The Contracted Stripper

The hospital’s sterile, quiet air weighed heavily on Mrs. Rose as she walked briskly down the corridor, her high heels echoing against the linoleum floor.

The scent of disinfectant stung her nose, but it was the least of her worries. Her mind was tangled in the chaos of her crumbling family. She had always prided herself on being in control, but now, everything was falling apart, and she could barely keep up.

She arrived at Dr. Parker’s office, her heartbeat quickening as she knocked on the door. The familiar voice of the doctor called her in, and she took a deep breath before stepping inside.

Dr. Parker sat behind his desk, his usual calm and collected demeanor intact. His brown hair was neatly combed, and his hazel eyes flickered with knowing confidence.

He looked up, his gaze locking onto hers as she closed the door behind her.”Rose,” he greeted, his tone neutral but laced with understanding. “I wasn’t expecting you this early. What’s happened?”

Mrs. Rose sighed, running a hand through her hair as she took a seat in the chair across from him. She was trying to maintain her composure, but the strain was evident in her voice. “Everything’s unraveling, Parker. Ken… he’s a shadow of himself.

He barely speaks to anyone, and he’s completely withdrawn. Ivy’s career is hanging by a thread, and she’s locked herself in her room for days, crying her eyes out.”

Dr. Parker leaned back in his chair, folding his hands on his lap.

“And what about Ryan?”Mrs. Rose shook her head, her expression tightening with frustration. “He still hasn’t regained his memory. He’s been slipping in and out of confusion, and every time he sees Bella, he’s more convinced she’s Iris. She’s taken full advantage of his condition.”

“Hmm,” Dr. Parker mused, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And Bella?”

“She’s running the company, or should I say, running it into the ground,” Mrs. Rose spat, her anger flaring up. “She’s taken control of everything, and Ken is too weak to stop her. She’s creating chaos, making decisions that are ruining the business. I’m sure she’s behind Ivy’s downfall, too. She knows Ivy is a threat, so she’s sabotaging her career.”

Dr. Parker was silent for a moment, considering her words carefully. He nodded slowly, leaning forward as he spoke in a low voice. “We need to act quickly, Rose. If we want to regain control, we can’t afford to wait any longer.”

Mrs. Rose’s eyes darkened as she glanced around the room, making sure no one was within earshot. She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

“Do you have the substance? We can’t let this drag on.”Dr. Parker nodded, reaching into a drawer in his desk and pulling out a small vial. The liquid inside was clear, almost unnoticeable, but the power it held was undeniable.

“This,” he said, holding up the vial between his fingers, “will accelerate the process. The injection we gave Ken is working, but it’s slow. He’ll eventually waste away, but we don’t have that kind of time. Add this to his food or drink, and within days, his condition will worsen. He’ll be out of the picture much faster.”

Mrs. Rose’s eyes gleamed as she took the vial from him, turning it over in her hands. The solution to her problems seemed to be right within her grasp, but the weight of her decisions was growing heavier by the second.

“Once Ken is gone,” Dr. Parker continued, his voice steady and assured, “I’ll step in as his best friend. No one will suspect anything. I’ve been by his side for years; it will look natural. With Ken out of the way, we can deal with Bella.

She’s a loose cannon, and we both know she’s responsible for Ivy’s collapse and Iris’s disappearance.”Mrs. Rose’s grip tightened around the vial as she nodded.

“Iris… Bella had a hand in that, I’m sure of it. Ryan has been asking questions, and the more time passes, the more I fear he’ll start to put pieces together.”

“We can use that to our advantage,” Dr. Parker said, his lips curving into a sly smile. “Ryan doesn’t remember anything. Right now, he’s a blank slate. Whatever we tell him will become his truth. Once Ken is out of the way, we’ll have full control over him. He’ll believe what we want him to believe.”

Mrs. Rose’s heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of relief and fear swirling inside her. They were playing a dangerous game, one that could easily spiral out of control if they weren’t careful. But they had come too far to turn back now.”So, we focus on Ken first,” she said firmly, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her mind.

“Then we deal with Bella, and finally, we’ll bring Ryan under our control.”Dr. Parker nodded, his expression serious. “Yes, but we must be swift. The longer we wait, the more risks we take.”Mrs. Rose’s fingers clenched around the vial as she stood up from her chair.

“I’m tired of waiting. Let’s finish this.”Later that evening, Mrs. Rose returned to the mansion, her mind racing with the details of her conversation with Dr. Parker. She entered the grand dining room, where Mr. Kendrick sat at the head of the table, staring blankly at the food in front of him.

He looked even more frail than he had that morning, his once-strong presence diminished into something fragile and broken.”Ken,” Mrs. Rose said softly, walking over to him and placing a hand on his shoulder. “You need to eat.”He didn’t respond, his eyes remaining fixed on the untouched plate of food.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Mrs. Rose sighed, pulling out the chair beside him and sitting down. She looked at him, her heart a mixture of pity and frustration. The man she had once admired for his strength and determination was gone, and in his place was this hollow shell of a person. It almost made what she was about to do easier.

Almost.”I made your favorite,” she said, trying to keep her voice light. “It’s chicken parmigiana. You used to love this dish.”Ken blinked slowly, as if registering her words but unable to muster the energy to respond.

Mrs. Rose bit her lip, glancing down at her pocket where the vial rested. This was the moment. She had to act quickly before anyone noticed. She reached into her pocket and discreetly poured the liquid into Ken’s glass of water, watching as it dissolved instantly.

“There,” she said, her voice soft as she pushed the glass toward him. “Just a little sip, Ken. You’ll feel better, I promise.”Ken didn’t move at first, but eventually, he reached for the glass with a shaky hand and brought it to his lips. Mrs. Rose watched as he took a small sip, her heart pounding in her chest.

The first step of their plan was in motion, and soon, everything would be set into place.

A few hours later, Mrs. Rose found herself pacing the long hallways of the mansion, her nerves frayed and her mind racing.

She couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, the nagging thought that something could go wrong. But she knew they had no other choice. If they didn’t act now, they would lose everything.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she quickly answered it, recognizing Dr. Parker’s number.”It’s done,” she whispered into the phone, her voice trembling slightly.

“He drank it.”Dr. Parker’s voice was calm on the other end. “Good. Now we wait. It won’t take long for him to start feeling the effects. Stay close to him, and make sure no one suspects anything.”

Mrs. Rose nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “I’ll handle it. Just be ready.”She hung up the phone and leaned against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. She had crossed a line-a line she couldn’t uncross-and there was no going back now.

But she couldn’t afford to feel guilty. Not yet. Not until everything was over. The next morning, Mrs. Rose woke up early, her stomach twisting in knots.

She dressed quickly and made her way to Ken’s room, her heart racing as she approached his door. She knocked lightly but received no answer.”Ken?” she called, her voice trembling.

Still no response.

She opened the door slowly, peeking inside. The sight that met her eyes made her stomach drop. Ken was lying in bed, his face pale and his breathing shallow. He looked worse than he had the night before, his condition deteriorating rapidly.

“Ken?” she whispered, rushing to his side and shaking his shoulder gently. “Ken, wake up.”He didn’t stir.

Panic surged through her as she grabbed her phone and dialed Dr. Parker’s number, her hands shaking.

“He’s… he’s not waking up,” she stammered when he answered. “It’s happening faster than we thought.”Dr. Parker’s voice remained calm, but there was a note of urgency in it. “Stay calm, Rose. It’s working. Just keep everyone away from him for now. I’ll be there soon.”

Mrs. Rose hung up, her heart racing. The endgame was fast approaching, but the thought of what would come next sent a chill down her spine. There was no turning back now.