Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale 1 Summary
In the opening chapter of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” we are introduced to Lady Margaery, who has been confined in a firewood shed for three days, raising concerns about her well-being. The atmosphere is heavy with despair as Margaery, a young girl of about fifteen or sixteen, grapples with her traumatic past and the betrayal she faced from her own family. Once cherished as the last remnant of her mother’s love, Margaery now finds herself a victim of her brothers’ cruelty, culminating in her tragic death. As she awakens from a nightmare, she reflects on the horrors she endured at their hands and the bitter realization that she has been reborn into the same oppressive environment.
Margaery’s memories flood back, revealing a life filled with love that turned to treachery. Her father, Raul Wallen, had promised her protection, but instead, her brothers inflicted pain and suffering upon her. The chapter delves into her emotional turmoil as she recalls her past attempts to win their affection, which only led to further isolation and despair. The revelation of her previous life’s end, where she sacrificed herself for Tessa, adds layers to her feelings of betrayal and hopelessness. As she contemplates her new reality, a sense of bitterness emerges, marking a pivotal moment in her character’s journey.
The arrival of her second brother, Avery, disrupts Margaery’s reflections, as he coldly commands her to apologize to Tessa, who has taken center stage in the family’s affections. Avery’s threats echo her past experiences of emotional manipulation, reigniting her feelings of worthlessness. However, this time, Margaery feels a flicker of resolve. Unlike before, when she sought their love through desperation, she now contemplates severing ties with her family and reclaiming her identity. The chapter captures her internal struggle between the desire for familial acceptance and the need for self-liberation.
As Margaery prepares to confront Tessa, she recognizes the futility of her previous attempts to regain her family’s affection. The shift in their loyalty towards Tessa has left her feeling invisible and displaced. Despite the emotional scars, she resolves to approach Tessa, not as a beggar for love, but as someone who refuses to be defined by her family’s disdain. The chapter concludes with Margaery’s determination to break free from her past and assert her independence, setting the stage for her transformation and the journey ahead.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
**Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 1**
“Lady Margaery has been confined for three days now, and not a single sound has escaped her lips. Could it be that she has… perished?”
“Honestly, she would deserve such a fate if she has died. Lady Tessa has suffered endlessly over the years, and yet Lady Margaery wouldn’t even allow her entry, throwing a fit about it.”
“I propose we imprison Lady Margaery ourselves and teach her a lesson she won’t forget!”
*****
Inside the firewood shed, the atmosphere was thick with despair.
A girl, perhaps around fifteen or sixteen, lay curled up tightly, her body trembling as if ensnared in the grips of a nightmarish vision.
Her once-pink jacket was now a tattered remnant, coated in dirt and grime, a shadow of its former self.
The delicate butterfly hairpin that once adorned her hair had long since disappeared, and her tangled locks were matted with mud, a testament to her suffering.
After a desperate struggle amidst the cold, hard wood, she was jolted awake, a hoarse scream escaping her lips, “It wasn’t me! I swear it wasn’t me!”
Her voice faded into the stillness, and as she took a moment to absorb her surroundings, the initial terror in her eyes slowly morphed into bewilderment.
Hadn’t she met her end?
Her eldest brother Joshua Wallen had cut out her tongue, her second brother Avery Wallen had poisoned her, her fifth brother Andrew had severed her legs, her fourth brother Clyde had mercilessly cast her out, and she had sacrificed herself with a sword for Tessa.
In the end, it was her third brother Russell who had callously disposed of her body in the icy pond…
Why was she back in the firewood shed of the Chancellor’s estate?
In her past existence, she had endured a month of confinement here, which had left her with crippling rheumatism that plagued her for three torturous years.
The notion of being reborn had never crossed her mind.
As the reality of her situation settled in, Margaery Wallen’s pale visage contorted into a bitter smile, one that spoke of lost hopes and shattered dreams.
She was the daughter of the Chancellor’s estate. Her mother had tragically perished during childbirth, and the midwife had informed her father, Raul Wallen, that only she had survived.
Being a premature infant, weak and frail, and the last remnant of her mother’s love, she had become the family’s cherished possession.
Raul often proclaimed, “Margaery, from this day forth, you have me and your five brothers to support you. No one in all of Sinderin City will dare to bully you! You are our little princess!”
Yet, in truth, she was the only one who clung to those words.
The ones who mistreated her were none other than her own kin.
She had bent over backwards to win their affection, only to meet a tragic end in the frigid pond, sacrificing herself for Tessa.
The memories of her previous life flooded her mind, then faded like wisps of smoke.
Raul’s love, her siblings’ supposed care—they had all been repaid with the treachery of her past existence.
This time, she vowed to sever all ties with them and carve her own path.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door, breaking her reverie.
Someone had entered.
“Get up. Take your medicine and go apologize to Tessa. Ask her to return home,” the man commanded, standing at the threshold.
He held a pot of herbal medicine, wrapped snugly in thick cotton cloth to retain its warmth, steam curling up from the spout, yet his words were as cold and unyielding as the winter air.
Margaery lifted her gaze to him, her cracked lips barely parting.
It was her second brother, Avery. In the dim recesses of her memory, he was the one who had often sneaked away from the Royal Medical Hall to bring her remedies.
But that was before Tessa had come into their lives.
Since Tessa’s arrival, Avery had only remembered to prepare medicine for her stomach ailments, completely disregarding Margaery’s frequent allergic reactions. He had become oblivious to her needs, a stranger in his own home.
Now, it appeared as if he didn’t even notice the angry rashes that marred her wrists and neck. He merely stood there, rigid, threatening her, “Father said if you refuse to comply, he’ll cast you out of the family. You will no longer be a daughter of the Wallen family.”
In her former life, those words had shattered her spirit.
Instead of offering an apology, she had resorted to threats of self-harm, desperate to reclaim their love.
But all she had gained from that was a reputation as a troublemaker and a madwoman.
In the end, during Tessa’s recognition celebration, her reputation had crumbled, and she had become the target of scorn and ridicule.
Until her last breath, Margaery had never managed to win back their affection.
This time, however, she felt a flicker of resolve.
Margaery glanced at Avery, then lowered her gaze, her fingers instinctively rubbing her aching knees.
Seeing her demeanor, Avery’s frustration boiled over. “What’s with this attitude? I told you to apologize to Tessa, and you act as if you couldn’t care less!
“Do you realize that Tessa, just to plead for you, begged Father to release you from the firewood shed? She knelt outside for half an hour, caught a cold, and is now suffering because of it?
“She is gentle and forgiving by nature. If you just apologize to her now, I assure you she will forgive you! As long as she agrees to return to this family, I will approach Father and plead for your return to your room.”
At his words, Margaery slowly lifted her head.
In her previous life, she had indeed resisted Tessa’s arrival.
The Wallen family boasted five sons and only one daughter—her—and it was only natural for her to be cherished. But everything had shifted with Tessa’s entrance.
Having been lost for many years, the entire family felt a wave of guilt toward Tessa and sought to make amends for lost time. They lavished her with attention, showering her with affection.
Margaery had endeavored to be kind to Tessa, but she had not anticipated that Tessa would seek to usurp her place, desiring not just affection but her very identity.
The family’s focus had completely shifted to Tessa. Even her fiancé had begun to protect Tessa, leaving Margaery feeling invisible.
When she realized the extent of her displacement, panic had consumed her. In a desperate attempt to reclaim their love, she had even started mimicking Tessa’s behavior, striving to win back their favor.
But she had never once harmed Tessa.
The fall from the artificial mountain had been nothing but a ruse orchestrated by Tessa, and tragically, everyone had swallowed the deception whole.
“Fine. I will go and apologize to Tessa,” Margaery finally declared, her voice steady.
This time, she wasn’t going to gamble with her life, nor was she foolish enough to believe they still cared for her.
After all, just days ago, when Raul had decided to embrace Tessa as his daughter and had thrown a grand celebration in her honor, it had been evident that he no longer valued her feelings. He hadn’t even bothered to inform her.
Margaery had been so consumed by fear of abandonment that she had knelt in the snow, pleading with Raul to reverse his decision.
But instead, she had been locked away in the firewood shed, forced to apologize to Tessa.
In her previous life, she had fought back, trying to explain her side of the story.
But that had only backfired—she had ended up isolated, and in the end, they had placed the blame squarely on her shoulders.
What difference would it make if she admitted her mistakes now?
If they desired Tessa, let them have her.
This time, Margaery had resolved to give them what they wanted—and to liberate herself in the process.
She had no intention of begging anyone anymore. They were not worth her time or energy.
Escaping this unworthy place was the only thing she truly yearned for.
Ignoring Avery, she seized a wooden stick, mustering all her strength to stand. Her face remained an impassive mask, devoid of emotion.
Avery watched her, anger bubbling beneath the surface.
He stepped forward, blocking her path, disappointment lacing his voice. “Is it true that you pushed Tessa down the artificial mountain?”
Conclusion
In the dim light of the firewood shed, Margaery Wallen stood on the precipice of transformation, her heart heavy with the weight of betrayal yet buoyed by a newfound resolve. The echoes of her past life, filled with treachery and longing for familial love, had shaped her into a fragile specter. But as she faced her brother Avery, the chains of her former self began to shatter. This time, she would not plead for affection nor succumb to the manipulative games that had ensnared her before. Instead, she chose to reclaim her narrative, to sever the ties that bound her to a family that had only ever treated her as a pawn in their emotional chess game. The bitterness of her past had ignited a fierce independence within her, one that sought freedom over the hollow pursuit of acceptance.
As Margaery took her first steps toward liberation, the shadows of her past began to fade, replaced by the flicker of hope for a future unshackled from the pain of her family’s betrayal. She understood now that true strength lay not in begging for love but in recognizing her own worth. The decision to apologize to Tessa was not an act of submission but a strategic move to dismantle the illusion of familial loyalty that had suffocated her for so long. Margaery was no longer the docile daughter seeking validation; she was a young woman ready to carve her own destiny, unafraid to confront the ghosts of her past. With each determined step away from the firewood shed, she whispered a silent promise to herself—this time, she would shape her tomorrow, free from the whispers that once sought to define her.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter of *Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows*, readers can anticipate a tumultuous confrontation as Margaery faces the consequences of her past actions and the weight of her family’s expectations. With her resolve to break free from the chains of her previous life, Margaery is poised to challenge the very dynamics that once held her captive. As she prepares to confront Tessa and the Wallen family, the tension will escalate, revealing the intricate web of deception and loyalty that binds them. Will Margaery find the courage to assert her newfound strength, or will the shadows of her past continue to haunt her?
Moreover, the chapter promises to delve deeper into the complexities of Margaery’s relationships with her brothers, particularly with Avery, who embodies the conflicting emotions of familial loyalty and betrayal. As secrets unravel and hidden motives come to light, readers will be left questioning the true nature of love within the Wallen family. The stakes are higher than ever, and Margaery’s journey toward self-discovery will be fraught with unexpected twists that challenge her resolve. Will she finally carve out her own identity, or will the whispers of her past dictate her future? The answers lie just beyond the horizon, waiting to be unveiled.
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.
