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
LANAI expected him to be curious and ask me to explain what I meant, but instead he just smiled sheepishly and said, “Lana, I know what you’re going to say: that you’re not a virgin, that you’ve slept with some men for money, and that you’re a stripper at a club.”I was taken aback by how much he already knew. I always knew he had the ability to dig up information, but I was surprised he had taken the time to do so.I shook my head, preparing to respond, but he cut me off. “Lana, I don’t care about your past. What matters to me is your future. I want us to have a future together as husband and wife.”His words left me speechless. I shook my head firmly. “I’m sorry, but I don’t see a future for us.”I turned away, unwilling to engage with a man who lived by the gun. As I walked toward the door, I heard him call out, “Lana, I will never give up on you. I will always love you. Until you change your mind, I’ll keep coming here to show you how much you mean to me.”I ignored him completel
LANAI was surprised when Manager Sam wanted to see me after Bernardo forced me to have sex with him; we hadn’t seen each other since then.I felt uneasy about the meeting, and Jenny noticed my hesitation. She leaned in and whispered, “Manager Sam isn’t a good person.”I glanced at the bouncer, who seemed reluctant to leave unless I followed him. I turned to Jenny and said, “I know.”With that, I walked off with the bouncer who had come to get me. When I arrived at Manager Sam’s office, he opened the door and gestured for me to enter.Nervousness washed over me; this was the first time I would be seeing a stranger without Bernardo. I took a deep breath and stepped inside the office.The bouncer shut the door behind me, intensifying my anxiety. I looked around the dimly lit room, which felt familiar, but I noticed a large couch that hadn’t been there before.“Lana,” I heard Manager Sam call out. That was the first time I truly acknowledged his presence.I looked at him and saw him recl
LANAAt first, I thought I had accidentally entered the male restroom, but then I checked the sign on the doorpost and confirmed it was indeed the female-only restroom. However, my relief quickly turned to dread as a drunken man staggered inside, his eyes lingering on me with an unsettling grin.“Girl, I’ll pay you fifty thousand dollars. Let me have you,” he slurred, his words making my stomach turn.I felt a surge of irritation as I replied, “You’re drunk. Go home and sleep it off.” I tried to move toward the door, but he blocked my path, refusing to step aside. When he reached out to grab me, I dodged him, causing him to stumble.He laughed cynically. “Why act like a virgin when you’re a whore? I’ll give you one hundred thousand dollars. What do you say?”I was furious and smacked his face, warning him, “Don’t spout that nonsense. Get out of my way.”His expression darkened, and he lunged for me again, but I sidestepped him. He lost his balance and fell against the washbasin. Seizi
LANAI was surprised when my mom came home sober. That surprise quickly faded when her face darkened and she muttered, "Those idiots took all my money, claiming I owe them."Hearing that made me wonder what kind of liquor she was drinking. It wasn't the first time she had run into debt, and I wasn’t shocked that Bernardo had stopped mentioning anything about my pay check.Instead, he turned to me, his eyes filled with a feigned concern. "Lana, you must be tired. Why don’t you go to your room and rest?"I saw right through his act; he just wanted me to leave so Mom wouldn’t find out I came home with cash. I started to walk away, but my mom suddenly called out, "You just got back from work, right, Lana?"Before I could answer, Bernardo jumped in. "Yes, she just came back from training. She hasn’t started as a stripper yet; she’s still in training."Mom sneered, "Bernardo, do you think I’m an idiot?"He frowned and shot back, "Why would I call you an idiot? You're the woman I married."I
LANAI wasn’t surprised when Bernardo, my stepfather, hurriedly tried to explain himself. He looked flustered, waving his hands anxiously as he said, “How can I be her boyfriend when I am her father? How is that possible? Think about it!”One of the young man's friends I had offended chimed in, “Chris, this pussy thinks we’re fools.”That was when I learned his name. I stood there in silence, knowing that running away would only make things worse.Chris’s expression darkened as he glared at my dad. He clearly thought Bernardo was trying to pull a fast one. “Whose father follows his daughter, who works as a stripper, to the club?”Bernardo opened his mouth, then closed it, his face turning pale with regret. Even if he had a second mouth, he wouldn’t have been able to explain this mess.He wouldn't have found himself in such a situation if he hadn’t been greedy. Turning to me, he pleaded, “Lana, tell them who I am to you.”I pursed my lips and remained silent. Chris glared at my father
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