His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 1

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**

**Chapter 1**

Lavern Ross was betraying Marina Linley.

Outside the bridal shop, Marina lingered in the dim light, her heart hammering in her chest as she caught snippets of laughter and flirtation from within the fitting room. She was supposed to be preparing for the most important day of her life, but instead, she was an unwilling witness to her fiancé’s infidelity.

“Does this wedding dress look better on me, or on you?” a sultry voice asked, filled with playful mischief.

“Of course, it looks better on you! I’m dying to be all over you. Doesn’t that prove how irresistible you are?” Lavern’s voice responded, dripping with charm and a hint of something darker.

A thrill of excitement escaped the woman, who let out a flirtatious giggle. “I want you to remember me forever. On your wedding day, on your anniversaries, you’ll always think back to today, to me.”

As Marina stood there, the soft moans and laughter echoed in her ears, she felt as though she had been thrown into a freezing abyss, her heart plummeting into a chasm of despair. It was the eve of their wedding, a day that should have been filled with joy and anticipation, yet here she was, grappling with the reality that Lavern, who had always portrayed himself as a devoted partner, had been sneaking away on business trips for more than just work.

Fighting against the nausea swirling in her stomach, Marina turned on her heel and walked away, each step heavier than the last as she headed toward her car. They had spent seven years together, building their lives and the Ross Group from the ground up, pouring their hearts and souls into every success.

Her sister, Elnora Finley, had warned her about Lavern from the very beginning, sensing something off about him. Marina could still hear Elnora’s voice in her mind, a message that had been left on her phone, a haunting reminder of the family she was about to lose.

“Elnora: The Finley family won’t be attending your wedding to Lavern. You’re on your own.”

With tears brimming in her eyes, Marina opened her phone and typed a response, her fingers trembling as she hit send.

“Marina: I’m calling off the wedding.”

The wait for Elnora’s reply felt like an eternity, each second stretching out painfully. Finally, the message came through.

“Elnora: Come back to Vrufield in a month, and I’ll believe you. Otherwise, we’re through as sisters.”

Marina typed a simple acknowledgment, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal. “Okay.” She pocketed her phone, the metal feeling cold against her skin as she started the car and drove away.

Meanwhile, Lavern emerged from the bridal shop, the woman still clinging to his arm, laughter spilling from her lips like a sweet poison. When he spotted Marina’s car, he froze momentarily, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. But in that fleeting moment, Marina’s vehicle disappeared into the distance, leaving him standing alone with his guilt.

With a dismissive shrug, he peeled the woman’s hand from his arm, straightening his clothes as he slipped back into his polished, charming demeanor. “I’ll have my assistant drop you off.”

The woman pouted, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. “Nooo, you promised we’d go shopping!”

Lavern ruffled her hair with an air of indifference, his eyes turning cold as he replied, “Behave.”

She complied, sulking away as he turned toward his own car, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the glossy paint. He saw no signs of his indiscretion, no trace of the woman he had just been with—only the sharp angles of his handsome face, perfectly composed, as if he were still the devoted fiancé Marina believed him to be.

Back at home, he noticed Marina’s car parked in the garage, the sight of it stirring a sense of unease within him. She was still inside, her gaze fixed on her phone, lost in thought.

“Did you go out?” he asked casually as he opened the door, tossing his suit jacket onto the passenger seat before leaning closer to her. His black shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, exposing a glimpse of his toned muscles, yet there was no trace of another woman lingering on him.

When she didn’t respond, he leaned in for a kiss, but she abruptly switched off her phone and raised a hand to stop him, her voice icy and unwavering. “Are you scared of me going out?”

He hesitated, momentarily taken aback. “Of course not. You can go out whenever you want. I just worry you’ll get bored without company.”

He flashed a charming smile, wrapping an arm around her waist and cooing softly, “Tell me, who’s got my darling all worked up?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify