Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 80

Chapter 80 

Briana kept her eyes shut and said. “Yeah, you caught me. Since you already know, do yourself a favor and leave. Some things are better left unsaid, no need to lay it all out.” 

She knew he wouldn’t believe her, no matter what she said. 

Fine, let him think whatever he wants, she wondered. 

All she wanted was for him to leave her alone, fast. 

All Briana wanted was to be alone, sip some water, and finally get a good night’s sleep. 

Maybe her fever would break, and she’d feel better by morning. 

she was pregnant, so she avoided medicine whenever possible. 

Who’s coming?” Shepard asked. 

Who else do you think?” Briana replied. 

“Henry, Shepard said. 

“He’s not the only one,” Briana said. There are tons of guys trying to win me over. Now that I’m sick, it’s the perfect chance for them to play hero. And me? I’m not turning anyone away.” 

Shepard’s face turned stormy, anger flashing in his eyes. 

Just as he was about to say something, Briana suddenly started coughing. 

One cough after another, as if her lungs were about to come out with every hack. 

All his anger vanished in an instant. 

He gently patted her back, handed her some water, and helped her take a few sips. 

Before long, the family doctor rushed in, medical bag slung over his shoulder. 

“Take a look at her,” Shepard said. “And give her something that n’t too bitter and 

He thought she’d skipped her meds just because she hated the taste of those cold remedies. 

And she could never get those big pills or capsules down, anyway 

Asso 

down easy 

soon as Shepard finished speaking, Briana’s eyes snapped open and shot him a glare. “I’m not taking any medicine” 

“So you’re just going to tough it out?” Shepard asked, sounding alittle exasperated. 

“If I’m still running a fever tomorrow, I’ll go to the hospital myself, Briana replied, “Don’t bother fussing over me” 

Shepard stared her down. “Just take the meds and your fever will be gone tonight, guaranteed” 

Brian shot back, “What are you, some kind of genius doctor? You think you can just say so and my fever magically disappears? 

The family doctor stood off to the side, awkwardly rubbing his hands together. 

Should I treat 

at her or not?‘ he wondered. 

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Chapter 80 

“Uh, the doctor cleared his throat. “Well, from my experience. Mr. Carter, Mrs. Carter just caught a chill. A fever patch and plenty of water should do the trick. Nothing serious.” 

Shepard shot him a look. “Are you on her side? 

Briana retorted, “Mrs. Carter? Who’s that supposed to be?” 

The doctor froze. 

Great, I’m caught in the crossfire. No matter what I say, I’m screwed, he thought. 

After a few seconds of tense silence, Shepard spoke up again. “If you won’t take the meds, then it’s either a shot or an for you 

Briana protested even more. “Absolutely not!” 

She shot up from the couch in one swift move, now towering over Shepard 

IV d 

drip 

“You’re honestly so strange,” Briana said. “If you’d cared about me like this before, I probably would’ve been so touched, it would’ve worked better than any miracle cure. But now? Your concern just gets on my nerves” 

She added, “Shepard, you’re just being nosy! Whatever happens to me is my business, not yours. I’ve been trying so hard to cut ties with you, so why do you keep clinging to me? 

“If you’ve got so much free time, go hang out with Vivian instead Stop showing up in my face!” 

She rattled it all off in one breath, not stopping for a second. 

The living room was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop. 

The doctor shrank back, edging away to stay out of the crossfire 

Briana felt short of breath, a wave of dizziness hitting her as her vision briefly blurred. 

She took several deep breaths before she finally started to feel better. 

Shepard looked up at her, lifting his chin just a little. 

There was 

sanger in his eyes, but even more suspicion burning beneath it. 

Briana was standing on the couch, looming over him for once. 

For once, she was the one towering over him. 

Usually, she was the one looking up at him. 

After a moment, Shepard tilted Briana’s chin up, leaning in with harrowed eyes. “You’re hiding something. Briana.” 

He said it like a fact, not a question 

“No way,” she snapped back. “I swear, I don’t have any secrets. 

But Shepard’s tone was even more certain. “You’re keeping something from me. You’re afraid I’ll find out. 

“I told you, I’m not Briana shot back. 

“You’d better make sure I never find out,” Shepard warned. “Because, Briana, there’s nothing I can’t uncover, unless I decide 

not to look” 

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Chapter 80 

Briana’s heart skipped a beat. 

He was already getting suspicious 

From her throwing up at the hospital to now, not wanting any meds for her cold 

He’d noticed something was off. 

If Shepard really started digging, there’s no way she could keep her pregnancy under wraps; he’d definitely find out. 

Her gaze darted away, and she tried to avoid his eyes. 

But in the next moment, she pulled herself together, her determination snapping back into place. 

“So what if I have secrets? So what if I don’t?” Briana shot back. “Shepard, you really must be bored out of your mind.” 

“Are you going to tell me yourself, or should I just go digging?” Shepard pressed. 

Briana shot back, “Go ahead and dig. You’ve got nothing better to do anyway.” 

Shepard didn’t even hesitate. “Fine.” 

Her nerves started to fray. 

If he really found out, it’d be a total disaster for her. 

Briana shot him a look. “Fine, go ahead and dig. If you’re so curious about all those guys people think I’m close with, all the ones everyone gossips about, knock yourself out and see if you can dig up every single one.” 

The family doctor sucked in a sharp breath. 

Should I even be hearing this he thought, eyes wide. Am I about to get silenced or something? I just came here to check on her, not to get caught up in all this drama” 

Shepard’s expression was downright stormy 

Whether it was true or not, no man would ever want to hear something 

ng like that 

Briana went on, “Shepard, as my ex–husband, you’re always meddling in my business and popping up everywhere. You’re totally ruining my chances with other guys, scaring off all my admurers. 

“Honestly, I just don’t get it. When I was your wife, you wouldn’t have cared if I’d dropped dead right in front of you. 

“Now that I’m your ex. I cough or run a fever and you act like it’s the end of the world. Seriously, what are you thinking? Is this some guy thing, only realizing what you had after it’s gone 

With that. Briana turned to the doctor. “What about you, doc? Are you like that, too?” 

The doctor was practically at the living room door, ready to bolt at any second. 

He was ready to make a run for it at any second. 

Honestly, with Ms. Lane, uh, not Mrs. Carter, acting this lively. She probably doesn’t even need medicine. This cold will be gone in no time, the doctor thought, awkwardly correcting himell 

Shepard spat 

out each word, slow and deliberate. “I will find out. 

Growing up, there wasn’t a single thing abour Briana that escaped him. He knew her inside out. 

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Chapter 801 

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He couldn’t accept it, couldn’t stand it, now that they were divorced, she actually had secrets from him. 

In front of him, Briana was supposed to be completely transparent, an open book, nothing hidden. 

Zero privacy. Not a single thing should be kept from him.. 

“Uh, Mr. Carter, the doctor said awkwardly. “if you don’t need me to check on her, I’ll just so I’ll leave you two alone.” 

Without waiting for Shepard to respond, the doctor bolted out of there in a flash. 

‘Now’s my chance. If I don’t run now, I’ll never get out of here! he thought. 

As he hurried down the steps, the doctor almost bumped into someone on his way in. 

Whoever it is, I don’t care. I’m out of here, he thought, not even bothering to look back. 

Henry turned his head, watching the doctor rush off with his medical bag, frowned briefly, then kept walking inside. 

The sound of footsteps rang out, unusually clear in the quiet room 

Neither Shepard nor Briana said a word. 

At the sound, both of them instantly turned to look toward the entrance. 

“Who’s that? Both of them glanced toward the door, alert. Didnt the doctor just leave? 

AD