Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 15 Summary
In Chapter 15 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Marina grapples with her emotions as she struggles to understand the man Lavern has become. Conflicted feelings of confusion and frustration swirl within her, as she feels like a stranger has replaced the man she once knew. Despite their shared past, she finds herself questioning which side of Lavern is genuine. His attempt to lighten the mood with playful banter only underscores the tension between them, highlighting her internal struggle.
As Lavern guides Marina towards his office for treatment of her injury, she recoils at the thought, insisting on going to the infirmary instead. His firm grip and protective instincts showcase his concern, but Marina’s discomfort is palpable. Once inside the infirmary, Lavern’s protective nature emerges again as he warns the doctor to be gentle with her. This moment reveals Lavern’s deep-seated worry for her, contrasting with the emotional distance that has grown between them.
The conversation shifts as Marina confronts Lavern about his relationship with Shawna, igniting a mix of irritation and defensiveness in him. Marina’s sarcastic remarks reveal her bitterness and disappointment, as she struggles to reconcile the man she once loved with the one standing before her. Lavern’s insistence that he has acted out of compassion for Shawna only deepens her sense of betrayal, making her question his sincerity and commitment to their past.
As the chapter progresses, the tension escalates, leading to a pivotal moment where Lavern extends a pinky swear, a gesture laden with nostalgia. However, Marina’s refusal to engage in this promise signifies her resolve to distance herself from him. Their conversation culminates in Marina’s decision to terminate her contract with Lavern, showcasing her determination to take control of her future. As she walks away, leaving Lavern behind, it becomes clear that the emotional rift between them has widened, setting the stage for further conflict and resolution in their relationship.
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**TITLE: Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 15**
Marina sat in silence, her mind swirling with confusion and frustration. “Which side of him is the real one?” she pondered, her heart heavy with uncertainty. It felt as if the man she once knew had been replaced by a stranger, and she was left grappling with the remnants of their past.
Observing the subtle shift in her demeanor, Lavern relaxed his grip just enough to allow a playful spark to ignite between them. Leaning down, he attempted to lighten the mood with a teasing tone, “Even if you’re still furious, let’s take care of that wound first before you keep giving me hell. I won’t stand by and let you hurt yourself just to spite me.” His voice was a mix of concern and mischief, a familiar dance they had often shared.
With that, he took her hand, guiding her toward his office, but Marina recoiled at the mere thought of entering. The idea twisted her stomach into knots, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her.
His grip was unyielding, a vice-like hold that left her feeling trapped. “The infirmary,” she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, but it was firm in its insistence.
Lavern caught the raw disgust etched across her face, and a pang of guilt shot through him. He could see how resolutely she stood her ground, and it struck him with a force he couldn’t ignore. Reluctantly, he relented, steering her toward the infirmary instead.
As they reached the door, Marina jerked her hand free, walking in with an air of composure that belied the turmoil within her.
Lavern followed, lingering in the background. When he saw her brows knit together in discomfort as the doctor applied the disinfectant, he shot a warning glance at the physician. “Go easy,” he barked, his protective instincts flaring.
“Right away, Mr. Ross,” the doctor replied, a placating smile on his face as he continued to tend to Marina’s injury.
After a few moments, the doctor finished up, rattled off a series of instructions, and quietly exited the room, leaving Lavern and Marina alone.
Lavern’s frown deepened as he stared at her bandaged hand, worry etched across his features. The sight of her pain tugged at something deep within him, a sense of responsibility he could not shake off.
Suddenly, his phone rang, the familiar, syrupy love ballad blaring obnoxiously.
Marina wrinkled her nose in disgust and shot him a sidelong glance. “Aren’t you going to answer that?”
With an air of nonchalance, he retrieved his phone, muted it, and inched closer, a shameless grin spreading across his face. “Not important. No point,” he dismissed casually.
Marina let out a cold laugh, her eyes narrowing. “Really? Back when you walked out with me, Ms. Thornton was practically groveling on the floor, looking utterly pathetic.”
“Where she bows is her business, not mine,” Lavern replied evenly, his voice devoid of irritation, though a flicker of annoyance danced in his dark eyes.
A faint smile tugged at Marina’s lips as she continued, “I don’t swing by the office much anymore, but I still hold some sway here. Even if I keep my mouth shut and stay out of it, plenty of people would jump at the chance to make life hell for Ms. Thornton on my behalf. She’s probably calling you now, begging for help. Aren’t you worried she might get into some real trouble?”
Lavern’s brows knitted together, a spark of irritation flashing across his features. “Marina, I only kept her on because I felt sorry for her. She reminds me so much of you when you were just starting out—always optimistic, no matter what challenges came your way. I thought you and Wonder Group had leaned on Yesenia to get her fired. So, out of spite, I brought her in and gave her your office to use.”
He paused, his voice softening as he continued, “For years, I’ve carried the guilt of not being able to protect you back then, allowing you to face those brutal office battles alone. That’s why I extended some compassion and looked out for her.”
Marina couldn’t help but scoff internally. “Looked out for her?” she echoed, barely suppressing a laugh. “Well, Mr. Ross, you certainly looked out for her thoroughly, even catering to her more… intimate needs.”
Lavern’s expression turned stony, his brows furrowing deeply. “Where did you hear that nonsense?” he shot back, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.
“Straight from the horse’s mouth, of course,” Marina retorted, her eyes glinting with mischief.
His face hardened, the severity of his expression making it clear that he was not in the mood for games. “Marina, we’ve been through so much together. When Ross Group was just getting off the ground, the women they threw at me—none were as pretty or alluring as her.”
Marina fell silent, absorbing his words. She had always believed Lavern was different, someone who could resist the temptations that had plagued their relationship.
But now, watching him spin excuses that dripped with deception, disappointment washed over her like a cold wave. He claimed to feel for the woman she used to be, and that was why he felt pity for Shawna.
The absurdity of it all made her want to laugh and cry at the same time. He had channeled his pain for her into Shawna, and it seemed almost comical in its tragic irony.
All along, she had yearned to lay their seven-year relationship to rest, to give it a dignified burial and allow it to find peace. Yet, he had never even considered confessing to her; he preferred to let their issues fester like a corpse left to rot in the wild. “So how could I deny him that?” she thought bitterly.
His cheek was red and swollen from her earlier strike; she had put her full force behind that swing, and it was a testament to her frustration.
Noticing her gaze linger on his injury, Lavern felt a surge of relief. “It’s fine. Doesn’t hurt at all,” he assured her, trying to downplay the pain.
Her concern for him meant that perhaps this wouldn’t spiral out of control, and he took solace in that thought.
Wrapping his left arm around her waist, he pulled her close, his voice softening. “Marina, we made a promise a long time ago—to be together forever. This is just a little hiccup in our story. I swear, you’ll never have to see Shawna again.”
He extended his right hand, bending his pinky just so, offering her a pinky swear. It was a remnant of their whirlwind romance, a gesture that had once held so much meaning.
In the past, a quick hook of their fingers would have sealed the promise, but this time, she kept her hand firmly at her side.
Lavern’s expression tightened, disappointment flickering in his eyes.
Marina stood up from the chair, creating distance between them. “With your face that swollen, you probably won’t be able to sign the contract with Cloud Group tomorrow, right?”
Irritation flashed in Lavern’s eyes, erasing any trace of tenderness he had shown moments before. “It’s no issue. Cloud Group and Ross Group have been partners for years; delaying the renewal by a few days won’t matter. They wouldn’t drop us for someone else that quickly.”
Marina chose not to respond, a smirk playing on her lips as she walked toward the infirmary door.
His confidence was infuriating, a blind arrogance that assumed Cloud Group would remain loyal and that she would never leave him. But this time, he was sorely mistaken.
As she stepped out without another word, Lavern swallowed his frustration and followed her. “Let me take you home,” he offered, his voice strained.
Marina shook her head, her tone steady and unwavering. “No need. You’ve got a ton on your plate at the office; stick around and handle it. Besides, there’s still unfinished business upstairs, isn’t there?”
Without waiting for his reply, she strode out of the building, leaving him standing there, frozen in place, his expression dark and unreadable.
Once she reached her car, Marina pulled out her phone and dialed Yesenia, the head of Wonder Group. “Go ahead and sign the termination contract with Lavern for Wonder Group,” she instructed, her voice firm.
“Yes, ma’am,” Yesenia replied, her tone laced with surprise. “Ms. Finley, signing that means the project’s dead in the water.”
Marina tightened her grip on the phone, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. “I’ll bring in a new investor for you, one with even better credentials and deeper pockets than Ross Group,” she promised, her determination unwavering.
“Yesenia hesitated, sensing the gravity of the situation. “Did talks with Mr. Ross break down?”
Marina remained silent, her gaze drifting toward the imposing Ross Group office building. It was far worse than just breaking down; her silence spoke volumes of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.
Understanding the implications, Yesenia sighed and asked gently, “Ms. Finley, could you let me know in advance which investor you’re considering for Wonder Group’s project?”
This project meant the world to her, and even if new funding came through, she wanted a solid, dependable partner. Wonder Group couldn’t afford another round of chaos.
Marina paused to think, then murmured, “The Zamora Group, Daron. How does that sound?”
Conclusion
In the aftermath of their tumultuous exchange, Marina stood at a crossroads, the weight of her decisions pressing heavily upon her. The promise of a shared future with Lavern, once a vibrant tapestry woven with love and hope, now lay in tatters, each thread fraying under the strain of betrayal and unfulfilled expectations. As she dialed Yesenia, her voice unwavering, she felt the finality of her choices settle around her like a shroud. No longer willing to cling to a relationship that had devolved into a battlefield of resentment and misplaced loyalties, she resolved to carve her own path, one that did not include the man who had once been her everything.
Lavern, left in the wake of her departure, was engulfed by a profound sense of loss. The distance between them felt insurmountable, a chasm widened by his own missteps and the painful realization that the trust they had built was now a fragile illusion. As he watched her walk away, determination flickering in her step, he understood that the time for hollow promises had passed. The winds that had once carried their dreams together now whispered of new beginnings, yet they also echoed the haunting refrain of what could have been. In that moment, he recognized the gravity of his actions and the painful truth that love, when tainted by deception, becomes a ghost of its former self, leaving behind only the memories of lost promises.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the upcoming chapter of *Winds Carry Lost Promises*, readers can expect the tension between Marina and Lavern to reach new heights as the fallout from their confrontation takes shape. With Marina’s decision to terminate her partnership with Ross Group looming over them, the stakes have never been higher. As she forges a new path with the Zamora Group, the ramifications of her choice will ripple through both their lives, forcing Lavern to confront the reality of losing not just a business partner but potentially the woman he once promised to cherish forever. Will he fight to reclaim her trust, or will his arrogance push her further away?
As the narrative unfolds, the complexities of their relationship will deepen, revealing the layers of pain, betrayal, and unresolved love that bind them. Lavern’s attempts to win Marina back may lead him to unexpected allies and challenges, while Marina’s resolve to stand on her own will be tested in ways she never anticipated. With new characters entering the fray, including the enigmatic members of the Zamora Group, the plot thickens, promising intrigue and potential alliances that could change everything. Readers will be left on the edge of their seats, wondering if Marina can truly break free from her past or if Lavern’s charm will once again lure her back into a world of broken 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.
