His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 15

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**TITLE: Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 15**

Marina sat in silence, her mind swirling with confusion and frustration. “Which side of him is the real one?” she pondered, her heart heavy with uncertainty. It felt as if the man she once knew had been replaced by a stranger, and she was left grappling with the remnants of their past.

Observing the subtle shift in her demeanor, Lavern relaxed his grip just enough to allow a playful spark to ignite between them. Leaning down, he attempted to lighten the mood with a teasing tone, “Even if you’re still furious, let’s take care of that wound first before you keep giving me hell. I won’t stand by and let you hurt yourself just to spite me.” His voice was a mix of concern and mischief, a familiar dance they had often shared.

With that, he took her hand, guiding her toward his office, but Marina recoiled at the mere thought of entering. The idea twisted her stomach into knots, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

His grip was unyielding, a vice-like hold that left her feeling trapped. “The infirmary,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, but it was firm in its insistence.

Lavern caught the raw disgust etched across her face, and a pang of guilt shot through him. He could see how resolutely she stood her ground, and it struck him with a force he couldn’t ignore. Reluctantly, he relented, steering her toward the infirmary instead.

As they reached the door, Marina jerked her hand free, walking in with an air of composure that belied the turmoil within her.

Lavern followed, lingering in the background. When he saw her brows knit together in discomfort as the doctor applied the disinfectant, he shot a warning glance at the physician. “Go easy,” he barked, his protective instincts flaring.

“Right away, Mr. Ross,” the doctor replied, a placating smile on his face as he continued to tend to Marina’s injury.

After a few moments, the doctor finished up, rattled off a series of instructions, and quietly exited the room, leaving Lavern and Marina alone.

Lavern’s frown deepened as he stared at her bandaged hand, worry etched across his features. The sight of her pain tugged at something deep within him, a sense of responsibility he could not shake off.

Suddenly, his phone rang, the familiar, syrupy love ballad blaring obnoxiously.

Marina wrinkled her nose in disgust and shot him a sidelong glance. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”

With an air of nonchalance, he retrieved his phone, muted it, and inched closer, a shameless grin spreading across his face. “Not important. No point,” he dismissed casually.

Marina let out a cold laugh, her eyes narrowing. “Really? Back when you walked out with me, Ms. Thornton was practically groveling on the floor, looking utterly pathetic.”

“Where she bows is her business, not mine,” Lavern replied evenly, his voice devoid of irritation, though a flicker of annoyance danced in his dark eyes.

A faint smile tugged at Marina’s lips as she continued, “I don’t swing by the office much anymore, but I still hold some sway here. Even if I keep my mouth shut and stay out of it, plenty of people would jump at the chance to make life hell for Ms. Thornton on my behalf. She’s probably calling you now, begging for help. Aren’t you worried she might get into some real trouble?”

Lavern’s brows knitted together, a spark of irritation flashing across his features. “Marina, I only kept her on because I felt sorry for her. She reminds me so much of you when you were just starting out—always optimistic, no matter what challenges came your way. I thought you and Wonder Group had leaned on Yesenia to get her fired. So, out of spite, I brought her in and gave her your office to use.”

He paused, his voice softening as he continued, “For years, I’ve carried the guilt of not being able to protect you back then, allowing you to face those brutal office battles alone. That’s why I extended some compassion and looked out for her.”

Marina couldn’t help but scoff internally. “Looked out for her?” she echoed, barely suppressing a laugh. “Well, Mr. Ross, you certainly looked out for her thoroughly, even catering to her more… intimate needs.”

Lavern’s expression turned stony, his brows furrowing deeply. “Where did you hear that nonsense?” he shot back, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.

“Straight from the horse’s mouth, of course,” Marina retorted, her eyes glinting with mischief.

His face hardened, the severity of his expression making it clear that he was not in the mood for games. “Marina, we’ve been through so much together. When Ross Group was just getting off the ground, the women they threw at me—none were as pretty or alluring as her.”

Marina fell silent, absorbing his words. She had always believed Lavern was different, someone who could resist the temptations that had plagued their relationship.