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
LANAI was jolted awake when my mom burst into the room, her voice a mix of shock and concern. Glancing at the clock, I realized it was already 9 AM, and I was taken aback by how long I had slept.“Oh my God, Bernardo! What happened to you?!” she exclaimed, rushing to the bedside. I leaned against the wall, silently observing, surprised by how caring my mom could be.When Bernardo didn't respond after her repeated questions, she turned to me, her brow furrowed. “Lana, why is your father in a hospital bed?”I shrugged. “I don’t know.”Her eyes narrowed, and she confronted me directly. “Someone told me you were with him when he was admitted to the hospital.”I was momentarily stunned, trying to figure out how she knew. Then I remembered Rose, the neighbor who worked at the hospital and had a knack for spreading gossip.Before I could say anything, Bernardo struggled to shift his position against the wall. Despite his discomfort, he managed to speak. “Lana sent his boyfriend to beat me u
LANAI took the gift bag and returned home with me, after I stopped a taxi, I hopped in and we immediately sped off.On getting home I didn't find my mom, even till dusk that I cooked dinner and also took some to my step-dad who was still in the hospital.His condition has improved, and recently he has become even more annoying and irritating than before.When I opened the ward door he was resting the back on his hand on his clasped fingers, and then whistling, he looked towards me with a smile."Lana, you have been at your best behaviour after you realise that I have recovered perfectly fine, huh?" he said with a smile that wasn't a smile.Only the sight of his smug face disgusted me, and I wasn't in the mood to entertain his arrogance, so I retorted "Mom is out of police custody"When he heard this his eyes widened and he looked dumbfounded, he looked at me doubtfully and replied suspiciously "You are not lying to me, so that you will get away from your previous bad behaviour right?
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
LANAI watched him narrate his struggles, his emotions palpable, and I couldn’t hold back my own tears. I broke down and embraced him tightly.“Dad, that’s enough. I’m not blaming you for anything,” I said, my voice trembling.He patted my back, reassuring me. “Lana, I promise I’ll call it quits when the Wilson family shows no interest in settling scores with me anymore.”Hearing those words filled me with relief and joy. No one had ever made such a sacrifice for me, and he did it without me even asking.“Thank you so much, Dad,” I said, reaching out to embrace him again.He stood up, but halfway to the door, he paused and turned to me.“Lana, do you know why I don’t want you to end up with your boyfriend, Maximum?” he asked, his expression serious.This was the answer I’d been waiting for. “I don’t, Dad,” I replied, eager to hear him out.He sighed, a deep, rueful sound. “I don’t want to end up a widow or be killed by a psychopath in the street. The life of a mafia is unpredictable.
LANAMaximum walked over and sat beside me, turning around with a smile. I returned the gesture, and he asked, "How are you doing, my love?""Perfect," I replied, grinning.He continued, "The food is going to get cold. Your father paid a lot for these delicacies; he’s truly a good man."Across the table, Mark was seething, his anger evident as his nostrils flared. I couldn’t decide whether to feel sorry for him or to laugh."Maximum, why are you still fighting against the inevitable? You know it’s impossible for you two," Mark said coldly, his forehead veins bulging.Maximum shot him a lazy look and replied, "There’s no other option. She and I are meant for each other. Don’t worry—when the wedding invitations go out, even the inconsequential will get one."Mark’s fury boiled over as he slammed his fists on the table and shot to his feet. With intense anger in his eyes, he sneered at Maximum, "Don’t get too cocky. Soon, they’ll come for you, Maximum. And I’ll be right here, ready to la
LANAWhen I heard my dad's comments, I was puzzled by his dislike for Maximum. Could it be jealousy, now that we had just reconciled and a man was at the door wanting to whisk me away? His recent behavior was confusing."Dad, why don't you like Maximum?" I finally asked.He looked at me intently before replying, "Lana, he isn't a good man, and he’s not the right man for you. Just look at Mark—his family background, his career, his looks, and his abilities. He’s a much better choice than Maximum."I frowned at his dismissive tone; it bothered me how he talked down about Maximum."I'm tired, Dad. I just want to go to bed," I said, excusing myself as I walked into the mansion.Once in my room, I quickly fell asleep.The next morning, a knock echoed through my apartment. When I opened the door, I was taken aback to see my mom standing there.I raised an eyebrow, skeptical.Her expression darkened, and she demanded, "Are you not going to let me in?"I stepped aside, letting her enter, and