitterness of the truth cutting through him.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

“So… all this time, Iris was our sister? And I… I stole from her, I treated her like she didn’t belong.”

Ryan’s voice softened. “Yes, Ivy. You did. And now you have to face the consequences of your actions.”Ivy let out a choked sob, burying her face in her hands. “I can’t believe this. I’ve been such a fool.”Ryan took a deep breath, his own emotions swirling inside him. “You need to make this right, Ivy. Not just for yourself, but for Iris too.”Ivy wiped at her eyes, her voice trembling.

“But how? How can I fix this?”Ryan stared at her, the weight of the situation heavy between them. “You have to start by telling the truth. Admit what you did. Apologize to Iris and the world. You need to own up to your mistakes.”

Ivy’s heart pounded with fear at the thought of confessing publicly. “But Ryan, if I do that, my career will be over.”Ryan’s eyes hardened.

“Your career is already hanging by a thread, Ivy. If you don’t come clean, you’ll lose everything-your reputation, your dignity, and any chance you have of making things right with Iris.”Ivy nodded slowly, realizing that Ryan was right. She had to take responsibility for her actions, no matter the cost. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’ll do it. I’ll tell the truth.”Ryan watched her for a moment, his anger fading as he saw the genuine remorse in her eyes. He walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Good. That’s the first step. But don’t expect this to be easy. It’s going to take time to earn Iris’s forgiveness-if she ever gives it.”Ivy looked up at him, her face pale and drawn.

“Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?”Ryan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know, Ivy. But you owe it to her to try.”Ivy nodded, her heart heavy with regret. “I will. I’ll make it right.”

Ryan stood up, his expression distant as he prepared to leave the room. “I hope so. Because the truth always finds a way of coming out.”As he turned to leave, Ivy’s phone buzzed with a new message.