Chapter 192
What you did today really had a bad impact on me personally, So, how about we make a wager it there is no problem my investigation, you’ll have to hand over 10% of your Ross Group shares to me. How about in Lavern continued
He stared Marina down, his gaze dark and full of the confidence of someone who thought he’d already wom
Marina didn’t answer him.
Lavern spoke again, his voice low and serious.
You seem so sure of yourself, even had your people come down and shut off access to the files. You must already have some evidence. What, you’re afraid to make a wager?”
Marina let out a soft laugh and asked, “Why wouldn’t I dare?”
She didn’t have any Ross Group shares left anyway, so what was there to be afraid of?
Hearing Marina’s reply, Lavern finally let his hand drop.
Marina led her people into his office.
Lavern’s computer was still on. Marina checked the desktop, but there wasn’t a single file left, and even the trash was all
empty.
He must’ve used all that time in the office to wipe everything clean.
She looked down at the computer host. At least Lavern hadn’t smashed it.
Marina motioned for Daniel to carry out the whole setup.
Just then, Lavern walked over, leaned in close with his hands braced on the desk, and flashed her a confident smile.
“Marina, if you’re taking my computer, how am I supposed to get any work done now? Didn’t you just check it? There’s nothing you want on there. And you’re not gonna find anything, ever,” he said.
He’d already wiped every single file. Taking the computer was a pointless move for Marina.
No one at Ross Group, or anywhere in Sicester, could ever get back what he’d erased.
Marina instinctively put some distance between herself and Lavern. Seeing that smug grin on his face, she looked away in disgust.
“If there’s nothing I want on your computer, then why do you care if I take it?” she shot back.
“Suit yourself, Lavern replied coolly, pulling out the chair beside him.
He sat down with a calm air, letting Marina’s people rummage through his office.
When Daniel started checking on the bookshelf, Lavern’s face darkened.
He spoke in a low, warning tone, “Watch what you’re doing. If you break anything on my shelves, you couldn’t pay it off even if you spent your whole life working for Ross Group.
Hearing his words, Marina glanced up at his bookshelf.
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Chapter 192
On the bookshelf were the anniversary gifts she’d given him over the years.
Noticing Marina’s gaze, Lavern gave a gentle smile.
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He said to her softly, “Marina, every anniversary gift you’ve ever given me is right here. I keep them there to motivate myself at work, to let you live a better life,
“I really take good care of them, and I truly treasure every single thing you’ve given me.”
Marina felt sick to her stomach at Lavern’s phony act of tenderness.
Daniel glanced at the golf club Lavern had placed behind the door, caught Marina’s eye, and instinctively moved away from the bookshelf.
Marina walked over, grabbed the golf club, and brought it down hard on the bookshelf. Each swing sent the anniversary gift she’d once given him flying, smashing them to bits on the floor.
Lavern’s face darkened, and he was about to jump to his feet.
Daniel immediately reached out and held him down by the shoulder.
“Mr. Ross, where are you off to? Take it easy, just sit tight,” he said.
Lavern’s face twisted with emotion. As Marina was about to smash the last gift, he blurted out, “Marina! That’s enough! Leave that one for me!”
It was a little ceramic figurine they’d made together on their very first date..
The two figures, nestled close together, were meant to be him and Marina.
Marina gave him a cold smile. Without a second thought, she swung the golf club again.
Lavern suddenly broke free from Daniel’s grip, ran forward, and reached out to grab the ceramic figurine just as it was about to be hit.
She put all her strength into the swing, and the club struck Lavern hard.
Everyone in the room heard his pained grunt.
He doubled over in agony, but still shielded the ceramic figurines with his body.
Marina furrowed her brows, fixing her gaze on him.
Lavern managed a smile, but it was laced with both pain and bitterness.
“Marina, leave this one. It wasn’t from you, so you don’t get to smash it,” he said, his voice strained.
Marina’s gaze fell on the ceramic figurine in his hands.
Just then, Daron walked in. His eyes locked onto Marina, quietly taking her in.
Marina was caught off guard for a moment when she saw Daron. She put down the golf club and asked him, “Why are you
here?”
Daron stopped, keeping his distance from both Marina and Lavern.
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Chapter 192
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“Heard there was some drama going down, so I came to see for myself. Didn’t think it’d be the same old trick,” he replied, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Marina bit her lip and said quietly, “It all happened so suddenly, so…”
Daron’s eyes went cold as he shot Marina a look.
“I’ll be waiting in your office. Handle things here and then come upstairs to see me,” he said indifferently.
With that, he turned, giving the ceramic figurine a look that could freeze fire before he left Lavern’s office.
Marina wasn’t surprised to see Daron show up. After all, everyone working for her had been sent by him. If anything went sideways, they’d tip him off in a heartbeat.
What threw her, though, was how Daron just brushed it all off and told her to handle things herself, like it was no big deal. She’d honestly thought he was about to make a move and get involved with the Ross Group mess.
After Daron left, Lavern forced himself upright, his back still aching from the blow.
The pain in his back did not dissipate at all. Seeing Marina staring after Daron, a sharp pang of heartache twisted through Lavern’s chest.
“Marina, he isn’t right for you. If you don’t want to get back with me, just choose someone else. Anyone’s better than him.” Lavern said.
Even after everything that had happened, he still managed to speak as if he truly had her best interests at heart.
If it weren’t for all the annoying behaviours he’d been pulling lately, Marina might’ve actually almost believed him.
‘Seriously, how can anyone be this shameless?’ Marina scoffed inwardly, shaking her head.
Marina’s gaze locked onto the ceramic figurine in Lavern’s hands, her eyes sharpening with a sudden glint.
She thought, ‘Lavern isn’t the kind of guy who’d risk everything just to protect some trinket.
‘Unless there is something hidden inside.’
She remembered the way Daron had looked at the ceramic figurine as he walked out.
He must’ve realized it, too.
Daniel caught the look in Marina’s eyes and immediately stepped forward, holding Lavern back.
Marina seized the moment and snatched the ceramic figurine from Lavern’s hands.
During the scrambling, the ceramic figurine hit the floor, splitting the two little figures right down the middle. Marina bent over to check, but the hollow inside was empty. No secrets, no evidence, nothing.
She frowned, her eyes showing nothing but disappointment at coming up empty. She didn’t care at all about the shattered ceramic figurine, only that she hadn’t found the proof.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
