Before The Last Sunrise We Chase Unspoken Promises Together by Arlo Hayes Finn 1 Summary
In the military compound, Commander Bryson Fenwick’s name represented authority and discipline, overshadowing the life of his wife, Vivienne Collier. For three years, Vivienne endured the harsh realities of being married to a man who prioritized duty over love. On their first anniversary, her heartfelt efforts to celebrate were met with cold reprimands, highlighting the emotional distance between them. The second year brought further anguish when Vivienne suffered a miscarriage and nearly lost her life, yet Bryson remained at his post, viewing her suffering as just another task to manage.
The third year proved to be the most devastating for Vivienne when her father fell gravely ill. Desperate for help, she approached Bryson for a military vehicle to take her to the hospital, but he flatly refused, treating her plea as a bureaucratic inconvenience. Left with no choice, Vivienne borrowed a tricycle and pedaled through the night, only to arrive too late to save her father. Upon returning home with her father’s body, she was met with the indifference of Bryson’s chauffeur, which drove her to a breaking point. Her emotional turmoil culminated in a confrontation with Bryson, who dismissed her grief as a nuisance while rushing to aid another woman, Nikki, in distress.
This juxtaposition of Bryson’s treatment of her versus his concern for Nikki shattered Vivienne’s remaining hope. She realized that Bryson’s affection and attention were reserved for Nikki, the orphan of a martyr, while she was left feeling like an afterthought. The rumors surrounding Bryson’s actions for Nikki cut deep, reinforcing Vivienne’s sense of abandonment and unworthiness. As she grappled with the painful truth of her marriage, Vivienne made two crucial decisions: to emigrate and to file for divorce.
With her aunt’s support for emigration in place, Vivienne took the brave step of contacting the army to initiate her divorce from Bryson. As she voiced her intentions, she felt a wave of determination wash over her. The weight of her father’s funeral and the years of emotional neglect began to lift as she resolved to reclaim her life. Looking at their wedding photo, she recognized that her attempts to change Bryson’s heart were futile; he would remain an unyielding iceberg. From that moment on, Vivienne vowed to no longer let her existence revolve around Commander Bryson Fenwick.
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**Before The Last Sunrise We Chase Unspoken Promises Together by Arlo Hayes Finn**
**Chapter 1**
In the military compound, the name Commander Bryson Fenwick resonated with authority and discipline. His reputation for unwavering fairness was well-known, and it cast a long shadow over those who served under him.
Vivienne Collier, his wife, had spent three long years in the shadows of his stringent rules. Despite being married to a man of such high rank, she had never once reaped the benefits of his position. On their first wedding anniversary, she had poured her heart into preparing a sumptuous dinner, meticulously selecting a gift that she hoped would convey her love. She waited, her heart racing with anticipation, until the dishes cooled and the candles flickered low, only to be met with his cold reprimand. “Feasting like this is against my discipline. You’ve violated regulations,” he had said, his voice devoid of warmth.
The second year of their marriage brought unimaginable pain. After a harrowing miscarriage, Vivienne found herself battling for her life due to severe hemorrhaging. The doctor, his voice filled with concern, suggested that a family member stay with her during such a critical time. But Bryson, ever the soldier, remained at the command headquarters, his work deemed too important to abandon. “I can’t leave; you know that,” he had said, his eyes focused on the papers before him, as if her suffering was just another task to be managed.
Then came the third year, a year that would shatter her world. Her father fell gravely ill, necessitating an urgent transfer to a superior hospital. Desperate, Vivienne approached Bryson at the headquarters, her heart pounding as she pleaded for a military vehicle. But his frown was unyielding. “The use of military vehicles requires an early application. There’s no exception. Not even for my family,” he stated flatly, as if her father’s life was merely a bureaucratic detail.
Left with no choice, Vivienne borrowed a tricycle from a neighbor, pedaling tirelessly through the night, her heart heavy with dread. By the time she arrived at the hospital, the reality hit her like a cold wave—her father had passed away after a night of futile resuscitation attempts.
Returning home with her father’s lifeless body, grief-stricken and hollow, she was met by Bryson’s chauffeur, who approached her with a detached formality. “Mrs. Fenwick, the vehicle request has been approved. Where shall I drive you?” he asked, as if he were merely delivering a package rather than acknowledging a profound loss.
Vivienne looked at the green jeep, tears cascading down her cheeks, and then, in a moment of bitter irony, she began to laugh—a laugh tinged with sorrow and rage. Fueled by a tempest of emotions, she stormed into the regional command headquarters, her heart pounding with indignation. Bryson’s scowl met her fury. “Vivi, how many times do I have to tell you? Outsiders are denied entry to the command. I already sent the driver to pick you up—why are you making a scene?”
Even in this moment of chaos, he viewed her as nothing more than a nuisance, a child throwing a tantrum.
Just as Vivienne opened her mouth to retort, a soldier rushed into the room, panic etched on his face. “Colonel, bad news. Nikki fainted from low blood sugar. Please go have a look.”
In an instant, Bryson’s demeanor shifted; a flicker of concern broke through his stoic facade. He dashed out of the room without even grabbing his jacket, a stark contrast to the way he had treated her.
Vivienne followed him, her heart racing, as they reached the room adjacent to the headquarters. With no regard for the onlookers, Bryson scooped up the unconscious Nikki and hurriedly climbed into the commander’s exclusive jeep. The engine roared to life, leaving behind a cloud of dust and a silence that felt suffocating.
Vivienne stood frozen in place, her heart sinking, the pain radiating through her like ice water. How could she have been so naive? When her father had been dying, she had been forced to submit formal requests for a vehicle, only for them to be denied. Yet here was Bryson, the mighty Commander Fenwick, personally rushing Nikki to the hospital for a mere episode of low blood sugar.
Just and stern? The irony was suffocating. He simply didn’t care about her.
With heavy feet, she trudged home, the weight of her father’s funeral resting squarely on her shoulders. Whispers and rumors spread like wildfire through the compound.
Some said that to help Nikki recover, Bryson had even pulled strings to procure tonics from Illinois. Others gossiped that he had stayed by her bedside all night, even going so far as to massage her back.
Each rumor felt like a dagger to Vivienne’s heart, leaving her feeling hollow and exposed. Since the day they exchanged vows, she had known deep down that Bryson did not love her.
That year, Bryson had returned from a classified mission that had nearly claimed his life. Upon his recovery, his superiors had insisted he marry as soon as possible. News of this spread quickly, igniting excitement among many young women in the military community. After all, Bryson was a rising star—handsome, ambitious, and with a promising future that seemed to shine brighter with each passing day.
Vivienne was no exception. Though she had received an acceptance letter from a prestigious university overseas, one glance at Bryson from a distance had been enough to ensnare her heart completely. She signed up for a blind date, dreaming of a future where she could call him her husband.
However, the day they met was a stark awakening. Bryson barely acknowledged her presence; he simply pointed at her, and just like that, she became his fiancée.
Their wedding was a grand affair, yet, as Bryson stepped into their new home, the air grew cold and heavy. His chiseled features betrayed no emotion, and even on their wedding night, he treated the occasion as a mere obligation to fulfill.
“Vivi, I’m not a man of sweet words. Since the organization chose you as my wife, I’ll take responsibility for you. But don’t ask for more than that,” he had declared, sealing their relationship in a way that felt more like a contract than a union.
Still, Vivienne held onto a flicker of hope, believing that with time and sincerity, even the coldest of hearts could thaw. Day after day, she endeavored to be the perfect wife, considering his needs in every way imaginable. Yet Bryson remained as indifferent as an iceberg, his heart encased in ice.
Just when she was on the brink of surrendering to despair, Nikki entered their lives.
It was the first time Vivienne had witnessed a smile on Bryson’s face. Nikki lamented about her lack of employment, and without a second thought, Bryson assigned Vivienne’s job to her. When Nikki complained that the military uniform was uncomfortable, Bryson allowed her to wear casual clothes. When Nikki expressed distaste for the local cuisine, he ordered the kitchen to prepare her favorite dishes from her hometown every single day.
Time and again, Vivienne pointed out the injustice of Bryson’s preferential treatment. But he brushed her concerns aside, asserting that Nikki, as the orphan of a martyr, deserved special consideration.
At last, Vivienne grasped the painful truth: it wasn’t that Bryson was righteous; he was simply biased—completely and utterly for Nikki. And for Vivienne? She was left questioning her very purpose in his life.
In that moment of clarity, Vivienne made two pivotal decisions.
First, she reached out to her aunt overseas, expressing her desire to emigrate. Her aunt, having been separated from family for decades, agreed without hesitation. “Vivi, don’t worry about anything. I’ll handle all the procedures,” she assured, her voice filled with warmth and promise.
Second, Vivienne picked up the phone to the army, her heart pounding as she prepared to file for a divorce. “Hello, this is Vivienne Collier. I want to file for a divorce from Bryson Fenwick,” she stated, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.
The clerk on the other end hesitated, confusion threading through their voice. “Vivienne, wasn’t it you who insisted on marrying him? Why the sudden change of heart?”
Taking a deep breath, Vivienne replied, “I’ve applied for emigration. Once it’s approved, I’ll be considered a foreign resident—it’s no longer appropriate for me to be his wife.”
The clerk’s tone shifted, now tinged with urgency. “Understood. Vivienne, your divorce request will be reported to higher authorities. Expect a response in a month.”
As the call ended, Vivienne’s gaze fell upon the yellowed wedding photo hanging on the wall. A wave of sorrow washed over her as she took in Bryson’s handsome face, devoid of any joy.
She realized then that she was done trying to thaw an iceberg.
From this moment forward, her life would no longer revolve around Commander Bryson Fenwick.
Conclusion
In the quiet aftermath of her decisions, Vivienne felt a profound sense of liberation wash over her, as if the shackles of her past were finally crumbling away. The weight of unspoken promises and hollow vows no longer held her captive; she had chosen to reclaim her narrative. As she gazed at the remnants of her life with Bryson, the memories that once brought her heartache began to transform into lessons of resilience. No longer would she wait for a love that was never hers to receive. Instead, she embraced the uncertainty of the future, buoyed by the knowledge that her worth was not defined by a man’s indifference. With each passing day, the flicker of hope she had clung to for so long was replaced by a fierce determination to forge her own path.
As Vivienne prepared for her new life overseas, she felt an invigorating sense of possibility. The prospect of leaving behind the military compound, with its whispers and judgment, filled her with anticipation rather than dread. She had learned that love was not about enduring pain in silence but about finding strength within oneself to seek happiness, even if it meant walking away from the familiar. With her aunt’s support and the promise of a fresh start, Vivienne stepped into the unknown, ready to embrace a future that was truly her own. In that moment, she understood that her journey was just beginning, and for the first time in years, she felt the warmth of the sun on her face, heralding a new dawn free from the shadows of unfulfilled promises.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
In the upcoming chapter, readers will witness Vivienne’s transformative journey as she embarks on a path of self-discovery and empowerment. With her decision to file for divorce and emigrate, the stakes are higher than ever. Will she find the strength to break free from the chains of her past and redefine her identity beyond Bryson’s shadow? The emotional turmoil she faces will be palpable, as she grapples with feelings of betrayal, loss, and the flickering hope of a new beginning.
As the military compound buzzes with the whispers of her impending divorce, tensions will rise, and unexpected alliances may form. Vivienne’s resolve will be tested as she confronts Bryson, who may not take her decision lightly. Will he fight to keep her by his side, or will he reveal a side of himself that Vivienne never anticipated? As secrets unfold and the dynamics shift, readers can expect a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in pivotal moments that could change the course of both their lives forever. Prepare for a chapter filled with heart-wrenching choices, fierce confrontations, and the unyielding quest for freedom and love.
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.
