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
LANAI sensed something was off when my mom insisted I go into my room right after the doorbell rang.Curiosity got the better of me. “Mom, who’s at the door? Do we have a visitor?”Instead of answering, she grabbed my arm and pulled me into my room. I hesitated for a moment but eventually relented. Once inside, I asked, “Mom, what’s going on? Why are you and Bernardo acting so strangely?”I knew my mom and Bernardo too well; they weren’t the type to pretend everything was fine unless there was something to gain.She feigned ignorance. “What do you mean? Are you saying we’re such terrible people that we can’t change? That we’re irredeemable?” Her frown was fierce.I was too exhausted to argue. I thought for a moment, but I couldn’t figure out who could be at the door. Giving up, I said, “I’m going to shower.”I didn’t wait for her response. After my shower, I stepped out and was stunned to find a new dress laid out on the bed.“When did my mom become so nice as to buy me a dress?” I w
LANAI had to bottle it all up as I picked up my cutlery, doing my best to keep my cool. Watching them flatter Biggy and treat him like some sort of savior infuriated me.“Boss Biggy, you know the economy is tough for low-income earners like us. We’re struggling,” my mother said. “If you could support our family, it would show Lana that you’re serious about her.”I shot her an incredulous look, but then felt a firm grip on my arm. I turned to see Bernardo giving me a warning stare. I swallowed my frustration and bent down to continue eating, but the food had lost all its flavor.Biggy responded, “I love Lana. Ever since I laid eyes on her, I’ve wanted to marry her. If she agrees, I’ll not only support her education, but I’ll also give her a weekly salary. You both will receive half a million dollars a week for your upkeep.”What struck me the hardest was how Biggy knew I hadn’t gone to school. I glanced at my mother, expecting her to react, but she was too caught up in the promise of
LANAHe pulled me by the waist and lay on his back. I straddled him, burying myself in him.Feeling his hard dick beneath me, I threw my head back, gasping, as beads of sweat gathered on my face and body.He reached out, grabbing my breast, and said, “Ride me, baby.”That was all I needed to start rocking my waist on him. I placed my hands on his shoulders and bounced up and down.“Yes, you’re so sweet, baby,” I cried out, enjoying the intense feeling of riding him.He grabbed my butt and began lifting me up and down. We continued until I shook, and he groaned loudly, “Umh... uh...”As he emptied himself inside me, his climax triggered my own, and I collapsed on him, spasming.I lay on his chest, catching my breath. We were quiet for a while, and I absentmindedly traced my fingers over his nipple.Then I remembered why I had come to see him.I looked up at his face, where a soft smile played on his lips. He leaned down and kissed me gently, then asked, “What do you want to say?”Takin
LANAWhen I heard my mother’s words, dread washed over me. I looked at her, stunned.“Lana, please listen to me. Don’t marry Maximum,” my mother urged.I shot back stubbornly, “Mom, stop trying to scare me. I will marry him.”Her expression shifted to one of helplessness. Instead of shock at my rejection, she sighed deeply and said, “Don’t regret this in the future.”With that, she got up and left my room. The following days settled into a monotonous routine. Aside from meals and school, nothing noteworthy happened. My mother barely spoke to me, and my father was hardly around.After my college entrance exam, I returned home to find the house unusually full. Maximum, who hadn’t contacted me in weeks, was sitting in the living room with my father, who we rarely saw.“Princess, come over and sit,” my father beckoned.I glanced at Maximum. His face was expressionless, leaving me unsure of his thoughts. Reluctantly, I walked over and sat beside my dad. He asked with genuine concern, “How
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