The Contracted Stripper

The atmosphere inside the dimly lit room was suffocating, almost too quiet for comfort.

Iris lay on a small, uncomfortable bed, her hands resting over her swollen belly. She could feel the weight of each breath she took as if the air had become heavy with tension.

The room had become her prison for months now, but lately, she could feel a shift-her time was drawing near.

She winced slightly as the baby inside her kicked, a reminder that she wasn’t alone, despite the loneliness that consumed her.

She was nearing her delivery date, and the nurse who came to check on her regularly had confirmed it during her last visit.

“It won’t be long now, Ms. Iris,” the nurse had said softly, a hint of sympathy in her eyes.

“You need to rest as much as you can.”But how could Iris rest? She had spent the last month locked up in this room, her fate uncertain, surrounded by enemies who were waiting for the moment she became vulnerable.

She knew that once she gave birth, her life would be in even greater danger. Bella’s cruelty knew no bounds, and the fact that Iris was pregnant with a child out of wedlock gave her half-sister every reason to despise her.

The door creaked open, and the same nurse who had visited her before entered the room. She was carrying a tray with some water and medication, her face somber.

Iris sat up slightly, her eyes following the nurse as she approached.”How are you feeling today?” the nurse asked quietly, placing the tray on a small table beside the bed.

“Like I’m about to break in two,” Iris muttered, her voice strained. She glanced at the nurse, searching her face for some hint of what was to come.

“How much longer do I have?”The nurse pressed her lips together before responding. “A few days, maybe less. You need to be careful. The delivery could come at any time now, and you’ll need strength for when it does.”

Iris nodded, though her thoughts were far from comforting. She had no idea what would happen once she gave birth. Would Bella let her live? She doubted it. There had been no communication, no sign of mercy from her half-sister since the day she’d been imprisoned in this room.

Suddenly, the nurse’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at it with a look of concern. After a moment, she slipped it into her pocket and gave Iris a hesitant look.

“I’ll be back later to check on you,” she said quickly before turning on her heel and leaving the room. Iris leaned back against the pillows, closing her eyes as her heart raced. She knew something wasn’t right. Bella was up to something-she could feel it.

In another part of the city, Bella sat in her lavish bedroom, sipping wine from a crystal glass as she paced the floor. Her phone rang, and she glanced at the caller ID before answering.”Yes?” she snapped, her tone impatient.

The voice on the other end belonged to one of her hired goons, the ones tasked with keeping Iris under constant surveillance. “Ms. Bella, the nurse just informed us that Iris is almost due. It could happen any day now.”Bella rolled her eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh of frustration.

“Fine. Keep an eye on her and let me know the minute she goes into labor. I don’t care what time it is-call me immediately.”She hung up the phone without waiting for a response and threw it onto the bed.

Pacing back and forth, she sipped her wine, her mind swirling with dark thoughts.”She’s giving birth to a bastard, obviously,” Bella muttered to herself, her lips curling into a sneer. “I won’t allow her to survive this.”

She paused, looking out the large window that overlooked the city skyline, her reflection cold and calculating in the glass. A cruel smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“She dies after giving birth to the child,” Bella said softly, as though saying the words out loud made them more real. “No loose ends. No distractions.”A dark laugh escaped her lips as she downed the rest of her wine in one swift motion.

The plan was simple. Once Iris gave birth, she would have no use for her anymore. The baby would be dealt with later, but Iris-well, Iris would pay the ultimate price for crossing her. Bella reveled in the thought of her half-sister’s demise, imagining the helpless look in Iris’s eyes as the life drained from her.

Her phone buzzed again, but this time it was her brother calling. Bella picked up, the smug look still plastered on her face.

“Everything is going according to plan,” she said confidently before he could speak. “Iris will give birth any day now, and once she does, we’ll be rid of her for good.”Her brother’s voice was calm on the other end.

“Are you sure you want to go through with this? Ryan’s been asking a lot of questions lately. If he finds out what we’re doing-”

“Ryan is none of your concern,” Bella interrupted, her tone sharp. “He doesn’t have the guts to stop me, memory or no memory. And even if he did figure things out, it would be too late.”

Her brother hesitated for a moment before continuing. “Just be careful, Bella. We’re walking a fine line here. If anything goes wrong, we could lose everything.”

“Nothing will go wrong,” Bella said confidently. “I have everything under control.”She ended the call, tossing the phone onto the bed once again.

For the first time in months, she felt completely in control of the situation. Iris’s time was running out, and soon, the world would be free of her once and for all.

Back in her room, Iris stared at the ceiling, her mind a blur of fear and uncertainty. The baby shifted inside her again, and she winced, placing her hand on her belly to calm the movement.

She knew she was running out of time, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was coming. The door opened again, and this time it wasn’t the nurse-it was one of Bella’s men.

He stepped into the room, his hulking figure casting a shadow over the dim light. Iris felt her pulse quicken, her body tensing instinctively.

“Don’t worry,” the man said, his voice gruff but indifferent. “I’m just here to check on you.”Iris didn’t respond, watching him with wary eyes as he moved around the room, his gaze sweeping over her and the small space. He didn’t say anything else, but his presence was a reminder of how little control she had over her fate.

As the man left, Iris felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing, but her mind wouldn’t stop racing.

She knew that she needed to stay strong, not just for herself but for the baby. But how could she fight when she was so weak, so helpless?

The thought of escape crossed her mind, but the reality of her situation was crushing. Even if she managed to break free from this room, where would she go?

Bella had eyes everywhere, and Iris was too close to giving birth to run far.

A single tear slid down her cheek as she thought of the life she had been forced into-the lies, the betrayal, the constant danger.

And now, her child was caught in the crossfire of Bella’s ruthless ambition.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

As the hours dragged on, the pain in her body grew worse. The baby was coming, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She didn’t know what Bella’s plans were, but she had a sinking feeling that her life was hanging by a thread. All she could do was wait, hope, and pray that somehow, she and her child would make it out alive.

Back in her mansion, Bella poured herself another glass of wine, the anticipation almost too much to bear. She couldn’t wait to get the call that Iris was in labor, to know that soon, her biggest obstacle would be gone forever.

She twirled the wineglass in her hand, her lips curling into a cruel smile.

“Enjoy your last moments, Iris,” Bella whispered to herself, her voice dripping with malice.

“Because once that baby is born, so is your death sentence.”As she raised the glass to her lips, a knock sounded at her door. Bella paused, her smile faltering as she turned towards the noise.

“Who is it?” she called out, her voice sharp. There was no answer. Bella set the wineglass down, her heart suddenly racing. She crossed the room, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor as she reached for the door handle.

When she opened it, the figure standing in the doorway made her freeze in place. It wasn’t one of her men. It wasn’t her brother. It was Ryan. And the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. He remembered.