Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 71

Chapter 71 

Shepard kept his eyes locked on Vivian. After a long pause, he asked. “Did I sleep with you?” 

Vivian lowered her head, blushing. She said nothing, but her expression answered everything. She was still in her p the neckline plunging, and any man would have a hard time resisting 

pajamas. 

“No.” Shepard said firmly. “Vivian, I did not sleep with you.” 

Vivian felt a surge of surprise. How can he he so certain? Does that mean he never wanted me and never intended for me to be his woman?” 

Suppressing her shock, Vivian spoke sofily, ‘It’s all in the past. It happened, and there is nothing more to talk about” 

Shepard, however, grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer. Vivian exclaimed loudly, falling back onto the edge of the bed. 

Shepard leaned over her, looking intently at her. “I blacked out, Vivian. I drank too much, and I can’t remember what I said. or did. The only thing I remember is sitting on the sofa with you drinking. After that, my mind went completely blank” 

Shep, we love each other, and soon we can be together openly. Even if something happened last night, Vivian bit her lip. “it would be natural, right?” 

“No,” Shepard shook his head. “I have always told myself that un1 marry you, I cannot do that to you.” 

He had held the same principle with Briana and now with Vivian He could not break his own rufe. 

Vivian looked up at him, her eyes lingering on his. “Shep, if you cannot accept that you might have done something against your principles while not fully aware, I respect that and I understand you.” 

She placed her hand over his. Just like you said, nothing happened between us.” 

Shepard’s expression did not lighten. If anything it grew heavier He really could not remember anything. Yet he knew himself, his character, his self–control 

Even drunk, he would never take advantage of anyone. But now, he had blacked out, and Vivian was fully aware. Logically. she knew the truth about last night. 

Shepard just did not want to believe it. He did not know whether to trust his own judgment or believe Vivian. His thoughts spiraled. He leaned back against the headboard, swallowing hard 

“Shep, what happened last night doesn’t matter anymore, Vivian said. “I don’t want to see you suffer or feel unhappy. I made breakfast for you. I hope you can eat a little.” 

Shepard could not eat. He got out of bed and walked into the bathroom without a word. Deep down, he still leaned toward trusting himself, to believe that even drunk, he did not sleep with Vivian. 

Once the bathroom door closed, Vivian’s soft eyes hardened with anger, her hands clenching tightly. Even now, Shepard remained so certain that nothing had happened. He was not easily fooled. 

During the fire back then, she had risked everything to gamble, and that had earned her the wealth and status she had today. 

Vivian had only been lucky that one time, and after that, luck never seemed to show up for her again. She clenched her palm so hard that her nails dug into her skin. 

She whispered to herself, “It’s okay. As long as I keep insisting that you slept with me last night, no one can prove otherwise, No one but me will ever know the truth. 

“Shep, you don’t love me the way you used to. You make me feel unsafe. This is the only thing I can do. I really don’t have 

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She stared at the closed bathroom door, shut her eyes, and kept taking slow, steady breaths. When Shepard finally walked out of the bathroom, she looked calm again, gentle, fragile, and considerate, just like she always acted around him. 

But Shepard finished getting dressed and immediately headed for the door. He didn’t want to stay there for another second. 

Shep, Vivian called as she hurried after him, “are you leaving?” 

He stood at the entryway, bending down to change his shoes. “Yeah 

“Alright, Vivian said, nodding. “Please try to stay in a good mood Don’t be upset over what happened last night.” 

Shepard looked up at her for a moment and then glanced away again. I’m heading out,” he said, turning around and walking straight into the elevator. 

Vivian stood in the doorway and watched him leave. He never looked back at her. As the elevator went down, Shepard stared at the changing numbers. 

He checked the time, got into his car, and instead of heading to Carter Group, he drove straight to the hospital to see how his grandmother was doing. 

Even then, sitting behind the wheel, he kept replaying the same question. ‘Did I really sleep with Vivian? Did it actually happen: 

He kept dodging the thought. “Why am I even avoiding it? For a moment, he could not see his own intentions clearly. 

Am I just trying to prove that I didn’t physically cheat while I was still married? Or do I want Briana to know that even ifl love someone, I still have boundaries and a sense of responsibility? He could not stop thinking. 

The problem was, he had no idea who he was trying to prove anything to. Even if Briana knew he never slept with Vivian, it wouldn’t change anything. 

When he reached the hospital, Shepard headed straight to the ICU. He stepped out of the elevator and turned the comer just 

as someone rushed past him, creating a quick draft. 

The back of the person looked familiar. ‘Briana? Shepard figured he had thought about her so many times that even a vaguely familiar silhouette made him think it might be her. 

He kept walking at a steady pace, The woman stayed ahead of him and was headed in the same direction. Eventually, they both stopped in front of the ICU doors. 

Briana stared at the closed doors. She couldn’t go in, and she had no idea how Grandmother was doing. She decided she should find a doctor. 

She lifted the fallen strap of her bag and turned around, only to see Shepard standing about six feet away. The light was behind him, so she couldn’t clearly see his face, but she could feel that he was looking straight at her. 

She was not happy to see him. Shepard walked toward her and appped in front of her. Before he could say anything, Briana wrinkled her nose and took a step back. “Did you drink?” 

A whole night had passed, and he had showered, but she could still catch the faint smell of alcohol on him. 

“Grandma got sick from being so upset, and she’s still not out of danger. And you had time to drink?” Briana asked. “Don’t tell me you were drinking with Vivian. 

Shepard said, “Yeah. And what about it?” 

Briana let out a small, cold smile. Why don’t you drink yourself o death?” 

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“What were you doing last night?” Shepard shot back. “Did you to church to pray for Grandma? Pray to God? And you think you have the right to lecture me?” His words were just as sharp as ever. 

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