Chapter 71: Flashback
Lanny stayed up all night, just thinking about the possible culprit who was behind her assassination five years ago. Vladimir’s words had troubled her mind, considering she doubted her brother only to find out he didn’t call the hit.
Their lack of open communication between siblings led to their misunderstandings five years ago, making her distrust her brother and think he was her enemy. Besides, they were just half-siblings. Vladimir and Lanny had different mothers.
Vladimir’s mother held the true title of Madam within the Ivankov Clan, recognized as Miguel’s lawful wife, while Lanny’s mother was just a mistress, deemed insignificant in everyone’s eyes... a woman meant solely for Miguel’s fleeting pleasures.
She kept turning and tossing around her bed. As she glanced at her ceiling blankly, memories of her first encounter with Enzo flashed in her mind.
[ FLASHBACK (Five Years Ago) ]
No one from the Ivankov Clan wanted to acknowledge Lanny. The majority of the higher-ups from their mafia organization were looking down on her, considering her as a nuisance and insignificant.
Because of Lanny’s strong personality, many leaders hated her gutsy behavior. She was ambitious enough to ask her father, Miguel Ivankov, for a higher position in their organization– a branch leader in particular. But as part of their rules and tradition, women from the Ivankov Family were not allowed to possess leadership power over the organization.
Moreover, her birth origin as a mistress’s daughter gave those people the confidence to belittle her, diminishing her worth. But Lanny was not one who would let others bully her without a fight. She was so determined to change her fate by proving her worth to her father and be acknowledged by him someday.
Fueled by a fierce resolve, she aimed to challenge the Ivankov’s rules and break the archaic tradition that barred women from assuming leadership roles within the organization. Because of her ambition, the higher-ups ganged up against her, requesting Miguel to send her away.
As a result, Lanny flew to Country Z as per her father’s order. He told her to visit Vladimir and stay in York City for a few months.
As Lanny stepped out of the York City International Airport, her eyes scanned the bustling arrival longue for any sign of Vladimir’s men. She noticed a group of men, not Vladimir’s usual associates, approaching her.
’This is so annoying! I thought Vladimir would pick me up personally!’ Lanny thought to herself.