LANAAt that moment, I didn't know whether to feel happy or sad. Maximum's jealousy felt like both a blessing and a curse.As another A-list singer took the stage, the crowd erupted with excitement. I stood there, my emotions tangled, when someone nudged me. I turned to see a girl smiling at me. I didn’t recognize her, but her name tag suggested she was a classmate."Lana, you’re really something! First, a guy confessed his love for you by singing in the street, and now the whole crowd is buzzing again. How do you do it?" she asked, her eyes glinting with curiosity.I was at a loss for words."Lana, I think you should pick the richer guy," she said seriously.I looked at her, slightly baffled. "I have a boyfriend," I replied.She scoffed. "What does that mean? Can he love you and treat you like they can?"Frustrated, I decided to disengage from the conversation and made my way through the crowd. Finally, I managed to squeeze out and catch a glimpse of Maximum’s car parked down the str
LANAI sighed, unable to shake my worries. He reassured me, "I'll take you there. If you can't face her alone, I'll go with you."I nodded and replied, "I'll get dressed."Twenty minutes later, we were in the car, heading to the address my mom texted me. It was a newly established restaurant, and I was surprised she could book a premium-gold private room."I want to see her alone," I told Max."Go ahead," he agreed. "I'll wait for you."I leaned over, gave him a quick peck, and stepped out of the car. As I entered the private room, I was taken aback by how stunning my mom looked. Her simple outfit and jewelry made her appear incredibly sophisticated. It was clear she was doing very well."Lana, please take a seat," she said calmly, a smile on her face that spoke of a good life.I sat down across from her, a table between us."Let's have lunch first," she suggested."I already ate before I came. No need to go through all that trouble," I replied.She just smiled, not arguing. Moments l
LANAMaximum stared at me in silence, and I could feel my heart pounding. I'd never been this nervous before; my muscles were tense, and my heart felt like it was clenched tight.I swallowed hard, waiting for his response.When he didn’t reply, my panic grew. “Is the girl you’ve been searching for all these years coming back into your life? Have you found her?” I asked.He studied me for a moment and then said, “Who told you about her?”His question wasn’t important to me. I was desperate to know where I stood in his life, so I pressed on, “That doesn’t matter. Is she back?”He simply replied, “Wait.”I watched him turn and leave the balcony. I thought I could handle this, that I’d be able to move on, but my emotions spiraled out of control. I realized how much I loved him and couldn’t let go.Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face.Hearing his footsteps, I quickly wiped them away. I didn’t want him to see me crying.When he returned to the balcony, there was a smile on h
LANAAt that moment, my heart was filled with joy. I smiled and embraced him tightly, holding him close.He kissed my forehead, and we held each other for ten whole minutes before we reluctantly parted.After dinner, we were in our bedroom when Maximum brought up the topic."Have you made up your mind?" he asked.I turned to him on the bed, my arm around his neck. "I will return, but I have one condition."He looked into my eyes and asked, "What is that, baby?"I replied, "I don’t want to live under the same roof as the man who abandoned my mother when she was pregnant and who just reappeared, expecting us to welcome him with open arms."I expected him to disagree, so I was surprised when he readily agreed without hesitation. "I agree."Looking at his handsome face, I couldn’t help myself. I leaned in and kissed him, and he wrapped his arm around my back, deepening the kiss.I straightened up and tugged at my shirt collar. He helped me out of it, and we tossed it aside. I returned the
LANAI smiled sweetly at him, my heart heavy with emotion."I'm going to miss you even more," I said, my voice thick with tears. We embraced tightly, and I didn’t even notice when my eyes began to redden, warm tears spilling down my cheeks.The thought of spending days without him felt unbearable; I had grown so accustomed to his presence.He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I will come for you, baby," he promised.After we left the swimming pool, we shared a quiet dinner together. Once we finished, I headed up to my room while he stepped out.Sleep eluded me. I lay in bed, eyes wide open, tossing and turning, unable to find comfort.Just then, my phone rang. Without glancing at the screen, I answered, "Hello?"To my surprise, it was my mother on the other end. "Lana, when do you say you’re coming to New York tomorrow?"I replied, my impatience bubbling over, "I’ll be on my way to New York in the morning.""Well, I already bought a flig—"I cut her off, hanging up and tossing my
LANAI was taken aback, unsure of who might show up at my door besides the driver and my mom, who already knew I was back in New York. I didn't have any friends here; Bernardo had made sure of that.Another knock echoed, and curiosity got the better of me. I opened the door, and my eyes widened in disbelief."Pedro!" I exclaimed, my voice a mix of shock and surprise.He flashed a grin and replied, "Lana, you didn’t mention you were coming back! If I hadn’t been keeping tabs on you, I wouldn’t have known."I stood there, speechless. Pedro was the most stubborn person I had ever met, and his determination was something to behold."Can I come in?" he asked, noticing I hadn’t invited him inside.I shook my head firmly. "Of course not."I closed the door slightly but stood in front of it with my arms crossed, demanding, "Why are you here?"He grinned, his expression shifting to seriousness. "To see you, of course."I had anticipated that response, so I shot back, "Now that you’ve seen me,
LANAI stepped out of the taxi and walked up to Pedro, folding my arms as I asked coldly, "What are you doing here?"Pedro flashed me a warm smile and replied cheekily, "I wanted to check on my future girlfriend and see how she’s doing."Realizing he wasn’t being serious, I shook my head and said, "Stop daydreaming; Maximum and I will never break up."He spread his arms and retorted nonchalantly, "You never can tell."Then he turned and walked away without looking back. I furrowed my eyebrows, watching him leave. I didn’t know what Pedro had been hinting at lately, but I was starting to feel wary.I went inside my apartment and lay down on the bed, quickly drifting off to sleep. When I woke up, I felt as if I were being watched. I sat up and turned to see Maximum sitting in the chair.I jumped up from the bed, exclaiming, "Babe!"I ran into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me, and I curled my legs around his waist, burying my head in the crook of his neck, inhaling his familiar sc
LANASeeing the handsome man before me, I understood why my mother had been so captivated by him. Even with age, his charm was undeniable.Now, I recognized where my own looks came from—both my parents were striking in their own ways.I pretended not to know him and asked, "Who are you?"The dragon tattoo on his neck didn’t seem crude; instead, it gave him a wild allure.He grinned and replied calmly, "Lionel, your father."I looked him straight in the eyes and retorted, "I’ve never met you. My mom has only ever introduced Bernardo as my father, so I don’t know you."He smiled, as if he had anticipated my resistance. Glancing at his wristwatch and then at the sky, he suggested, "Why don’t we go inside and talk? The sun will be up soon, and it’s not the best place to discuss what I need to tell you."Reluctantly, I agreed. "Alright."I opened my apartment door, and he stepped inside, taking his time to survey the space. I handed him a glass of water and said, "Please, have a seat."He
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
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.