Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 25 Summary
In Chapter 25 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Carrie displays her disdain for Shawna and her impending motherhood, questioning the financial burden it will bring. Lavern counters her harsh remarks, reminding her that marrying him is a significant opportunity for Shawna. Reluctantly, Carrie agrees to take Shawna shopping, revealing her mixed feelings of irritation and obligation. Meanwhile, Marina is preoccupied with her own business dealings, but the sudden call from Carrie catches her off guard, especially given Carrie’s long history of ignoring her.
As they engage in conversation, Carrie’s insincerity is palpable as she insists on Marina calling her “Mom” in anticipation of their upcoming wedding. Marina maintains her composure, emphasizing that their wedding isn’t official yet. The tension escalates as Carrie suggests shopping for wedding attire, clearly motivated by her need to appear affluent. Marina, recognizing this as an opportunity, agrees to meet Carrie at the mall, her thoughts tinged with a desire to assert herself amidst Carrie’s condescension.
At the mall, Marina’s excitement contrasts sharply with Carrie’s disdain for her choices, particularly when Marina selects extravagant jewelry. Carrie attempts to redirect Marina toward cheaper alternatives, but Marina stands firm, insisting on the importance of appearances for Lavern’s sake. The interaction highlights the underlying animosity between the two women, with Marina’s cold demeanor serving as a stark counter to Carrie’s superficial charm. The clerk’s intervention further complicates the dynamics, as she senses Carrie’s reluctance to spend money.
The chapter culminates in a tense exchange where Marina insists on purchasing the jewelry she initially chose, forcing Carrie to relent. As they leave the store, Marina’s internal reflections reveal her awareness of Carrie’s manipulations and their shared history. Carrie’s fury at Marina’s suggestion to drop her off at home underscores her unwillingness to engage further. The chapter closes with a humorous twist as Marina receives a text from Shawna, revealing that Carrie has gifted her a fake gold bracelet, mirroring the superficiality of their interactions. Marina’s response is laced with sarcasm, showcasing her growing confidence and the competitive undercurrents in their relationships.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 25**
Carrie seized the bank card from Lavern, her fingers curling around it tightly, as her voice dripped with an unmistakable disdain. “Once Shawna’s baby arrives, the costs are going to skyrocket. Why waste all that money on her?”
“She’s merely an orphan burdened with an elderly woman; marrying you is already the best thing that could happen to her,” Lavern shot back, his eyes narrowing as he fixed his gaze on Carrie, his silence heavy with unspoken words.
Carrie pressed her lips into a thin line, her mind swirling with irritation as she tucked the card into her pocket, a mix of reluctance and resignation washing over her. “Alright, alright, whatever you say. I’ll reach out to her this afternoon and take her shopping,” she conceded, her tone begrudgingly acquiescent.
After finalizing the contract with Thomas from Cloud Group, Marina decided to grab lunch with him. With Thomas occupied for the remainder of the afternoon, she made her way back home, her thoughts lingering on the day’s events.
She was about to send Garret a quick message to get an update on the contract regarding her Ross Group shares when her phone rang, cutting through her concentration. It was Carrie.
Ever since Lavern had sent Carrie back to their rural hometown, she had held Marina responsible for the decision. Over the years, Carrie had disregarded every text Marina sent her, from festive holiday greetings to heartfelt birthday wishes.
Even when they announced their engagement, Carrie’s response had been a complete withdrawal; she would let them handle the details, merely showing up for the celebration.
For someone who had been so utterly silent for such a long time to suddenly reach out? That was nothing short of peculiar.
Marina answered, her tone calm and composed. “Carrie.”
Carrie bristled at the way Marina addressed her, her voice dripping with insincere warmth. “You and Lavern are getting hitched soon, so it’s time for you to start calling me Mom.”
Marina replied coolly, “The wedding isn’t official yet, and I haven’t received the funds for the name change. So for now, it’s still Carrie.”
Carrie was momentarily at a loss for words. Stuck under Lavern’s thumb, she forced herself to swallow her irritation.
“The big day is just around the corner for you and Lavern. Let’s pick out something nice before then. I’m in the city today; I might as well get it done now,” she suggested, her voice a mix of eagerness and urgency.
Marina could almost hear Carrie grinding her teeth through the phone, the tension palpable.
Over the years, Marina had showered Carrie with gifts, only to receive nothing in return. But with her impending departure on the horizon, she thought, ‘Why not take advantage of the situation?’
“Sure, that works for me; I’m free today. Where are you? I can swing by and pick you up,” Marina offered, her voice light.
Carrie replied, “I’m at a friend’s place right now. No need for that; just meet me at the mall.”
Marina hadn’t been serious about the pickup anyway, so she agreed without a second thought.
Arriving at the mall first, Marina found herself waiting, the air filled with anticipation. She decided to step into a nearby gold store, her eyes scanning the glittering displays, captivated by the various styles that caught her fancy.
By the time Carrie finally burst through the door, Marina had already selected the most extravagant pieces available—a full set of five gleaming items that sparkled under the store lights.
Carrie’s eyes widened, and she nearly swooned at the sight of the total price. “Marina, you’ll be starting a family with Lavern right after the wedding. Gold prices are through the roof these days; why not choose something more symbolic and save the extra cash for later?”
Marina shot back, her voice firm and unwavering, “These are meant to be showcased to all the guests at the ceremony. Lavern hates losing face. If we skimp out or choose something too small, it’ll be embarrassing for him, won’t it?”
Carrie fell silent, casting a disgruntled look at the sales clerk, who had been watching their exchange with keen interest.
The clerk quickly picked up on the situation, sensing that Carrie was the one footing the bill. With a soothing smile, she offered, “We also have gold-plated silver options. They look just like the real deal; no one would ever know. Perfect for maintaining appearances without breaking the bank.”
Carrie nodded eagerly, her eyes lighting up. “Yes, that sounds perfect!”
The sales clerk beamed. “I’ll grab a few for you to check out right now.”
Marina leaned back, her expression cool and detached, choosing to remain silent. Her gaze drifted to the emerald bracelet adorning Carrie’s wrist, and her heart sank.
It was an exact replica of the one Shawna had sent her a photo of, the floating patterns identical.
Clearly, Carrie had met with Shawna, who had given her that bracelet, fully aware it was a counterfeit.
A sardonic smile crept onto Marina’s lips, her expression turning icy.
Noticing Marina’s stare, Carrie couldn’t resist flaunting her newfound treasure. “Isn’t it beautiful? A friend’s daughter gifted it to me. She was worried I’d show up to your wedding with Lavern looking underdressed without some nice jewelry. What a sweet kid; if Lavern weren’t already yours, I’d have played matchmaker myself.”
Marina let out a cold snort but chose to remain silent, refraining from wasting her breath to tell Carrie it was a fake.
The clerk laid out a selection of gold-plated silver pieces for Carrie to peruse. Without consulting Marina, Carrie dove in enthusiastically, instructing the clerk to package them.
Marina leaned around her, catching the clerk’s eye. “Go ahead and wrap the ones I chose earlier,” she said, her tone unyielding.
Carrie bristled, her voice rising in protest. “Marina! This is just for appearances. You…”
“Carrie, I know you’re trying to save a buck. Don’t worry, it won’t hit your wallet. I’ll just get Lavern over here to cover it,” Marina interrupted, pulling out her phone as if she were about to dial him.
That stopped Carrie in her tracks; she lunged for Marina’s hand. “Alright, fine; if that’s what you want, I’ll buy them. No need to pull him away from work.”
With visible reluctance, she completed the payment.
The clerk swiftly swiped the bank card and boxed up Marina’s selections, then casually asked, “What about those gold-plated items we had out earlier…?”
Carrie waved her hand dismissively. “Forget them.”
The clerk nodded, stowing the packaged gold-plated items away.
Carrie hesitated for a moment, then picked up one of the gold-plated bracelets. “Bag this one separately for me.”
Marina saw right through Carrie’s plan but chose to remain silent, thinking, ‘How fitting; one serves up fake emeralds, while the other dishes out fake gold. A fair exchange indeed.’
Marina collected her gold from the clerk, and the two of them made their way out of the store. “Carrie, do you want me to drop you back at your friend’s?”
Carrie had zero interest in going to Marina’s villa anyway, but the suggestion still grated on her nerves. “You really think I’d want to crash at your place?”
Marina simply smiled, choosing not to respond.
Carrie’s expression soured further. “You couldn’t pay me to stay there!” With that, she stormed off in a fit of rage.
Marina didn’t bother calling her back; she slid into her car and drove home to her cozy little house.
That night, a text notification lit up her phone. It was from Shawna.
Shawna: [Taking a cue from you, Marina; Carrie got me a gold bracelet too. I weighed it; it’s a solid 100g. Thanks, Marina!]
The message left Marina chuckling in disbelief. Lavern was undoubtedly Carrie’s son; their gifting strategies were eerily similar.
Shawna was such an easy target; a phony emerald bracelet and a counterfeit gold one had her overjoyed, eager to flaunt her spoils in Marina’s face.
She thought, ‘If I don’t respond, won’t that just rain on her parade?’
Marina quickly typed out a reply. [You’re welcome. But perhaps aim a little higher; settling for any kind of “budget version” can really cheapen your whole vibe.]
Conclusion
In the aftermath of their tense shopping trip, the emotional landscape between Carrie and Marina had shifted yet again, revealing the deep-seated animosity that had festered over the years. Marina, once eager for familial connection, now found herself reveling in the irony of their exchanges, recognizing that Carrie’s attempts to assert dominance were merely reflections of her own insecurities. The facade of civility they maintained was crumbling, exposing the truth of their relationship: a bitter rivalry masked as sisterly duty. As Carrie stormed off, her rage echoing in the empty mall, Marina felt a sense of liberation wash over her. She had chosen to stand her ground, refusing to be manipulated by Carrie’s desperate need for validation, and in doing so, she reclaimed her own power.
Meanwhile, Carrie’s superficial victories—her gold-plated bracelets and hollow gestures—only served to deepen her isolation. The text from Shawna, a reminder of the very chains she had tried to escape, left her feeling more trapped than ever. The winds of change that had once promised new beginnings now carried the weight of lost promises and unfulfilled expectations. As Marina drove home, the laughter bubbling within her was tinged with bittersweet realization; she had survived another round in their ongoing battle, but at what cost? The cycle of competition and resentment would continue, yet for Marina, the path ahead seemed clearer. She was ready to embrace her own identity, unburdened by Carrie’s shadow, and perhaps, in doing so, she could finally let go of the need for approval that had haunted her for so long.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the upcoming chapter of *Winds Carry Lost Promises*, tensions are set to escalate as Marina navigates the complexities of her relationship with Carrie and Shawna. With Carrie’s recent overtures cloaked in insincerity, Marina is poised to confront the underlying issues that have long simmered beneath the surface. Readers can expect a riveting exploration of their fraught dynamic as Marina decides whether to continue playing along with Carrie’s charade or to finally assert her own boundaries. Will she find the courage to expose the truth about Carrie’s duplicity, or will she be drawn into a web of deceit that threatens to unravel her own plans?
Moreover, as Marina reflects on her past interactions with Shawna, the stakes will rise dramatically. The revelation of Shawna’s newfound delight in her counterfeit gifts will push Marina to reconsider her own motivations and the implications of her actions. With the wedding approaching, the pressure mounts for both women to uphold their carefully curated facades. Will Marina’s next move be one of defiance, or will she choose to play the game, risking everything for the sake of appearances? Anticipation builds as readers are left wondering how far each character is willing to go to protect their interests, and what unexpected alliances or betrayals may emerge in the face of mounting pressure.
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.
