LANAWith panic, I bent down and picked up my shattered phone, my heart racing and adrenaline surging through me.The screen was already cracked.Trembling, with tears brimming in my eyes, I asked in confusion and heartache, "What have I ever done to you? Why do you hate me so much?"Bernardo's manic laughter echoed from the other end of the line, mocking me mercilessly. "Lana, I told you you'd regret this. If you had just stayed home and helped me make money, none of this would have happened. You brought this on yourself."Anger bubbled inside me, but I felt helpless. I managed to weakly ask, "What do you want?"His laughter became even more grating as he shouted, "It’s too late, bitch! If you hadn’t sent your sugar daddy after me, I might have considered it. Now, you’ll have to deal with the consequences."He hung up, leaving me standing there, phone in hand, lost in confusion. My heart tightened as I weighed my options.I decided to call him back. My heart raced with anticipation a
LANAThe voice was all too familiar.I turned sharply, locking eyes with a pair of cold ones behind a mask—Maximum.Without thinking, I dashed toward him, not even realizing that Pedro had released his grip on me until I was wrapped tightly in Maximum's arms, burying my face against him."Maximum, who did you say is your girl?" I heard Pedro ask, his tone layered with meaning.I instinctively tensed.Maximum patted my back and replied, his voice icy, "Lana is my girl. Your opinion doesn’t matter."My heart warmed at his words, and I looked up to see his masked face."Your girl? A woman who sleeps with men for money? Are you so unattractive that you had to settle for a well-known New York prostitute?" Pedro taunted.Agitation surged within me. I wanted to deny it, but Maximum's comforting touch eased my tension.He met Pedro's gaze calmly and said, word for word, "As I said, your opinions and ideas are irrelevant and won't change anything."I glanced back at Pedro, whose shocked expres
LANAHe cupped my chin and said, "Your past is your past. You can check online now."As he turned and walked away, I was left in stunned silence, watching him open the door and disappear. When I finally came to my senses, I remembered his words.I quickly pulled out my phone and checked all the major social media platforms, but to my shock, I couldn't find any of the videos or even the trends that should have been there. I was both shaken and exhilarated. I dashed toward the door, eager to find Maximum, but when I stepped outside, his car had already driven off into the distance. Helplessly, I watched it vanish.I called him repeatedly, but he wouldn’t answer. Feeling dejected, I decided to grab a bite at a nearby restaurant. Even as I sat down to eat, I couldn’t focus on my meal, my mind racing. I called him again, but still no response.After paying for my food, I stood up to leave and ran into Pedro.It felt too coincidental, especially with the wicked smirk on his face and the kno
LANAI'm not sure when my emotions spiraled out of control.I sprinted toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck tightly. The embrace felt possessive, and I poured my heart into it.I hadn’t realized how much not seeing him for just an hour had affected me."I'm sorry," I whispered in his ear.In response, he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer.We stayed like that for what felt like an eternity. I lost all sense of time; I just didn’t want to let go."Make love to me," I murmured weakly against his arm.He didn’t reply, but lifted me effortlessly. I wrapped my legs around his waist, burying my head in the crook of his neck.I shut my eyes tightly, ashamed to open them and see the judgmental gazes around us.All I could hear were voices and the sound of his footsteps.“Wow! What a bold couple!” someone exclaimed, their surprise echoing in the air.My cheeks flushed as he carried me to his car. I stayed in his arms, refusing to let go.The driver started the car, and
LANAI knew he was hurt and disappointed, and I didn’t want him to meet my mother for reasons I couldn’t quite articulate. Taking a deep breath, I opened the ward door to find my mother cutting an orange."Lana!" she beamed at me.A wave of disgust washed over me. Her smile wasn’t for me; it was because my biological father was back in her life."When were you going to tell me, Mom?" I asked, my voice shaky before I even realized it.Her expression shifted to confusion. "What are you saying, Lana?"Tears brimmed in my eyes, and I fought to keep them at bay. I refused to give her the satisfaction of seeing me cry. I wiped my eyes and glared at her. "You know what I mean. Stop trying to fool me. He’s the reason you’re in the hospital, right? He’s why you’ve been acting so strange, right? And now you’re trying to be a good mother?"My voice cracked as I finished my tirade, and the weight of my hurt felt like a tight band around my chest.For three long minutes, she sat in silence, her ey
LANAI looked him in the eyes and said, "The Lana you knew is the one my stepdad sold to you. I don’t sell my love or my body."Taking a deep breath, I added, "I love him for who he is, not for his wealth."As I moved toward the door, reaching for the doorknob, he suddenly burst into laughter.Confused, I turned back to him, wondering what was so funny."Lana, who are you trying to fool? Love doesn’t exist. It’s just a lie people use to manipulate and cheat you emotionally," Pedro said, his tone unwavering.Looking into his eyes, I realized he was irredeemable. He had been so broken by love that he had given up on it entirely."No matter how many betrayals and heartaches I face, I still believe in love. We all get hurt loving the wrong people, but when we love those who love us back, we realize love is a beautiful thing," I replied.He fell silent, and I couldn’t tell if he was contemplating my words or simply dismissing them. I desperately wanted to leave.I opened the door and stepp
LANAI glanced at my phone and was surprised to see Pedro’s name on the screen. My eyebrows knit together as I debated whether to answer. Remembering the help he had given me earlier, I took a deep breath and picked up the call.“Lana, there’s something you need to know about Maximum. Meet me at a coffee shop; I’ll send the address by 4 PM,” he said, his voice clear through the speaker.Before I could respond, he hung up. I considered calling him back but decided against it. My eyes drifted to Maximum, who lay on the bed, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.I was filled with curiosity about what Pedro wanted to share. I headed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and prepared for bed.As I lay back on the pillow, I suddenly heard Maximum’s voice. “Don’t worry, I won’t stop looking for you until I find you and marry you.”My heart raced. I turned to face him, hoping he wasn’t the one speaking. But he was the only person in the room.I felt a wave of suffocation wash over me as
LANAI glanced at my screen and saw Pedro was calling.Furrowing my brows, I wondered why he always seemed to call at the perfect moment. I reached for my phone and answered.“Lana, I hope you’re not going to stand me up. I’ve already sent you the address. It’s important to know the truth,” he said, his voice urgent.Nerves bubbled up inside me, especially after hearing Maximum’s words while he slept last night. I opened my mouth to ask why he couldn’t just tell me over the phone, but before I could say anything, he hung up.Frustration washed over me. I lay on the bed, feeling restless. New York felt suffocating without Maximum around. Was I really so dependent on him that his absence made me feel lost?By 4 PM, I had dressed and left the hotel, taking a taxi to meet Pedro.When I arrived at the coffee shop, it was empty except for him, sitting by the window. He turned as I walked in and waved me over, a grin spreading across his face.I took a deep breath and approached, sitting dow
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
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