In the days that followed, Lana existed in a haze of pain and shame, her body aching from the brutal treatment it endured each time, she display her defiance.
Nicholas kept her close, his presence a constant, suffocating presence in her life.
He had mike brought her meals and clothes, like a master tending to a pet.
But she was not a pet.
She was a prisoner, a captive in far away from home, a slave to his twisted desires.
And with each passing day, her will to resist grew weaker, her spirit more broken.
The phone vibrated in her pocket, a stark reminder of the life she had left behind.
The message was from Abigail, one of the cast of her last movie, abigeal is a B-List actress.
She took a liking to Lana and regard her as a friend unlike the other cast and crews.
She had chatted her up, about the movie premiere, this was the first time, she was invited to one.
the movie premiere was tonight. She could almost taste the excitement of being on the red carpet, the applause of the audience, the roar of the cameras.
But the feeling was crushed . Now, she was a prisoner, a slave to his twisted desires.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself against the memories that threatened to overwhelm her.
She had to focus.
She had to survive.
She couldn't let him break her, not completely.
And she won't put her brother in danger, especially when Nicholas had him under surveillance 24/7.
Lana crumpled onto the bed, her sobs wracking her body as tears streamed down her face.
Her father had caused this; he had betrayed her and fled, leaving her to suffer the consequences. If only her mother were still alive.
If only their life was like before, when her mother was alive.
They had been happy then.
They had had money and lived a good life.
But after her mother died, everything fell apart.
Their properties were seized, their father jobless and irresponsible.
Lana had to drop out of university and work to support her brother.
And now, here she was, trapped in this luxurious prison with a man who saw her as nothing more than a trophy to be displayed and possessed.
She had traded one nightmare for another.Lana wiped the tears from her face, her hand shaking with anger and frustration.
She couldn't give up, not yet. She had to find a way out, to escape this hellish existence.
She had to survive for her brother, for herself.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to stand.
She would not be broken, not by Nicholas or anyone else.
Lana knew the stakes were high. If she tried to escape, Nicholas would surely retaliate, and her brother would pay the price.
She couldn't risk it, not with Liam's safety on the line.
So, she would bide her time, wait for an opportunity.
But, she would not submit, not completely.
She would find a way to keep her soul intact, even if her body was not her own.
As she stood in the dress, she straightened her spine, her jaw set in determination.
"I may be your prisoner," she thought, "but I will not be your puppet."
Mike stood uneasily in front of Nicholas, who was busy signing papers, the sleeves of his half-buttoned shirt rolled up to reveal his strong, muscular arms.
"What's Lana been doing lately?" Nicholas asked, his voice tired and disinterested.
"She's been crying," Mike said, his throat dry.Nicholas raised an eyebrow.
"And?"Mike cleared his throat nervously.
"Well...apart from when you guys are...together..." He trailed off, uncomfortable.
"Just ignore her," Nicholas snapped, picking up his pen again.
"And what else?" Nicholas said impatiently, his eyes still on the papers in front of him.
Mike swallowed hard, his heart pounding.
"Kiara...ummm...she asked me to tell you that her movie is premiering tonight and she wants you to come."Nicholas scoffed, signing another document with a flourish.
"Tell her I'm not going, I have important things to do."Mike felt his stomach tighten.
He knew that mentioning Nicholas's mother was risky, but he had to try.
"There's more," Mike said, his voice shaking. "Your mother said if you don't go, she'll..." He paused, unable to bring himself to finish the sentence.
Nicholas's face darkened, and he slammed his pen down on the desk.
"She'll what?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Mike took a step back, his eyes darting around the room.
"She said she'll...she'll beat you up," he whispered, his face pale.
Nicholas's face contorted in anger, his eyes narrowing into slits.
"Beat me up?" he spat, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Oh, she wouldn't dare."But Mike knew better. He had seen the bruises on Nicholas's arms, the cuts on his chest.
His mother's anger was fierce and unpredictable.
"Please, sir," he pleaded.
"Just go to the premiere. It'll be easier than dealing with her."
Nicholas let out a low growl, but Mike could see the resignation in his eyes.
Nicholas's face transformed from fury to a sly grin. "Call me Daisy," he said with a chuckle. "Tell her I need her service right now.
"Mike nodded and rushed out, leaving Nicholas alone in the room.
Meanwhile, Lana lay fast asleep on the bed, her face stained with dried tears, her body exhausted from the emotional turmoil.
A soft knock on the door startled her awake, and she cautiously crept towards it, her heart pounding. With trembling fingers, she twisted the knob, revealing a beautiful woman with honey-colored skin and glossy brown hair.
The woman smiled at Lana and introduced herself, her professionalism and warmth immediately calming Lana's nerves.
"I'm Daisy from Daisy's Makeover," she said, offering Lana a handshake.
"Mr. Anderson has requested my services for you."Lana's eyes widened in surprise as she recognized the logo on Daisy's team's uniforms.
She knew Daisy's Makeover was the go-to company for celebrity makeovers.
"I'm here to give you a makeover," Daisy said, her smile growing even brighter.
Lana hesitated, still reeling from the shock of the situation.
Daisy's smile remained unwavering as she patiently waited for Lana to gather her thoughts.
"But...why? Why would Nicholas do this?" Lana asked, her voice trembling slightly."
All I know is that he specifically requested my services for you.
He must have his reasons," Daisy replied with a reassuring smile.
"Now, let's get you cleaned up and looking your best."Lana swallowed, a flicker of hope igniting in her chest.
She has just received a call from one of the crew, of her last movie, today is the premiere of the movie she acted in and she was invited