Sweet Subterfuge

Chapter 134

“I’ve never been to a bar- Lana complained meekly. “You know how strict Mom and Dad are with me. As long as they think that something’s bad, then they won’t let me do it. I’m already 24, but they still treat me like a kid, worrying about this and that. I thought they would be less controlling once I had a boyfriend, but they didn’t change at all. I only had someone new bossing me around, and that’s Lucas! I’ve wanted to go to bars and see more of the world since I came of age, but I’ve never even set foot in one until now.” Lana leaned against Larissa and rubbed her cheek against Larissa’s arm like a kitten. “Lyssa, I’m begging you. Just take me once please?” This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Though Larissa had never approved of Yvette and Xavier’s parenting methods, she found hersell agreeing with them for once. “Bars are messy and dangerous. It’s no place for a girl to visit.” Especially more so for girls like Lana, who looked cute and innocent. They would easily become prey to men with bad intentions. Perhaps, Lana thought Larissa was much more understanding than her parents and Lucas, so she continued pestering her. Til go just this once!” She raised her hand as if laking an oath and implored, “Take me inside to have a look. If you don’t feel good about it, we’ll leave immediately. Please?”

Larissa remained resolute and still did not give in. Firstly, bars weren’t a suitable place for Lana. Secondly, if Yvette found out that she had taken Lana to a bar, Yvette would make Larissa’s life hell again. She stepped on the gas, and the car shot past Lido Street Lana leaned against the window staring at the Bar Avenue signboard fading into the distance. A melancholic silence enveloped Lana as she lowered her head and fiddled with her phone expressionlessly..

Larissa stole a glance at Lana and couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her. “If you truly want to experience a bar–like setting, we could visit the restaurant bar at Regal Dynasty. The environment is good, and the clientele tends to be more refined. Besides, the live band there is famous,” she proposed, trying to find a middle ground with Lana

Lana couldn’t be persuaded. “Restaurant bars don’t have the same exciting atmosphere.” Lana retorted coldly. She seemed like a completely different person than she was earlier.

Larissa dropped the topic since Lana rejected her. “If you don’t want to have dinner. I just drop you back at the hotel” said Larissa. She turned the steering wheel and drove up the slope to the hotel’s entrance.

Lana was pressing her phone screen at a furious speed, and her phone was vibrating non–stop. She was probably texting someone. “A

friend of mine is also in Covenford, and we agreed to have dinner, Drive me to Parker Mall” she instructed.

Parker Mall was a massive shopping complex in Covenford near the Regal Dynasty Hotel. It would be convenient for Lana to return to the hotel after dinner. “Okay,” said Larissa and drove Lana there. She only drove off after seeing that Lana had met her friend.

At 2 am, Larissa got woken up by her phone ringing. With her eyes closed, she felt for her phone and immediately answered the call

without seeing the caller ID. She put it to her ear and said, “Hello?”

Lana’s voice was choked with sobs over the phone. “Lyssa–come and save me, quick I’m at Quinn Bar on Lido Street, and a gang of people is blocking my way out of the toilet-

203 not to go

Larissa immediately grew wide awake and asked hoarsely, “Why did you go there? Earlier, she had specifically warned Lana not to anywhere and return to the hotel right after dinner!

“—“Lana stuttered for a long time, but she couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Okay. It’s okay,” Larissa interrupted while scratching her head in frustration. “I’m calling Lucas right away.”

“Don’t!” Lana shouted, “You can’t let him find out about this! He’ll definitely tell Mom and Dad!”

Larissa paused as she was about to hang up. “Then wait for me.” she said. She crawled out of bed helplessly and put on a thick layer of clothing as fast as she could.

Larissa recalled her own experiences of going to a bar twice with her colleagues, which they had visited as a large group each time. There was a mix of male and female companions on both occasions, and nothing overly dramatic occurred. However, she also vividly

remembered witnessing a bar fight once. A few drunk men had relentlessly hit each other with beer bottles and didn’t stop even when the

other person was already bleeding on the floor.