His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 81

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 81**

Kara had indulged in a few more drinks than Marina, the effects of which were now evident as she burst out of the car. Her feet stumbled awkwardly against the pavement, and it took several shaky attempts before she finally found her balance.

Inside the vehicle, she had managed to gulp in some fresh air, but the moment she stepped outside, her head began to spin, as if the world was tilting around her. Spotting Marina ahead, she attempted to follow, her steps uneven and chaotic, a testament to her inebriation.

Daron, striding confidently ahead, caught sight of her unsteady gait and frowned, concern etched across his features.

“Go back,” Daron commanded, his voice resonating with an authority that brooked no argument.

Kara halted abruptly, a wave of nervousness washing over her. Among all of Finn’s friends, Daron had always been the one who unnerved her the most.

“But I’m worried,” Kara managed to stammer, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daron shot her a piercing look, the warning in his eyes unmistakable.

Instantly, Kara fell silent, retreating to the side, unwilling to press her luck or move any closer.

Fear gripped her heart.

‘Thank goodness Marina isn’t interested in him,’ Kara thought, a shiver running down her spine. ‘If a guy like Daron ever became Marina’s husband, I would be far too intimidated to even approach her.’

Meanwhile, Marina rushed towards the emergency room, her heart racing with anxiety. Outside, she spotted Gauri, who was pacing back and forth, worry etched on her face. Marina hurried over, her heart pounding.

“Gauri, how’s Elnora?” Marina asked, her voice filled with urgency.

Gauri looked up, her eyes swollen and rimmed with red, unmistakable signs of recent tears. It was clear she had been crying.

Marina’s heart sank at the sight. A sense of dread crept over her, tightening her chest.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice trembling as the fear of hearing something unbearable washed over her.

Without warning, Gauri broke down, collapsing into Marina’s embrace, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Ms. Elnora’s got cancer. Ms. Marina, what are we supposed to do now?” Gauri sobbed, her voice thick with despair.

Having devoted decades of her life to the Finley family, Gauri had watched these two sisters grow, practically raising them herself.

Now, they were the last two remnants of the Finley legacy.

If Elnora were to succumb to this illness, Marina would be all that remained of the Finleys.

“No way, Gauri. This has to be a misdiagnosis, right?” Marina stammered, her voice quaking with disbelief.

Her body felt frozen in place, her complexion paling as the weight of the news settled heavily on her shoulders.

Gauri turned her head, desperately wiping away her tears.

Marina took a deep breath, but it felt as though the air was being sucked from her lungs.

Determined to uncover the truth, she resolved to find the doctor herself, desperate for clarity.

Sitting in the sterile confines of the doctor’s office, Marina’s gaze fell upon Elnora’s test reports displayed on the computer screen.

Her heart sank further as the reality hit her: Elnora had known about her stomach cancer even before Alyssa had passed away.

Marina bit down hard on her lip, suppressing the flood of memories from Alyssa’s funeral, refusing to let herself dwell on the painful details.

Elnora had meticulously managed every aspect of that funeral, even providing Marina with a checklist detailing everything that needed to be done afterward.

It was as if she had already foreseen this moment, preparing Marina for the inevitable.

‘She must have intended for Alyssa’s funeral to serve as a lesson for me, so that when her time came, I would know how to navigate it all,’ a thought flickered through Marina’s mind, heavy and bittersweet.

Sitting in the chair, she stared blankly at the test reports, tears streaming down her face as the reality of the situation engulfed her.

In the span of just two weeks, Elnora had undergone a barrage of tests, leaving no room for doubt regarding the diagnosis.

The doctor, sensing her distress, attempted to console her.

“Ms. Finley, please don’t lose hope. Elnora’s condition was detected early, and honestly, early-stage stomach cancer has a significantly high chance of being treated successfully,” the doctor said gently, attempting to instill some semblance of hope.

Marina wiped at her tears, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

Yet, no matter how many times she tried to dry her face, the tears continued to cascade down, unrelenting.

‘If only I had returned to Vrufield sooner…!’ Marina thought, her heart aching with regret.

‘If I had been there for Elnora, helping her manage the Finley Group, perhaps things wouldn’t have spiraled out of control like this.’ Guilt twisted painfully in her chest, the weight of her perceived failures pressing down on her.

In that moment, Marina felt as if she deserved nothing less than to disappear entirely.

Daron stood silently at the doorway of the doctor’s office, observing Marina as she sniffled softly, a deep frown etched on his face.

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