His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 72

**Chapter 72**

As they stepped out of the hospital, Daron made a point of requesting a wheelchair for Marina.

“I can walk just fine,” Marina protested, her tone a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

She forced a smile, feeling as though the staff viewed her as someone incapable of managing her own mobility.

‘Seriously, it’s not that big of a deal,’ she chastised herself internally.

Daron maintained a composed demeanor, his voice steady and measured. “There’s a step at the entrance. Are you really sure you can handle it without looking down?”

Marina fell silent, the weight of his words sinking in.

Leaning closer, Daron lowered his voice, a teasing lilt evident. “You’re not thinking of using this as another excuse to leap into my arms, are you?”

Despite his quiet tone, the nearby medical staff couldn’t help but overhear, exchanging amused glances and smirks.

Marina felt her cheeks heat up. Biting her lip, she let out a resigned sigh and finally settled into the wheelchair.

With a gentle grip, Daron took hold of the handles and began to wheel her out of the hospital, the wheels rolling smoothly over the polished floor.

Upon reaching the car, Marina attempted to rise from the wheelchair too quickly, and a sharp jolt of pain shot through her neck.

Daron opened the passenger door for her, his expression one of patient concern.

Marina cradled her neck protectively as she climbed into the car, moving slowly and awkwardly, each motion careful to avoid exacerbating her discomfort.

Daron didn’t rush her; he stood by, waiting patiently. When she finally settled into the seat, he leaned in, poking his head through the open door.

Marina’s heart raced unexpectedly, and she instinctively pressed her back against the seat, feeling the rush of blood in her ears.

“W-What are you doing?” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daron’s striking eyes glimmered with mischief, a hint of a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he leaned even closer.

“What do you think?” he replied, his tone light yet charged with an unspoken tension.

Marina felt a wave of unease wash over her.

“Mr. Zamora… please, stop joking around,” she urged, trying to maintain her composure.

Daron raised an eyebrow, inching closer still. Marina held his gaze, her eyes wide and alert, a mixture of curiosity and wariness reflecting in them.

Then, with a soft click, the seatbelt snapped into place.

Marina blinked in surprise, only to find Daron smirking at her, his eyes sparkling with playful intent.

“So, Ms. Finley, what was racing through that mind of yours just now?” he asked, his grin widening.

Marina shook her head, attempting to dismiss his question. “Nothing, really,” she replied, though internally, she was calculating the best way to defend herself if he attempted something unexpected.

Daron caught sight of her hand gripping a power bank tucked away in the side compartment, clearly ready to spring into action if needed.

“Oh, really?” he remarked, an amused eyebrow raised.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Marina loosened her hold on the power bank, a sheepish smile creeping onto her face.

“Uh-huh,” she said, her voice wavering.

Daron let out a dismissive snort, turning his attention back to the road, allowing the moment to pass.

Marina maintained her awkward smile, recognizing that perhaps she had been a tad too suspicious of him.

As Daron settled into the driver’s seat and started the car, they pulled away from the hospital.

Not long into the drive, Marina’s stomach let out a loud growl, breaking the silence of the small car.

She smiled awkwardly, feeling the need to fill the sudden void.

Daron, however, continued driving, his expression neutral, not acknowledging her at all.

Marina knew she had to say something to ease the tension. “Mr. Zamora, did you happen to review the preliminary proposal I sent?” she ventured.

He glanced over, responding simply, “No.”

Marina shot back, “Don’t play coy. I saw the notification; you’ve already read it.”

Before her feet could touch the ground, Daron extended his hand to assist her.

Marina was resolute, determined to extract a clear answer from him.

“Mr. Zamora, if I join Zamora Group, it’s a win-win situation for both of us,” she asserted confidently.

Daron raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable, but there was no trace of anger.

“So, once you’re in, your sister can just waltz around using Zamora Group’s name to broker dubious deals? And that’s supposed to benefit me?” he questioned, his tone skeptical.

Marina was momentarily taken aback by his words, but she quickly regained her footing.

“Come on, how is that dubious? My sister gets the cash; they get the land. It’s a fair exchange. If the land appreciates later, that’s on the buyers to figure out,” she replied, her voice steady.

Daron shot her a look, his silence speaking volumes.

Taking a deep breath, Marina pressed on, “Consider your real estate projects, Mr. Zamora. You sell a house for five million, and if it appreciates to eight million later, are you going to go back and demand the extra three million from the buyer? Of course not.”

“And if the price drops to two million, you wouldn’t reimburse your clients the difference, would you?”

“Buying land is always a gamble, Mr. Zamora. No one can predict the outcome, whether it’s a win or a loss,” she concluded, her voice filled with conviction.

Daron glanced at her, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his deep, contemplative eyes.

Marina felt a slight unease under his intense gaze but held her ground, refusing to back down. “Tell me, Mr. Zamora, am I wrong?”

Daron remained silent, simply releasing her hand once she was steady on her feet.

Marina looked up and noticed the restaurant sign looming ahead.

**Silkwind Kitchen.**

She halted, momentarily stunned. It had been so long since she’d been in Vrufield that the place had undergone a complete transformation. It looked so different that she could hardly recognize it.

Daron strode inside, and Marina hurried after him, her heart racing with anticipation.

She had laid everything on the table. Whether Daron would choose to take her on as part of his team was now entirely up to him.