Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 1 Summary
In the first chapter of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Marina Linley stands outside a bridal shop, her heart racing as she overhears her fiancé, Lavern Ross, betraying her with another woman. As she listens to their flirtatious banter, Marina is thrust into a painful reality just before her wedding day, feeling the weight of betrayal and despair. The excitement of preparing for her big day is replaced by a chilling sense of loss as she realizes that Lavern, who she believed was devoted, has been unfaithful, sneaking away on business trips for more than just work.
Struggling with her emotions, Marina decides to call off the wedding, a decision that is reinforced by a haunting message from her sister, Elnora, warning her about Lavern. As she types the message to cancel the wedding, her heart feels heavy with the implications of losing not only her fiancé but also her familial ties. Elnora’s ultimatum to return home in a month adds to her turmoil, and Marina drives away, determined to reclaim her life from the betrayal that has shattered her dreams.
Back home, Lavern’s nonchalant demeanor contrasts sharply with the storm brewing inside Marina. He tries to maintain his charming façade, but Marina sees through it, recognizing the stranger he has become. Their conversation quickly escalates into a confrontation, revealing Lavern’s frustration and anger as he tries to deflect blame onto Marina for his infidelity. This moment marks a significant turning point for Marina, who realizes that the man she loved is now merely a façade built on lies.
As Lavern continues to dismiss her feelings, Marina’s resolve strengthens. She recognizes the futility of trying to salvage their relationship and decides to take control of her life. The chapter closes with her searching for the meaning behind a mysterious phone number that had called Lavern, uncovering further evidence of his deceit. With a heavy heart, she begins to take practical steps to sever ties with Lavern, listing their home for sale and preparing to return to her sister, signaling her determination to move on from the shattered promises of their life together.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 1**
Lavern Ross was betraying Marina Linley.
Outside the bridal shop, Marina lingered in the dim light, her heart hammering in her chest as she caught snippets of laughter and flirtation from within the fitting room. She was supposed to be preparing for the most important day of her life, but instead, she was an unwilling witness to her fiancé’s infidelity.
“Does this wedding dress look better on me, or on you?” a sultry voice asked, filled with playful mischief.
“Of course, it looks better on you! I’m dying to be all over you. Doesn’t that prove how irresistible you are?” Lavern’s voice responded, dripping with charm and a hint of something darker.
A thrill of excitement escaped the woman, who let out a flirtatious giggle. “I want you to remember me forever. On your wedding day, on your anniversaries, you’ll always think back to today, to me.”
As Marina stood there, the soft moans and laughter echoed in her ears, she felt as though she had been thrown into a freezing abyss, her heart plummeting into a chasm of despair. It was the eve of their wedding, a day that should have been filled with joy and anticipation, yet here she was, grappling with the reality that Lavern, who had always portrayed himself as a devoted partner, had been sneaking away on business trips for more than just work.
Fighting against the nausea swirling in her stomach, Marina turned on her heel and walked away, each step heavier than the last as she headed toward her car. They had spent seven years together, building their lives and the Ross Group from the ground up, pouring their hearts and souls into every success.
Her sister, Elnora Finley, had warned her about Lavern from the very beginning, sensing something off about him. Marina could still hear Elnora’s voice in her mind, a message that had been left on her phone, a haunting reminder of the family she was about to lose.
“Elnora: The Finley family won’t be attending your wedding to Lavern. You’re on your own.”
With tears brimming in her eyes, Marina opened her phone and typed a response, her fingers trembling as she hit send.
“Marina: I’m calling off the wedding.”
The wait for Elnora’s reply felt like an eternity, each second stretching out painfully. Finally, the message came through.
“Elnora: Come back to Vrufield in a month, and I’ll believe you. Otherwise, we’re through as sisters.”
Marina typed a simple acknowledgment, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal. “Okay.” She pocketed her phone, the metal feeling cold against her skin as she started the car and drove away.
Meanwhile, Lavern emerged from the bridal shop, the woman still clinging to his arm, laughter spilling from her lips like a sweet poison. When he spotted Marina’s car, he froze momentarily, a flicker of recognition crossing his face. But in that fleeting moment, Marina’s vehicle disappeared into the distance, leaving him standing alone with his guilt.
With a dismissive shrug, he peeled the woman’s hand from his arm, straightening his clothes as he slipped back into his polished, charming demeanor. “I’ll have my assistant drop you off.”
The woman pouted, her voice laced with a hint of desperation. “Nooo, you promised we’d go shopping!”
Lavern ruffled her hair with an air of indifference, his eyes turning cold as he replied, “Behave.”
She complied, sulking away as he turned toward his own car, catching a glimpse of his reflection in the glossy paint. He saw no signs of his indiscretion, no trace of the woman he had just been with—only the sharp angles of his handsome face, perfectly composed, as if he were still the devoted fiancé Marina believed him to be.
Back at home, he noticed Marina’s car parked in the garage, the sight of it stirring a sense of unease within him. She was still inside, her gaze fixed on her phone, lost in thought.
“Did you go out?” he asked casually as he opened the door, tossing his suit jacket onto the passenger seat before leaning closer to her. His black shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, exposing a glimpse of his toned muscles, yet there was no trace of another woman lingering on him.
When she didn’t respond, he leaned in for a kiss, but she abruptly switched off her phone and raised a hand to stop him, her voice icy and unwavering. “Are you scared of me going out?”
He hesitated, momentarily taken aback. “Of course not. You can go out whenever you want. I just worry you’ll get bored without company.”
He flashed a charming smile, wrapping an arm around her waist and cooing softly, “Tell me, who’s got my darling all worked up?”
Marina remained silent, her eyes piercing into his strikingly handsome face, but her gaze was devoid of warmth. It felt as though she were looking at a stranger, someone she no longer recognized.
He was the same as ever, always quick to notice her mood, to identify the issues, and to offer emotional reassurances. But now, those reassurances felt hollow, like empty promises whispered in the dark.
She shook her head, turning away from him, her voice flat and distant. “Lavern, you’ve been swamped lately. I don’t see the point in going through with the wedding. I’m worried you won’t have the bandwidth for it.”
His frustration bubbled to the surface, and he regarded her with anger, feeling unappreciated. “Say that again!” he demanded, his voice laced with fury.
Marina held his gaze, unwavering. “There’s no point in going through with our wedding. I’m worried you won’t have the bandwidth for it.”
As she turned to leave, Lavern seized her arm, his anger flashing in his eyes like a storm brewing on the horizon. “I’m killing myself with work for our company, for our future. Do you want our kid to start off already behind the eight ball?”
“I just got back from a business trip, and instead of showing even a hint of concern, you’re throwing a tantrum and being completely unreasonable. When did you become like this?” Marina retorted, her voice steady, though inside she felt a tempest raging.
She stared at him, absorbing the absurdity of his accusations, and found herself almost laughing at the irony. Lavern, the man she had loved, now felt like a total stranger, a façade of lies and deceit.
He was just like so many others, cheating and then shifting the blame onto her, as if his betrayal had been an inevitable consequence of her actions, as if she had forced him into the arms of another.
With two months until their wedding, and Elnora’s ultimatum hanging over her, Marina felt a surge of determination. She would erase Lavern from her life completely.
She marched upstairs to their bedroom, her heart pounding with resolve, and stepped into the bathroom to wash away the remnants of her anger.
Lavern followed her, wrapping his arms around her from behind, his tone softening as he spoke. “It’s all my fault, Marina. I’ve been buried in work lately and haven’t been paying attention to how you’re feeling. Over the next few days, I’ll clear my schedule and come straight home after work to be with you, okay?”
Marina glanced up at him in the mirror, his gentle voice grating against her raw emotions. A sardonic smile tugged at her lips. “Why even bother? L…”
Before she could finish her thought, Lavern’s phone rang, the upbeat love song chiming through the air—one that had recently gone viral.
His old ringtones had always been generic, a reflection of their early days when they were still scrappy and struggling. She remembered suggesting they switch to something more romantic, but he had dismissed the idea, claiming it wouldn’t be professional with clients.
Now, it was clear that it wasn’t about professionalism; it was about something deeper, something that had shifted between them.
Lavern fished out his phone, glanced at the screen, and hung up. “Scam call,” he said dismissively.
Marina pressed her lips into a thin line, having caught the caller ID—181 Seconds. She muttered a quiet “Oh” and dropped her gaze.
The phone rang again, and he hung up once more, but it buzzed yet again, and finally, he turned his back to answer it.
“We’ve got some major projects at the company right now; I’m swamped. I hope you can cut me a little slack. I’ll stay late at the office tonight and head back first thing tomorrow to try on the wedding dress with you. Don’t wait up; get some sleep.”
Marina didn’t look his way, her focus on brushing her teeth as a wave of disappointment washed over her. In the mirror, she watched him leave the bathroom, his back retreating into the hallway.
Once he was gone, she pulled out her phone, searching online for the meaning of “181 Seconds.”
Her heart sank as she read the top explanation:
[People’s passions usually fizzle out after three minutes, but you’re my 181st second.]
A sharp pang of anguish settled in her chest, but she masked it with a casual demeanor, opening a real estate app and putting their current villa up for sale.
In a month, she would return to Vrufield, and nothing in this place would matter to her anymore. She wanted nothing from this life, especially not from Lavern.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of betrayal, Marina Linley found herself standing at a crossroads, her heart heavy yet resolute. The laughter that once filled the air around her had transformed into a haunting reminder of a love that had soured, leaving her to grapple with the painful truth of Lavern’s infidelity. As she prepared to sever ties with the life they had built together, she felt a bittersweet sense of liberation. The weight of his charm and deceit had been crushing, but now, with each step away from the bridal shop and toward her own freedom, she embraced the possibility of a new beginning. Elnora’s ultimatum loomed in her mind, but it served as a beacon, guiding her back to the family she had nearly lost in the haze of love gone wrong.
As Lavern continued to navigate his world of polished façades and hollow reassurances, Marina’s resolve crystallized. She recognized that the man who stood before her was not the partner she had envisioned for a lifetime; he was a stranger cloaked in betrayal. The emotional arc of her journey had shifted from despair to determination, igniting a fire within her that refused to be extinguished. With the decision to sell their home and reclaim her independence, she was not merely walking away from Lavern, but also from the false promises that had once anchored her heart. The winds of change carried her forward, whispering of lost dreams but also of newfound hope, as she took the first steps toward a future where she could finally be true to herself.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**
As Marina grapples with the shattering realization of Lavern’s betrayal, the stakes are about to rise dramatically. With her heart heavy and her resolve solidifying, she is set to confront not only the remnants of their crumbling relationship but also the ghosts of her past that haunt her familial ties. The upcoming chapter promises a deep dive into her emotional turmoil as she prepares to return to Vrufield, the place that holds both solace and the weight of her sister’s ultimatum. Expect to witness Marina’s transformation from a woman scorned to a fierce force determined to reclaim her life and identity, igniting a journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
Meanwhile, Lavern’s facade of charm will begin to crack as the consequences of his actions seep into his professional and personal life. As he attempts to maintain control, the tension will mount, leading to a series of confrontations that will reveal the true nature of their relationship. The chapter will introduce new characters who may either become allies or adversaries in Marina’s quest for liberation. As secrets unfold and loyalties are tested, readers can anticipate a whirlwind of emotions, unexpected alliances, and the gripping question of whether Marina can truly sever ties with her past or if Lavern’s shadow will continue to loom over her future. Prepare for a rollercoaster of revelations that will leave you breathless and eager for more.
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.
