His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 42

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

**Chapter 42**

Hyman decided to throw a celebration in honor of Lavern, gathering a motley crew of his usual companions. The atmosphere was already electric by the time Lavern made his entrance, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses permeating the air.

As soon as Lavern stepped through the door, he was greeted by a chorus of cheers, but one of the guys couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s your girl?”

Lavern’s expression darkened, a fleeting shadow of annoyance flickering across his features.

“She didn’t come,” he replied curtly, his tone betraying a hint of irritation.

Hyman, always the life of the party, bounded over with a wide grin, ready to poke fun at the situation. “Come on, let’s be specific here. Which lady are we talking about?”

The room erupted with laughter, the camaraderie momentarily lifting Lavern’s spirits.

“Marina’s never been one to enjoy our company. No chance she’d show up to a party like this. If she did, she’d probably just throw us some dirty looks and ruin the vibe. But if your other girl came, now that would really spice things up,” Hyman continued, his playful banter igniting more chuckles among the group.

Lavern shot him a fierce glare, anger simmering in his eyes.

“Shut up,” he snapped, his voice low but filled with a warning.

Hyman feigned shock, dramatically slapping a hand over his mouth. “Alright, alright! I’ll take three shots as punishment later,” he joked, trying to defuse the tension.

“Still, I stand by my words. Marina’s temper is something else; no one but you, Lavern, could handle her,” Hyman added, a smirk playing on his lips.

Lavern’s expression turned icy, the warmth of the gathering fading.

“Keep talking trash about her, and don’t be surprised if I decide to stop hanging out with you,” Lavern warned, his voice low and dangerous.

Hyman made a face, realizing he had pushed too far.

Lavern, uninterested in further banter, turned away and settled into a chair. The group quickly surrounded him, raising their glasses in a toast, showering him with compliments and praise.

Lavern soaked it all in, the accolades washing over him like a warm tide.

After a few drinks, he grew serious, his voice dropping to a more somber tone. “After tonight, I might not have time to hang out with you guys anymore.”

The room fell silent, everyone nodding in understanding, no one daring to argue with him.

Hyman, still stinging from Lavern’s earlier warning, sat off to the side, nursing his drink and brooding in silence.

The bitterness in his eyes was hard to miss as he finally broke the silence. “Lavern, is this because Marina doesn’t want you hanging out with us anymore?” he asked, probing for answers.

Lavern remained silent, but the truth was unmistakable; that was indeed one of the main reasons for his distance.

Hyman muttered a curse under his breath, frustration evident. “You really ought to give her a wake-up call, Lavern. Show her who wears the pants in this relationship,” he suggested, his tone laced with bravado. “She humiliated you in front of all those business partners yesterday. If it were me, I would’ve lost my cool right then and there. Believe me, I know how to handle women. Just look at my wife—no matter how much I go out, she wouldn’t dare to make a peep at home.”

“If you follow my lead, Lavern, I promise Marina will be eating out of your hand. Even if you flaunt your side chick in front of her, she wouldn’t say a word,” Hyman boasted, a cocky grin on his face.

Lavern’s expression darkened further, his eyes cold and stormy.

“Teach her a lesson? How?” Lavern’s voice was low, almost a growl.

Yesenia had specifically invited Marina out for a meal today, wanting to express her gratitude for securing Daron’s investment.

As they strolled past the private room where Lavern and his crew were gathered, they couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversation.

Yesenia shot Marina a concerned glance, her brow furrowing with worry.

But Marina remained unfazed, halting in her tracks with an air of determination.

Hyman lowered his voice, and just as the waiter was about to shut the door, Marina stepped forward, blocking the entrance with her hand. She strode confidently into the room.

“I’m curious, Mr. Hess, how exactly do you plan to teach me a lesson?” Marina asked, her voice cool and composed.

She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a faint smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were sharp and piercing.

As soon as she entered, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The guys looked as if they had seen a ghost, their laughter dying in an instant as they dropped their heads, suddenly engrossed in their plates as if their lives depended on it.

Hyman stiffened, a sheepish grin attempting to mask his discomfort. “Marina, I’m a little tipsy, just running my mouth,” he mumbled, his bravado evaporating.

Lavern’s scowl deepened as he shot Hyman a warning glare before walking over to Marina.

“Marina, what are you doing here?” he asked, concern threading through his voice as he reached out to take her hand. But she batted his hand away with a dismissive flick.

And to actually seek counsel from someone as unscrupulous as Hyman, who was always up to no good? That was simply too much to bear.

In that moment, Lavern had shown Marina once again that she never truly knew him at all.

For a fleeting second, she felt a sense of liberation; she was ready to burn it all down.

The last seven years felt like a waste, and yet, at least she had glimpsed his true colors before they tied the knot.

With no children and no deep ties, she could still walk away while she had the chance.

Yesenia, feeling the weight of the moment, suggested they leave this place. With Lavern and his crew getting tipsy, who knew what kind of trouble they might stir up?

Marina nodded, her craving for street food suddenly surfacing. It had been ages since she had indulged in barbecue from a street-side stall.

Yesenia readily agreed, happy to accompany her.

Though Marina wasn’t much of a drinker, tonight felt different; she actually felt like having a drink for once.

Once they settled in at a new spot and had a couple of drinks, the conversation began to flow more freely.

Yesenia looked at Marina, her curiosity piqued. “So, what are your plans for what’s next?”

Marina simply shook her head, choosing to keep her thoughts to herself.

Yesenia let out a soft sigh, fully aware of how difficult it was to walk away from a seven-year relationship, especially after building the Ross Group together.

Before they knew it, the conversation shifted to Daron.

“Marina, you and Mr. Zamora seem pretty close. Have you known each other for a long time?” Yesenia asked, her curiosity bubbling over.

She had always wondered how Marina ended up knowing someone as influential as Daron, especially since both she and Lavern had come from humble beginnings, and how she had managed to secure his investment so quickly.

Marina nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. “Yeah, we’ve known each other for ages.”

Reflecting on how dating Lavern had spiraled into a lifelong mess felt like a heavy burden on her heart.

“Karma really doesn’t waste time, huh? Now he gets front-row seats to my train wreck. With that sharp tongue of his, I bet he’ll never let me live it down,” Marina said, a wry smile tugging at her lips, a mix of bitterness and humor coloring her words.