The Contracted Stripper

Mrs. Rose sat in her chair, a wicked smile playing on her lips as she dialed Sarah’s number. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the armrest, the room dimly lit by the hospital bedside lamp.

Ken’s unconscious figure lay in the background, but her mind was elsewhere-focused on the game she had been playing behind the scenes.

As the phone rang, she already knew what she wanted to say. She had kept Sarah under her thumb for too long, and now it was time to either reel her back in or cut her loose entirely. The voice on the other end finally answered, a bit agitated. “Hello? Mrs. Rose?”

“Hello, Sarah,” Mrs. Rose said smoothly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “What has been going on between my son and Bella lately? You promised me updates, but I haven’t heard anything from you in a while. I hope everything is alright.”

There was a brief pause, and then Sarah’s voice took on a sharp edge. “Well, that’s because you haven’t fulfilled your end of the deal. I think I’ve had enough, Mrs. Rose. I’m tired of sneaking around and spying for you. I want my balance so I can leave. I’m done.”

Mrs. Rose’s smile widened as she leaned back in her chair, fully expecting this moment. She had been preparing for Sarah to try and make a break for it, but she wasn’t the kind of woman to let anyone walk away easily.

“Is that so?” she said, her voice still sickly sweet. “Well, okay. Let me know when you plan on leaving.”Sarah hesitated, clearly not expecting Mrs. Rose to agree so quickly.

“As soon as possible,” she replied, her tone almost cautious now.”Hold on,” Mrs. Rose said, cutting her off. She ended the call without another word and quickly opened her banking app, transferring the remaining balance directly to Sarah’s account.

With the payment made, she dialed Sarah again. This time, the phone barely rang once before Sarah picked up.”Thank you,” Sarah said immediately, though there was a dark undertone to her voice.

“But I’m sorry to surprise you, Mrs. Rose. I’m still going to expose you.”Mrs. Rose’s smile didn’t falter, even as Sarah’s words sent a wave of irritation through her.

“Expose me? But you said you wanted to leave, Sarah. I just paid you off, as we agreed.”Sarah’s laugh was cold and hollow.

“Well, Mrs. Rose, it’s like you always said-you can’t trust anyone. I learned from the best, after all. You never know who’s real.”

The call ended abruptly, leaving Mrs. Rose staring at her phone with a mixture of frustration and amusement. She should have known better than to trust Sarah, but it didn’t matter. She had already prepared for this outcome.

Seconds later, her phone pinged with a notification. She glanced down at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw it. Message sent.

“Good,” she whispered to herself, her smile returning as she pocketed her phone. Sarah had made a grave mistake if she thought she could outsmart her.

But she had to tread carefully. Ryan couldn’t find out about her plans-not yet, at least.

Meanwhile, Ryan stood in the middle of his father’s study at the mansion, his mind still racing from the events at the hospital. He had come home hoping to find some sort of clue, some explanation for his father’s sudden collapse.

But all he had found were old files, family photos, and endless frustration. Just as he was about to give up, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out, his brows furrowing as he saw the message: Your mother has a lot to tell you. Ask her.

Ryan stared at the screen, confusion and suspicion swirling in his mind. Who had sent this? And what could his mother possibly be hiding? His thumb hovered over the screen as a million thoughts raced through his head.

The message had no name, no number, just those cryptic words. He tried to think back to the last time his mother had done something unusual. The way she had been so composed at the hospital despite their father’s condition-it didn’t sit right with him.

His phone vibrated again, and this time, it was a call. The unknown number flashed on the screen.

“Hello?” Ryan answered, his voice wary.”Ryan came to the voice from the other end. “You don’t know me well, but I’ve been working for your mother for a while now. And there’s something you need to know.”

Ryan’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you talking about?” “You’re not going to like this,” Sarah continued, her voice tense. “Your mother’s been manipulating a lot of things-especially when it comes to your father and Bella.All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

“Ryan’s grip on the phone tightened. “Manipulating how?” You need to confront her, Ryan. Before it’s too late.”Ryan’s mind spun as he tried to process what the voice was saying. “Why should I believe you?”Sarah’s voice cracked with urgency.

“Because I’m the only person willing to tell you the truth. She’s dangerous, Ryan. You need to open your eyes.”The call ended just as quickly as it had started, leaving Ryan standing there in stunned silence, his heart pounding in his chest.

If what the person on the call was saying was true, then his mother had been playing a dangerous game-one that could cost them all.

Without wasting another moment, Ryan grabbed his jacket and rushed out of the study, his mind set on confronting Mrs. Rose. He couldn’t let this slide, not if it meant his father’s life was at stake. Back at the hospital, Mrs. Rose stood in the hallway, gazing out of the window with a serene expression on her face.

She felt a strange sense of satisfaction, knowing she had Sarah in check and that everything was under control. Or so she thought.

Just then, her phone buzzed again. She opened it to see an unfamiliar number flashing across the screen. With a sigh, she answered the call.”Hello?” “Mrs. Rose,” the voice on the other end said, slow and deliberate.

“You think you’ve won, don’t you?”Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized the voice. It was Sarah again.

“What are you talking about?” Mrs. Rose asked, her voice firm, though her pulse quickened.”You may have paid me off, but this game isn’t over yet,” Sarah replied. “I just sent Ryan a little message. He’s on his way to see you now. You better be ready to answer some tough questions.”

Mrs. Rose’s grip on the phone tightened, her knuckles turning white. “You did what?” she hissed, her calm facade slipping for the first time.”You heard me,” Sarah said, her tone smug. “And there’s more to come. Good luck explaining yourself.”

The call ended, leaving Mrs. Rose staring at her phone in shock. Her mind raced as she tried to figure out her next move. She hadn’t anticipated Sarah being this bold, and now her son was about to confront her.

With a deep breath, Mrs. Rose put on her most composed expression and turned back toward her husband’s room. She couldn’t afford to lose control now. Not when everything she had worked for was hanging in the balance.

Just as she stepped into the room, she heard footsteps approaching behind her. She turned to see Ryan standing in the doorway, his face a mixture of confusion and anger. “Mom,” Ryan said, his voice low and controlled, “we need to talk.”Mrs. Rose met his gaze, her heart racing but her face perfectly calm.

“Of course, dear. What’s on your mind?”Ryan stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he searched her expression for any sign of the truth. “I just got a message-someone said you’ve got a lot to tell me. What’s going on, Mom? What aren’t you telling me?”

Mrs. Rose’s mind raced, but she kept her expression neutral. “Ryan, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who sent you this message?”Ryan pulled out his phone and showed her the screen.

“No number, just this. Is that true?”Mrs. Rose felt her stomach drop, but she didn’t flinch. “Ryan, that’s absurd. The person is just trying to stir up trouble. You can’t believe everything people say; they are just trying to tear our family apart.”

“Then explain it to me,” Ryan demanded, stepping even closer. “Explain why they say something like that. And why I feel like I can’t trust you anymore.”Mrs. Rose stared at her son, feeling the pressure of the moment closing in on her. She needed to find a way out, a way to control the narrative before everything unraveled.

But before she could respond, the door to the room swung open again, and Ivy stepped inside, her expression as cold as ice. She had overheard the conversation, and now she stood beside Ryan, her arms crossed.

“Mom,” Ivy said, her voice sharp, “it’s time to come clean. We know something’s going on, and we’re not leaving until we get answers.

“Mrs. Rose looked between her two children, her carefully constructed world teetering on the edge of collapse. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came