His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 47

47 /412

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

Carrie felt a wave of uncertainty wash over her as she considered Shawna’s suggestion. The flicker of doubt in her eyes was unmistakable, a reflection of the internal battle raging within her.

It had been an eternity since Marina had last reached out to her. Not once in recent weeks had the girl picked up the phone, and Carrie couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Isn’t it always the parents who take charge when their son is about to marry?’

As she mulled over her thoughts, she couldn’t shake the bitter feeling that after all the sacrifices she’d made in raising Lavern, she was being denied the respect a mother rightfully deserved in his life.

‘This can’t continue,’ she thought fiercely. ‘I can’t allow Marina to walk all over me like this any longer.’

Turning to Shawna, Carrie’s expression hardened, her voice carrying a weight of seriousness as she inquired, “So, what devious schemes do you have lined up for her?”

With Lavern and Marina’s wedding just around the corner—merely two days away—Carrie harbored deep skepticism about Shawna’s ability to truly confront Marina.

Shawna’s lips curled into a mischievous grin as she leaned in conspiratorially, her breath warm against Carrie’s ear. “Honestly, I don’t have any tricks of my own. This whole plan was actually devised by one of Lavern’s friends.”

Carrie’s curiosity piqued. “And what’s this plan? You mean to say Marina won’t ever be able to stand tall in front of Lavern again? She’ll be at his command, doing his bidding?”

Shawna nodded with an air of confidence. “Absolutely.”

Carrie’s eyes widened, her skepticism momentarily replaced by intrigue. “Would she actually be willing to relinquish all the company’s assets?”

“Of course,” Shawna affirmed, but Carrie’s doubt remained palpable.

Shawna leaned closer, cupping her hand over her mouth as she began to share Hyman’s elaborate scheme. “You see, Lavern still has feelings for Marina. He wouldn’t want to go through with this plan if he knew it would hurt her.”

Carrie’s heart sank at the thought. She was acutely aware of Lavern’s lingering affection for Marina. If he discovered that she had allied with others to tarnish Marina’s reputation, he would likely despise her for it.

Noticing the hesitation etched across Carrie’s face, Shawna seized the moment to press on. “If you want to gain the upper hand against Marina, this is your only shot. Believe me, if she finds out about me and Lavern, she’ll go for half of everything he owns. As his mother, you’re the last line of defense; it’s your duty to safeguard his interests.”

Shawna was sharp; she knew that Carrie’s concerns were deeply rooted in financial security, and she artfully redirected the conversation back to that point. “Let’s be realistic here. Lavern doesn’t care for Marina the way he once did; if he did, I wouldn’t even be in the picture. He just needs a solid justification, something that allows him to keep the company without feeling guilty. Are you truly okay with Marina walking away with half of what Lavern built from the ground up?”

Carrie finally relented, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. With the wedding looming just a day away, she felt the urgency of their plan.

Meanwhile, Marina rose early, determined to ensure that everything was in order for the big day ahead. She meticulously checked her list, making certain that nothing was amiss. As she finalized her plans, she also booked her flight to Vrufield for the next afternoon.

This past month had been a whirlwind, and now, with the wedding finally approaching, she felt a mix of emotions. Was she excited? Or was it simply a sense of melancholy creeping in?

Just as she prepared to step out, her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

[I’ve got proof of everything Ross Group’s been up to; every illegal move they’ve made in the last six months. Ms. Finley, if you don’t want Ross Group to get exposed, bring one million in cash to Maple Retreat at 10 PM. And don’t even think about bringing anyone else. Come alone.]

Marina’s brow furrowed in confusion. She had personally reviewed the Ross Group’s financials; everything had seemed legitimate.

‘Could it be that Lavern has gotten himself involved in something illegal without my knowledge?’ she pondered anxiously.

Since Lavern had taken the reins of the Ross Group, he had been elevated by his friends, perhaps too much so. Caught in the whirlwind of admiration, he might have made decisions that jeopardized the company.

Marina had already divested her shares in Ross Group to Daron. Whatever unfolded with the company now was no longer her concern.

Yet, she couldn’t shake the nagging thought that she had handed those shares over to Daron. If the Ross Group crumbled after this, she would have essentially thrown him under the bus.

Marina had already devised a strategy to revive Finley Group. The first step in revitalizing the company was to mend the rift between the Finley and Zamora families.

The public declaration by the Zamora family to sever ties with the Finleys had dealt a significant blow to Finley Group’s reputation.

If Daron were to reconsider and partner with Finley Group again, it would provide reassurance to all those hesitant companies who had been waiting for a sign.