His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 69

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt**

**Chapter 69**

Lavern was utterly unprepared for Marina’s response.

“Marina, I know you still care about me. Do you really have to talk to me like this? Our relationship just ran into a small hiccup. Let me take care of it, so don’t stay mad at me,” Lavern pleaded, his voice tinged with desperation.

He and Marina had shared seven years together, not merely seven days or months, but a substantial chunk of their lives. Their bond had evolved from the initial sparks of romance into something resembling family, a deep-rooted connection that transcended mere affection.

Marina had lost her family long ago. To her, Lavern wasn’t just a partner; he was the last remnant of family she had left in this world.

In Lavern’s mind, this was just a moment of anger for Marina, a fleeting storm that would soon pass. He was convinced that once she had a chance to cool down, she would return to him, just as she always had.

After all, the turmoil they were facing was largely his doing. He was prepared to do whatever it took to mend their relationship, to prove to her that he was still worth her time and love.

“Marina, please, just tell me where you are,” he implored, his heart aching at the thought of her alone and hurting.

“Just thinking about you being all alone somewhere, feeling miserable, and I don’t even know where you are, it really breaks my heart. I know this is all my fault. You can punish me however you want, but please don’t suffer in silence,” he added, his voice cracking with emotion.

Marina’s response was a sharp, sarcastic laugh, laced with bitterness. “Where do you get the confidence to think I’d still be sad over you?” she shot back, her anger palpable.

“Wasn’t my attitude yesterday enough to make things clear? If you still don’t get it, let me make it official. Lavern, we’re finished. I’m breaking up with you,” she declared, her tone cold and unwavering.

Before he could even respond, she severed the connection, leaving Lavern staring at his phone in disbelief. He had opened his mouth to speak, but the dial tone filled the silence instead. He squeezed his eyes shut, gripping his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white. Defeat washed over him like a cold wave.

His heart was a tempest of emotions, swirling and crashing.

In a moment of desperation, he hastily typed out a message to Marina and hit send.

[Marina, don’t say things you don’t mean. There’s no way I’m breaking up with you. I love you, and you love me too. Why are we even talking about breaking up?]

But as soon as he pressed send, a red exclamation mark appeared on his screen. The system message flashed ominously: [The recipient has blocked your messages.]

The message had failed to go through.

Lavern’s hand trembled slightly, a barely noticeable sign of his distress.

A knock at the door interrupted his spiraling thoughts.

“Come in,” he called, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

The lawyer from the legal department stepped inside, his expression serious and grave.

“I’ve already spoken with Ms. Finley’s attorney. She flat-out refuses to sign any settlement agreement. She insists that Ms. Thornton and your wife must be sentenced. There’s absolutely no chance for negotiation,” the lawyer reported, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of the news.

As for Hyman, there was really nothing more to discuss. The Cooper family had their eyes on him the entire time, and there was no way anyone could bail him out. The notion of saving Hyman hadn’t even crossed Lavern’s mind.

Frustration etched itself across Lavern’s face as he tugged at his tie, feeling the pressure mounting.

Noticing the tension radiating from Lavern, the lawyer cautiously asked, “Did you manage to get in touch with Ms. Finley?”

Lavern’s expression darkened, his voice cold as ice. “Yeah, I got through.”

But even before he could elaborate, she had hung up on him.

The lawyer’s keen eyes recognized the defeat in Lavern’s demeanor; it was clear he hadn’t managed to win Marina back.

The incident had spread through their circles like wildfire, with videos popping up online, fueling the gossip mill.

People had even unearthed Shawna’s old posts, and many were simply there for the drama.

Everyone was eagerly awaiting the final outcome.

Some had even started tagging the situation with labels like “Marriage Safety” and “Women’s Protection.”

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