Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 30 Summary
In Chapter 30 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Carter attempts to shift the focus of tension onto Marina, but she remains unfazed, her attention drawn to a coffee stain on Daron’s shirt. As the atmosphere grows tense, Carter tries to manipulate the situation by bringing up past grievances and the strained relationship between their families, but Daron remains composed and uninterested in reliving old conflicts. The chapter captures the underlying animosity and unresolved issues between the characters, particularly how Carter feels overshadowed by the Zamora family’s influence.
Marina, caught in her own thoughts, experiences a moment of panic when she nearly falls, only to be saved by Daron’s quick reflexes. This moment of vulnerability leads to a brief exchange of gratitude, but the tension remains thick as Daron’s authoritative presence leaves Marina feeling small. As they prepare to leave, Daron insists that Garret retrieve Marina’s car, showcasing his determination to take control of the situation, which adds to Marina’s embarrassment.
The ride in the car is filled with an awkward silence as Daron becomes engrossed in a game on his phone, leaving Marina to wrestle with her emotions. She feels a mix of gratitude and frustration towards him, especially as he shows unexpected thoughtfulness by wrapping the ice pack she needs. However, the atmosphere is charged with unresolved feelings, and Marina’s mind drifts to the chaotic situation awaiting her, compounded by the missed calls flooding her phone.
The chapter concludes with Marina’s mood plummeting as she spots Shawna and Lavern nearby, their presence a stark reminder of her ongoing struggles. The encounter feels coincidental yet loaded with animosity, leaving Marina to grapple with the complexities of her relationships and the challenges that lie ahead. The emotional weight of the moment encapsulates her internal conflict, setting the stage for further developments in the narrative.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 30**
Carter was determined to shift the tension onto Marina, hoping to divert attention from himself.
With a flick of his eyes, he cast a dirty look her way, but she dismissed it effortlessly, her focus instead drifting to the unsightly coffee stain that had begun to spread across Daron’s shirt. A few drops clung stubbornly to his sharp, attractive collarbone, creating an odd juxtaposition against his otherwise polished appearance.
For a moment, she hesitated, her mind racing. Then, with a quick decision, she grabbed a handful of tissues. Just as she was about to extend them toward Daron, he spoke, his voice a low rumble that cut through the tension. “Pretty infuriating, yeah.”
Carter seized the opportunity, treating Daron’s words like a lifeline. “When this little punk was hell-bent on calling off the engagement with you, I did everything I could to talk her out of it. But she’s just like her mother—stubborn as a mule. If it weren’t for her, we…”
Daron remained silent, listening intently, his expression unreadable. He smoothly accepted the tissues from Marina, dabbing at the coffee stains with an air of calm.
Carter’s eyes narrowed at the sight. He had offered tissues earlier, and Daron had barely acknowledged him. Now, he was casually accepting Marina’s help? Confusion flickered across Carter’s face, but he pressed on, unwilling to back down. “The Finley and Zamora families were inseparable back in the day. If it weren’t for this damn girl…”
Daron’s brow furrowed as he interrupted, his tone firm. “Carter, there’s no need to dredge up old history.”
Carter nodded quickly, trying to salvage the moment. “You’re right, it’s not our finest hour…”
But Daron cut him off again, his voice steady, yet cool. “Carter, I have matters to attend to. I’ll be heading out now.”
His words were polite, yet they left no room for argument.
Carter blinked, a sense of disbelief washing over him. “Oh, sure,” he mumbled instinctively, but the bite of Daron’s disdain was unmistakable.
Ever since Marina had made the bold decision to sever ties with the Zamora family, the once-flourishing business connections had dwindled to nothing. It was no surprise that Daron wasn’t in a friendly mood.
A simmering anger brewed within Carter, but he kept it tightly locked away in front of Daron, knowing full well that expressing it would lead nowhere good. The Zamora family’s influence was so vast now that he felt utterly dwarfed by it.
Daron inclined his head slightly, dismissing Carter entirely. He turned to Marina, who seemed to be lost in her thoughts. “Ready to go?”
Marina nodded, her voice steady. “Yeah.”
Under Carter’s bewildered gaze, she fell into step beside Daron and walked out, leaving him with a sense of confusion and frustration.
“Marina…” He couldn’t help but call out, the name slipping from his lips before he could stop himself.
What the hell was happening? If anyone should have harbored resentment toward Marina, it was Daron, not the other way around!
Marina didn’t look back, her eyes icy and filled with contempt. After years of silence, she had hoped he might have changed even a little. Instead, he had strolled in and dumped a heaping pile of his obnoxious attitude right at her feet.
Carter had never truly let go of the Finley Group. During her time in Sicester, who knew how many underhanded schemes he had orchestrated against Elnora?
She thought bitterly, ‘With enemies lurking both inside and outside, how could the Finley family ever hope to rise above?’
Caught up in her own turmoil, she had failed to consider Elnora’s precarious position. Regret and guilt crashed over Marina like a tidal wave, leaving her breathless.
So lost in her thoughts, she failed to notice the step right in front of her. Her foot met nothing but air, and she felt herself tumbling forward, the ground rushing up to meet her.
A scream nearly escaped her lips, her heart pounding in her throat as panic surged through her veins.
But Daron, ever alert, clamped down on her arm and pulled her back just in time.
As she steadied herself, her face drained of color, the shock of the near fall leaving her momentarily speechless.
Once she had regained her breath, she looked up at Daron, her voice barely above a whisper. “Thanks.”
“Thanks,” she repeated, glancing at her phone, only to find a flood of missed calls glaring back at her.
Daron released her arm without a fuss, casting a quick glance at her. “The car’s that way.”
He turned and strode toward the hotel entrance, exuding an air of authority that made her feel small.
As she looked over, she caught sight of Garret standing by the car, a warm smile lighting up his face.
For a brief moment, she froze, her gaze dropping to the hotel staff in their black uniforms standing at the bottom of the steps. Embarrassment washed over her as she realized she had been so lost in her thoughts that she had followed the wrong person.
She hurried to catch up with Daron, her voice urgent. “Mr. Zamora, my car’s down in the parking garage. I’ll just drive myself and meet you there.”
Daron frowned, glancing at his watch before responding, his voice low and firm. “Let Garret bring your car over. I’m short on time.”
Garret approached immediately, his demeanor courteous. “Ms. Finley, may I have your keys?”
Marina nodded absently, rummaging through her bag to retrieve them before handing them over.
With the keys in hand, Garret moved off briskly, ready to fetch her car.
Daron had already settled into the car, where the driver waited respectfully, gesturing for her to join them with a polite “after you.”
She pursed her lips, ducked inside, and took her place next to him, the warmth of the leather seat contrasting with the chill in the air.
The driver kindly shut the door behind them and slid back into the front seat.
As soon as he buckled up, Daron leaned forward and muttered, “Grab her an ice pack.”
Marina shook her head quickly. “I don’t do ice cream.”
Daron shot her a quick side-eye but chose to remain silent, his focus elsewhere.
The driver chuckled softly, reaching into the mini-fridge nestled between the seats and passing her an ice pack. “For your cheek, Ms. Finley.”
Marina’s jaw dropped slightly, her mind racing as embarrassment washed over her. She realized just how foolish she had been once again.
Her face, which had barely stung before, now flared up with heat and pain, a vivid reminder of her earlier misstep.
Daron must have acquired some kind of passive skill for showing up at the worst possible moments, leaving her feeling metaphorically slapped.
She managed an awkward smile and accepted the ice pack with both hands. “Thanks.”
The driver returned her smile warmly, but catching a sharp glance from Daron in the rearview mirror, he quickly added, “All credit to Mr. Zamora for thinking ahead.”
He clearly had no intention of stealing Daron’s thunder.
Marina shifted slightly toward Daron. “Thanks, Mr. Zamora.”
He merely hummed in response, his eyes averted as he reached for a tissue from the nearby holder.
As she prepared to apply the ice pack, Daron unexpectedly stretched out his arm and plucked it from her grasp.
For a moment, she stared at him in disbelief, watching as he wrapped the tissue around the ice pack before handing it back to her.
After a brief pause, she accepted it again. “Thanks.”
“Thanks,” she repeated, then glanced at her phone, where missed calls continued to flood in, a reminder of the chaos awaiting her.
This time, Daron simply slipped in his earbuds, his focus shifting to a game on his phone, leaving her to navigate her thoughts alone.
Marina discreetly looked away, pressing the wrapped pack to her cheek. The tissue provided a buffer, softening the initial cold against her skin.
Yet, his subtle thoughtfulness warmed her from within, though it was wrapped in layers of lingering awkwardness.
A heavy silence enveloped the car, thick and palpable.
Daron was absorbed in his game, his moves clumsy and unpracticed. She stole a few glances at him, her brain scrambling for something to say, but all her efforts fell flat, leaving her to gaze out the window instead.
That was a mistake. Her eyes locked onto the car pulling up beside them.
Shawna was there, clutching a plate of fresh-cut fruit, playfully aiming bites toward the focused Lavern behind the wheel, her pale face glowing with an obnoxious sense of joy.
Marina scrunched her face in disgust, quickly averting her gaze and swallowing back the bile that threatened to rise in her throat.
She thought bitterly, ‘You always run into your enemies, but damn, this encounter feels way too coincidental.’
Her freshly steadied mood crumbled in an instant, all thanks to them.
Lavern turned his head, dodging Shawna’s fork, only to catch sight of Marina’s familiar profile. His expression darkened, clouds of irritation gathering on his face.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of a chaotic encounter, Marina found herself grappling with the weight of her decisions and the lingering shadows of her past. The tension between her and Carter had reached a boiling point, exposing the fissures in their once-unbreakable bond. As she walked beside Daron, the warmth of his presence contrasted sharply with the chill of her unresolved emotions. The near-fall had jolted her into a moment of clarity, reminding her that she was not as alone as she had felt. Daron’s unexpected kindness—his instinct to protect her—stirred something deep within her, a flicker of hope amidst the turmoil. Yet, the specter of her family’s history loomed large, leaving her questioning whether she could truly move forward without confronting the ghosts that haunted her.
As the car rolled away from the hotel, the silence between them was heavy with unspoken words, yet it was a silence that felt different—charged with potential rather than despair. Marina pressed the ice pack against her cheek, feeling the sting of reality mixed with the warmth of Daron’s earlier gesture. Despite the chaos that awaited her, she sensed a shift within herself, a resolve to confront her past and reclaim her narrative. The sight of Shawna and Lavern had been a harsh reminder of the battles she still had to fight, but it also ignited a determination to rise above the expectations that had long been imposed upon her. With Daron by her side, even in silence, she felt a flicker of strength igniting within her—a promise to herself that she would no longer be defined by the shadows of her family’s legacy.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**
As the tension between Marina and the Zamora family continues to simmer, readers can anticipate a dramatic escalation in the unfolding conflict. With Daron’s stoic demeanor and Carter’s simmering resentment, the stakes are higher than ever. Marina’s internal struggle, compounded by her guilt and the looming presence of enemies both old and new, sets the stage for a confrontation that could alter the dynamics of her relationships forever. Will she finally confront Carter about his manipulations, or will her unresolved feelings for Daron complicate her decisions further?
Moreover, the unexpected encounter with Shawna and Lavern promises to add an explosive layer to the already fraught situation. As Marina grapples with her emotions, the arrival of her adversaries may force her to confront not only her past but also her future. Will she find the strength to stand her ground, or will the weight of her family’s history pull her back into the shadows? With each character poised on the brink of revelation, the next chapter is sure to deliver unexpected twists and heart-wrenching choices that could either bind them together or tear them apart. Prepare for a whirlwind of emotions as secrets unravel and alliances shift in “Winds Carry Lost Promises.”
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.
