Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 29 Summary
In Chapter 29 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Marina finds solace in the quiet of her home after locking all the doors, realizing how much deeper her sleep is without Lavern by her side. The tranquility is short-lived, however, as a call from her estranged father, Carter, disrupts her morning routine. He announces his visit during a business trip, stirring a mix of emotions within her as she reluctantly agrees to meet him, feeling the weight of their complicated past.
As Marina arrives at the upscale hotel for their meeting, she is confronted by the unchanged figure of her father, who presents her with a shiny gold bank card as a wedding gift. Her skepticism flares, fueled by memories of her mother’s abandonment and the family’s tumultuous history. The conversation quickly escalates when Carter reveals that she holds shares in the Finley Group, which he wants her to relinquish to him. Marina stands firm, having entrusted the shares to Elnora, her sister, and is unimpressed by Carter’s attempts to persuade her otherwise.
Tension rises as Carter reveals his desire for Reynaldo, Marina’s half-brother, to take a more active role in the family business. Marina’s disdain for Carter’s manipulation surfaces, leading to a heated argument where she challenges his motives and questions his relationship with Mary. The confrontation reaches a boiling point when Carter, in a fit of rage, slaps her. In retaliation, Marina throws coffee in his face, escalating the chaos in the restaurant.
Just as the situation intensifies, Daron, Marina’s partner, unexpectedly arrives and inadvertently becomes part of the fray when he is hit by the coffee intended for Carter. Daron’s calm demeanor contrasts sharply with Carter’s fury, as he addresses the situation with authority. Carter’s attempts to downplay his anger and shift blame onto Marina only serve to highlight the ongoing family dysfunction. The chapter closes with a palpable tension, leaving Marina caught between her tumultuous family ties and her desire for a peaceful future.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt**
**Chapter 29**
Marina secured every door in her home, the sound of the locks clicking into place bringing her a strange sense of comfort. As she crawled back into bed, it struck her how much deeper her slumber was without Lavern’s presence. It had been ages since she had felt this level of tranquility, as if the absence of his weight beside her allowed her mind to finally rest.
When dawn broke, Marina stirred and made her way to the kitchen, her movements automatic. She prepared a simple breakfast, the aroma of toasted bread mingling with the scent of freshly brewed coffee. As she munched on her meal, her fingers danced over her phone, scrolling through the latest financial news from Vrufield. The numbers and charts blurred together, but she kept reading, letting the information wash over her like a warm wave.
Suddenly, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. A flicker of tension ran through her fingers as they tightened instinctively around the device.
Even without a name flashing on the screen, she recognized those digits immediately, each one echoing memories she had long tried to suppress.
Frowning, she stared at the screen, time stretching as she hesitated. Finally, just as the ringing was about to cease, she swiped to answer, her heart pounding in her chest.
“Marina, it’s Dad,” came a voice from the speaker. It was a voice she hadn’t heard in nearly seven years—familiar yet tinged with an unsettling distance. “I’m in Sicester for a brief business stopover and heard about your upcoming wedding. Thought I’d swing by and see you. Got a minute? How about a quick meet-up with your old man?”
Her frown deepened, a wave of conflicting emotions crashing over her. “Address,” she demanded, her tone clipped.
He rattled off the location without missing a beat.
Marina glanced at the clock—two hours to spare before her appointment with Daron.
She ended the call, her appetite evaporating like mist in the morning sun. After a quick tidy-up, she set out, the weight of the impending meeting settling heavily on her shoulders.
Following Carter Finley’s directions, she arrived at one of Sicester’s upscale hotels, its polished façade gleaming under the morning light.
Inside, she approached the front desk, dropping his name like a stone into still water. The staffer, all smiles, promptly escorted her to the restaurant.
There he was, Carter, seated at a table dressed in casual attire that screamed high-end designer; the quality was unmistakable, even from a distance.
Years had slipped by, yet he seemed unchanged—his thick black hair still full, now framing a face that bore the marks of experience and a certain worldly charm that only time could bestow.
On the table before him lay a shiny gold bank card, its surface glinting under the soft light.
As soon as he spotted her, he gestured toward the empty chair across from him. “Have a seat.”
Wordlessly, she complied, her mind racing. He nudged the card toward her. “This is the wedding gift I’ve prepared for you.”
Marina’s thoughts raced, skepticism flaring within her. ‘Yeah, right. Like it’s that simple?’ She glanced down at the card, her indifference palpable, before sliding it right back to him.
Kathy had left the Finley family with nothing, and there was no way she would touch his money.
“So, what do you really want?” she asked, her voice cutting through the air like a knife.
Carter chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Marina, you’re the spitting image of your mother—always so direct.”
She remained silent, her gaze unwavering.
He let out a resigned sigh. “Alright, since you’re putting it that way, let’s get straight to the heart of the matter.”
Of course, she thought, her mind already bracing for the inevitable.
Carter continued, “When Grandpa passed, he left you 15% of the Finley Group shares. You’ve been out of the family loop for years; those shares are just gathering dust. How about handing them over to me?”
Marina locked her gaze with his, her resolve hardening. “I’ve already entrusted them to Elnora to manage.”
Carter’s expression brightened with a paternal smile, but a glint of something darker flickered in his eyes. “You just delegated management; you didn’t sign them over. For years, she’s dismissed any sisterly ties and hasn’t sent you a single dime in dividends. Those shares are doing nothing under your name.”
He slid the bank card back toward her, his tone shifting to a more persuasive note. “You’re getting married soon, and kids might follow. Tons of expenses are on the horizon. I’d be happy to buy you out in one lump sum. Sound good?”
Marina remained unmoved, her brow furrowing. “But wouldn’t they be just as pointless in your possession?”
A crack formed in Carter’s genial façade, revealing his true emotions. “Would it do any good in Elnora’s hands? If she were competent, the Finley family wouldn’t have been spiraling downward all these years.”
Irritation bubbled within her at his dismissive phrasing, and she stood abruptly, intent on leaving.
Carter lunged forward, grabbing her wrist with surprising force. “Marina, you and Elnora are both my daughters. It pains me to see her struggling alone. I just want your brother to step in at the company and give her some support.”
Marina yanked her arm free, her voice rising. “Brother? You mean Reynaldo Miles?”
Carter’s expression twisted into a scowl. “He’s changed his surname now; it’s Reynaldo Finley.”
Marina couldn’t help but smirk mockingly. “A name change doesn’t alter DNA, does it? It doesn’t erase the fact that he’s Mary’s son with someone else.”
She knew the blow would hurt, and she twisted the knife deeper.
Fury and humiliation washed over Carter, and in a sudden outburst, he shot up from his seat, his hand connecting sharply with her cheek.
For a brief moment, the world around them fell silent, the air thick with tension.
Marina, quick to react, snatched the coffee cup from the table and splashed its contents directly into his face.
The dark liquid sprayed everywhere, momentarily obscuring his vision.
She stepped back, creating distance between them, her heart racing.
“You’re such a fool,” she spat, her voice steady. “Back when you were younger, Mary wouldn’t have given you the time of day. It was only after her husband died, and she couldn’t snag a bigger fish that she slinked back to you!”
“It’s been years since Mom divorced you; why hasn’t Mary given you even one child? She’s just using you as a pawn, and you’re lapping it up?”
“You’ve got some nerve showing up here. Don’t tell me the little fund Grandma stashed away for you before she passed is about to run dry? And you think your pocket change can buy my 15% stake in the Finley Group? Dream on!”
Carter wiped the coffee from his face, his expression darkening to a furious shade of purple under her relentless onslaught. “You ungrateful little brat!”
In a fit of rage, he seized the coffee cup from the table and hurled it at her with all his might.
Marina dodged to the side, only to collide with a wall of solid muscle.
But the anticipated pain never came. Dazed, she looked up.
The cup had hit Daron instead, drenching his black shirt and faintly outlining the chiseled contours of his chest beneath.
“You…” Marina’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment; it seemed she always found herself in these mortifying situations right when he appeared.
Daron didn’t spare her a glance. His dark, inscrutable eyes were fixed on Carter as he spoke with an air of casual authority. “Carter, what’s got you all fired up?”
Carter hadn’t expected to run into Daron. He quickly fished out a handful of tissues, extending them with a forced smile that barely masked his anger. “My apologies, Daron. This brat had me seeing red; I completely lost it and didn’t even notice you were there. Honest mistake, total accident.”
Daron brushed off the offered tissues with a cool demeanor. “It’s been years, Carter. Still got that hot temper, huh? No real change. I thought going independent after splitting from the Finley family might’ve mellowed you out a bit.”
He casually brushed off the coffee spots on his shirt. “You’re lucky it was me you hit today. If it had been someone else, a simple sorry wouldn’t cut it.”
His voice was deep and smooth, revealing nothing of the storm brewing beneath.
Despite being the elder, Carter could only muster a conciliatory grin. “Blame it on this wretched girl; she’s infuriating beyond words. I just couldn’t hold back.”
Mid-sentence, he shot Marina a venomous glare, his refined demeanor crumbling. “You get how exasperating this kid can be, right, Daron?”
Conclusion
As Marina sat across from her estranged father, the weight of their fractured relationship bore down on her like an anchor. The encounter had unraveled a torrent of emotions she had long buried, exposing the raw wounds of betrayal and disappointment. Carter’s attempts to manipulate her with promises of financial security only deepened her resolve to reject his overtures. In that moment, she realized that the true gift lay not in the shares or the bank card he offered but in her newfound strength to stand firm against the toxic dynamics of her past. The confrontation with him had awakened a fierce independence within her, one that would not be swayed by his hollow gestures or familial ties.
With Daron’s unexpected arrival, a sense of protection enveloped her, momentarily shielding her from the storm that was Carter. The tension in the air shifted, and for the first time, Marina felt a glimmer of hope. Daron’s presence was a reminder that she was not alone in this battle against her family’s legacy. As she exchanged glances with him, a silent understanding passed between them, affirming that she was ready to forge her own path. This chapter in her life marked a turning point, where the winds of change began to carry away the lost promises of her past, leaving space for new beginnings and the possibility of healing.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the next chapter, readers can expect the tension between Marina and her father, Carter, to escalate dramatically. With the unexpected arrival of Daron, the atmosphere shifts as old rivalries and unresolved family dynamics come to the forefront. Marina’s fierce independence and unwillingness to be swayed by her father’s manipulations will be tested in ways she never anticipated. Daron’s presence adds a layer of complexity, as he not only serves as a buffer between Marina and Carter but also brings his own unresolved issues into the mix. The confrontation is far from over, and as secrets unravel, the stakes will rise higher than ever.
Moreover, Marina’s reluctance to accept her father’s offer will lead her down a path of unexpected revelations. The dynamics of family loyalty, betrayal, and the weight of inherited responsibilities will force her to confront her past and the choices that shaped her present. As she navigates the treacherous waters of familial obligations, readers will be left wondering what sacrifices she might have to make to protect her future. Will Daron stand by her side, or will his own past with the Finley family complicate matters further? The chapter promises to delve deeper into the tangled web of relationships, setting the stage for a heart-stopping climax that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.
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.
