Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 21 Summary
In Chapter 21 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Lavern is preoccupied with a company crisis as he enters his home, only to find Marina engrossed in her chores. His attempt to connect with her falls flat when she dismisses him with sarcasm, leaving him feeling irritated and disappointed. Despite his efforts to communicate, Marina’s cold response highlights the emotional distance between them, and Lavern ultimately leaves to attend to an emergency involving Shawna, who has had an accident.
At the hospital, Lavern finds Shawna anxious and vulnerable after her fall. Their interaction is filled with concern as he comforts her, but his demeanor remains distant, causing Shawna to feel neglected and alone. Despite her relief that her baby is fine, she yearns for Lavern’s warmth and support, which he fails to provide. When he decides to leave after suggesting a caretaker for her, Shawna’s disappointment turns to anger, particularly when she suspects he is returning to Marina. This moment marks a turning point in her emotions as she resolves to reach out for help from a friend, Carrie, signaling her desire to take control of her situation.
Meanwhile, Marina is dealing with her own turmoil as she prepares for a meeting that could secure a vital deal for her family’s business. Despite feeling a sense of emptiness in her surroundings, she is determined to succeed and prove her worth. Her thoughts drift to Lavern and his arrogance in snubbing potential partners, which fuels her ambition to outmaneuver him. As she contemplates her future, she falls asleep, only to be jolted awake by Lavern’s unexpected arrival in her bed.
When Lavern tries to rekindle their intimacy, Marina’s rejection of his advances reveals the deep-seated issues in their relationship. His frustration and her coldness create a palpable tension, underscoring the emotional rift that has formed between them. The chapter closes with a sense of unresolved conflict, as both characters navigate their complicated feelings towards each other and the looming presence of Shawna in their lives.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 21**
Lavern ended the call and stepped inside, his mind still swirling with thoughts of the company crisis. As he entered the living room, he noticed Marina flitting about, absorbed in her tasks. “Something came up at the company: I need to head over and handle it,” he said, trying to keep his tone light.
Marina didn’t even glance in his direction, her focus unwavering as she continued her chores. He felt a flicker of irritation at being so easily dismissed, but he stifled it, maintaining his composure. “Marina, I’ll swing by to see Alyssa another day. Spend some extra time with her for now, okay?” he added, hoping to draw her attention.
This time, Marina lifted her head, her eyes glinting with sharp sarcasm.
She opened her mouth as if to respond but then clamped it shut, releasing a cold scoff instead. With a huff, she gathered the clothes in her arms and retreated into the bedroom, leaving Lavern frowning, momentarily taken aback by the disappointment etched on her face.
He turned his gaze toward the closed door of Alyssa’s room, hesitating for a heartbeat. Just as he approached to knock, his phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him back into the present.
“I’ll be right there,” he said into the receiver, his voice steady, before pivoting and leaving without a second thought.
Shawna had taken a tumble in the shower.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Lavern found her sitting quietly in the hallway, her expression a mix of vulnerability and fear. The moment their eyes met, tears welled up in her pale eyes, and she reached out her arms, yearning for comfort.
He stepped closer, enveloping her in an embrace, gently rubbing her back. “How did you manage to be so careless? What did the doctor say?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
Shawna bit her lip, looking utterly pitiful. “The doctor said it’s no big deal. It was my fault; I wasn’t watching my step and just slipped. At least the baby’s fine,” she replied, her voice trembling.
“That’s a relief,” he murmured softly, though a nagging worry still tugged at him. He led her back to the doctor, wanting to hear the reassurances directly.
The doctor carefully outlined the precautions she needed to take, emphasizing that during the first trimester, she should avoid any heavy activity and refrain from sex.
Lavern remained stoic, his expression cool and neutral, even as Shawna blushed a deep crimson and nestled closer against him, seeking solace.
After the doctor prescribed some folic acid, Lavern guided her out of the hospital, his demeanor distant as they made their way to the car.
Shawna felt an ache of disappointment; the warmth she craved from him seemed absent, leaving her feeling slighted and alone.
Once they arrived back at her apartment, he lingered at the door, his voice serious. “I’ll hire a caretaker to come by tomorrow and look after you.”
Shawna wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, her eyes pleading. “Lavern, my ankle’s still throbbing. Can’t you just stay tonight and keep me company?”
Tears brimmed in her eyes; the thought of him leaving was unbearable.
He gently patted her head, but his expression remained unchanged, resolute. “Be good. I really have to get back tonight.”
Her eyes reddened further, a mixture of hurt and anger swirling within her. “Is it Marina calling you home?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He fell silent, the weight of her question hanging in the air.
Shawna let go of him, mustering a brave front. “All right, go on then. I’ll be fine on my own.”
She turned away from him, the embrace she had longed for never materializing, just the sound of his retreating footsteps echoing in her ears.
Spinning around, she caught a glimpse of his hand as he closed the front door behind him.
A wave of rage washed over her, her face paling as tears evaporated, replaced by raw resentment and fierce ambition.
Biting her lip hard, she glared at the closed door for a long moment before pulling out her phone and dialing a number.
“Carrie, it’s Shawna, the one who reached out to you last time. Vern didn’t tell you, did he? I’m pregnant. The doctor mentioned some early signs of a potential miscarriage. I don’t have any family or friends nearby in Sicester, so I had to call you. Would you mind coming into the city to help take care of me?”
On the other end, Carrie Ross paused in surprise, her voice bubbling with joy as she replied, “Really? That rascal Lavern didn’t say a thing! Don’t worry, dear; I’ll come into the city first thing tomorrow morning to look after you.”
Shawna felt a smirk tug at her lips. “Thanks, Carrie. I’ll be waiting.”
In her mind, she thought, ‘What does it matter if Marina can drag Lavern back home? With his mother firmly in my corner and a baby on the way, it’s only a matter of time before Marina and Lavern split for good.’
After Lavern left, Marina busied herself making dinner. Once she finished eating, she sank into the rattan chair, idly scrolling through her phone, trying to distract herself from the gnawing thoughts.
An app she hadn’t opened in what felt like ages suddenly pinged with a notification. [No sex during pregnancy, so my boyfriend has to go to his fiancée for his needs. It’s annoying, but I should probably be more gracious about it.]
Marina recognized the username immediately and let out a cold laugh, the comments alone enough to spark her annoyance without needing to dive into the full post.
She didn’t have to; the backlash would be brutal, no doubt. Sometimes she had to admire Shawna; she had nerves of steel.
Tucking her phone away, Marina made her way inside.
Most of her belongings from Sicester had already been packed up and shipped back to Vrufield. The little villa, once bustling with life, now felt eerily empty.
As she surveyed the stark, chilly space, a flicker of melancholy washed over her, but it didn’t linger long.
Tomorrow, she had a meeting with the president of Cloud Group to discuss a potential collaboration, and she needed to be well-rested and sharp.
The Finley family business had been on a downward spiral for years, but Elnora had held it together through sheer determination. Marina couldn’t return empty-handed; the Cloud Group deal would be her gift to Elnora.
The rise of the Ross Group wasn’t merely due to its own efforts; it thrived on the long-term support of partners like Cloud Group.
Lavern had been flattered by his shady friends for so long that he had grown arrogant, likely believing that the Ross Group was so powerful now that partners would beg for deals. He had intentionally snubbed Cloud Group this time, thinking he could afford to.
When Cloud Group’s representative reached out to her, they didn’t outright insult Lavern, but the dissatisfaction was palpable.
Marina was already plotting her path forward for when she returned to Vrufield.
Lost in her thoughts, she eventually drifted off to sleep.
—
She wasn’t sure how long she had been out when the bed shifted beside her, and a warm arm wrapped around her waist.
Marina jolted awake, her eyes flying open to find Lavern’s familiar face.
“Did I wake you?” he asked, his voice low and inviting.
Seeing that she was alert, he pulled her closer, tightening his grip around her waist and drawing her against his chest. His deep voice had a husky, lustful undertone that sent shivers down her spine.
The sickly sweet scent of a woman’s perfume lingered on him, a reminder of his recent escapades.
She had forgotten he had a key to Alyssa’s house. Tomorrow, she’d make it her first priority to change all the locks.
Lavern leaned down to kiss her, but Marina turned her face sharply away.
His eyes darkened at the rejection, but he suppressed his irritation, leaning in closer. “Marina, it’s been forever since we’ve been intimate. Haven’t you missed it at all these days?”
Conclusion
As the night settled around them, the emotional turmoil within both Lavern and Marina reached a boiling point. Lavern, though physically close, found himself emotionally distant, grappling with the weight of his choices and the consequences they bore. The scent of another woman clung to him like a shroud, a bitter reminder of the fractured trust between them. Marina, on the other hand, felt a surge of defiance rise within her as she turned away from his advances, her heart racing not with desire but with a fierce determination to reclaim her own narrative. The warmth that once enveloped their relationship had grown cold, replaced by a sharp awareness of betrayal and ambition. Each was caught in a web of their own making, where love had twisted into resentment, and promises made were now mere whispers lost to the winds.
In that moment of rejection, Marina realized that she could no longer wait for Lavern to choose her; she had to choose herself. With her plans for the Cloud Group deal solidifying in her mind, she felt a newfound clarity. No longer would she allow Lavern’s whims to dictate her worth or her future. As she lay in the dark, the weight of her decision settled over her like a comforting blanket, igniting a fire within her that she hadn’t known existed. Lavern, left in the wake of her rejection, began to understand that the path he had chosen was leading him further away from the love he once cherished. The winds had indeed carried away their lost promises, but now they each stood at a crossroads, ready to forge their own destinies, no longer bound by the chains of their past.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the tension between Lavern and Marina simmers, the next chapter promises to delve deeper into their complicated relationship. With Lavern’s recent visit to Shawna and the lingering scent of another woman on him, Marina’s resolve to reclaim her space grows stronger. Will she confront him about the betrayal she senses, or will she play her cards close to her chest, plotting her next move in silence? The stakes are higher than ever, and readers can expect a clash of emotions as Marina grapples with her feelings of anger, betrayal, and a desperate need for clarity.
Meanwhile, Shawna’s decision to call Carrie adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding drama. With Carrie’s arrival on the horizon, will Shawna find the support she craves, or will her ambitions to secure Lavern’s loyalty backfire? The tension between her and Marina is bound to escalate, especially with the potential for alliances to shift. Expect surprises as the characters navigate their intertwined lives, each driven by their own desires and fears. The winds of change are stirring, and promises long lost may either be reclaimed or shattered in the next chapter.
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.
