Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 2

Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 2 Summary

In “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Marina finds herself entangled in a web of betrayal and emotional turmoil after discovering her fiancé, Lavern, has been unfaithful. The story begins with Marina’s excitement over a villa listed at an astonishingly low price, but this quickly shifts as she stumbles upon a scandalous post on a popular app. The post reveals a woman who has slipped into her fiancé’s fiancée’s wedding dress, igniting a sense of dread within Marina as she realizes the man in the photo is Lavern. Overwhelmed by emotions, she impulsively removes her engagement ring, symbolizing her rejection of the tainted promises it represents.

As the narrative unfolds, Marina is confronted with the stark reality of her relationship when Lavern arrives home late and insists they meet at the bridal shop. The tension escalates as she grapples with her emotions while trying to maintain composure in front of Lavern and a young woman, Shawna, whom he introduces as a business partner’s daughter. The encounter is fraught with jealousy and resentment, particularly as Shawna seems oblivious to the underlying tension, further aggravating Marina’s feelings of betrayal.

Marina’s internal struggle reaches a boiling point as she decides against trying on her wedding dress, a poignant symbol of her shattered dreams. Instead, she deflects the attention onto Shawna, who eagerly tries on the gown. The situation spirals into chaos when Marina deliberately stains the dress with coffee, a powerful act of defiance against both Lavern and Shawna. This moment crystallizes her anger and frustration, culminating in a public slap to Lavern’s face, a bold declaration of her refusal to be a victim of his infidelity.

The story captures the emotional turbulence of betrayal, anger, and the quest for self-assertion. Marina’s actions reflect her inner turmoil and the struggle to reclaim her dignity in the face of humiliation. The climax of the chapter serves as a cathartic release for Marina, showcasing her determination to confront the painful reality of her situation and assert her independence, even as she navigates the complexities of love and betrayal.

Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below

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

The villa Marina had seen listed for sale was astonishingly priced at several hundred thousand dollars below its market value, a fact that quickly ignited a flurry of private messages from eager buyers.

By the time she managed to respond to each inquiry, the clock had crept into the deep hours of the night, the world outside her window cloaked in darkness.

Restless and wide awake, Marina decided to open a popular app that had recently gained traction among women, buzzing with excitement and chatter.

As soon as she logged in, a push notification caught her attention, practically leaping off the screen.

“My lover’s tying the knot in two months, but today I slipped into his fiancée’s wedding dress and hooked up with him right there in the bridal shop! It was exhilarating and so taboo!”

The comments section erupted with a torrent of vitriol directed at the poster, a few users even wishing the algorithm would serve this scandalous revelation to the unsuspecting fiancée.

Marina felt a tremor course through her hand as she clicked on the poster’s profile, her heart pounding in her chest.

She scrolled quickly, her eyes darting until she reached the very first post; it was devoid of any text, just a single poignant photograph. Two hands were clasped together, fingers intertwined in a tender embrace.

It was then that she noticed the small mole on the man’s index finger and the unmistakable ring on his ring finger.

The post was dated six months back, just a week after Lavern had proposed to her, a detail that sent a wave of nausea crashing over her.

Marina stared blankly at her phone, her gaze drifting to the identical ring adorning her own finger, a bitter reminder of promises now tainted.

In a moment of sheer impulse, she yanked the ring off her finger and hurled it into the toilet, her finger hitting the flush with a finality that echoed her thoughts. “No point in clinging to something that’s already soiled,” she thought, a mix of anger and relief washing over her.

Not long after, the poster shared an update. The smug bravado had vanished, replaced by a tone that was desperate and pleading.

“Gut it out with the hate. We’ve got a deal; I’ll hand him back to his fiancée good as new in a month.”

The accompanying photo depicted a man’s back, sprawled out on a bed. The silhouette was so hauntingly familiar that it sent a chill racing down Marina’s spine.

‘Hand him back good as new?’ she scoffed inwardly, a bitter laugh escaping her lips.

In that moment, she understood why people sometimes laughed when words utterly failed them.

Lavern didn’t return home that night. The following morning, he called her without offering any excuses, simply instructing her to meet him at the bridal shop.

Marina arrived at the bridal shop a few minutes ahead of schedule, her heart a tempest of emotions.

Her wedding gown was displayed in the third-floor VIP area, resplendent and immaculate, as if it had never been touched by betrayal.

“Ms. Finley, Mr. Ross is on his way. Why don’t we get you into the dress now? That way, when he arrives, he’ll see you looking flawless right off the bat,” a staff member suggested, her voice polite yet tinged with a flicker of pity in her eyes.

Marina kept her expression neutral, shaking her head firmly. “No thanks. The mere thought makes my stomach churn.”

Before she could finish her sentence, a strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her close. The familiar scent of Lavern mixed with the clean aroma of shower gel enveloped her senses, igniting a bittersweet nostalgia.

“Why not, Marina? You have no idea how long I’ve been dreaming of this moment. Try it on for me, please,” he urged, his voice laced with a charm she once found irresistible.

Marina glanced at Lavern, who appeared as fresh as a daisy, not a hint of fatigue on his face despite the late-night escapade he’d supposedly endured. She couldn’t help but scoff internally.

He wasn’t alone; a young woman lingered a few steps back, dressed in light blue jeans and a crisp white blouse, her face adorned with a bright, innocent smile that radiated youth.

Marina peered past Lavern, locking her icy gaze onto the girl. *Was this just another sick twist in their little thrill-seeking game?*

Lavern caught her scrutinizing look, tightening his grip around her waist even as he maintained a facade of calm. “She’s the daughter of a business partner. Her vibe reminds me of you from back in the day. I thought you two might hit it off, so I brought her along for introductions.”

He gestured for the girl to come closer, and she eagerly scampered over, extending her hand. “Hey, Marina! I’m Shawna Thornton. So nice to meet you!”

Marina ignored the handshake, turning her gaze away as if it could shield her from the reality of the situation. “Shawna, good name indeed. Guess not many guys can snap back to reality after meeting you.”

The jab landed, and Shawna’s expression crumbled into a hurt pout. “Are you saying I’m some kind of man-stealer, Marina?”

The arm around her waist tightened painfully, prompting Marina to glance sideways at Lavern, where irritation flickered in his eyes. Only then did he loosen his grip, leaning down to murmur softly in her ear.

“If you’re angry, save it for me at home. You can punch me, scream, whatever floats your boat. But she’s sensitive; don’t call her out like this in front of her. Let’s focus on trying the dress for now.”

The staff, momentarily stunned by the tension, quickly retrieved the wedding dress from the rack, motioning for Marina to try it on.

Marina glanced over at Shawna, catching the way her eyes sparkled with excitement as they fixed on the gown in the staff member’s hands.

A chill flickered in Marina’s gaze, and she couldn’t resist speaking up. “Like it?”

Shawna didn’t hesitate, her response tumbling out eagerly. “Yeah, I do.”

She cast a quick, nervous glance at Lavern, sensing the icy edge in his stare, before adding timidly, laced with envy, “But not every girl is as fortunate as you, Marina, slipping into her dream dress and tying the knot with the guy she loves.” Her eyes fell, disappointment and hurt etched on her face for all to see.

Marina shot a sideways glance at Lavern, whose expression was a blank slate, and then turned to the staff, her voice flat. “I’m not up for it today. I’m feeling off and don’t want to fuss. Her figure’s close to mine; let her model it instead.”

The mere thought of slipping into a dress that had already been sullied made her skin crawl, as if she might catch something irreparable.

The staff froze, exchanging uncertain glances, their eyes darting to Lavern for guidance.

He stared down at Marina, his expression darkening with stormy disapproval.

But Shawna stepped in eagerly, her sugary smile brightening the atmosphere. “Awesome! It’s a real privilege to try it on for you, Marina.” With that, she reached out for the gown, her excitement palpable.

The staff stood speechless, caught in the crossfire of this unfolding drama, their eyes pleading with Lavern for direction.

His dark eyes glimmered with a frosty warning, the air around him heavy with tension.

Shawna fidgeted nervously, biting her lip as she looked completely flustered.

Marina brushed off Lavern’s arm, sinking onto a nearby sofa, and nudged Shawna along. “Well, get to it.”

That perked Shawna right up; she snatched the dress from the staff and ducked into the fitting room, her enthusiasm infectious.

Lavern furrowed his brow, sitting beside Marina, ready to voice his grievances, but she cut him off, glancing up with a smirk that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Aren’t you going to go in and help her out?”

Her words dropped like a bomb, leaving the room enveloped in awkward silence.

The employees who had witnessed Lavern and Shawna the day before felt a mix of horror and thrill, barely containing their gasps.

They thought, *Thank goodness we didn’t call out sick; we have front-row seats for this meltdown.*

Lavern’s brows knitted tighter, his lips thinning into a line as he spoke in a guarded tone. “Marina, what the hell are you getting at?”

“Oh, nothing. Just thought you’d jump at the chance to assist,” she replied, flashing a smile before signaling a staff member for coffee.

The heavy curtain of the fitting room whooshed open, revealing Shawna standing coyly in the center, her grin sweeter than candy.

The gown, custom-made for Marina, hugged Shawna’s figure as if it were meant for her all along.

Marina tilted her head toward Lavern, her smile icy as she asked, “Doesn’t she look stunning?”

He remained stoic, refusing to meet her gaze, his voice low and refined. “Marina, what game are you playing here?”

Ignoring his question, she cradled her coffee and strolled over to Shawna.

As she approached, Shawna instinctively raised her hands to shield her face, bracing for a scalding splash. But instead of burning hot coffee, shocked gasps filled the air as the room fell silent.

Shawna dropped her hands, her eyes widening in horror as she looked down at the expensive gown now marred by unsightly brown stains.

Staff members rushed in, tissues in hand, dabbing frantically, but the stains proved stubborn, refusing to budge.

Marina fixed Shawna with a blank stare, a sneer creeping onto her lips. “How exactly do you plan to give back something this trashed and expect it to be ‘good as new’?”

Shawna’s face drained of color, frozen in shock, utterly clueless about her next move.

Lavern’s frown deepened as he stormed over, his expression unyielding, and snatched Marina’s wrist, yanking her toward the door.

In a swift motion, Marina swung her free hand and slapped him hard across the cheek. The sound echoed sharply in the tense atmosphere.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

She poured all her pent-up emotion into that slap; her palm buzzed with a numbing ache.

Lavern glared at her, his face dark as a storm cloud, his eyes colder than she had ever seen.

The shop staff averted their eyes from his fury, and even Shawna dared not breathe, caught in the aftermath of this public humiliation.

Since the Ross Group had established itself in Sicester, no one had ever dared to humiliate him in public, let alone with a woman’s slap.

Marina held his icy gaze, her pulse racing, acutely aware of the power imbalance between them; if he retaliated, she knew she would be finished.

Conclusion

In the aftermath of that tumultuous confrontation, Marina felt a weight lift from her chest, a bittersweet sense of liberation coursing through her veins. The slap, though impulsive, had shattered the illusion of control that Lavern had held over her, exposing the raw truth of their relationship. As she stood there, heart racing and breathless, she realized that her self-worth could no longer be tethered to a man who had so easily betrayed her trust. The echoes of their shared laughter and whispered promises faded into the background, replaced by the resolute clarity of her own identity—one that did not require validation through Lavern’s presence. The path ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, Marina felt empowered to forge her own destiny, free from the chains of a love that had become a prison.

As she walked away from the bridal shop, the weight of the wedding dress and all it symbolized fell away like autumn leaves, leaving her lighter and more determined. The world outside felt alive, vibrant with possibilities, and she could almost hear the winds carrying away the lost promises of the past. Each step she took was a declaration of independence, a commitment to rediscovering herself beyond the confines of a relationship that had turned toxic. In that moment, Marina understood that healing would take time, but she was ready to embrace the journey ahead, knowing that true love—whether for herself or another—would come when she least expected it. The winds had indeed carried away her lost promises, but they also whispered of new beginnings waiting just beyond the horizon.

What to Expect in Next Chapter?

**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**

As the tension in the bridal shop reaches a breaking point, Marina’s bold defiance against Lavern’s authority will set off a chain reaction of unexpected consequences. The slap that echoed through the room will not only challenge the dynamics of their relationship but also ignite a fierce determination within Marina to reclaim her power. With Lavern’s cold fury looming over her, readers can anticipate an explosive confrontation that may unravel long-held secrets and unearth buried emotions. Will Marina find the strength to confront the truth about her relationship with Lavern, or will she succumb to the weight of his anger?

Meanwhile, Shawna’s presence, once a mere distraction, will take on a more significant role as the fallout from the bridal shop incident unfolds. As the lines blur between victim and villain, Shawna’s character may reveal unexpected layers, forcing Marina to reassess her judgments and assumptions. The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the psyche of both women, exploring their vulnerabilities and motivations in a world where love and betrayal intertwine. Readers should brace themselves for a whirlwind of emotions, as Marina navigates the treacherous waters of heartbreak and self-discovery, ultimately leading to a pivotal decision that could change the course of her life forever.