Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale 8 Summary
In “Winds Carry Lost Promises,” Kara playfully mocks Shawna, highlighting the rare beauty of Ms. Thornton within her uncle’s notorious circle of playboys. Shawna, visibly distressed and tearful, seeks protection behind Lavern, who confronts Marina for her cruel taunts. His indignation contrasts sharply with Marina’s unapologetic demeanor, as she defends her cutthroat tactics in business. The atmosphere thickens with tension as Lavern’s friends attempt to lighten the mood, but the camaraderie fails to ease the underlying conflict.
Marina’s motivations shift when she realizes the men’s support for Lavern reveals his true character. Disinterested in continuing the argument, she decides to focus on her own ambitions. As she orders her assistant to bring out auction items, she engages in a tense exchange with Lavern about the ownership of these items, asserting her rights over what she believes is hers. Lavern’s frustration grows as he grapples with her dismissive attitude, ultimately allowing her to take the items, including an emerald bracelet that Shawna covets.
Outside, Marina confides in Kara about her dwindling time to wrap up her affairs, revealing her urgency to leave the past behind. She clings to the emerald bracelet, a symbol of her unresolved feelings toward Lavern. Later that night, Lavern visits Alyssa’s home, bringing pastries and expressing concern for Alyssa’s well-being. However, his earnestness only serves to deepen Marina’s cold indifference, as she struggles with jealousy and insecurity over his lingering affections.
The conversation between Lavern and Marina is fraught with tension, as he reassures her of his commitment while she questions his loyalty. Despite his attempts to draw her closer, Marina remains emotionally distant, reflecting on the loss of their connection. The chapter culminates in her realization that Lavern’s heart has strayed, leaving her feeling unanchored and questioning her place in his life. The emotional turmoil between the characters underscores the complexities of love, loyalty, and the struggle for personal identity amidst shifting relationships.
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**Winds Carry Lost Promises by Asa Holt Vale**
Kara leaned in, a teasing smile dancing on her lips as she scrutinized Shawna’s delicate, pallid face. “Women like Ms. Thornton are a rare gem in my uncle’s circle—a real premium catch,” she remarked, her voice laced with playful mockery.
Kara’s uncle had earned quite the reputation as a notorious playboy in Vrufield, and it was no secret that he enjoyed the company of beautiful women.
Shawna flinched, shrinking back in fear behind Lavern, her cheeks glistening with silent tears. Her eyes were puffy and red, betraying the emotional turmoil she was enduring.
In a protective gesture, Lavern stepped in front of her, his arm raised as if to shield her from the harshness of the world. His gaze was icy and sharp, a stark contrast to the lighthearted banter that surrounded them. “Marina! That’s crossing the line! When did you become someone who preys on the vulnerable?” he demanded, his voice steady but filled with indignation.
Marina, unfazed, responded with a calm demeanor. “I’ve always been this way. Isn’t that how the Ross Group climbed to the top? My cutthroat tactics bulldozed every rival in our path,” she replied, a smirk playing on her lips.
Lavern’s expression hardened, his face turning to stone as he processed her words.
Marina continued, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “Mr. Ross, as the one who reaped all the benefits, what gives you the right to judge me? Are you playing the hero to save the damsel in distress, or are you just going soft for a pretty face?”
Shawna, feeling the weight of the confrontation, gently tugged at Lavern’s sleeve. “Mr. Ross, please don’t fight with Marina because of me. I wouldn’t want that,” she implored, her voice barely above a whisper.
As soon as Shawna spoke, the men Lavern had brought along quickly jumped in to lighten the mood, eager to diffuse the tension that had thickened like fog in the air.
“Ms. Finley, we’re just guys messing around like we always do. Don’t get the wrong idea about Mr. Ross. There’s nothing between him and Ms. Thornton,” one of them chimed in, a grin plastered across his face.
The camaraderie among men was palpable, their support for one another unwavering and instinctive.
“Exactly! If there was anything between them, Mr. Ross wouldn’t have the guts to bring Ms. Thornton right here in front of you,” another added, laughter bubbling up among the group.
But the sleazy, boot-licking grins on their faces made Marina’s interest evaporate in an instant.
A man’s friends often revealed his true character, and this couldn’t have been more accurate in this case.
In a heartbeat, Marina felt her motivation to argue with Lavern dissipate.
All those carefully rehearsed lines she had prepared, the burning desire to expose Shawna’s true intentions; they vanished as if swept away by an unseen wind.
She thought to herself, ‘Let them pair off for good; I’ll thrive on my own. That works just fine for me!’
With a dismissive glance past Lavern and Shawna, her gaze landed on the assistant lurking in the corner. “Bring out tonight’s auction items for me,” she ordered, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
If seven years of love couldn’t keep him, she wouldn’t hesitate to claim every bit of the assets she was owed.
The assistant hesitated, casting a glance at Lavern. After all, he was now Lavern’s assistant and needed his approval before making a move.
Lavern dipped his chin slightly, granting permission, and only then did the assistant turn to head into the private room, instructing the staff to deliver the items to Marina. “Ms. Finley, it’s all here,” he announced, reappearing with a sense of urgency.
Marina nodded, a faint smile gracing her lips, before turning to Lavern with a glint of challenge in her eyes. “These are all willingly gifted by you, right, Mr. Ross?”
Lavern’s expression darkened, irritation flickering across his features at her formal, distant tone. “What’s mine is yours. If you want it, what’s stopping you from taking anything?”
Marina replied evenly, “The assets have been clearly divided; I just need to ensure everything is in order. I wouldn’t want some little tantrum sparking your rage over a beauty, forcing me to hand these back.”
Lavern’s look turned stormy, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “Enough! They’re yours, willingly. Take them and leave,” he snapped.
Marina offered a casual thanks, waving for the staff to load everything into her car, her demeanor unruffled.
Beside Lavern, Shawna stood quietly, her gaze fixated on a single piece—the emerald bracelet—her jaw clenched tightly as she bit down hard.
Lavern glanced down at the bracelet, then muttered in a low voice, “Leave the emerald bracelet.”
Marina halted mid-step, turning back to him with an elegant smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Mr. Ross, you just said these were all voluntary gifts to me, so even if I don’t like them, they’re mine now.”
Shawna bit her lip gently, then discreetly tugged at Lavern’s sleeve, shaking her head in protest.
Lavern’s expression hardened, his frustration palpable.
Marina noticed Shawna’s subtle, suppressed gesture, a sardonic smile curling her lips in response. Without another word, she strode out dramatically, all the auction items following in her wake.
Once outside the venue, Marina handed off the items to Kara, who was waiting to take charge of them.
Kara glanced at the stack piled into her car, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. “Running low on cash these days? First selling your shares in the Ross Group, and now offloading these auction finds!”
Marina shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. “My sister only gave me a month to tie up loose ends here, and now I’m down to just fifteen days.”
In those fleeting fifteen days, she envisioned her bank account dwindling to nothing but a cold string of numbers, allowing her to return to Vrufield with a clean, unburdened slate.
Among all the items, Marina clutched tightly to just one: the emerald bracelet—the very piece Lavern had singled out to keep.
Later that night, as anticipated, Lavern arrived at Alyssa’s home, carrying several bags of the pastries Alyssa had always adored.
Marina regarded him with a cool indifference as he extended the bags toward her, his expression filled with an earnestness she found hard to ignore.
Lavern brushed past her into the house, his voice barely above a whisper. “Has Alyssa gone to bed already? How’s she been feeling these days?”
Marina gazed silently at him, her eyes narrowing as his vaguely concerned look only served to chill her further.
Noticing her frosty demeanor, Lavern softened his voice even more, as if he were treading carefully so as not to wake Alyssa. “Marina, I’ve told you already; there’s nothing between her and me. Our wedding’s only two weeks away. I don’t want one outsider stirring up trouble between us. As soon as the project wraps, I’ll get rid of her, alright?” he assured her.
Marina replied dryly, “Ms. Thornton must be quite the operator.”
Lavern’s expression darkened, frustration flaring in his eyes. “Marina, must you spike every sentence with barbs?”
Marina shot back, “What? I can’t even give her credit? A girl fresh out of school, already so essential that the whole project grinds to a halt without her? Honestly, I’m outclassed here.”
Lavern furrowed his brow, struggling to rein in his mounting frustration with the last shreds of his patience. “She’s a key talent the partners are investing in.”
Marina uttered a bland “Oh,” her eyes unfocused, “So, what are you doing here?”
Lavern moved closer, wrapping an arm around her waist and whispering tenderly, “You slipped away without a word and holed up at Alyssa’s. I thought you might still be mad, so I came to find you.”
Marina hadn’t overlooked his sidelong glance at the brocade box, but she couldn’t muster the energy to confront him about it.
She peeled his hand from her waist and asked coolly, “You headed back to the villa?”
Lavern murmured an affirmative “Yeah,” drawing her in again. When she squirmed, he tightened his grip, holding her possessively against him, his tone a deep murmur. “Marina, hold still. Just let me hug you for a minute.”
The gap in their physical strength was too wide; Marina couldn’t wriggle free and reluctantly surrendered to his embrace.
As he noted her compliance, Lavern’s lips quirked into a smile. He held her a little longer, then released her and clasped her hand. “Come on, let’s go home together.”
Marina remained rooted to the spot, simply watching him in silence, a subtle smile playing on her lips.
He’d already swung by the villa and still hadn’t realized that everything had been stripped bare; Shawna had truly commandeered his full attention.
She thought to herself, ‘Home? That isn’t my home anymore. How could I ever settle down with a man whose affections have strayed?’
Conclusion
As the emotional tempest subsided, both Marina and Lavern found themselves standing at the precipice of an uncertain future. Marina’s heart, once filled with ambition and a fierce independence, now wrestled with the weight of unfulfilled promises and lingering attachments. The emerald bracelet, a symbol of their shared history, felt more like a chain binding her to a past she was desperate to escape. Yet, even as she clutched it tightly, the realization dawned that the life she envisioned was slipping further from her grasp. Lavern’s earnest attempts to bridge the chasm between them only deepened her resolve to carve out a path of her own, one that did not rely on the affections of a man whose loyalty seemed divided. With every step she took away from him, the winds of change whispered of new beginnings, urging her to reclaim her narrative.
For Lavern, the confrontation had been a bitter reminder of the fragility of his relationships. The warmth of their past together stood in stark contrast to the cold reality of his impending marriage to Shawna, a woman who captured his attention but not his heart. As he watched Marina retreat, a profound sense of loss washed over him, mingling with frustration and regret. He understood that the bonds he had forged with Marina were not easily severed, yet he felt trapped in a web of obligation and expectation. The tenderness of their shared moments lingered in the air, a haunting melody that played in his mind. As he turned to leave, the weight of unspoken words hung heavy between them, a poignant reminder that sometimes, love alone is not enough to bridge the distance created by choices made and paths taken. In the fading light, both Marina and Lavern stepped into their respective futures, forever changed but tethered by the winds that carried their 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 a boiling point. As Lavern grapples with his feelings for Shawna, the stakes will rise, forcing him to confront the reality of his choices. Will he be able to see beyond the surface of his relationships, or will he continue to be blinded by his affection for the new assistant? Marina, ever the strategist, will not sit idly by; her cunning nature promises a series of calculated moves that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The emotional undercurrents between the trio will deepen, revealing hidden desires and unspoken truths that threaten to unravel the fragile dynamics at play.
Moreover, the emerald bracelet that has become a symbol of their tumultuous relationship will take center stage. As Marina clings to it, its significance will evolve, representing not just a token of possession but a catalyst for conflict. Will Lavern’s protective instincts lead him to reclaim it, or will Marina’s fierce independence drive her to keep it at all costs? The chapter promises to delve into the complexities of loyalty, ambition, and the lengths one will go to secure their future. With the clock ticking on Marina’s deadline, the atmosphere will be charged with urgency, leaving readers eager to discover how each character will navigate the treacherous waters of love and betrayal.
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.
