As the cameras continued to flash, Nicholas leaned in, his lips mere inches from Lana's ear.
"Play along, and I promise you, this will all be worth it," he whispered, his breath tickling her skin.
Lana nodded, determined to play her part.
"That's right," she said, her voice calm and confident, "I'm Mr. Anderson's girlfriend."Kiara's eyes narrowed.
"You're lying," she spat, her words venomous
. "He'd never date a nobody like you."
Nicholas smirked, his gaze never leaving Lana's face.
"I think a demonstration is in order," he said, his voice laced with challenge.
"Kiss me, Lana."Lana's heart skipped a beat.
She could feel the eyes of the entire room on her, the flash of cameras a strobe-like assault.
With a deep breath, she leaned into Nicholas, her lips meeting his in a slow, deliberate kiss.
Kiara's face twisted in revulsion, but Nicholas didn't notice.
His eyes were closed, his lips moving against Lana's with a surprising gentleness.
As the kiss deepened, Lana felt herself getting lost in the moment.
For a brief second, it was just the two of them, the rest of the world forgotten.
But then the cameras began to flash even faster, the questions from the press growing louder.
"Mr. Anderson, is this a new relationship? What happened to Miss Howlton?"Nicholas pulled away from Lana, his eyes meeting hers with a mischievous glint.
"I believe I've made my point," he said, his voice loud enough for the reporters to hear.
The flashbulbs exploded, the cacophony of questions and shouts deafening.
Nicholas turned to Kiara, a cruel smile on his lips.
"Miss Howlton, I hope you will respect my choice in partners from now on," he said, his voice dripping with disdain.
Kiara's face contorted in fury, she hissed, her eyes blazing with hatred.
"We'll see," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Lana, shall we make our exit?"
Lana nodded, her heart still racing from the kiss. Nicholas took her hand and led her through the crowd, the reporters following like sharks after blood in the water.
Outside, the limousine was waiting, Mike standing next to the open door, a knowing smirk on his face.
Lana slipped inside, Nicholas following close behind.
As the door closed, the limo pulled away from the curb, leaving the chaos of the premiere behind.
Silence fell, heavy and tense, the only sound the engine's purr.
Lana's mind raced, the weight of the night's events pressing down on her.
Her eyes flicked to Nicholas, who was staring out the window, his face impassive.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.
"You did well tonight, Lana." His words were like ice, freezing the air around them.
Lana's heart skipped a beat. "Thank you," she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Don't thank me," he said, his gaze never leaving the window.
"You did it for Liam, not for me."
The limo pulled up to a fancy apartment building, surrounded by a group of burly bodyguards.
And there, standing outside the entrance, was a teenage boy with blonde hair and the same emerald green eyes as Lana's.
Lana's heart skipped a beat.
Liam! It had been a whole year since she'd last seen him.
Tears filled her eyes as she stepped out of the car. It had been a year since she had last seen him.
"Liam," she choked out, her voice trembling.
Liam ran to hug her, wrapping his arms tightly around her.
"Lana!" he exclaimed happily.Lana held him close, tears streaming down her face.
Pulling back, Lana looked at Liam, taking in his now taller, stronger frame.
"Look at you, Liam! You've grown into such a handsome young man." Her voice was choked with emotion.
Liam beamed with pride. "Yeah, I've been living the good life since your boyfriend came along. He's been feeding me the best food, dressing me up, and even giving me lots of pocket money!"
Lana's smile faded as she glanced at Nicholas, now puffing on a cigarette, his cold, distant gaze sending a shiver down her spine.
"It's good to hear you're doing well, Liam," Lana managed to say, forcing a smile.
She ruffled his hair lovingly.
Liam grinned and said, "Hey, I'm not a kid anymore, Lana!""Of course, you're not, you're a big boy now," Lana replied with a wink.
"I have to go now, but I'll come visit you soon," she said, her voice wavering.
Liam nodded, pecking her cheek. "Okay, Lana.
Liam waved goodbye, disappearing back into the apartment as Lana climbed back into the limo, her heart heavy with pain and worry.
Nicholas's silence hung over the car like a suffocating cloud.
"You seem to care for him a lot," he finally said, the words falling from his mouth like ice cubes.
Lana bristled, her hands balling into fists. "He's my little brother.
Of course, I care for him."Nicholas took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke swirling around his face like a sinister halo.
Lana looked out the window as the car pulled away from the curb. The city lights were a blur, the world outside a mere shadow of the turmoil inside her heart.
Lana clenched her teeth, struggling to hold back her rage. "He's a child, Nicholas. You can't just use him as a pawn in your games."
"Careful, Lana," Nicholas said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Careful what you wish for."Lana's eyes widened in fear and anger.
"What are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying, if you want to keep seeing your brother, you need to play nice." Nicholas's gaze was like two razor blades, slicing through her soul.
Lana's mind raced.
She knew Nicholas was capable of unspeakable things, but she couldn't bear the thought of Liam getting hurt because of her.
Lana took a deep breath, trying to steady her trembling hands.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"I want you to be my perfect little doll," Nicholas said, his eyes burning with desire.
"I want you to be mine in every sense of the word."Lana's stomach churned, her fear rising like a tidal wave.
"I'm not a toy," she said, her voice shaking.
"No, but you're in my hands," Nicholas said, his voice smooth and menacing.
Nicholas leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous.
"Lana, I'm going to make you a deal. You be my perfect little doll, you do everything I say, and I promise to take care of Liam. He'll have the best education, the best life. I'll make him into a success, just like I did with you."
Lana's heart pounded, fear and anger mixing inside her like a poisonous cocktail.
"I'm not your doll," she said, her voice trembling.
"Maybe not yet," Nicholas replied, his voice smooth as silk.
"But you will be, darling. You will be mine."Lana's mouth went dry, her fear giving way to desperation.
"Please, Nicholas," she said, her voice pleading.
"Please, don't do this." Lana said
"Do what?" Nicholas asked, his eyebrows rising in mock surprise.
"I'm offering you a chance at a better life for Liam, for you. All I ask is your obedience."Lana closed her eyes, the car seeming to shrink around her.
Lana's heart felt heavy with the weight of her decision.
She opened her eyes, meeting Nicholas's gaze with a steely resolve.
"Fine," she said, her voice low and steady.
"I'll be your doll. But only if you promise to keep your word."Nicholas smiled, his eyes glinting with victory.
"My word is my bond, Lana. Now, let's go home. I have much to teach you."Lana nodded, a chill running through her as the limo sped off into the night.