His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 10

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

At the hospital, after the doctor had conducted his preliminary examination, he carefully assisted Marina into a wheelchair, his movements precise and professional. He then handed her a stack of paperwork filled with medical orders.

“Make sure your family pays downstairs,” he instructed, his tone brisk yet reassuring. “Once that’s sorted, they can take you straight up to the second floor for your tests. After those are completed, return here, and I’ll guide you through the next steps of your diagnosis.”

Marina remained seated on the hospital bed, her fingers tightly clutching the forms as if they were a lifeline, her expression vacant.

The doctor’s brow furrowed slightly as he asked, “Where’s your family?”

“Sorry, I don’t have anyone in Sicester,” she replied, her eyes cast downward, her damp hair framing her face like a curtain. Her voice was hoarse, tinged with a vulnerability that made her feel exposed.

Out of nowhere, a firm grip seized the handles of her wheelchair, and she felt herself being propelled toward the elevator.

Marina turned her head, confusion swirling in her mind, her gaze locking onto a pair of deep, piercing eyes that seemed to hold an entire universe of unspoken thoughts.

Daron glanced at her briefly, his silence speaking volumes. One hand deftly maneuvered the wheelchair while the other held his phone to his ear, engaged in a conversation that seemed urgent.

He was dressed in a sleek black overcoat that draped elegantly over a tailored, dark gray suit, which accentuated his tall, lean frame, giving him an aura of authority that was hard to ignore.

Catching her stare, he casually tucked his phone into the pocket of his coat, a gesture that radiated confidence and control, as if he were accustomed to commanding attention without uttering a single word.

Marina’s lips parted in surprise, her eyes widening in a mix of shock and discomfort. “Mr. Zamora, what are you doing here?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daron remained silent for a moment, his intense gaze skimming the surroundings before returning to her. A heartbeat later, he draped his oversized black overcoat over her head, a teasing smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “So this is what Ms. Finley meant by thriving in Sicester, surrounded by a pack of minions at your disposal?”

Marina pulled the coat off her head, her face momentarily stiffening at the unexpected comment.

Those were the audacious claims she had made to Elnora, defiantly asserting her decision to stay in Sicester and turn her back on the Finley family inheritance. She never imagined those words would reach him.

Embarrassment washed over her like a wave, her cheeks flushing a fiery red as she ducked her head, desperate to hide her mortification.

Perhaps sensing the weight of the silence, Daron tossed out another casual remark, “Where are all those minions of yours now?”

She lowered her gaze even further, feeling the heat of humiliation rise within her.

The elevator chimed as it reached the second floor, where a throng of people lined the corridors outside every examination room, a bustling hive of anxiety and anticipation.

Daron expertly maneuvered her into the hallway, his phone buzzing incessantly with work-related calls, a stark reminder of the world outside this sterile environment.

Just then, Garret appeared, holding the payment receipt, and only then did Daron step aside, seeking a quieter corner to continue his conversation.

Marina accepted the slip from Garret, murmuring her thanks, her voice barely audible.

Garret waved it off with a polite gesture, but his curious glances kept drifting in her direction, as if he had a multitude of questions swirling in his mind but couldn’t quite find the words to voice them.

Feeling utterly exposed, Marina had no desire to engage in conversation, inwardly pleading with him to remain silent.

The two of them lapsed into an awkward, strained silence, each lost in their own thoughts, the air thick with unspoken tension.

**Chapter 10**

At that moment, Lavern emerged from the ultrasound room, his head buried in a test report, his expression serious.

Marina looked up, a chill running through her as she crushed the form in her hand, the paper crinkling under her grip. Instinctively, she reached for her phone and called out to Lavern.

He glanced at his screen, his brow furrowing immediately as he registered her name.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify