His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 70

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

Every choice Marina had made recently had left Lavern reeling, as if the very ground beneath his feet had shifted without warning.

She hadn’t confided in him about her grandmother’s passing. She had sold the villa they had cherished together, and, perhaps most shocking of all, she had let Robert go—an assistant she had relied on for nearly seven years.

Lavern had always assumed that Marina’s ties to Ross Group were unbreakable; he believed she would never sever those connections.

But here she was, making decisions that suggested a permanent departure. Why would she fire Robert, a loyal aide, when she could simply welcome him back if she chose to return? Instead, she had opted to let him go entirely, even arranging for his double compensation as a parting gift.

It was as if she had made up her mind to move on, leaving no space for Robert to linger in her wake.

The lawyer, sensing the turmoil in Lavern’s heart, hesitated for a moment. He understood that Lavern’s worries were not unfounded.

Yet, he chose to offer Lavern some comforting words. “Mr. Ross, remember that Ms. Finley co-founded Ross Group alongside you. Your lives and careers have been intertwined for years. She has always been the rational one. I truly doubt she would take actions that would harm her own interests over something as trivial as this,” the lawyer reassured him.

As the lawyer spoke, Lavern felt the tension in his chest begin to ease.

Gradually, the worry that had clouded his gaze began to dissipate.

“You’re right. I’ve been letting my fears get the better of me,” Lavern admitted, a hint of relief washing over him.

But deep down, a nagging thought lingered—how could Marina even contemplate leaving? Ross Group was as much hers as it was his. She had invested her heart and soul into it, nurturing it like a child.

Her reputation and standing were intricately linked to the group. Without him, who else could provide her with the same level of prestige?

Just as the lawyer was about to exit, his phone buzzed insistently. It was a call from the branch office.

After answering, his expression shifted to one of grave concern.

“Mr. Ross, Ms. Thornton is experiencing severe stomach cramps. The team has rushed her to the hospital. Would you like to go see her?” the lawyer asked, knowing full well that Shawna was carrying Lavern’s child.

Lavern’s demeanor darkened instantly. He sat in silence for a heartbeat, contemplating the implications of this news, before rising to his feet.

“Let’s go,” he said curtly, his mind already racing with worry.

—

At the hospital, Shawna lay there, gripped by excruciating pain.

She had already been showing signs of a threatened miscarriage. After Lavern had pushed her to the ground the day before, and the relentless questioning from the staff had left her feeling cornered, she had finally collapsed at the office, unable to bear it any longer.

When the doctor had assured her that the baby was still okay, Shawna had released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

Just as Marina had pointed out, the child she carried was her only leverage. If she lost that, Lavern would not hesitate to walk away without a second thought.

Earlier, she had given Carrie some advice, knowing that Carrie was the one who had reached out to Hyman. If Carrie remained consistent in her story, there would be no way for her to pin the blame on Shawna.

After all, since Carrie had arrived in the city to care for her, Shawna had barely stepped outside, let alone encountered Hyman or anyone else.

The mere thought of how Marina had sabotaged the wedding, slipping away from Hyman and his crew unscathed, only to turn around and paint Shawna as the villain, stoked the flames of resentment that burned within her.

When Lavern entered the room, he immediately sensed the simmering resentment in her gaze.

He stood at the threshold, his expression somber, disappointment etched across his features.

‘How could I have been so blind six months ago, believing Shawna was anything like Marina?’ he thought, a wave of realization crashing over him.

‘They are worlds apart. There’s nothing about them that even remotely connects,’ he chastised himself.

Shawna, hearing the sound of his entrance, turned to face him, quickly masking her resentment with a facade of vulnerability.

“Lavern, I thought you wouldn’t come to see me. I thought you didn’t want me anymore,” she said, her voice quivering with feigned sorrow.

Lavern approached her bedside, his expression unreadable.

Shawna wrapped her arms around his waist, beginning to sniffle. Just yesterday, she had pleaded with him to help her escape her situation, and he had turned his back on her without so much as a glance.

Now, with him here, her anxiety began to ease, if only slightly.

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