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
LANAHearing the guests’ chatter, my mother leaned closer to my father and I caught her asking, "Honey, are you going to introduce me too?"I could sense the excitement and anticipation in her voice."Not today, darling. Some other time. Today is all about our daughter," my dad replied.I nearly laughed at his rejection but managed to hold it back.Taking my hand, my dad led me down the staircase. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother’s sullen expression, her glare directed at me.I pretended I hadn’t noticed and continued down the stairs with my dad.A man approached us, holding a glass of wine."Cheers, Lionel! You have such a beautiful daughter," he said."Of course! She has to be beautiful; she’s my daughter," my dad replied with pride.I stood quietly beside him as he chatted briefly with the man before moving on to greet others. I sipped my drink, feeling both shy and proud as my dad showed me off."My baby, you can join them for the masquerade dance. I have something to
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