LANAI turned to my mom and said, "I have some savings left—two hundred dollars tha..."She cut me off, impatience lacing her voice. "Is that all?"I knew I had over five hundred hidden away, but I didn't fully trust her, so I nodded and replied, "That is all I have."She quickly said, "Okay, if that’s the case, give it to me."I stood up and went to my room, returning with the money. I barely stretched out my hand when she snatched it from me, thanking me profusely. "Lana, I’m so grateful. I promise I’ll use this money wisely for our better future.""It’s fine, Mom," I said, glancing at the clock. It was already 4 PM, and I worried that Bernardo wouldn’t let me have dinner before insisting we head to the club.Determined to get something to eat, I said, "I’m going out to get some groceries." I was tired of eating noodles all day."Don’t stay out too long; the streets are filled with randy dogs looking for pretty girls," she warned."I won’t," I assured her, putting on my jacket and s
LANAAlthough I didn't go to college, that doesn’t mean I'm clueless. I understood what my stepdad, Bernardo, was hinting at.I stared at him, my eyes wide with disbelief, and raised my voice, "You mean I should let him have sex with me?"A frown crossed his face for a moment, but then he seriously patted my back and encouraged me, "You're so smart, Lana. You figured it out on your own. Hurry up and go in; don't keep him waiting."The corners of my lips twitched. I couldn't believe he saw me that way—as someone who should sleep with any man who wanted me. I felt humiliated and replied coldly, "Why should I sleep with a total stranger?"Bernardo's expression darkened, and he looked at me sternly. His eyes conveyed nothing but threat. "He gave us a lot of money to help pay our bills and buy groceries. Your mom is in debt—whose money will we use to settle all this?"I knew it was only half-true; most of that money would likely be gambled away by him."This isn't a good idea. This is pros
LANAWhy was he laughing?Did he think I was joking? I meant every single word I said.I shot him a serious look as his laughter finally subsided. “I mean it. I’m going to tell her everything.”As soon as I finished, he burst into laughter again, leaving me even more confused. I clenched my teeth in frustration. “Why are you laughing? Does this sound like a joke to you?”He met my gaze with a meaningful look, chuckled again, and casually replied, “Go ahead and tell her. You can even gather some solid evidence if you want. I won’t stop you from doing what makes you happy.”He shrugged, looking more relaxed than ever.My frustration mounted. He flashed me a grin. “Just remember, when you do, you’ll be sharing your salary with her…”Before he could finish, I heard someone call my name: “Lana.”We both turned to see Diana, the lady in charge of the dressing room, approaching us.“Get going, Lana. You shouldn’t be late on your first day. Be earnest and hard-working,” Bernardo chimed in, ru
LANAThat moment marked the end of my struggle; my dislike for him deepened.I glared at him, but he brushed off my hostility, grabbing my arm and dragging me into the room he had booked. When he finally let go, he turned to me with a cold sneer. "Lana, I don’t care if you want to do this or not. You need to listen to me. What I say goes. Go take a bath and get ready. You have twenty minutes. Got it?"His stern gaze pinned me in place before he turned and slammed the door behind him.Frustration bubbled inside me as I gritted my teeth. I was furious, sitting on the bed and refusing to follow his orders. Then, an idea sparked in my mind.With renewed determination, I got up and quietly opened the door, peeking out to find that Bernardo had left.Without hesitation, I snuck out of the room and hurried down the corridor, my eyes darting around.Suddenly, I collided with someone, and I quickly stammered, "Sorry."As I stepped aside, I looked up and found myself face-to-face with the man I
LANAWhen I saw her asleep, I knew she wouldn’t be able to eat, so I quietly entered the room and returned with a duvet, covering her gently before eating her dinner myself.The next morning, I woke up and searched for my mother, finding her in the kitchen, beaming as she cooked.“Lana, good morning! You’re up! You must be hungry. Please wait at the dining table; I’ll have breakfast ready in a few minutes,” she called out, her voice cheerful.Watching her move around the kitchen, preparing breakfast, felt surreal. I had never imagined my mother would cook, and I honestly doubted she knew how. Could she really cook?I blinked and pinched myself, trying to shake off the disbelief. She noticed I hadn’t left and smiled warmly. “Lana, you don’t have to linger. I can handle the cooking and serving.”I nodded and turned to leave, but my heart felt heavy. I knew her too well; she was probably plotting something to be overly nice so early in the day.Lost in thought, I heard her call, “Lana, b
LANAWhen I saw that my mom had opened the door, I felt a wave of relief. But she completely ignored me and dashed toward the bedroom where Bernardo had just entered. I quickly followed, determined to provide proof if Bernardo dared to deny anything.As I reached the door, I heard my mom demanding, "Bastard, where is the money? Where is it?" My heart sank, and I felt a surge of anxiety when Bernardo replied, "What money? I don’t have your money! Get your hands off me!"The bedroom door was ajar, and I could see my mom gripping Bernardo's arm tightly, refusing to let go even as he struggled to break free. His legs were tangled in the gown; he must have been trying to pull it off when my mom barged in.With a sneer of contempt, my mom said, "Do you think I’m a fool? Lana has revealed the truth. You sold her out to men for money! Don’t think you can bypass me and keep it all. She is my daughter! Hand over all of it!"Hearing this, my face turned pale, and my heart shattered into a millio
LANAI reluctantly threw my bra towards him, watching intently to see what he would do with it."Strip naked," an impatient voice ordered.Taking a deep breath, I realized my breasts were bare, and though I was hesitant, I knew better than to defy anyone in the room.I wore jeans, so I grasped the waistband and pulled them down, lifting my legs one at a time before setting them aside. As I reached for my g-string, preparing to pull it down, I heard a voice say, "Slowly."I inhaled sharply and pulled it down at a snail's pace, following their instructions. Once it was off, one of them commanded, "Bend over."I complied.Then another voice said, "Face the door and bend over."Nervously, I swallowed, my heart racing as I feared the unknown, but I followed the instruction. The room fell into an awkward silence, and then I heard a voice groan.That was when I realized they were actually masturbating to my nakedness. I was shocked and confused. Did they really pay so much just to do this?Re
LANAWhen I heard his threat, a chill ran down my spine. I felt terrified because I had no doubt about his words; he seemed like someone who had killed before.As he stepped toward me, I instinctively backed away in fear. He reached out and grabbed my arm, sending a sharp pain through my joint. I groaned in pain, "Aaahh!"As I fell into his arms, he tightened his grip on my neck and lifted me effortlessly with one hand. I struggled, kicking my legs in mid-air.Before I knew it, he tossed me onto the bed. I bounced three times, pain radiating through my body as I stared at him in fear. He looked at me coldly, snorting in disdain."Don't make me repeat myself," he warned, his voice dripping with menace.My heart raced, and I swallowed nervously, feeling flustered under his gaze. He unwrapped the towel around his waist, revealing his hardened cock. My eyes widened involuntarily, and I swallowed again, anxiety washing over me."Take back your money; I don't want to do this," I said, my vo
LANAThe car sped down the streets, and frustration bubbled inside me. I made a quick decision and booked a taxi on my phone. Just as I was about to get in, Pedro approached.“Lana, look at how he abandoned you. He doesn’t care about you like you care about him. What did you do to make him ignore you and—”I spun around, cutting him off. “Shut up!”I didn’t realize my eyes were brimming with tears until I saw the surprise in his gaze. I faced him defiantly. “Why are you doing this? It’s not just hurting me; you’re ruining my happiness. When I was at my lowest, he came to me. He healed me. He gave me a reason to smile…”I wiped my tears angrily. “What you’re doing is trying to come between me and the person who gave me a chance to live a normal life, a chance to love and be loved.”He stood there, speechless. I couldn’t tell if he understood, but all I wanted was to see Maximum and explain everything.As I reached for the car door, Pedro grabbed my wrist. I turned to him, my expression
LANAI thought that would make Pedro give up, but when I returned to school after the weekend, I was taken aback by what happened next.A young man approached me, someone I had never seen before. "After school today, you’re going to get a big surprise," he said mysteriously.“Who are you?” I asked, but he simply turned and walked away, leaving me puzzled and unable to figure out what he meant.As I entered the school through the gate, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of anticipation.Later that day, after school, I began to hear music. A voice was singing, and I couldn’t quite make out the words.“He’s so handsome! Who is he singing for?” I overheard a girl whisper to her friend.A sense of dread washed over me, and I quickened my pace toward the exit. When I stepped outside, I was stunned to see a van parked nearby, surrounded by speakers and musical equipment. A whole band was set up, and there was Pedro, holding a microphone and singing.My heart sank when he spotted me. There was
LANAI instinctively frowned as I looked at the flower bouquet and the card the girl was holding. I already had a good idea of who had sent it."I have a boyfriend," I told her firmly.But she acted as if she hadn’t heard me. "The young man over there wants you to have it," she replied calmly.I turned to see Pedro leaning against a pillar, a smile on his face. He waved at me, then lowered his hand."Tell him I have a boyfriend," I reiterated, then turned and walked away without looking back.After school, I stepped outside to find Pedro waiting for me at the gate. To my dismay, six other people stood nearby, all holding flower bouquets and cards. The sight was overwhelming, and I felt a mix of frustration and discomfort knowing they were all there for me.I approached him, knowing he wouldn’t let me slip away easily."Pedro, why are you still here?" I asked, my irritation bubbling just beneath the surface.He smiled warmly, a look that sent a shiver down my spine. I was used to the c
LANAHis words sent a chill down my spine, and I stared at him, unsure of how to respond.He must have sensed my turmoil because he continued, "Lana, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I tried to keep it to myself, but I couldn’t. You’ve consumed my thoughts—I can’t eat, drink, or think straight. My whole world feels meaningless without you..."I couldn’t let him finish. "Please, stop," I interrupted, my heart racing.He looked at me, disappointment etched on his face. I stood up, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. "You know I have a boyfriend. Did Maximum put you up to this?"He shook his head and stood up too, his gaze steady. "Lana, this is about my feelings for you. It’s not about anyone else. I hope you can understand that."The more he spoke, the more irritated I became. "Just stop, okay? Take me back to where you picked me up."I turned on my heel and walked toward the exit, desperate to escape the chaos in my mind. I was done with this conversation; he was only complicating eve
LANAMy mother smiled gently, and it only fueled my anger. I couldn't stand her hypocritical facade.It hit me hard that she wasn't denying the truth—my heart ached as I realized that neither my biological father nor my mother wanted me.None of them wanted me.My dad had rejected me as an infant.My mom had turned her back on me as I grew older.I thought I could accept this brutal reality, but then the tears came.I hated feeling this way.I looked at my mother, a complete stranger in that moment. She sat there calmly, her face a mask of indifference.In that instant, I understood: my pain meant nothing to her."Are you sending me away just to win his approval?" I asked, my heart heavy with hurt.She stared back at me, her smile a hollow thing, and said, "Stop blaming him."I knew there was no point in talking to her anymore. I turned away, leaving with the remnants of my shattered heart.I was taken aback to see Maximum standing just a few meters away. I had thought he’d gone back
LANAI knew I was wrong, but I didn’t want to admit it.Jealousy gnawed at me, knowing someone else had his heart. He had deceived me, making me feel like a fool.I just stared at him in silence, wrapping the duvet tighter around myself.He ran his fingers through his hair, frustration etched on his face. I could see the anger and confusion in his eyes, and my heart ached for him, even amidst my own turmoil.Turning away, I interrupted him, “Lana, I know I was wrong to test your love and loyalty, b—”“There’s no need to feel guilty,” I cut him off. “I’ve accepted my place in your heart and your life. I don’t want much—please don’t give me false hope.”I slipped off the bed and headed to the shower. After washing up, I emerged to find only breakfast waiting for me.Maximum was nowhere to be found. After I ate, boredom settled in, so I switched on the television.A female reporter appeared on the screen, her voice serious.“Reporting from the scene of a recent crime, authorities are in
LANAShe looked into my eyes with a blank expression and said, "You’re too emotional, Lana. We need to forget the past. There’s a brighter future ahead, and I’ve decided to be a good mother to you and a better person in general."As I stared at her, my heart ached, and tears streamed down my cheeks. Deep down, I knew her changes weren’t for me; they were for my biological father. To her, I was just a stepping stone or an obstacle, and that realization cut deep.I replied, "I don’t see a future with you. I hope you find happiness, Mom."I turned away and reached for the doorknob. Just as I was about to pull it open, I heard her voice behind me. "Lana, if you change your mind, you can come back. I’ll be waiting."In that moment, my resentment for her only grew.Fuck her and her plans for the future.As I stepped out of the ward, I saw Maximum leaning against the wall, hands stuffed in his pockets.When he opened his eyes and turned to me, his expression was blank. I couldn't decipher wha
LANAI opened the door to my mother's ward and found her sitting on the bed, dressed in a clean outfit. For the first time, her hair was neatly styled and treated. She looked so different—so beautiful. I had always known my mom was pretty, but seeing her like this made me realize the version of her I had grown up with was just a shadow of her true self.“Lana,” she called out warmly, a smile lighting up her face. She seemed calm, her voice soft and inviting.I could hardly believe my ears. I never expected my mom to carry herself with such sophistication and grace. In an instant, she felt like a refined lady, a stark contrast to the woman I had known all my life.Confusion washed over me. Why did she look so different? This was not the mother who fought in the streets, who gambled with thugs and could take them down whenever she wanted. This wasn’t the woman who drank herself into a stupor, getting into arguments and causing chaos. That version of her had been a mess, someone I had le
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