His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 65

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt**

**Chapter 65**

**55 vouchers**

“Elnora, I’m serious about your situation. Why are you dragging me into this? The engagement is already off between me and him,” Marina declared, her voice firm yet tinged with an undercurrent of frustration.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Marina’s features, her grip on the armrest tightening instinctively as if to anchor herself amidst the emotional turbulence.

Elnora, sensing the tension, furrowed her brows for a brief moment before she gently brushed Marina’s hand away, a gesture that spoke volumes of her own inner turmoil.

“If you don’t want to, then why bother backing down?” Elnora challenged, her tone edged with a mix of defiance and vulnerability.

Marina’s expression shifted, her voice laced with anxiety. “Elnora…”

With a weary sigh, Elnora pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on her.

“Get out,” Daron interjected sharply, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife.

Elnora had faced a disheartening day, unable to sell the land she had hoped would bring some relief. After drowning her frustrations in a few too many drinks, fatigue clung to her like a second skin, and the chill in her demeanor was unmistakable.

Yet Marina stood her ground, determination etched across her face. “I want to work at Finley Group. Set me up with a position.”

Elnora’s expression remained impassive as she turned her sister down, her heart heavy with the burden of their circumstances.

“We don’t need any more servants right now,” she replied, her voice devoid of warmth.

Marina held Elnora’s gaze, her eyes piercing through the facade of indifference that her sister wore like armor.

“Elnora, you don’t want me working at Finley Group because you’re trying to shield me from this mess, right? The company is on the verge of collapse, and you’re drowning in debt you can’t possibly repay, aren’t you?” Marina pressed, her voice rising with urgency.

Elnora, seemingly unfazed, continued to flip through the documents in her hands, a practiced calm masking her inner chaos.

“Where did you hear that rumor? That’s utter nonsense,” she replied, her tone dismissive.

Marina’s gaze softened as she looked at her sister, a wistful sorrow washing over her as she took in the stark beauty of Elnora’s face, now marred by the weight of worry.

“Daron told me,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

The air grew thick with silence as Elnora’s icy facade faltered for just a moment. To regain her composure, she slowly closed her eyes, as if shutting out the world.

Feeling a surge of empathy, Marina wrapped her arms around Elnora from behind.

“Elnora, I’m back. I’ll help you. We’ll get through this together,” she murmured softly, her voice a soothing balm against the harsh reality surrounding them.

“First, let’s pay off what we owe the bank, then we can tackle our debt with the Zamora family. Finley Group will rise again,” Marina declared, her resolve shining through.

“Do we owe the Zamora family?” Elnora asked, her voice tinged with disbelief as she opened her eyes.

Marina nodded earnestly, her expression serious.

“Did he mention it?” Elnora inquired, her heart racing as she prepared for the worst.

Marina confirmed with another nod. “So, how much does the Finley family owe the Zamora family?”

Elnora fell silent, lost in thought as she stared blankly at the papers scattered across her desk.

Marina, seeking comfort, leaned her head gently on Elnora’s shoulder, reminiscent of the way they used to share secrets a decade ago.

“Elnora, it’s okay. No matter how much we owe, we’ll face it together,” she reassured, her voice imbued with a sense of sisterly strength.

Reflecting on their past, Marina felt a pang of guilt for allowing Elnora to shoulder so many burdens alone.

This time, she vowed to stay. She would not allow her sister to navigate this storm without her support.

Marina’s presence melted some of the frostiness in Elnora’s gaze, reminding her of the bond they once shared.

To Elnora, Marina was still that obedient little sister who had left the Finley family behind at seventeen.

But the Finley family was a shadow of its former self now.

“Anna,” Elnora called softly, using the nickname that had fallen silent since their mother passed away.

The determination and sadness in Elnora’s eyes struck Marina deeply, igniting a sudden ache within her heart.

“What’s wrong?” Marina asked, concern etched across her features.

Elnora appeared momentarily lost, worry flickering in her eyes like a candle in the wind.

“Just suck it up and go get a job at Zamora Group,” Elnora instructed, her tone serious and unwavering.

“Even if you can’t stand Daron, just deal with it for Finley Group,” she added, her voice firm yet tinged with an underlying plea.

Marina’s confusion grew. “Are you asking me to spy on Zamora Group for you?” she mumbled, her words tumbling out before she could filter them.

Elnora stared at her in disbelief, momentarily at a loss for words.

Sometimes, Elnora wished she could peer into Marina’s mind, curious about the wild ideas that danced around in there.

Just as Elnora was about to clarify her intentions, Marina muttered under her breath, “It’s not like I can’t do it.”

Marina quickly covered Elnora’s mouth, a playful urgency in her gesture. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Elnora looked relieved, pulling Marina’s hand away and speaking in a calm tone.

“You’ve been on a plane all day. You smell awful. Go take a shower,” she said, a teasing smile breaking through.

Marina groaned, “I didn’t even complain about how you reek of booze.”

The last time the sisters had seen each other was at their grandmother’s funeral, a somber occasion that had left them both feeling distant. Marina had been in a foul mood, and Elnora had been overwhelmed with work, resulting in a strained silence between them.

After washing up in her own room, Marina grabbed her pillow and made a beeline for Elnora’s, refusing to leave her side.

It felt just like their childhood, sharing secrets and dreams under the stars.

Marina couldn’t stop chattering about all the ambitious plans she had for Finley Group once they navigated through this mess.

Elnora glanced sideways at Marina, taking in the serious expression on her sister’s face and the careful consideration in her thoughts. It struck her that Marina had truly matured.

For the first time, Elnora felt a sense of relief as she contemplated handing over the future of Finley Group to her younger sister.

Marina continued her animated chatter, but Elnora’s eyelids grew heavy with fatigue. She reached out and gently covered Marina’s mouth, urging her to quiet down.

“Right now, your job is to win Daron over, secure a position at Zamora Group, and make it look like the Finleys and Zamoras are teaming up,” Elnora instructed, her tone authoritative yet filled with sisterly love.

Marina mumbled through Elnora’s hand, her voice playful, “Mission accomplished, I promise!”

Elnora shot her a look, a mix of exasperation and affection, before pulling her hand back.

Exhaustion washed over her, and she closed her eyes almost immediately.

But Marina was too energized to sleep.

Turning onto her side to face Elnora, she scooted a little closer, her curiosity piqued.

“Elnora…” Marina whispered tentatively, testing the waters to see if her sister was still awake.

Elnora kept her eyes shut, her brow furrowed in annoyance, refusing to respond.

Not one to give up easily, Marina tried again, “Elnora, are you asleep?” her voice barely above a whisper.

Elnora, growing increasingly irritated, snapped, “Say one more word and go back to your own room.”

Marina mumbled, “Okay,” a hint of mischief in her tone.

That night, despite Marina’s constant chatter beside her, Elnora finally found the solace of real sleep, a rare gift amidst the chaos of their lives.