The Contracted Stripper

Ivy sat quietly in the living room, her mind still trying to process everything that Ryan and Luca had just told her. Mrs. Jessica’s revelations had come as a complete shock, shaking the very foundation of what Ivy thought she knew about her life.

Ryan leaned back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke, his voice low and serious. “It was all true, Ivy. Jessica told us everything. You and Iris are twins-separated at birth.”

Luca sat beside Ivy, his expression sympathetic but cautious. He had been there when Mrs. Jessica explained the whole story, and though he had prepared himself for Ivy’s reaction, nothing could have truly readied him for the emotional whirlwind she was now going through.

Ivy’s heart pounded in her chest as she stared at Ryan in disbelief. “So… so what you’re telling me is that Iris is my twin sister?” She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. “That’s why everyone always said we looked alike?”Ryan nodded slowly.

“Yeah, that’s exactly why. You two were separated at birth… for reasons we’re still piecing together. But Jessica, she’s your real mother.””No, no, no…” Ivy whispered, her voice growing louder with every word as she clasped her hands over her head. “So Mom-Rose-she’s not my real mother?”Ryan exchanged a glance with Luca before answering.

“No. Rose isn’t your biological mother. Jessica is.”Ivy’s breath hitched as she felt a wave of nausea hit her. Her entire life had been a lie, and the woman she had called “Mom” all these years wasn’t even related to her by blood.

The realization hit her like a freight train.”So, I’ve been living a lie this whole time?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“All these years, and no one told me? Not even Jessica?”Ryan’s jaw clenched as he tried to navigate the delicate conversation. “Jessica didn’t have a choice. Rose and Kendrick took you and Iris away from her after you were born. She’s been living in the shadows, trying to protect you both from the Kendricks.”Ivy’s head was spinning.

“But why? Why would they separate us? What could they possibly gain from it?”Luca spoke softly, choosing his words carefully. “It’s complicated, Ivy. There’s a lot about the Kendricks that we’re still trying to uncover. But one thing’s for sure: they didn’t want Jessica in the picture. They wanted you and Iris for their reasons.”Material © NôvelDrama.Org.

Ivy’s mind reeled with questions, her emotions a chaotic mix of anger, confusion, and sadness. “So all those times I looked in the mirror and saw Iris’s face staring back at me… it was because we’re twins?”

Ryan nodded again, his expression grim. “Yeah. And Jessica… she’s been watching over you both for years. She’s the reason you and Iris are still alive.”Ivy’s chest tightened, tears welling up in her eyes. She could feel the walls of her reality crumbling around her.

“But how could Rose do this? She raised me, acted like I was her daughter. How could she lie to me like that?”Ryan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don’t know, Ivy. Rose has always had her agenda. But now that we know the truth, we have to figure out what to do next.”

Ivy felt her world collapsing in on itself. She had always been the confident, outspoken one-the twin who thrived on attention and had no time for sentimentality. But now, everything she thought she knew about her life was unraveling.”Do you know what this means?” Ivy said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m not just the spoiled Kendrick daughter anymore. I’m Iris’s twin sister. I’m-” She paused, choking back a sob. “I don’t even know who I am anymore.”Luca reached out to gently place a hand on her arm, trying to offer some comfort. “You’re still Ivy,” he said softly. “That hasn’t changed.”Ivy pulled her arm away, standing up abruptly, her head pounding with the weight of it all.

“But it has changed! Everything’s changed! I’m not who I thought I was, Luca. I’m… I’m a stranger to myself.”She began pacing the room, her breathing growing more erratic. The revelations were too much for her to handle, and as the questions piled up in her mind, she felt the overwhelming urge to scream.

“Was I nothing more than a pawn in their game? Is that all I’ve ever been?” Ivy’s voice cracked as tears spilled down her cheeks. “I thought I had control over my life, but I don’t. I never did.”

Ryan stood up and approached her cautiously. “Ivy, I know this is hard. Trust me, I’m still processing everything too. But we need to stay focused. We have to figure out how to deal with Rose and Kendrick. They’ve been lying to both of us and now we have the chance to expose them.”

But Ivy couldn’t hear him anymore. Her mind was racing with thoughts, memories, and flashes of everything she’d been through. The endless competition with Iris, the way people always compared them, the strange connection she’d felt with her-it all made sense now. But the truth was more painful than she could have ever imagined.

“Jessica is our mother,” Ivy whispered, more to herself than to Ryan and Luca. “Iris and I were separated… we were supposed to grow up together.”She clutched her head, the weight of the revelation crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

“No… no… this can’t be real.”Luca stepped forward, worry etched into his features. “Ivy, calm down. It’s a lot to take in, but you’re not alone. We’re here to help you through this.”But Ivy couldn’t calm down. She couldn’t breathe.

The room was spinning, and her legs felt weak beneath her. Everything was unraveling too fast, and she couldn’t keep up with the torrent of emotions flooding her senses.”I… I can’t…” Ivy’s voice wavered as her vision blurred. The world around her seemed to fade, and the next thing she knew, her knees buckled beneath her, and everything went black.

Luca was the first to react, rushing forward as Ivy collapsed to the floor. “Ivy!” he shouted, kneeling beside her and gently cradling her head. “Ivy, wake up!”Ryan stood frozen for a moment, his mind racing as panic set in. “What the hell just happened?”

“I think she’s in shock,” Luca muttered, checking her pulse. “We need to get her to the room.”Ryan quickly snapped out of his daze and helped Luca lift Ivy’s limp body. Together, they carried her to a nearby guest room, laying her down gently on the bed. Luca pulled out his phone and dialed the doctor’s number.”

She’s been through too much today,” Luca said as the phone rang. “Her mind just couldn’t take it.”Ryan paced back and forth, frustration and concern warring on his face. “We shouldn’t have told her everything at once. She wasn’t ready for this.”Luca shook his head as the doctor picked up.

“It wasn’t about being ready. She needed to know the truth.” He explained Ivy’s condition to the doctor and gave him the address, urging him to come quickly. Once the call ended, Luca turned back to Ryan. “The doctor will be here soon.”Ryan leaned against the wall, his hands in his hair, guilt gnawing at him. “Ivy’s tough. I thought she could handle it. But I didn’t realize how deep it would cut.”

“She’ll be okay,” Luca said, though his voice was uncertain. “But we need to be prepared for what happens when she wakes up.”Ryan narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. “You think she’ll freak out again?”Luca sighed. “I don’t know. But finding out that her whole life was a lie? That she’s Iris’s twin? That Rose isn’t her real mother? It’s a lot for anyone to handle.”

Ryan stayed silent for a moment, his jaw clenched. “We have to make sure she’s okay. And then… we deal with Rose.”Luca glanced at Ivy, who lay motionless on the bed, her breathing shallow but steady.

“One step at a time, Ryan. First, we get her through this.”An hour later, the doctor arrived. He examined Ivy carefully, checking her vitals and ensuring that she hadn’t suffered any physical injuries from the collapse.”She’s in shock,” the doctor confirmed, his voice calm and professional.

“Her body is reacting to emotional trauma. She’ll need rest and some time to process what she’s been through.”Ryan nodded, his face etched with worry. “Will she be okay?”

“She’ll recover physically,” the doctor said. “But emotionally… that’s a different story. Be patient with her. Let her come to terms with everything in her own time.”

As the doctor left, Luca and Ryan stood by Ivy’s bedside, their minds heavy with the weight of the situation.”She’s going to wake up eventually,” Luca said quietly.

“And when she does, we need to be ready to help her through this.”Ryan’s gaze hardened. “I’ll do whatever it takes. But Rose… she’s going to pay for what she did to us.”Luca’s expression was grim. “We need to be careful. Rose isn’t going to go down without a fight.”Ryan nodded slowly, his fists clenched