Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 26 Summary
In Chapter 26 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Shawna confronts Marina with a bold message about their shared connection to Lavern. This time, instead of dismissing Marina, Shawna’s indignation leads her to question Marina’s attachment to Lavern, highlighting her own frustration with the relationship. Marina responds with a sharp retort, revealing her belief that Lavern views Shawna merely as a secret, further intensifying the tension between them. As the conversation escalates, Shawna feels a surge of emotions, leading her to lash out in frustration by throwing her bracelet across the room, symbolizing her internal turmoil.
Carrie, Shawna’s concerned friend, senses the chaos and urges her to open the door, but Shawna struggles with her feelings of anger and embarrassment, especially after realizing the bracelet is just gold-plated silver. This realization, coupled with Carrie’s condescending remarks about the bracelet and Lavern, deepens Shawna’s sense of betrayal and hurt. As Carrie asserts her dominance, Shawna feels overwhelmed, desperately reaching out to Lavern for support, but her call goes unanswered, leaving her feeling isolated.
Meanwhile, Marina is grappling with her own grief, having lost her close friend Alyssa. As she tries to distract herself with dinner, Lavern arrives at her home, only to find that she has changed the locks, symbolizing her desire to shut him out. His frustration grows as he realizes he cannot get in, and he desperately calls for her. However, a neighbor’s revelation about Alyssa’s death shocks Lavern, leading him to confront the reality of his selfishness and the emotional distance that has developed between him and Marina.
The chapter culminates in a moment of profound realization for Lavern, who is struck by the weight of his ignorance regarding Alyssa’s passing. This revelation forces him to reevaluate his past actions and their impact on Marina, leaving him filled with regret. As he stands outside her door, the tension between the characters reaches a peak, highlighting the emotional turmoil and unresolved conflicts that define their relationships.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 26**
This time, Shawna refused to brush Marina off as she had done in the past. Instead, she shot back with a pointed remark, her fingers flying over the screen, fueled by a mix of indignation and defiance.
“Marina,” she typed, her heart racing as she pressed send. “You’re already aware of my relationship with Lavern, aren’t you? If you’re so focused on improving your life, why are you clinging to him like a lifeline?”
Marina, on the other end, stared at the message, her face a mask of neutrality. But beneath that calm exterior, her mind was racing, and she couldn’t help but respond in kind, mimicking Shawna’s tone with a sharp retort.
“Ms. Thornton,” she replied, her fingers dancing across the screen with a mix of amusement and disdain, “you must know that Lavern has always intended for you to be nothing more than his little secret. He wouldn’t dare mention your so-called romance in my presence. You’re reaching out like this because he’s failing to give you what you truly desire, right?”
As soon as she hit send, a heavy silence enveloped Shawna. The words hung in the air like a storm cloud, and she could feel the tension coiling within her, ready to snap.
But Marina, sensing the heat of the moment, decided to stoke the flames further. “I have to say,” she continued, her fingers flying over the screen, “watching you unravel while Lavern goes to great lengths to keep this from me is quite entertaining. You’re too scared to even tell him you’ve contacted me. So what gives you the right to question my loyalty? Ms. Thornton, you’re truly a source of amusement.”
Just as she pressed send, the locksmith arrived at her quaint home, breaking the momentary tension. She tucked her phone away, choosing to ignore any further notifications that might come through.
Meanwhile, on Shawna’s side, Marina’s words had ignited a firestorm of emotions. Her jaw clenched tightly, and she could feel her fingers trembling around her phone, a physical manifestation of her growing fury.
With no outlet for her pent-up rage, her face flushed a deep crimson. In a fit of frustration, she yanked the gold bracelet off her wrist and hurled it across the room, the clattering sound echoing in the stillness.
From outside, Carrie heard the commotion and rushed over, knocking insistently on the door. “Shawna! What’s happening in there? You didn’t trip or something, did you? Oh dear, be careful; don’t hurt my little grandbaby!”
Shawna inhaled deeply, trying to steady her racing heart. She bent down to retrieve the bracelet, her thoughts swirling. “It’s fine, Carrie. Just dropped something,” she called back, attempting to mask her turmoil.
“Then open the door!” Carrie urged, her voice laced with concern. “Why on earth are you locking yourself in during the day?”
Shawna remained silent, sliding the bracelet back onto her wrist. As she glanced down, a flash of silver caught her eye—a scuff mark where the bracelet had struck the floor.
Her cheeks flared with embarrassment and anger. ‘So that’s what Marina meant by “budget version”! She knew all along that it’s just gold-plated silver, no better than that fake emerald bracelet,’ she thought, her fury bubbling over.
A tremor coursed through her body as she imagined Marina’s smug expression while typing those cutting remarks. The thought alone sent her into a deeper rage.
Carrie continued to pound on the door, her voice rising in urgency. “Shawna! Let me in!”
Finally, Shawna choked back her anger and unlocked the door, her heart still racing.
Carrie pushed the door open, her face a mix of concern and irritation. “Shawna, you can’t keep locking doors when I’m around. I need to be able to check on you whenever I want.”
Perhaps it was the surge of pregnancy hormones that fueled her defiance, but Shawna, who typically swallowed her pride without a second thought, couldn’t let this pass. “Carrie,” she said, her voice steady but filled with underlying tension, “this bracelet you gave me… it feels wrong.”
She raised her wrist, thrusting the tarnished silver streak right under Carrie’s nose. “It’s gold-plated silver, isn’t it?”
Carrie hadn’t expected Shawna to catch on so quickly. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she quickly regained her composure. “It was in perfect condition when I gave it to you, and now you’ve managed to ruin it in less than an hour?”
Shawna stood there, momentarily taken aback by the unexpected comeback.
Seeing the silence stretch between them, Carrie pressed on, her tone dripping with condescension. “These trinkets are merely for show, Shawna. Just something flashy to flaunt in front of others. There’s no sense in spending a fortune on them. You’re already living off our Lavern, so perhaps it’s time to keep your expectations in check.”
The words struck Shawna like a slap, leaving her pale and speechless.
Carrie shot her a withering glance before sauntering over to the sofa, plopping down with an air of superiority. If she couldn’t control Marina, at least she could assert her dominance over Shawna.
Overwhelmed by a rush of hurt and betrayal, Shawna felt tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. Desperate for support, she reached for her phone, dialing Lavern’s number, but the call went unanswered.
Meanwhile, as the locksmith finished his work, Marina finally felt a sense of relief wash over her. She decided to whip up a simple dinner for herself, hoping to distract her mind from the chaos.
With Carrie preoccupied babysitting Shawna, Lavern seized the opportunity to head over to Marina’s place. He slid his key into the lock, but no matter how he twisted and jiggled it, the stubborn mechanism refused to budge.
After several frustrating attempts, it dawned on him—she had changed the front door lock.
‘What on earth could have prompted that?’ he pondered, the realization hitting him hard. It was obvious: she was shutting him out.
He had gone to great lengths to win her back, even enlisting Carrie’s help to soften her up, yet Marina remained distant and cold.
Frustration boiled within him, and he pounded on the door, his voice rising in anger. “Marina! Let me in!”
The commotion drew the attention of the neighbors, who peeked out, irritation etched on their faces. “Keep it down! My kid’s trying to do homework in here!” one of them snapped.
Lavern, unwilling to stoop to their level, fell silent but refused to leave. He pulled out his phone, dialing Marina once more, but there was still no answer.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally snapped. “Alyssa! Alyssa, it’s Lavern. Open the door for me, please!”
He had accompanied Marina a few times after work to check on Alyssa, and he knew she’d still be awake at this hour.
Alyssa, always concerned about appearances and the gossip of the neighbors, would surely let him in to avoid any scene.
Inside, Marina sat at the table, picking at her dinner, each bite a struggle as she fought back tears. She could hear Lavern’s desperate pleas, but the weight of her grief was suffocating.
Alyssa would never answer the door for anyone again.
The noise from outside continued to escalate, causing the neighbor’s child to lose focus on their homework. Finally, the woman next door flung open her door, glaring at Lavern with palpable disdain.
“What are you yelling for? Alyssa’s been dead and buried for over ten days! Are you out of your mind?”
Lavern’s fist froze mid-air, shock coursing through him. “What did you just say?” he managed to stammer, disbelief etched across his face.
The neighbor recognized Lavern; she knew he was Marina’s boyfriend. Seeing the stunned expression on his face, she frowned. “She’s been gone for more than ten days. How could you not know?”
Lavern stood there, paralyzed, a whirlwind of shock and confusion swirling within him. He truly hadn’t known. No one had bothered to inform him.
As he rifled through his memories of recent visits, he recalled Alyssa’s bedroom door always being shut tight, the memorial photo prominently displayed in the living room, and suddenly, the pieces began to fit together.
No wonder Marina hadn’t been swayed by his attempts to make amends; she had lost the last person she loved.
In that moment, he realized how selfish he had been, off in another city, using “business trips” as an excuse while he whisked Shawna away on frivolous adventures.
Lavern stood there, rigid as a statue, drowning in a tide of regret, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Conclusion
In the aftermath of the storm that had erupted between Shawna and Marina, both women found themselves standing at a precipice of self-discovery. Shawna, fueled by a mix of indignation and vulnerability, confronted the harsh realities of her relationship with Lavern and the hollow nature of the connections she had allowed to define her. The confrontation with Carrie had stripped away the layers of pretense, leaving her raw and exposed, grappling with feelings of inadequacy and betrayal. In that moment of clarity, she recognized the futility of clinging to a love that had never truly belonged to her, igniting a spark of resilience that had long been dormant.
Meanwhile, Lavern’s world shattered as he confronted the devastating truth of Alyssa’s death, a revelation that forced him to reckon with the consequences of his selfishness. The weight of his ignorance hung heavy, and in that instant, he understood the depth of Marina’s grief and the chasm his absence had created. No longer could he dismiss her pain as mere drama; it was a profound loss that demanded acknowledgment and compassion. As the winds carried lost promises away, both Shawna and Lavern were left to confront their own truths, setting the stage for a journey towards healing and redemption. The emotional arc of this chapter closed not with resolution, but with the promise of transformation, as each character stood poised to reclaim their narratives amidst the chaos of their intertwined lives.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
As the dust settles from the explosive confrontation between Shawna and Marina, the tension between these two women is set to reach new heights in the upcoming chapter. With Lavern now grappling with the devastating news of Alyssa’s passing, the emotional landscape is primed for upheaval. Will he confront Marina about her grief, or will his own guilt and selfishness keep him at bay? As he navigates the fallout of his ignorance, the choices he makes could either bridge the growing chasm between them or drive them further apart. Expect to see how Lavern’s actions ripple through the lives of both women, igniting a storm of emotions that could change their relationships forever.
Meanwhile, Shawna finds herself at a crossroads. With her trust in Carrie shattered and Lavern’s absence weighing heavily on her heart, she must decide whether to continue fighting for a love that feels increasingly elusive. As she wrestles with her insecurities and the remnants of her anger towards Marina, a new ally may emerge in unexpected places. Will Shawna seek solace in the unlikeliest of friendships, or will her fury push her to take drastic measures against Marina? The stage is set for a clash that promises to unravel secrets, reveal hidden loyalties, and challenge the very foundations of their intertwined lives. Prepare for revelations that may alter the course of their destinies, as the winds carry lost promises into uncharted territory.
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.
