Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 61

Chapter 61 

Chapter 61 

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These words came as a shock to everyone present. Richard was actually taking Shepard’s side. Evelyn wobbled and fell back onto the sofa. 

“What did you just say?” Evelyn stared in disbelief, almost thinking she’d misheard. “Say that again.” 

“Mom, honestly, I think Shepard truly loves Vivian. Their feelings have survived time and separation, and even after everything, their connection is still so deep. 

“I just feel like I should stand by my son and let him chase the happiness he deserves in his marriage,” Richard said, his voice firm. 

Isabelle looked at Richard in surprise. She frowned, seeming a little displeased. 

But she kept her voice soft and her composure intact. “So, you’re saying you want Shepard to marry Vivian after he divorces Briana?” 

“If he wants to marry her, then let him,” Richard said. 

Isabelle pressed. “Why? What makes you think that?” 

Richard answered, “Out in the world, a man should work hard and stand tall. But at home, he deserves to spend his life with the woman he truly loves. Life’s too long to just settle for less.” 

He paused, then added, “Just like me. I married you, and not once have I ever regretted it.” Isabelle stared at him for a moment, then averted her gaze. 

Shepard raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected anyone from the Carter family to have his back. And it was his own father, no less. 

‘Maybe men just understand each other,‘ Shepard thought. 

The men of the Carter family are born with everything: money, power, wealth, and more. These things weren’t what they pursued. What they sought was emotional fulfillment, love, and a rich inner world. 

Richard turned to Shepard. “Shepard, I get you, and I respect that. But you need to be really sure that if Vivian is the only one you love, and you truly want to spend your whole life with her, then go for it. 

“But if you’re even the slightest bit unsure, then maybe you two just aren’t right for each other.” 

Evelyn pointed at Richard, her voice sharp. “What are you talking about? Why are you stirring things up right now?” 

Isabelle’s frown grew even deeper. After a brief pause, Isabelle couldn’t hold back anymore. “Divorce isn’t some game, and getting married again isn’t as simple as you think. Briana is the one both Evelyn and I recognize as family. 

“But Vivian was out of the question. Even if Shepard finds someone new after the divorce, I’d give my blessing. But Vivian is where I draw the line.” 

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Isabelle made her stance crystal clear. Briana was reading the faces of every Carter in the room, catching every reaction. She knew perfectly well why Richard was taking Shepard’s side. 

Just like Richard said himself. He married Isabelle, and he never regretted it. He was truly content. He’d tasted the happiness that comes from a marriage built on love. 

When a man had married the woman he’d always dreamed of, it felt like winning a huge battle. That sense of having conquered and being conquered was something deep down in a man’s DNA. So, Richard wanted Shepard to experience that same thrill. 

But Richard and Isabelle’s love went way back. It was a story with a long history. Briana had picked up bits and pieces from Wrenley over the years. 

The Carter and Lane families had been close ever since Evelyn and Wrenley forged their deep friendship, and now it was the third generation carrying on that bond. 

So Richard and Briana’s father were childhood buddies. But both guys fell for the same woman, Isabelle. 

Isabelle was actually more into Rayden, but her family had other plans, so she ended up marrying Richard and starting a family with him. 

Regret started to take root from that time. Deep down, Isabelle hadn’t felt much affection for Richard, so their marriage had remained uneventful, neither particularly happy nor unhappy. 

So when Shepard and Briana had their marriage arranged as kids, Isabelle was absolutely thrilled. Her son ended up with the daughter of the man she once loved. Even if she couldn’t be with him herself, it felt like life had come full circle. 

Isabelle doted on Briana, and when the wedding came, she showered her with all kinds of precious jewelry from her own collection. 

She and Evelyn were totally in sync, both overjoyed to welcome Briana into the family. Richard kept quiet and just let things play out. 

For one thing, Rayden had already passed away. And besides, he cared about Isabelle’s feelings more than anything. If having Briana as Shepard’s wife made her happy, he was more than willing to go along with it. 

But now, with Shepard and Briana’s marriage in pieces because of Vivian, Richard couldn’t bear to watch them keep forcing themselves to stay together. ‘Why bother?‘ he thought. 

Richard said quietly. “Isabelle, don’t project your regrets onto them.” 

Richard’s words shattered the poised facade Isabelle had always maintained. Not marrying Rayden was a regret that haunted her, something she could never truly move past. 

More than anything, she wanted Briana to marry her son and for them to grow old together. Everyone in both the Lane and Carter families understood what Isabelle really wanted deep down. 

But today, Richard finally called it out and put everything out in the open. Isabelle slowly rose from the sofa, her eyes fixed on Richard, lost in thought. 

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She said, “Isn’t it the same for you? You just want your son to have the same victory you did, don’t you?” 

He got to marry the woman he loved. Now he was trying to make sure his son got the same happy ending. After all these years as husband and wife, they simply looked at each other, a thousand unspoken words passing between them. 

He loved her so deeply. She, on the other hand, loved him only superficially or perhaps not at all. Still, after their marriage, Isabelle was undoubtedly an excellent wife and a devoted mother. 

The living room was strangely quiet. Evelyn didn’t say a word. She probably never thought that Shepard and Briana’s broken marriage would end up lifting the veil on all those years between Richard and Isabelle. 

Richard said, his tone firm, “I stand by what I said. I’m backing Shepard.” 

Isabelle refused to budge. “My answer hasn’t changed.” With that, she turned to Briana. Her heart ached for Briana. 

Briana lost both her parents when she was little and was raised by her grandma. Shepard, her childhood friend, ended up falling for the woman who saved his life in a fire. 

After five long years of trying to make the marriage work, she still couldn’t get anything in return, not even Shepard’s love. 

And now, those intimate photos of Shepard and Vivian were blowing up online, and everyone was treating Briana like she was the punchline to some cruel joke. 

‘How was a girl her age supposed to handle all that pain and humiliation?‘ Briana thought. 

“Don’t worry, Briana,” Isabelle said gently. “Evelyn and I are here for you.” Even if the world came crashing down, they would be here to support Briana. 

As long as Briana didn’t want a divorce and still wanted to try to win Shepard’s heart back, they’d always be in her corner. 

Isabelle knew just how much Briana loved Shepard. She loved him so much that even when Shepard straight- up said he wanted out, she still went ahead and married him anyway. 

Sometimes, Isabelle wondered if she would have had a different life if she had been half as determined as Briana, insisting on marrying only Rayden and no one else. 

Briana’s lashes quivered just a bit. Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it was enough for both Isabelle and Evelyn to catch every word. “Shepard and I are already divorced,” Briana said. 

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Chapter 62