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?
LANAI reached my breaking point, overwhelmed by my mom’s relentless cursing.“Can you stop it, Mom? What have I ever done to you? Why do you blame me for everything? Will you finally stop when I’m dead?” I shouted, my voice cracking.Tears streamed down my cheeks as I faced her. “Do you think I had a choice about being born? Do you think I would ever choose you as my mother if I could? It hurts so much.”Instead of showing any remorse, she snapped back, “Go to hell! I wouldn’t care if you fell and died!”I stood there, tears flowing, while she muttered angrily to herself. Just then, I noticed Bernardo leaning against the wall, arms crossed.I wasn’t sure how long he had been there, but his expression said it all. He glanced at his watch and then at me, impatience etched on his face. “Time to go, Lana,” he said, turning toward the door without intervening in our argument.I felt foolish for thinking my mom might actually listen or offer support.I turned toward the door and followed B
LANAI ate slowly, and by the time I finished, Pedro had already left. As I stood up from the table, a few women dressed in maid uniforms entered to collect the used plates.Once they were gone, I felt restless sitting on the bed. I got up and walked to the balcony, gazing out at the vast expanse of water as the cruise ship glided smoothly along. The city lights sparkled in the distance, and I lost track of time until I noticed Pedro had joined me, his voice breaking the silence."Enjoying the view?" he asked.My heart raced at his question. I swallowed hard, turning to him. "I do," I replied, my voice trembling.He didn’t respond; instead, we stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. Finally, he said, "Go and sleep. We’ll be leaving at midnight."I turned and headed back inside, lying on the bed. Sleep eluded me, my mind racing with anxiety, so I simply shut my eyes and tried to calm myself.I don’t know how long I was out, but when I opened my eyes, I found Pedro sitting on t
LANAI had never felt so frightened in my entire life. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I pleaded with him anxiously, "Please, don’t do this. I’m scared..."I was in shock when he walked over to his drawer and pulled out a gun. I stopped speaking immediately as he pointed the gun’s muzzle at me.My eyelids trembled, and I felt as though my spirit had left my body.My lips shook as I stared at his expressionless face and the dark muzzle of the gun.“Don’t make me repeat myself,” he said in a deep voice filled with threat and displeasure. “Take off your clothes.”I gulped down the lump in my throat, fear flooding my senses.Without hesitation, I got off the bed and stripped myself naked. He ordered, “Get over here.”I walked over to where he stood.“Take off my trousers,” he instructed.With trembling hands, I undid his belt and pulled down his trousers. He gestured for me to remove his clothes completely, and I complied under his command.Once he was fully undressed, he sat on the sofa a
LANAMy mother looked at me with such intense hatred that I knew I'd struck a nerve.Even though I didn’t want to stay with my father, seeing how restless and angry she was made me reconsider.I had made my decision: I would stay.Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her emotions and, with an expressionless face, calmly said, "Get ready. Your dad has prepared a welcome home party for you."Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed for the door. That’s when I realized the root of her anger.She was furious that my father hadn’t organized a party to welcome her as he was doing for me.How petty and narrow-minded she was! I couldn’t help but burst into laughter."Mom, it seems my dad doesn’t love you the way you want to be loved," I mocked.This time, she didn’t retort. Instead, she opened the door and slammed it behind her.I felt a rush of satisfaction from having the upper hand. Years of feeling suppressed by her made fighting back feel like a release, a way to make her ex
LANAI expected her to hit me, but instead, she lowered her hand and tried to make peace. "Lana, can we move past this and build a better future? Dwelling on the past will only ruin our relationship. Can't you see that?"I grinned because I knew why she hadn't slapped me. She feared my father's reaction. She was only holding back because of him.I sneered, "Mother, why are you so afraid of the truth? You waited for my father because you knew he wouldn’t be a loser like your ex, Bernardo. You’re just greedy and selfish..."She cut me off, yelling, "Lana, that's enough!"Her eyes blazed with anger, and she was trembling with rage.I smiled, chuckling, "Are you angry? That's how you made me feel for years—angry, powerless, with nowhere to vent. I was filled with so much pain."She closed her eyes, trying to regain her composure. "I think you should stop, Lana. You've had your fun. Let's not make things uglier than they are."I gave her a hollow smile, ready to mock her again, but the doo
LANAI was surprised when he brought a glass of water to my lips. As I took a sip, he flashed a smile and said, "As my only child, it's understandable that we know each other well."After taking several gulps, I was satisfied. He took the empty glass and fed me. When I was full, he asked, "Where is your mother?"Before I could answer, the door opened and my mother walked in. I looked at her intently, and Lionel, noticing my gaze, turned to see her.A big smile appeared on his face as he called out, "Darling."My mother replied, "Yes, my honey."I lay back on the bed and said loudly enough for them both to hear, "I want to sleep."I shut my eyes, and soon drifted off. When I woke, my father was gone, leaving only my mother.She looked at me with an annoyed expression. "Lana, stop pretending and get discharged already. I'm fed up with spending days here."I was shocked. I thought I'd only been in the hospital for a day. Her mention of days shook me."How many days have I been here?" I a
LANAHe sneered, "You are the reason I am like this."I gave him a confused look, wondering what he meant by saying I was the reason he was wounded, rather than explaining that he had tried to kiss me.I vehemently resisted, my hands outstretched as I tried to push him off. He held my hands firmly."Stop trying to resist," he said. "You are the reason Maximum's men hunted me down and almost killed me. I'm going to fuck you anyway. I'm about to die, and I wonder how he would react if he knew I gave his woman the best sex before I died."Hearing this, my heart thumped wildly. I swallowed the lump in my throat; those close to death fear nothing."Please, there's no reason for you to throw your life away," I pleaded. "If you let me take you to the hospital right now, you will survive."He looked at me as if I were an idiot and then sarcastically ridiculed, "Going to the hospital? You mean taking myself into the mortuary?"My eyes widened; I didn’t understand him at all.He reached for my
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
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
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 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
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