1 The shadow of wealth

Lana's life was anything but usual. Born into a wealthy, powerful family with ties to both a mafia group and a global company, she should have experienced luxury. Instead, she was confined to the shadows, cut off from the world's riches.

Lana's upbringing demanded a poised facade: impeccable behaviour, appropriate attire, and a constant veneer of politeness. However, beneath this facade, her true desires remained suppressed by the weight of family expectations, leaving her deeply unhappy.

Lana's family had a plan for her future, but it was not the future she desired. Rather than following their wishes, Lana had a burning desire to break free from the chains of her upbringing and live a life of her choosing.

Lana battled to remain authentic and defy her family's wishes. Despite her determination, breaking free from their grip felt daunting. Unfamiliar with the world beyond her sheltered life, summoning the courage to forge her own identity proved an uphill struggle.

Despite the difficulty of her situation, Lana was determined to find the strength to be who she wanted to be, even if it meant going against her family's wishes.

...

The sun shone brightly in the sky as Lana stepped out of her family`s large estate. Her feet crunched on the gravel path surrounding her home. Her eyes were surprised by how beautiful the outside was but she knew she had to leave as soon as possible before the inside found out she was gone.

She quickly grabbed her backpack and walked towards the gate, feeling a sense of freedom and excitement. She took one last look at the estate and then walked away, ready to pursue the life she had always dreamed of. She was determined to make the most of her life and create her destiny. With a newfound sense of confidence, she opened the gates and began her journey. Despite knowing it would be difficult, here she was.

It made her happy to know the world behind those walls. The people around her, the children running and playing with each other, the kindness and light made her feel proud of her choice.

Lana quickly ran off and caught the first bus.

"Hey, you have to pay." The driver said. Lana stopped and fumbled for her money. Lana had just boarded the city bus and was unaware that she had to pay the fare before taking her seat. She handed the driver a few coins and apologized for not having the exact change. The driver waved her on as the bus pulled away. Lana found a seat near the back of the bus as she watched the scenery pass by outside the window. She marvelled at the bustling city. She sighed, relieved to be on her way.

Where will I go? I don't know anyone nor do I have a friend. Can I make it that far? What can I start with? I only have a few dollars with me, but I am grateful to have carried them because I don't know how I could have gotten to the bus with nothing. Lana suddenly thought.

Back to the estate...

"What are you saying??!!"Mr Smith was heard. "My daughter will never do that! She was born and raised here! She can never betray me like that! But now that she did, she probably hasn't gotten far. "He smirked. "I order you to find her and bring her back asap otherwise you will suffer the consequences! "

"Yes sir" the guards replied while making their way to start the search.

"What have you taught your so-called daughter??!!"Mr Smith shouted. "Look what she did! Do you know what the consequences will be for her getting out? What will I tell Mr Jonathan? "

Mrs Smith sighed and said, "We have taught her to be responsible for her actions, and now she must face the consequences. We will have to accept whatever decision Mr Jonathan makes. I will deal with her. You go find Mr Jonathan and buy some time from him. She doesn't know the outside world. I will find her soon."

.....

"Last stop!!" The driver shouted.

When everyone gets off Lana decided to follow them as she was left alone inside. Being lost in her thoughts, she didn't know where to begin.

"Make a way for me, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" a girl shouted.

Lana turned to see the source of the noise but was knocked down by a girl riding a bicycle. The girl stopped and quickly got off her bicycle to help Lana. Apologized profusely, and offered to take her to the hospital. The girl thanked her and gladly took her on her bicycle to the nearest hospital.

Lana got checked up at the hospital and had minor injuries. She thanked her for the help and offered to pay her, but Lana refused and told her it was no problem.

"What is your name?" The girl suddenly asked.

"My name is Lana. Lana Smith, what`s yours?" I asked.

"My name is Abigail," the girl replied. "It's nice to meet you, Lana. Where are you from? where do you live? I mean I've never seen you around here. So I thought it will be good to know more about you."

Lana signed and said " I don't have a place to go, I ran away from home... but it's fine you can leave me here and I'll find my way. You seemed rushed the other time. Thanks for the help. "

Lana didn't want to take advantage of Abigail so she decided to deal with her problems.

"Ooh yeah, oh my days, "Abigail said. She checked the time and told Lana, " I'm late come with me, I'll drop you off at my place, we will talk later." she quickly pulled Lana out of the room.

Everything happened so fast that Lana wasn't able to react. She just followed her. Abigail rushed through the hallway and out of the building. She hailed a cab and the two got in. As they drove away. Abigail explained why she had to hurry up and Lana understood her.

10 minutes later...

Lana has already arrived at Abigail's house. It was beautifully decorated with large windows that let enough light into the room. Lana was mesmerized by the decorations and bright ambience of the room.

She hoped to have a better life like Abigail but she couldn't help but doubt herself. Lana had a life that was far from ordinary. She was born into a family of wealth and power, a family that ran a mafia group. But instead of living a life of luxury, Lana was forced to live in the shadows, isolated from the world.