Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 9 Summary
In Chapter 9 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” the tension between Marina and Lavern escalates as they confront their fractured relationship. Marina asserts her independence, refusing to let Lavern dictate their dynamic, and challenges him over an emerald bracelet that symbolizes their tumultuous history. Lavern’s frustration grows as he realizes that Marina is no longer the passive partner he once knew, and her determination to hold him accountable for his past actions becomes evident. The emotional standoff reveals deep-seated resentments, with Marina feeling betrayed and Lavern struggling to understand the changes in her.
As the confrontation unfolds, Marina’s resolve only strengthens, leading to a moment where she deliberately breaks the bracelet, a metaphor for the shattering of their relationship. Lavern’s anger flares, but Marina remains unfazed, highlighting her transformation from a submissive partner to someone who demands respect and accountability. The exchange becomes a battleground of emotions, with both characters grappling with their feelings of betrayal, anger, and the remnants of love that linger beneath the surface.
The chapter takes a darker turn when Marina receives a shocking update about her friend Shawna’s unexpected pregnancy, which serves as a painful reminder of her own unresolved feelings toward Lavern. As she processes this news, she attempts to maintain her composure, yet the emotional turmoil is palpable. Her attempt to retrieve a basket in the rain leads to a physical accident, symbolizing her vulnerability and isolation. Alone and in pain, she struggles to call for help, further emphasizing her loneliness in the face of Lavern’s absence and deceit.
When Lavern calls, his excuses only deepen Marina’s disappointment, highlighting the chasm that has formed between them. Her decision to hang up signifies a turning point, as she recognizes that she can no longer afford to invest in a relationship built on lies. The chapter closes with Marina grappling with the weight of her choices, feeling the sting of betrayal while also embracing her newfound strength. The emotional landscape is rich with conflict, heartbreak, and the struggle for self-empowerment, setting the stage for Marina’s journey of healing and self-discovery.
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**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.
Lavern’s stormy expression softened slightly; if she was ready to apologize, he would give her an out. His mood lifting a notch, he turned back. “What…”
But Marina cut him off before he could finish. “This bracelet broke because you didn’t hold it steady. The money you just paid me? I’m not refunding it.”
Lavern froze, the barely settled emotions within him flaring back to life. He ground out the words through clenched teeth, his voice low and dangerous. “You’d better stay this money-grubbing forever! Just cling to that cash for the rest of your life!”
Marina shot back, her voice laced with sarcasm. “Thanks for the well wishes!”
The room fell into a profound silence; you could have heard a pin drop.
Lavern’s face turned icy, his expression darkening under the dim yellow light of the old house. He glared at Marina, who sat calmly in her chair, lips pressed into a thin line, unyielding.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally broke the silence, his voice weary, as if conceding defeat. “How did you become like this?”
Marina met his gaze in silence, her heart heavy. “You should ask yourself what you’ve been up to these past few months.”
For her, letting go of their seven-year relationship felt akin to carving flesh from bone, each piece removed a painful reminder of the love that had once flourished. All that anguish stemmed from him.
He had betrayed her, yet here he was, demanding to know how she had changed; it was almost laughable.
She thought bitterly, ‘He is the one who has thrown away our seven years together, yet he has the gall to shift the blame onto me. It is downright nauseating.’
“Marina! Do you really have to latch onto this baseless crap and fight me over it?” His frustration surged, her cool detachment igniting his anger.
Marina simply raised her index finger to her lips and shushed him. “Shh. You’re disturbing my grandma.”
Lavern fell silent for a moment, the absurdity of the situation washing over him. Then, surprisingly, he calmed down. “I’ll come get you tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ll cancel all my work and stay home with you.”
Marina didn’t respond, her silence heavy with unspoken words. Amidst the thick atmosphere, Lavern turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.
The following day, he never showed.
Marina’s eyes caught Shawna’s update on a social media app, drawing her attention like a moth to a flame.
[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.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of their tumultuous exchange, Marina found herself standing at the precipice of a painful realization. The weight of Lavern’s betrayal hung heavily on her, a constant reminder of the seven years they had spent together, now tainted by deceit and disillusionment. As the rain poured outside, mirroring the storm within her, she understood that she could no longer cling to the remnants of a love that had become a source of anguish. The emerald bracelet, once a symbol of their bond, now lay shattered like the trust that had been so carelessly broken. In that moment of solitude, amidst the echoes of Lavern’s hollow promises, she resolved to reclaim her strength and embrace the uncertainty of her future without him.
As the paramedics arrived, Marina felt a flicker of hope ignite within her, a testament to her resilience. The pain in her dislocated bone served as a stark reminder of the physical and emotional battles she had endured. Yet, as she lay on the stretcher, she recognized that this injury, much like her heart, would eventually heal. The journey ahead would be fraught with challenges, but she was finally ready to confront them head-on, unburdened by Lavern’s shadow. With each passing moment, she embraced the winds of change, determined to carry forward her lost promises, transforming them into newfound strength and independence.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter of *Winds Carry Lost Promises*, readers can expect the tension between Marina and Lavern to reach a boiling point. With the stakes now higher than ever after Marina’s accident, the emotional fallout from their strained relationship promises to unravel further. As she grapples with her injury and the weight of Lavern’s betrayal, Marina will be forced to confront not only her feelings for him but also her own sense of identity and strength. Will she continue to allow Lavern to dictate the narrative of their relationship, or will she finally take the reins and assert her independence?
Moreover, the unexpected news about Shawna’s pregnancy looms over Marina like a dark cloud, igniting a whirlwind of emotions that she can no longer ignore. As she navigates her pain and the chaos of her thoughts, readers will be left wondering how this revelation will affect her decisions moving forward. Will she reach out to Shawna for support, or will it push her further into isolation? The interplay of these personal struggles against the backdrop of the stormy weather outside sets the stage for an emotionally charged chapter filled with revelations, confrontations, and perhaps a pivotal moment of clarity for Marina. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions as the winds of change sweep through her life once 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.
