Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 31 Summary
In Chapter 31 of “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Lavern’s sudden stop in the car sets off a chain of anxiety and confusion among the passengers. Shawna, feeling protective and anxious, instinctively clutches her belly, while Carrie is alarmed by the abruptness of the situation. The tension escalates when Shawna reveals she saw Marina with another man, igniting Lavern’s anger and concern. His silence speaks volumes as he struggles with his emotions, dialing Marina’s number with urgency, determined to confront the situation.
Meanwhile, Marina is in another car with Daron, feeling nauseous after the sighting. Their interaction oscillates between playful banter and underlying tension, as Daron challenges her abilities in a video game they are playing. Despite the light-hearted competition, Marina’s mind is clouded with thoughts of Lavern’s call, which she chooses to ignore, adding to her growing frustration. The gameplay provides a temporary distraction from her worries, but the stakes are high as they evade a pursuer, highlighting the urgency of their situation.
As Lavern becomes increasingly reckless in his pursuit, Shawna’s fear grows, and Lavern’s frustration boils over, leading him to lash out. Carrie attempts to calm him, reminding him that Shawna is pregnant, but Lavern’s anger blinds him to the concern of those around him. Shawna’s emotional state reveals her vulnerability, as she tries to reassure Lavern while grappling with her own feelings of doubt regarding Marina’s fidelity. This moment of tension showcases the fragile dynamics between the characters and sets the stage for potential conflict.
The chapter culminates with Marina and Daron arriving at an unexpected location, where Daron’s confidence clashes with Marina’s embarrassment over his appearance. Their exchange reveals deeper issues in their relationship, as Daron’s sharp words cut through Marina’s defenses, leaving her feeling exposed. The chapter ends with a sense of unresolved tension, as Marina contemplates her next move while grappling with the implications of her actions and the consequences they may have on her relationship with Lavern. The emotional stakes are high, and the characters are left navigating their complicated feelings amidst the chaos.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
**Chapter 31**
Lavern’s foot slammed down on the brake pedal, the tires screeching in protest against the sudden stop.
Shawna, caught off guard, lurched forward, only to be yanked back into her seat by the unforgiving grip of the seatbelt. Her heart raced, and the fruit she had been holding scattered across the floor like forgotten dreams. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her belly, a protective gesture that spoke volumes of her anxiety.
In the back seat, Carrie jolted upright, her eyes wide with confusion. “What just happened?” she demanded, her voice laced with alarm.
Lavern remained silent, his expression dark and stormy as he rummaged for his phone on the center console, fingers trembling with urgency. Just moments ago, while she had been feeding him pieces of fruit, Shawna had caught a glimpse of Marina in a car with a man—an unsettling sight that left her mind racing. “Lavern, that person we just saw…” she began, her voice barely above a whisper, uncertainty creeping in.
His reaction was immediate and telling. “Was that Marina?” she pressed, her heart sinking at the thought.
Lavern’s silence was deafening. He seized his phone, dialing Marina’s number with a fierce determination, twisting the steering wheel with one hand to execute a sharp U-turn, his gaze locked on the road ahead as he chased after them.
Meanwhile, in the other car, Marina felt a wave of nausea wash over her from the earlier sighting. She avoided looking out the window, instead focusing on Daron, who was absorbed in his game. She watched as his movements became increasingly erratic, a frown forming on her lips.
Daron, oblivious to her scrutiny, was lost in his world of virtual battles until he sensed her gaze and lifted his head, their eyes colliding. The disgust etched on her face was unmistakable, and he caught it with full force.
“Think you’re any better?” he challenged, a hint of defiance in his voice.
Marina allowed a smile to break through her earlier irritation. “I wouldn’t go that far,” she replied, her tone modest yet playful. But then, emboldened, she added softly, “But probably a bit better than you.”
After all, Daron had a knack for putting her in her place. She recalled the last time she had boasted, only to watch in dismay as the game crashed and burned under her command.
Daron’s response was a silent stare, his expression unreadable.
The moment hung in the air until Marina’s phone buzzed loudly, breaking the tension. She snatched it up, her heart racing as she saw Lavern’s name flash on the screen. Without hesitation, she muted the call, irritation flaring within her. This was becoming an unwelcome distraction. Lavern must have seen her.
As she contemplated her next move, Daron suddenly thrust his phone into her hands. “Let’s see how much ‘a bit better’ really means,” he said, a smirk playing on his lips, igniting her competitive spirit.
Her character respawned in the game, and Marina chose to ignore Lavern’s call, diving headfirst into the action.
They were on the defensive, and she focused intently, her heart pounding as she dreaded any misstep that might allow the enemy to breach their nexus.
In the car behind, the driver noticed a vehicle tailing them in the rearview mirror. “Mr. Zamora…” he began, his voice laced with concern.
“Shake him off,” Daron instructed, his tone decisive.
“Got it!” Marina interjected before the driver could respond, her fingers dancing across the screen as she skillfully maneuvered to evade the enemy’s jungler.
Daron observed her gameplay, an eyebrow arched in amusement as a subtle smile crept onto his face.
The driver, catching the exchange in the mirror, grinned and pressed down on the accelerator, determined to lose their pursuer.
As the car ahead accelerated, Lavern matched their speed, barreling through red lights with reckless abandon.
Shawna clutched her seatbelt tightly, dread pooling in her stomach. She could feel the stress manifesting as a dull ache. “Lavern, my stomach…” she murmured, her voice tinged with fear.
“Shut up!” Lavern barked, his frustration boiling over.
In that moment, he couldn’t shake the thought that the man beside Marina was Daron. ‘How does she even know Daron? And why isn’t she answering my calls?’ The rage bubbled within him, the entire scenario spiraling out of control.
Lavern pressed down harder on the gas, inching closer to the car ahead, but it swerved abruptly into a narrow alley, disappearing from sight.
With a furious spin of the wheel, he executed a U-turn, but the other vehicle had already vanished.
Fuming, he drove in circles, frustration mounting until he slammed on the brakes once more, yanking at his tie in irritation.
Carrie, shaken by his earlier outburst, remained silent until the car finally came to a halt. Then, she tentatively spoke up, “Lavern, Shawna’s pregnant; don’t scare her like that.”
Shawna’s complexion had drained, her face pale and drawn as she looked at him with a wounded expression. “I’m fine, really… it’s just about Marina…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Carrie gritted her teeth, turning to him with determination. “If she dares to cheat on you, you should just—”
“She won’t!” Lavern interrupted sharply, cutting her off.
He believed wholeheartedly that Marina loved him too much to betray him.
Shawna’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she bit her lip, gazing at him with a pleading expression. “Lavern, please don’t be angry. Carrie didn’t mean it like that; she’s just worried about you.”
Running a frustrated hand through his hair, Lavern snatched up his phone once more, dialing Marina again, but still, there was no answer.
Shawna sat quietly in the passenger seat, her silence betraying a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. As long as that seed of doubt about Marina took root in his mind, their relationship would start to fracture. Eventually, he would let her go.
Carrie opened her mouth to say something else, but Shawna quickly shook her head, urging her to stop.
Their gazes locked, a silent understanding passing between them, full of unspoken schemes.
As the car rolled into the underground garage, Marina finally clinched the long-fought battle, successfully smashing the enemy’s nexus.
When the word [Victory] erupted on the screen in bold letters, a triumphant smirk illuminated her face. She waved her phone at Daron. “Bingo, got ’em. So, Mr. Zamora, how much better do you think my plays were than yours?”
Daron snatched the phone from her grasp, his voice dripping with casual confidence. “Just a tiny bit, maybe. Thanks to the strong base I set up for the win.”
Marina was at a loss for words, thinking, ‘The audacity of this guy!’
The driver brought the car to a gentle stop and hopped out to open their doors.
Marina peered outside, her eyes widening in surprise. She had been so engrossed in the game that she hadn’t realized they weren’t at the intended destination. “Mr. Zamora, this isn’t right. We’re not at Wonder Group.”
Daron bent down to exit the car, then turned back, his gaze piercing as he looked down at her from outside. “You really think I can meet clients dressed like this?”
Her eyes fell to his chest, where the coffee stain on his black shirt had dried into an unsightly blotch.
She looked away, embarrassment flooding her cheeks. “Sorry,” she muttered, fully aware it was her fault he had gotten splashed.
Daron shifted his focus, striding toward the elevator with purpose.
The driver politely gestured for Marina to exit. “Ms. Finley, if you would.”
She hesitated, then whispered, “I’ll just hang out down here; no need for me to head up.”
The driver remained silent, leaving the door open.
Daron’s voice echoed from the elevator bank, resonating with a cavernous authority. “You toss around apologies like they’re nothing, yet show zero effort to fix things. So what are you even sorry for, Ms. Finley?”
Her ears flushed bright red in an instant. That sharp tongue of his always had a way of catching her off guard.
The driver offered her a kind smile, leaning in slightly and murmuring, “Garret’s out today; he normally takes care of Mr. Zamora’s outfits. I’m clueless about that stuff, so we’re counting on you, Ms. Finley.”
Conclusion
As the dust settled from the chaos of the chase, Lavern sat in the car, grappling with the weight of his emotions. The flicker of doubt that had ignited in him was now a raging inferno, fueled by the uncertainty of Marina’s loyalty. Shawna’s quiet presence beside him only served to amplify his turmoil, her unspoken understanding a reminder of the fragile threads holding his world together. In that moment, he realized how easily trust could unravel, and the thought of losing Marina to another was a wound he could scarcely bear. The silence in the car was thick with unvoiced fears and unacknowledged desires, the air heavy with the unshakeable knowledge that love, once questioned, could never return to its former innocence.
Meanwhile, Marina stood at the precipice of her own emotional reckoning, the victory of the game a mere distraction from the tumult within. Daron’s sharp words echoed in her mind, forcing her to confront the reality of her actions. She had been so consumed by the thrill of competition and the need to prove herself that she had overlooked the deeper implications of her choices. As she watched Daron stride confidently into the elevator, a pang of regret washed over her. With every passing moment, the distance between her and Lavern seemed to grow, a chasm filled with misunderstandings and unspoken truths. For Marina, the challenge now lay not in the game she had just won, but in the battle to reclaim the trust she had inadvertently jeopardized. The winds of change were swirling around them, carrying with them the lost promises of love and fidelity, leaving both Lavern and Marina to navigate the uncertain path ahead.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
In the upcoming chapter, readers can expect the tension to escalate as Lavern’s desperate search for answers takes a darker turn. With his emotions in turmoil and Shawna’s subtle manipulations at play, the fragile dynamics between the trio will be tested like never before. Will Lavern confront Marina about what he saw, or will his unchecked jealousy lead him down a path of no return? As he grapples with his feelings, the reader will be left wondering whether his love for Marina can withstand the storm brewing in his mind.
Meanwhile, Marina and Daron’s unexpected detour will unravel new layers of their relationship. As they navigate the consequences of their choices, the stakes will rise, revealing deeper vulnerabilities and hidden agendas. Will Marina find the courage to confront Daron about their earlier exchange, or will she allow her embarrassment to dictate her actions? The chapter promises to delve into the complexities of their connection, leaving readers eager to discover how their interactions will shift the balance of power in their budding rivalry.
As secrets and misunderstandings loom large, the chapter will set the stage for a confrontation that could change everything. With the characters on the brink of revelation, the anticipation builds—will they find clarity, or will their tangled emotions lead to irrevocable choices? Prepare for a whirlwind of drama, as the winds carry lost promises into uncharted territory, leaving readers breathlessly awaiting the next twist in this gripping tale.
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.
