Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rowan Vale 30

avid couldn’t contain his glee, his triumphant smile spreading wide. 

Vivian remained far more composed, her expression barely shifting. After a brief hesitation, she murmured, “But… Briana would never agree to that.” 

“Since when do the police need her permission to make an arrest?” Shepard scoffed. 

Vivian let out a weary sigh. “Honestly, I wish this whole mess could have been settled more quietly, but…” She trailed off, having played her part. 

Having put on just enough of a show of reluctance, she turned to Briana. “Let’s just let the law handle it. Whatever the outcome, we’ll accept it.” 

Charles was stunned. “Mr. Carter,” he managed, voice tight, “you’re actually sending me to jail?” 

“You broke the law, didn’t you?” Shepard countered. 

“Don’t you even want to know why?” Charles argued, frustration rising. “David insulted Briana all over town, spreading lies about her. I hit him because he deserved it.” 

Shepard raised an eyebrow. “Oh? What did he say, exactly?” 

Charles burst out. “He said she was… an escort.” 

Shepard said flatly. “She is. I saw it myself.” 

Charles’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t get a word out. 

“And isn’t she involved with Henry, too?” Shepard pressed coolly. 

“Exactly.” David jumped in. “Mr. Carter, everyone’s talking about it. I just heard the rumor, had a couple beers, and was shooting the breeze with my buddies. Charles completely lost his cool. He accused me of making it up and hit me with a bottle.” 

Shepard’s expression didn’t change. Without another word, he turned and walked out. Vivian and David scrambled after him. 

Slowly, heavily, Charles turned toward Briana. 

Under the harsh lights, her face was deathly pale. Of course, she had seen this coming. 

“What do we do now?” Charles’s voice trembled. “I–Is this really it? Am I going to jail?” 

Briana drew a steadying breath. “Stay here.” Then she turned and ran after them. 

Shepard was already walking ahead, his stride purposeful. Beside him, Vivian helped David along, their heads bent close in hushed conversation. 

Briana didn’t hesitate. She hurried forward and stepped directly into Shepard’s path. “Let my brother go,” she said, getting straight to the point. “Please. Can you do that?” 

Shepard looked down at her, his expression cold and detached. “Why should I?” 

“I’ll do anything,” Briana pleaded, desperation threading her voice. “Just don’t let him go to jail. Please.” 

If Charles ended up with a record, his life would be over. No matter what it cost her, Briana had to protect him, the only 

18:25 Fri, Dec 19 M 

Chapter 30 

family she had left. 

Shepard’s lips curved into an enigmatic smile. “Anything?” 

Briana nodded. 

He sneered, “Then grovel.” 

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“Fine.” Without a moment’s hesitation, Briana dropped to her knees right there and crawled to him, her movements quick and decisive. 

She moved so fast that it caught Shepard off guard. He looked down at her, his eyes narrowing in surprise. 

“Is that enough?” Briana asked, her voice steady, without a trace of fear. “Will you let him go now?” 

Her complete submission and utter humiliation, instead of satisfying him, only stoked his anger further. 

“Briana, are you really that spineless?” he sneered. “Is your pride truly worth so little?” 

“Yes. It’s worthless,” she answered flatly. 

She absorbed every insult he hurled at her without flinching. It was like punching air. There was no impact, just a growing, hollow frustration. 

Shepard leaned down, gripping her chin hard. “But the more you act like this, the less I want to let Charles go.” 

Briana’s lashes trembled. She met his gaze directly. “I’ve already lost everything: my parents, my home, and my marriage. My brother is all I have left. Are you really going to take him from me, too?” 

“If he goes to jail, he’ll at least be out of your way for a few years,” Shepard said coldly. “No more trouble.” 

“That’s not what I want,” Briana replied, her voice strained. 

Shepard let out a cold laugh. “He split David’s head open and still won’t apologize. You think just groveling is enough to fix that?” 

Briana bit her lip, understanding exactly what he meant. 

Still on her knees, she turned to face David and Vivian. A numb emptiness was all that was left. Pride and dignity didn’t 

matter now. 

“I’m sorry,” she said, each word heavy and deliberate. “This is all my brother’s fault. He was wrong. We were wrong. Please, just let him go. I’m begging you.” 

David scoffed, “Charles has to pay for this.” 

“David,” Vivian murmured, tugging at his arm. She hurried over to Briana, reaching out to help her up. “What are you doing? Come on, get up.” 

Briana avoided her hands. “Ms. Fletcher, please. Could you please talk to your cousin? Just let Charles go.” 

Vivian’s expression softened with something like pity. “I’m not the one you should be asking. I wasn’t the one hurt. And if people see you like this, they’ll think we’re bullying you.” 

Briana offered a bitter smile. The shame of it was something only she could truly know. She understood the Fletchers wouldn’t back down, but swallowing her pride and begging was all she had left. 

Was she sad? Miserable? It was more like she felt nothing at all. She was just an empty shell, hollowed out from the inside. 

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Chapter 30 

pa & vouchers 

“What will it take to end this?” Briana asked, her voice quiet but firm. “I’ll take full responsibility and cover all the damages. And for David’s injury…” Her gaze hardened slightly. “I can offer compensation in kind.” 

Vivian looked confused. “How do you compensate for a wound like that?” 

“Hit me,” Briana said, her voice unwavering. “Make me bleed the way David did. Would that satisfy you?” 

Vivian recoiled, waving her hands in protest. “No, that’s insane.” 

She hurried over to Shepard. “Shep, Briana’s lost her mind. Talk some sense into her.” 

Shepard’s voice was icy. “She doesn’t mean it. It’s just talk.” 

“But what if she goes through with it?” Vivian’s voice took on a pleading whine. “I really don’t want to see any blood. It scares me. I’ll have nightmares for sure.” 

Briana fixed her eyes on David. “Well? Are you going to do it or not?” 

“What, playing the martyr now? Please, I’ve seen that act before,” David scoffed, crossing his arms. “If word gets out I hit a woman, my reputations ruined.” 

“Then I’ll do it myself,” Briana replied, her voice unwavering. 

“Drop the act,” David shot back. 

“David,” she pressed, her tone quiet but firm. “If I crack my own head open and bleed as much as you did, will that settle this?” 

He snorted in disbelief, “You don’t have the guts.” 

Briana didn’t speak. She slowly stood up, paused for a moment, then snatched a glass ashtray and slammed it against her own head. It was sharp and decisive, without a moment’s hesitation. 

Vivian gasped, clutching Shepard’s sleeve nervously. But a glint in her eyes betrayed a quiet excitement, as if she was waiting for the drama to unfold. 

David let out a mocking “Ooh.” 

Briana squeezed her eyes shut, gathering all her strength for another blow. 

Suddenly, a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, holding it in an iron grip and stopping her cold. 

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