His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 29

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt**

**Chapter 29**

Marina secured every door in her home, the sound of the locks clicking into place bringing her a strange sense of comfort. As she crawled back into bed, it struck her how much deeper her slumber was without Lavern’s presence. It had been ages since she had felt this level of tranquility, as if the absence of his weight beside her allowed her mind to finally rest.

When dawn broke, Marina stirred and made her way to the kitchen, her movements automatic. She prepared a simple breakfast, the aroma of toasted bread mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. As she munched on her meal, her fingers danced over her phone, scrolling through the latest financial news from Vrufield. The numbers and charts blurred together, but she kept reading, letting the information wash over her like a warm wave.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. A flicker of tension ran through her fingers as they tightened instinctively around the device.

Even without a name flashing on the screen, she recognized those digits immediately, each one echoing memories she had long tried to suppress.

Frowning, she stared at the screen, time stretching as she hesitated. Finally, just as the ringing was about to cease, she swiped to answer, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Marina, it’s Dad,” came a voice from the speaker. It was a voice she hadn’t heard in nearly seven years—familiar yet tinged with an unsettling distance. “I’m in Sicester for a brief business stopover and heard about your upcoming wedding. Thought I’d swing by and see you. Got a minute? How about a quick meet-up with your old man?”

Her frown deepened, a wave of conflicting emotions crashing over her. “Address,” she demanded, her tone clipped.

He rattled off the location without missing a beat.

Marina glanced at the clock—two hours to spare before her appointment with Daron.

She ended the call, her appetite evaporating like mist in the morning sun. After a quick tidy-up, she set out, the weight of the impending meeting settling heavily on her shoulders.

Following Carter Finley’s directions, she arrived at one of Sicester’s upscale hotels, its polished façade gleaming under the morning light.

Inside, she approached the front desk, dropping his name like a stone into still water. The staffer, all smiles, promptly escorted her to the restaurant.

There he was, Carter, seated at a table dressed in casual attire that screamed high-end designer; the quality was unmistakable, even from a distance.

Years had slipped by, yet he seemed unchanged—his thick black hair still full, now framing a face that bore the marks of experience and a certain worldly charm that only time could bestow.

On the table before him lay a shiny gold bank card, its surface glinting under the soft light.

As soon as he spotted her, he gestured toward the empty chair across from him. “Have a seat.”

Wordlessly, she complied, her mind racing. He nudged the card toward her. “This is the wedding gift I’ve prepared for you.”

Marina’s thoughts raced, skepticism flaring within her. ‘Yeah, right. Like it’s that simple?’ She glanced down at the card, her indifference palpable, before sliding it right back to him.

Kathy had left the Finley family with nothing, and there was no way she would touch his money.

“So, what do you really want?” she asked, her voice cutting through the air like a knife.

Carter chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Marina, you’re the spitting image of your mother—always so direct.”

She remained silent, her gaze unwavering.

He let out a resigned sigh. “Alright, since you’re putting it that way, let’s get straight to the heart of the matter.”

Of course, she thought, her mind already bracing for the inevitable.

Carter continued, “When Grandpa passed, he left you 15% of the Finley Group shares. You’ve been out of the family loop for years; those shares are just gathering dust. How about handing them over to me?”

Marina locked her gaze with his, her resolve hardening. “I’ve already entrusted them to Elnora to manage.”

Carter’s expression brightened with a paternal smile, but a glint of something darker flickered in his eyes. “You just delegated management; you didn’t sign them over. For years, she’s dismissed any sisterly ties and hasn’t sent you a single dime in dividends. Those shares are doing nothing under your name.”

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