His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 131

Chapter 131

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“Oh.” Marina nodded, a little lost. She’d started the conversation, but now she had no idea how to keep it going.

“Anything else you want to ask?” Daron looked at her, clearly patient.

Marina shook her head. “No.”

She gave a couple of awkward laughs, echoing weirdly in the car.

Things just got even more awkward.

Daron looked away from her, and there was a trace of resignation in his dark eyes.

Suddenly, the car took a sharp turn, and Marina lurched toward Daron, completely caught off guard.

Her face landed right against his suit pants; the position was beyond awkward.

Marina’s breath caught, and she could clearly feel Daron’s body tense up slightly.

“I–I’m sorry,” she stammered.

She tried to scramble up, but the car took another sharp turn, and she was thrown right back at him.

Luckily, at the last second, Daron lifted his leg a bit, absorbing some of the impact, but it still didn’t stop her face from pressing right up against his suit pants. Awkward didn’t even begin to cover it.

Marina’s cheeks burned bright red, as if she’d been knocked senseless from embarrassment.

Daron didn’t say a word, his body tense, glancing down at her with an unreadable expression.

In that moment, Marina could feel something unexpectedly firm beneath her cheek…

Her face went beet red, and she frantically tried to sit up, only for the car to swerve again.

Marina could have cried; seriously, what was up with Eddy’s driving today?

At the last second, Daron reached out and caught her face–maybe he was just scared she’d crash into him again.

Daron called out, “Eddy.”

His voice was low, with a sexy rasp to it.

Eddy, who was driving, quickly steadied the wheel and said with a smile, “Sorry, sir. I had to swerve to avoid an electric scooter, so the turn was a bit sharp. Are you and Ms. Finley alright?”

Marina was speechless.

‘Alright? Trouble? This is a total disaster, Marina thought to herself.

She awkwardly got up and scooted to the far end of the car, putting as much distance as she could between herself and Daron, her smile more tragic than cheerful.

“N–no, it’s nothing serious,” Marina mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daron gave her a brief, almost indifferent glance before looking away, then, trying to act casual but clearly flustered, crossed one leg over the other.

17:46 Fri, Dec 26 R

Chapter 131

‘Why does it feel like the car’s turned into a sauna?‘ Marina thought, her cheeks still burning.

The car pulled up to the VIP entrance at the airport.

Before Eddy could even get out to open the door, Marina slipped out as soon as the car stopped.

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She took a deep breath of fresh air, finally feeling a bit more at ease. After calming herself down, she waited quietly off to the side, waiting for Daron to get out.

Just like last time, Marina was traveling light, Nothing but herself and a handbag.

Eddy wasn’t heading back to Vrufield with them, so when he pulled out the suitcase, Marina instinctively took over the job of pushing Daron’s suitcase.

Seeing this, Eddy quietly said, “This suitcase is pretty heavy. You’re just a kiddo; not sure you’ve got the muscle for it. Maybe you should…”

Before he could finish, Marina gave the suitcase a quick lift with one hand. “It’s fine, not that heavy.”

Eddy just stared, lost for words.

Marina shrugged, “Plus, it’s got wheels. Super easy.”

If she just trailed after Daron empty–handed, doing nothing, that would be way more awkward.

So she decided to keep herself busy, just to take her mind off all the awkwardness.

Eddy could only shake his head, watching the two of them walk into the airport together.

‘Seriously, at this rate, will Mr. Zamora ever settle down?‘ he wondered.

‘He’s already thirty–two. Give it a few more years and he’ll be past his prime, still single.

Marina was walking ahead, pushing the suitcase in front of Daron. Neither of them said a word, but at least the atmosphere wasn’t nearly as painfully awkward as it had been in the car.

As they reached the VIP entrance, Marina suddenly felt something warm against the back of her hand.

Daron gently tapped the back of her hand with his palm.

Marina glanced sideways at him, confusion flickering in her eyes, but she still let go of the handle.

Right after she let go, Daron grabbed the handle himself and walked right beside her.

Marina caught on to what he meant, pursed her lips, and felt her heart/suddenly go a little haywire. She dropped her gaze, forcing herself to steady her nerves, and by the time she looked up again, she’d managed to compose herself.

Once aboard the plane, Daron put on his sleep mask and kicked back in his seat to rest.

*****

Marina sat quietly beside him, watching his peaceful face as he slept. Before she knew it, she ended up dozing off herself.

Her dreams were all over the place.

She was seventeen again, watching her parents fight as their marriage fell apart, and her mom quietly sobbing, wanting to take her away from Vrufield.

Her mom said, “Marina, if you stay, this family will just bury you. Your sister’s the one Grandpa actually cares about. She is

17:46 Fri, Dec 26 @JO.

Chapter 131

the real heir. You? You’re just here to be married off.”

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She kept going, “So what if you have a crush on him? Does he even care about you? Do you really think you can compete with your sister? She’s so perfect, she outshines everyone. Next to her, you’re invisible.”

Her mom cried, and Marina cried with her.

Her mom threw her diary that packed with all her girlish secrets, straight into the fire pit.

The blaze roared in the fire pit, lighting up her tear–stained face and making her look almost radiant in the glow.

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