His 181St Second (Laverne and Marina) novel Chapter 9

**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 9**

“This is my home right here. I don’t want to go anywhere else.” Marina effortlessly withdrew her hand from Lavern’s grasp and settled herself into the plush chair, feeling the familiar contours embrace her.

Lavern noticed the subtle, mocking glimmer in her eyes, a spark of frustration igniting within him. He lowered his voice, trying to keep his composure. “Marina, do you really have to pick a fight with me right here at Alyssa’s?”

His body language screamed his exasperation, as if he were pleading, “I’ve already laid everything out for you. What more do you want from me?”

Marina’s thoughts churned. As if his mere words were enough to bind her forgiveness, and anything less would paint her as the unreasonable one. What had ever led her to believe that Lavern was different from the others back then?

A faint, sardonic smile danced on Marina’s lips as she retrieved the emerald bracelet from the ornate brocade box, rolling it casually between her fingers, savoring the weight of it.

For a brief moment, Lavern’s intense gaze faltered, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

Marina caught his eye, holding his controlled stare with her own, and flashed a knowing smile. “You’re here for this, aren’t you?”

Lavern, unable to maintain his facade, averted his gaze momentarily, the icy smirk on her face piercing through him. “Yeah. Florine’s birthday is just around the corner…”

Before he could elaborate further, Marina interrupted, her tone sharp and unwavering. “This bracelet belongs to me now. If you want it, you’ll need to pay up.”

His expression hardened, anger flaring in his eyes. “Marina, we’re getting married soon. Do we really have to keep score like this?”

Marina stood her ground, unyielding. She thought bitterly, “What gives him the audacity to believe I’ll still walk down the aisle with him, no questions asked, after everything he’s done?”

“Absolutely.” Her answer was firm, her eyes betraying not a hint of emotion.

Lavern held her gaze, his brow furrowing with frustration.

Marina matched his intensity, her resolve unwavering.

In a standoff like this, it was always a matter of who would blink first. This time, it was Lavern who finally pulled out his phone, breaking the tension.

Marina’s phone buzzed on the table, illuminating with a transfer notification. She made no move to retrieve it, letting the moment linger.

Lavern studied her, disdain creeping into his expression. “Not even going to check if it’s enough?”

With a slow and deliberate motion, Marina picked up her phone and opened the message.

Lavern’s face soured instantly, the color draining from his cheeks. “I had no idea you’d turned into such a gold digger.”

Marina didn’t even glance his way, her tone flat and dismissive. “Guess that makes you oblivious. Seven years, and you never truly understood me.”

His features chilled, the air around them thickening with tension.

Marina offered him a small, almost triumphant smile. “Don’t sweat it; I’ll fill you in completely over the next little while.”

With that, she extended the emerald bracelet toward him, a taunting gesture.

Lavern reached out, his expression stone-faced, his fingers barely grazing the bracelet when Marina abruptly released her grip.

A sharp crack echoed in the room, a crisp shatter resonating through the air.

Marina fought to suppress her widening grin, leaping in first. “Why didn’t you handle it properly?”

Lavern’s face contorted, his icy glare shifting from the shattered emerald back to her. “You meant to do that?”

Marina shook her head, feigning innocence. “I’ve got the cash already; what’s in it for me?”

Lavern noted the smirk she struggled to suppress, his deep-set eyes darkening with frustration. “If you’re this bent out of shape, fine. Let’s skip seeing each other until the wedding. Hole up here at Alyssa’s and chill out.”

He delivered the line with a frosty glare, but when he saw no reaction in her eyes, he scowled and turned sharply on his heel to leave.

“Hold on.” He barely made it to the door when Marina’s voice sliced through the silence, halting him in his tracks.

[This is the worst. I’m pregnant. We were supposed to break up in just two weeks, and now this baby comes out of nowhere. I have no clue what to do. Please, give me some advice, and go easy on the hate.]

A photo of a pregnancy test with two red lines accompanied the text, the stark reality of it sending a jolt through Marina.

The post had gone live just an hour earlier, and the comments were already stacking up, a foreboding tide of judgment soon to follow. Shawna’s own comment pinned to the top read, [I’ve told him about the baby. He said I should head to the hospital for a checkup first, and the way he said it, it seems like he wants me to keep it.]

Marina’s hand trembled slightly, her heart racing. There was no way she could remain completely unmoved by the news. But she quickly regained her composure, rubbing her temples in an attempt to stave off the oncoming wave of emotions before closing the app.

Outside, a light drizzle began to patter against the window, a soothing sound that belied the turmoil within her. She set her phone down and noticed the little basket Alyssa had woven, now getting soaked in the yard. She hurried out to retrieve it, the urgency of the moment propelling her forward.

The yard was thick with moss, which turned slick and treacherous under the rain. As she made her way across the damp ground, Marina slipped without warning, the world tilting as she hit the ground hard. The searing pain of a dislocated bone drained the color from her face in mere seconds.

The nearby neighbors had moved away ages ago, leaving her utterly alone. She tried to push through the agony and rise to her feet, but the pain drilled into her, forcing her to collapse again, her face pale as death as the rain poured down, soaking her through.

After what felt like an eternity, once the pain had dulled to a manageable throb, she dragged herself back inside, fumbling for her phone on the table to call for an ambulance, desperation clawing at her throat.

While she waited for the paramedics, Lavern’s call came through, shattering the silence.

Marina answered, pressing the phone to her ear, her heart racing.

“Marina, something came up at work. I…” he started, his voice laced with excuses.

Another lie. She hung up before he could finish, the sound of the disconnect echoing in the empty room.

Lavern didn’t call back.

Marina closed her eyes, the disappointment in them impossible to conceal, a heavy weight on her chest.

She had given him chance after chance to come clean, but all she received in return were more lies, each one a dagger to her heart.