His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 26

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 26**

This time, Shawna refused to brush Marina off as she had done in the past. Instead, she shot back with a pointed remark, her fingers flying over the screen, fueled by a mix of indignation and defiance.

“Marina,” she typed, her heart racing as she pressed send. “You’re already aware of my relationship with Lavern, aren’t you? If you’re so focused on improving your life, why are you clinging to him like a lifeline?”

Marina, on the other end, stared at the message, her face a mask of neutrality. But beneath that calm exterior, her mind was racing, and she couldn’t help but respond in kind, mimicking Shawna’s tone with a sharp retort.

“Ms. Thornton,” she replied, her fingers dancing across the screen with a mix of amusement and disdain, “you must know that Lavern has always intended for you to be nothing more than his little secret. He wouldn’t dare mention your so-called romance in my presence. You’re reaching out like this because he’s failing to give you what you truly desire, right?”

As soon as she hit send, a heavy silence enveloped Shawna. The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and she could feel the tension coiling within her, ready to snap.

But Marina, sensing the heat of the moment, decided to stoke the flames further. “I have to say,” she continued, her fingers flying over the screen, “watching you unravel while Lavern goes to great lengths to keep this from me is quite entertaining. You’re too scared to even tell him you’ve contacted me. So what gives you the right to question my loyalty? Ms. Thornton, you’re truly a source of amusement.”

Just as she pressed send, the locksmith arrived at her quaint home, breaking the momentary tension. She tucked her phone away, choosing to ignore any further notifications that might come through.

Meanwhile, on Shawna’s side, Marina’s words had ignited a firestorm of emotions. Her jaw clenched tightly, and she could feel her fingers trembling around her phone, a physical manifestation of her growing fury.

With no outlet for her pent-up rage, her face flushed a deep crimson. In a fit of frustration, she yanked the gold bracelet off her wrist and hurled it across the room, the clattering sound echoing in the stillness.

From outside, Carrie heard the commotion and rushed over, knocking insistently on the door. “Shawna! What’s happening in there? You didn’t trip or something, did you? Oh dear, be careful; don’t hurt my little grandbaby!”

Shawna inhaled deeply, trying to steady her racing heart. She bent down to retrieve the bracelet, her thoughts swirling. “It’s fine, Carrie. Just dropped something,” she called back, attempting to mask her turmoil.

“Then open the door!” Carrie urged, her voice laced with concern. “Why on earth are you locking yourself in during the day?”

Shawna remained silent, sliding the bracelet back onto her wrist. As she glanced down, a flash of silver caught her eye—a scuff mark where the bracelet had struck the floor.

Her cheeks flared with embarrassment and anger. ‘So that’s what Marina meant by “budget version”! She knew all along that it’s just gold-plated silver, no better than that fake emerald bracelet,’ she thought, her fury bubbling over.

A tremor coursed through her body as she imagined Marina’s smug expression while typing those cutting remarks. The thought alone sent her into a deeper rage.

Carrie continued to pound on the door, her voice rising in urgency. “Shawna! Let me in!”

Finally, Shawna choked back her anger and unlocked the door, her heart still racing.

Carrie pushed the door open, her face a mix of concern and irritation. “Shawna, you can’t keep locking doors when I’m around. I need to be able to check on you whenever I want.”

Perhaps it was the surge of pregnancy hormones that fueled her defiance, but Shawna, who typically swallowed her pride without a second thought, couldn’t let this pass. “Carrie,” she said, her voice steady but filled with underlying tension, “this bracelet you gave me… it feels wrong.”

She raised her wrist, thrusting the tarnished silver streak right under Carrie’s nose. “It’s gold-plated silver, isn’t it?”

Carrie hadn’t expected Shawna to catch on so quickly. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly regained her composure. “It was in perfect condition when I gave it to you, and now you’ve managed to ruin it in less than an hour?”

Shawna stood there, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected comeback.

Seeing the silence stretch between them, Carrie pressed on, her tone dripping with condescension. “These trinkets are merely for show, Shawna. Just something flashy to flaunt in front of others. There’s no sense in spending a fortune on them. You’re already living off our Lavern, so perhaps it’s time to keep your expectations in check.”

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