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
LANAWhen I opened my room door and saw all the contents of my handbag spread out on the bed, it hit me: my mom had taken all the money. I stood frozen in the doorway, staring blankly, feeling utterly powerless as my mind went blank. Once the shock wore off, I angrily grabbed my phone from the bed and called her number repeatedly.She didn’t pick up. Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I pulled at my hair before trudging back to the dining table to eat the food I had prepared, doing so mechanically.I tried again, but this time she had switched off her phone. My restlessness grew, and I couldn’t sit still any longer.I dumped the used plates in the sink and stepped outside our apartment to look for her. The neighborhood was eerily quiet that day.The only sounds came from a few kids playing ball on the road. I approached one of them, a boy named Fred, who I had known for three years.He ran over, abandoning his playmates, a smile on his face. "Aunty Lana, what's up?" he asked."Hav
LANAWhen we entered, he stopped smoking and turned his gaze toward us. My stepfather pulled my arm to keep me from staring at him and bowed respectfully. "Boss Biggy, this is my daughter I was telling you about. Isn’t she pretty?"Before he could finish his question, the overweight man, whom he called Boss Biggy, had already fixed his lewd gaze on me. His eyes were filled with lust, and I could see drool pooling at the corner of his mouth.He wiped the drool away with his large hand and said with a grin, "She is pretty."I was taken aback by his voice; it was so soft it sounded like a six-year-old was speaking.My stepfather straightened up and asked cautiously, "I’ve fulfilled my part of the bargain. Does that mean I can leave without any trouble?"Boss Biggy waved his hand impatiently and replied, "Of course."Then he crooked his fingers at me, beckoning, "Come here, pretty girl."I hesitated, repulsed by the sight of him. But when my stepfather gripped my arm tightly, I winced in p
LANAWhen I heard his proposal, the corners of my lips twitched. I had never seen a man flaunt his wealth so blatantly to win a woman for marriage. It was quite the eye-opener.The offer was tempting, especially since money was my biggest challenge at the time. But I wanted to make it on my own.Accepting his offer would make me no different from my mother and Bernardo. A loveless marriage wasn’t an option for me.I didn’t want a union of convenience that could ruin my children’s lives in the future. I wouldn’t wish my struggles on anyone, not even an enemy.Before I could open my mouth to reject him, he said with a straight face, "I am serious, Pretty. I mean it. If you agree to marry me, we can head to the courthouse right away."I stared at him speechlessly, sensing his nervousness and longing. His low self-esteem only strengthened my resolve.He wasn’t the man I envisioned spending my life with."Look, I'm sorry, I can't. There are millions of women who would want you for your mon
LANAI gripped the fork tightly in my palm, disappointment and anger boiling inside me as I listened to my mother. She was slumped on the floor, her words slurred and heavy with the weight of alcohol."What will love give you? Pain, sorrow, disappointment, heartache—love is a mess! Your life will be a mess if you dream of falling in love and marrying the man you love," she lamented, staring blankly into space as if lost in her own despair.As I faced her, I realized she wasn’t just trying to encourage me to marry Biggy; she was revealing the deep sorrow that had taken root in her heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she continued, "But if you marry for money, you'll have luxury. You won’t worry about what to eat or how to pay the bills. You won’t live in a broken house. And everyone will worship the ground you walk on. You’ll gather attention everywhere, and none of your friends will leave you. You’ll have a lot of friends."She rested her head on the couch, murmuring, "A lot of friends,
LANAMy mom looked me straight in the eyes, her voice sharp as she scolded, "Lana, you're being foolish and naive. Do you really think the world is a bed of roses? It's a killer of dreams. Don't expect a prince charming. You should take the offer while he’s still interested in you—before someone else snatches it away."Her words stung, and despite my earlier guilt from our morning argument, my anger bubbled up. I shot her a disapproving look and replied, "Mom, can you please stop? If someone else wants the offer, let them have it. I don’t want it."I turned to the kitchen, determined to wash the dishes and drown out her voice. But she followed me, relentless. "Lana, why do you have to be so stubborn? Don’t you see that the heavens might be trying to help us? Just marry him, and if it doesn’t work out, you can always divorce him later. Think about all the money and property we could have!"Disgust washed over me as I realized she had been influenced by Bernardo. I finished the dishes i
LANAWhen I heard my mother's response, I realized she might already know she's being deceived by my father. I couldn't understand why she stayed with him, and her decisions baffled me.She laughed bitterly. "You're so smart, Lana, but you'll never understand," she said quietly.I watched her ascend the stairs, looking defeated. I knew she was hurting, but I had no idea how to comfort her. I felt lost in my own dilemma.I went to my room and lay on the bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. I was completely restless.The next morning, I didn't bother looking for Maximum. I realized my life was a mess.I was caught in a conspiracy I knew nothing about.When I got home, the atmosphere was tense, and the weather was gloomy, hinting at rain. Even the mansion staff looked somber.I walked into the living room with my heart pounding. Although it was empty, my unease didn't fade. I showered, ate, and returned to my room.I was sleeping when my mother woke me. Her face was etched with wor
LANAMy father leaned back in his chair, rubbing his forehead in frustration. He clasped his hands on the table and said, "Lana, you should know your mother comes from the Wilson family. Her background and social status are on a different level. The rich don't care about the poor. You should understand this by now."I fell silent, pondering his words. He continued, "The Wilson family is a nightmare. Your mother didn't care about my background; she was interested in me and our love. That's why I never mentioned my family to her."I recalled what Maximum had said about my dad's feud with the Wilsons and his possible manipulation of my mother. My heart skipped a beat.Dad looked me in the eye and asked, "Lana, you believe me, right?"His eyes were filled with expectation, and I couldn't bring myself to express my doubts. So, I lied, "I trust you, Dad."He nodded, dismissing me with a wave. "You must be tired. Go rest."I got up and left his room, but I couldn't shake off the worry about
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