Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 77

Chapter 77 

olivia burst out laughing. 

Alright, let’s get down to business, Briana said, hooking her arm through Olivia’s and heading inside the gallery. “Someone like you never gets up early unless there’s a good reason. So, what’s up?” 

I 

Olivia snapped her fingers “Smart girl. But I didn’t expect to runo Vivian here. Why’s she here looking for you?” 

What else could it be?” Briana replied. 

“Bragging again, huh?” Olivia rolled her eyes. “Now that she’s with Shepard, she can’t wait for the whole world to know she’s hnally climbed to the top 

“That’s just how she is. Briana said. 

“She saved Shepard, and now she’s living the high life. One person gets lucky, and the whole Fletcher family gets to ride her coattails Olivia muttered. “That fire really set the Fletcher family ablaze, in a good way 

Briana didn’t say anything else.. 

Yeah, she thought to herself. That fire burned the Shepard I once knew to ashes. And out of those flames came the Shepard who belongs to Vivian now! 

After the divorce, Briana finally saw things clearly 

She realized her obsession with Shepard was all because she kept hoping the man she once loved would somehow.come back to her. 

But the truth was, he was never coming back. 

Once something was gone, it had gone forever. 

The Shepard Briana loved was gone for good. 

I was just too foolish, she thought. 

Olivia kept muttering, “Briana, if that fire had never happened, Vivian wouldn’t even matter. You and Shepard would still be crazy about each other, from matching school uniforms to wedding gowns, then kids, and growing old side by side. 

“That’s the kind of love story everyone dreams about.” 

“Yeah, Briana replied absentmindedly. “If only there hadn’t been a fire. Or if I’d been there that day, Vivian wouldn’t have been the one to save Shepard” 

“So it all comes down to that fire, huh? Briana, did the fire department or the cops ever say what started it?” Olivia asked. 

Briana paused for a moment. 

She had to think for a bit before she could answer. 

“The equipment room was cluttered with junk,” Briana said. “It was a dry, hot season, and the staff member in charge smoked a cigarette and didn’t fully put it out. That’s what set it of” 

Olivia nodded, “Oh yeah, that’s right. I remember now. That guyctually got convicted and sent to prison. 

“Yeah,” Briana replied. 

1/4 

15:12 Thu, Dec 25 

Chapter 77 

“Do you remember how long he got?” Olivia asked. 

Briana shook her head. “Honestly, I didn’t keep track.” 

She never really cared about any of that. 

45%) 

3. 65 vouche 

“It’s been five years now, so he should be out of prison by now, right?” Olivia mused. Tll go see if I can dig up some info for 

you. 

“Why bother looking into that?” Briana asked. 

“Maybe we can finally find out what really started the fire, Olivia replied. 

Briana was momentarily stunned. “The police already closed the case. It’s been years” 

“I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s fishy about all this Olivia said. “Vivian was the biggest winner from that fire. She turned her whole life around in one night. It just doesn’t make sense 

“She risked her life and ran straight into the flames, carrying Shepard out on her back.” 

Lite’s a gamble, you know? She bet everything on that one moment.” Olivia was on a roll, ready to keep ranting, but when she caught sight of Briana’s face, she shut up in a hurry. 

Whatever, let it go. Olivia told herself. Guess I’ll just dig around on my own and see what turns up. Better not keep bringing 

up: 

all that heartbreak in front of Briana” 

“Anyway,” Olivia said, abruptly switching topics, “I came by to give you a heads–up. There’s a TV crew coming at noon to interview you, so be prepared.” 

Briana pointed at herself. “Me! They’re interviewing me?” 

“Yeah,” Olivia replied. 

“Shouldn’t they be interviewing Mr. Dean?” Briana asked. “But he’s not at the gallery today, he went out to the mountains nearby for some inspiration 

Olivia insisted, “No, they’re here for you. You’re Mr. Dean’s only apprentice, and you run Belaris’s very first gallery, and you’ve turned it into a huge success. Of course, the TV station wants to interview you.” 

She bumped Briana’s shoulder. “My girl is just that awesome” 

Briana immediately started freaking out. They’re coming at noon? That’s way too soon! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? 

“I barely slept last night, and my face looks so pale and tired. How am I supposed to go on camera like this? 

“No way, I need to put on a face mask, do my makeup, and change my outfit. I’m not just representing myself. I’m representing Mr. Dean and the whole Dreamscape Gallery. I have to look perfect.” 

Olivia snapped her fingers again, grinning. “No worries, I’ve got everything sorted. The pro glam squad will be here in ten 

minutes. 

Briana was taken aback for a moment, then a slow, genuine smile spread across her face. 

“Olivia, having you here means the world to me.” she said softly. She truly meant every word. 

Ever since her divorce, Olivia had been there for her in more ways than she could count 

“Of course, I’m good to you, but that’s because you’re just as wonderful, Olivia said. “We’ve been best friends forever, no need for all that sappy stuff. 

15:12 Thu, Dec. 25 

Claper 77 

I just want you to stay be diby, stay happy, and muy all your was come the 

Briana podled her into a warm hug 

At 12:30 PM, the 

Corrw set up their cameras in a corner of the 

wete, and started lining 

Briana sat upright in front of the camera, looking posed and content 

She spoke with ease mid 

And the whole interview was streamed live for everyour to watch 

It didn’t take long before the official TV station’s live 

nt shot straight to the toperat Belanoce nereading i 

Meanwhile, inside the conference room over at Carter Group, the marketing director was up front, clicking through his PowerPoint and presenting the team’s latest achievements. 

She said. Topened this gallery simply because I love painting, el honestly, I couldn’t have done it without all the support and help Eve received along the way.” 

Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed from the phone’s speaker. 

In the quiet, serious conference room, it was crystal clear. 

Who everyone in the room thought, puzzled. Are you kidding me? Someone’s actually playing on their phone right now? And with the speaker on full blast? 

The marketing director glanced around, clearly annoyed. 

Come on, I’m the director here, giving it my all, and someone has the nerve to blatantly slack off right in front of me? he fumed to himself. 

But before the director could spot who it was, the phone was quickly silenced. 

Shepard set his phone down on the table, cleared his throat, and glanced at the data on the screen, acting as if nothing had happened. 

“Carry on,” he said, tilting his chin. 

It was like nothing had happened. 

The director shifted awkwardly. 

‘Oh, it’s Mr. Carter! he realized, ‘Well, never mind then 

He knew better than to mess with Shepard, so he just acted like nothing had happened. 

After a while, Shepard’s eyes drifted down to his phone screen. 

The live stream was still running 

He hadn’t closed it 

He’d just put it on mute. 

Briana kept on talking, and since he couldn’t hear a thove she made. 

3/4 

mard, Stepafil just ended up watching her expressions and every linke 

15:12 Thu, Dec 25 

Chapter 77 

Her eyes were full of that lively spark 

Back at Aetherton University, Shepard had only ever seen her like this. 

It had been years since he saw that spark in her eyes. 

Deep down, she’d always been herself, never really changed. 

#55 Vouchers 

She just put her career on pause to play the devoted wife for a while, but the second she stepped back into the working world, she was shining brighter than ever. 

On screen. Briana suddenly raised her fist to her mouth and stifled a few soft coughs 

Someone off to the side handed her a bottle of water. 

She took a couple of sips, coughed again, and her brow creased without her realizing. 

Is she sick again? Maybe her stomach’s acting up, or she’s caught cold, Shepard thought, a little worried. 

‘She’s always got a million ways to take care of me, but when it comes to herself, she’s totally hopeless, he sighed inwardly.