LANAWhy was he laughing?Did he think I was joking? I meant every single word I said.I shot him a serious look as his laughter finally subsided. “I mean it. I’m going to tell her everything.”As soon as I finished, he burst into laughter again, leaving me even more confused. I clenched my teeth in frustration. “Why are you laughing? Does this sound like a joke to you?”He met my gaze with a meaningful look, chuckled again, and casually replied, “Go ahead and tell her. You can even gather some solid evidence if you want. I won’t stop you from doing what makes you happy.”He shrugged, looking more relaxed than ever.My frustration mounted. He flashed me a grin. “Just remember, when you do, you’ll be sharing your salary with her…”Before he could finish, I heard someone call my name: “Lana.”We both turned to see Diana, the lady in charge of the dressing room, approaching us.“Get going, Lana. You shouldn’t be late on your first day. Be earnest and hard-working,” Bernardo chimed in, ru
LANAThat moment marked the end of my struggle; my dislike for him deepened.I glared at him, but he brushed off my hostility, grabbing my arm and dragging me into the room he had booked. When he finally let go, he turned to me with a cold sneer. "Lana, I don’t care if you want to do this or not. You need to listen to me. What I say goes. Go take a bath and get ready. You have twenty minutes. Got it?"His stern gaze pinned me in place before he turned and slammed the door behind him.Frustration bubbled inside me as I gritted my teeth. I was furious, sitting on the bed and refusing to follow his orders. Then, an idea sparked in my mind.With renewed determination, I got up and quietly opened the door, peeking out to find that Bernardo had left.Without hesitation, I snuck out of the room and hurried down the corridor, my eyes darting around.Suddenly, I collided with someone, and I quickly stammered, "Sorry."As I stepped aside, I looked up and found myself face-to-face with the man I
LANAWhen I saw her asleep, I knew she wouldn’t be able to eat, so I quietly entered the room and returned with a duvet, covering her gently before eating her dinner myself.The next morning, I woke up and searched for my mother, finding her in the kitchen, beaming as she cooked.“Lana, good morning! You’re up! You must be hungry. Please wait at the dining table; I’ll have breakfast ready in a few minutes,” she called out, her voice cheerful.Watching her move around the kitchen, preparing breakfast, felt surreal. I had never imagined my mother would cook, and I honestly doubted she knew how. Could she really cook?I blinked and pinched myself, trying to shake off the disbelief. She noticed I hadn’t left and smiled warmly. “Lana, you don’t have to linger. I can handle the cooking and serving.”I nodded and turned to leave, but my heart felt heavy. I knew her too well; she was probably plotting something to be overly nice so early in the day.Lost in thought, I heard her call, “Lana, b
LANAWhen I saw that my mom had opened the door, I felt a wave of relief. But she completely ignored me and dashed toward the bedroom where Bernardo had just entered. I quickly followed, determined to provide proof if Bernardo dared to deny anything.As I reached the door, I heard my mom demanding, "Bastard, where is the money? Where is it?" My heart sank, and I felt a surge of anxiety when Bernardo replied, "What money? I don’t have your money! Get your hands off me!"The bedroom door was ajar, and I could see my mom gripping Bernardo's arm tightly, refusing to let go even as he struggled to break free. His legs were tangled in the gown; he must have been trying to pull it off when my mom barged in.With a sneer of contempt, my mom said, "Do you think I’m a fool? Lana has revealed the truth. You sold her out to men for money! Don’t think you can bypass me and keep it all. She is my daughter! Hand over all of it!"Hearing this, my face turned pale, and my heart shattered into a millio
LANAI reluctantly threw my bra towards him, watching intently to see what he would do with it."Strip naked," an impatient voice ordered.Taking a deep breath, I realized my breasts were bare, and though I was hesitant, I knew better than to defy anyone in the room.I wore jeans, so I grasped the waistband and pulled them down, lifting my legs one at a time before setting them aside. As I reached for my g-string, preparing to pull it down, I heard a voice say, "Slowly."I inhaled sharply and pulled it down at a snail's pace, following their instructions. Once it was off, one of them commanded, "Bend over."I complied.Then another voice said, "Face the door and bend over."Nervously, I swallowed, my heart racing as I feared the unknown, but I followed the instruction. The room fell into an awkward silence, and then I heard a voice groan.That was when I realized they were actually masturbating to my nakedness. I was shocked and confused. Did they really pay so much just to do this?Re
LANAWhen I heard his threat, a chill ran down my spine. I felt terrified because I had no doubt about his words; he seemed like someone who had killed before.As he stepped toward me, I instinctively backed away in fear. He reached out and grabbed my arm, sending a sharp pain through my joint. I groaned in pain, "Aaahh!"As I fell into his arms, he tightened his grip on my neck and lifted me effortlessly with one hand. I struggled, kicking my legs in mid-air.Before I knew it, he tossed me onto the bed. I bounced three times, pain radiating through my body as I stared at him in fear. He looked at me coldly, snorting in disdain."Don't make me repeat myself," he warned, his voice dripping with menace.My heart raced, and I swallowed nervously, feeling flustered under his gaze. He unwrapped the towel around his waist, revealing his hardened cock. My eyes widened involuntarily, and I swallowed again, anxiety washing over me."Take back your money; I don't want to do this," I said, my vo
LANAWhen I heard Mrs. White's suggestion, I smiled helplessly. She meant well, but my stepfather Bernardo was no better than my mom. Honestly, I couldn't tell who got into trouble faster."I'll do as you said," I replied, thanking her before heading toward the door while dialing Bernardo's number.He didn’t answer on the first ring. It took three tries before I finally reached him."La...n...a," his trembling voice came through the speaker.Hearing it tightened my chest. I immediately sensed that something was very wrong. Of course, he hadn’t looked for me earlier; he was likely in deep trouble."Please, bring some money," he pleaded. "I’m at a casino down the street from your club, and they won’t let me go until I pay them."Hot tears streamed down my face. Why was my life so terrible? Had I committed some unforgivable sin in a past life, prompting the universe to turn its back on me?The more he spoke, the angrier I became.I burst into the phone, "Bernardo, what money? You spent i
LANAI'm not surprised my mom suddenly became arrogant after getting my assurance; she's always been like that.I took a deep breath and reminded her, "You’re not starving in the police station—"Before I could finish, she cut in rudely, "Damn girl, why are you talking so much? Hurry up and get me a better meal! I can’t eat what they serve here. Do you want your mother to die of starvation?"Her words infuriated me, but I bit my tongue and replied with resignation, "Fine, I’ll go get it."I stood up and stormed out of the police station, heading straight to the nearest KFC. I ordered a breakfast combo and returned to the police station.After a routine check, I was allowed to give the food to my mother. As I watched her eat, I reminded her, "Mom, I’m going to the hospital to talk to the family you fought with and plead with them..."She glared at me, interrupting impatiently, "Why are you so long-winded? If you’re going, hurry up! Don’t be an eyesore; I want to eat."I took a deep bre
LANAHearing Maximum's side of the story, I felt a glimmer of hope that the situation was still salvageable.I let out a breath of relief, but then he turned to me and asked, "Do you believe me, Lana?"There was so much hope in his eyes that I couldn’t bear to let him down. I chose my words carefully. "Look, babe, I've been deceived and fooled all my life. It’s hard for me to accept all this, but I trust that you would never lie to me. You wouldn’t, right?"Maximum smiled, though it was tinged with sadness. "It's okay, Lana. I’ll earn your trust back someday. You should go home now; he might make a move if you stay."I hesitated, reluctant to leave. But his warm smile reassured me. "I will come for you, babe," he said softly.I nodded, turning away with a heavy heart. As I stepped outside, I spotted the driver pacing anxiously. When he saw me, surprise flickered across his face, quickly replaced by composure. "Miss, are you done?" he asked tentatively.I could read between the lines.
LANAI thought that by staying silent and ignoring him, my dad would just leave. Instead, he shut the door and strode over to my bed. He sat down and remained quiet for a while, and I hoped he wouldn’t say anything. But then he broke the silence."Lana," he began, "I know you might suspect me—think I’m behind the kidnapping, that I set up Mark for this."He paused, taking a sharp breath. "I’ll admit, I wanted Maximum dead. But not at the cost of your life. I won’t put you in danger to achieve my goals."My heart raced. I had never expected him to confess that he wanted Maximum dead. I wanted to pretend to sleep, but I couldn’t keep my composure any longer.Then, to my shock, he continued. "I know you’re listening and questioning why I want him gone. He hasn’t told you, but that bastard did something unforgivable. I won’t rest until he pays."I froze at his words, feeling a chill run down my spine. He sneered, "He killed my brother, and he has to die. Goodnight, my princess."In that m
LANAMaximum didn’t finish what he wanted to say, but I could sense his meaning, and it shook me to my core.He turned off the television and walked toward me, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. “Don’t be scared, Lana. I promise I’ll come for you. We’re going to get married.”I looked into his eyes and nodded. “I believe you,” I replied softly.A smile spread across his face, and he kissed my forehead again before saying, “You can leave now.”I felt a wave of reluctance wash over me, but I knew that staying would only provoke my father further. I turned toward the door, glancing back more times than I intended.As I descended the staircase and stepped outside, I was met with a scene of chaos: rows of police cars lined the street, and helicopters hovered above.A small smile tugged at my lips; I never imagined such a grand display was all for my return.My gaze swept over the crowd until I spotted my dad, deep in conversation with someone. When he noticed me, he abruptly halted
LANABefore I could escape, Mark grabbed my arm. I tried to push him away, screaming, "Let go of me!"He turned and slapped me hard across the face, leaving my head buzzing. "If you don't want to get hurt, you'd better cooperate and behave."My ears rang from his fierce warning, and I struggled to keep my eyes open as he dragged me down the mountainside.When I looked around, he was already pulling me into a cave. Armed men with guns surrounded us, and I knew I had to plead for mercy. "Mark, think of your friendship with my dad. Please let me go."He laughed, looking at me with disdain, then ordered his men, "Tie her up."He shoved me to the ground, pain shooting through my body from the impact. I looked at him with resentment, but he ignored me and walked away.Once I regained my senses, I found myself being tied up with ropes. No matter how much I struggled, they easily restrained me and forced me into a corner.I had lost track of time in the dark cave. My body ached, and exhaustio
LANAI didn't completely trust what Maximum had said about my father, but in that moment, I realized it was crucial to help my mother break free from her one-sided love for him.I took her hands, and for a brief moment, she seemed present. To my surprise, she smiled brightly, and I felt a flicker of confusion at the sudden warmth in her expression."Mom," I said softly.Suddenly, her eyes filled with tears as she replied, "I’ve been waiting for this moment, Lana—the day you finally forgive me."I was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.I squeezed her hands gently and said, "Mom, what if you’ve been living a lie? What if everything you believe about Dad isn’t true?"Her expression shifted to one of confusion, and I realized she had no idea what I was trying to convey. I pressed on, "Consider this: what if Dad doesn’t love you? What if he’s been using you to achieve his own goals? What if—"Before I could finish, she jerked her hands away, her eyes narrowing with fury.She lea
LANAAfter living with my mother for so many years, I could easily tell when she was lying; her body language gave her away.I sneered, "Stop trying to fool me, Mom. The Lana you knew is gone. If you think I’ll fall for your lies, you’re dreaming."My mom wasn’t shocked. Instead, she became furious and snapped, "What kind of daughter are you? Aren’t you worried that your father hasn’t kept his promise? He hasn’t even introduced me as his fiancée to any of his friends, but he’s been flaunting you around?"I shrugged nonchalantly. "Not my problem, Mom. You’ve spent years in street fights and passed out drunk in bars. Do you think Dad wants to show you off with that history?"She froze at this, and I realized she’d either forgotten her past or was choosing selective amnesia. Did she think her past actions were forgotten just because she claimed to have changed?With a sigh, she asked, "Lana, are you going to judge me like everyone else?"I yawned, stretched, and replied, "Mom, I’m tired.
LANAStanding behind me was Maximum, my boyfriend, wearing an expressionless face. He reached out and pulled me into his arms, and I buried my face in his chest, feeling a mix of comfort and tension."Stop trying so hard. I will never let you have her," Maximum warned sternly, his voice low.I turned to glance at Mark. His face was dark, fists clenched tightly, clearly furious that Maximum had interrupted."Stop acting arrogant. You’ll never be able to marry her. The more you try to ruin my plans, the more painful it will be when I finally take her to the altar as my wife," Mark replied confidently, a smile creeping onto his face.I was taken aback by his stubbornness. Did he really think he could have me despite my relationship with Maximum? He certainly had a big heart."Really? You’re sure I can’t marry her?" Maximum retorted playfully, a glint in his eye."Yes, you can’t," Mark shot back confidently.Then, in a shocking twist, Maximum dropped to one knee. The music in the backgrou
LANAWhen I heard the news, I was speechless. Though I had never shown much interest in my dad's business, I knew that Lionel's Corporation was publicly traded and ranked among the top twenty companies in the state."Dad, you don't need to do this..." I tried to reason with him, but he replied firmly, "You are my princess. You deserve this and more."I stood there, unsure of what to say next. My dad was incredibly stubborn; once he made up his mind, there was no changing it. I finally resigned myself to the fact that he wouldn’t be taking back the shares."Lana, are you coming home with me?" he asked.I hesitated. I didn’t really want to go back, but since he had made the effort to come to my place and made promises, I replied, "Let me just tidy up here, and I’ll come with you."He smiled and said, "Dress up! I’ll pick you up in an hour."Before I could ask where we were going, he had already left. I quickly cleaned my room, then headed to the bathroom for a shower, knowing my dad’s p
LANAI had no idea when I drifted into a deep slumber, and I couldn't recall if he had answered my question.The next morning, I was jolted awake by heavy footfalls and the forceful swing of my door.I sat up to see my dad bursting into my room, flanked by a team of security personnel. He looked down at me with a cold stare. "Where is he?"I rubbed my sleepy eyes, still groggy from sleep, and stammered, "Who?"Ignoring my question, he barked at the security team, "Search the room."Panic surged through me as I remembered last night—Maximum had been with me, and we had sex. My heart raced when one of the guards opened the bathroom door."Dad, why are you invading my privacy?" I shot back, standing up in a mix of anger and anxiety.He glared at me, unfazed, and scoffed, "Where is he?"Frustration bubbled over. "Can you take a break, Dad? He’s not here. Just stop this madness! If you don’t want me in your house anymore, I’ll leave!"With that, I stormed out of my room, hoping he would or