Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 86

Chapter 86 

Eric perked up, sitting straighter. “Well, well, you’re pretty clever, aren’t you?” 

“Of course I have to look out for myself,” Vivian shot back. 

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“So, on paper, your first time was with Shepard, but in reality. It was with me.” Eric said, a wicked grin spreading across his face. 

The thought alone was enough to get his blood pumping. 

Vivian’s jaw clenched so hard she thought her teeth might shatter. She hated him with every fiber of her being, but she didn’t dare let it show. 

“Yes,” she replied. “Eric, you were my first.” 

She paused, lifting her gaze to him, her eyes wide and pleading, looking every bit the innocent victim. “You have to take responsibility for me. You have to treat me well. I gave you the most precious thing a woman can ever give.” 

Eric ate it up, laughing out loud. 

“Relax. Once I’m running the Carter family, you’ll have it made. For now, just stick with Shepard and do my bidding. When it’s all done, you and the Fletcher family will be living the good life for the rest of your days,” Eric bragged. 

Eric sounded so sure of himself. 

It was as if he’d already snatched the reins from Shepard and was calling the shots for the Carter family and Carter Group. 

After thinking it over, Eric stroked his chin. “Since Shepard already thinks you two have slept together. It’d be only natural if you ended up pregnant, right?” 

Vivian’s eyes went wide in shock. “Are you saying you want me to pretend I’m pregnant?” 

Eric scoffed, “Come on, you can’t fake something like that forever. The truth always slips out eventually. I’m not about to take that kind of risk.” 

If Vivian’s fake pregnancy ever got exposed, she’d be worthless to him, just a discarded pawn. 

That was out of the question. 

Right now, Eric needed Vivian more than ever. 

“So how am I supposed to get pregnant with Shepard’s kid?” Vivian asked, her voice shaky. 

“Who says you have to carry Shepard’s baby?” Eric shot back, his eyes glinting with a twisted idea. “Why not carry mine instead? 

He gave Vivian a lecherous look, his gaze lingering on her. 

He was already craving her again. 

Once he got a taste, there was no stopping him. He just wanted more and more. 

He’d been hungry for her for so long; one time could never satisfy him. 

“I didn’t use anything just now,” he said with a sly grin. “Vivian, maybe you’ll end up pregnant before you know it.” 

Vivian felt like she was being sucked into a nightmare, swallowed by darkness, with no way out, as she’d never escape. 

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Chapter 86 

Being taken by Eric was already bad enough. 

But now she was supposed to have his child, too. 

She’d become nothing but Eric’s pawn, through and through. 

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“Get pregnant with my kid,” Eric said, his scheme already mapped out. “Then tell everyone it’s Shepard’s. He trusts you so much, he’d never suspect a thing, let alone ask for a paternity test. 

“Once there’s a baby on the way, you’ve got real bargaining power. Vivian, you can’t just count on Shepard’s love to keep you safe. In a family like the Carters, having an heir is your strongest card.” 

The more he spoke, the more hyped he got. “If I take control, our kid will live like royalty. But even if I lose, as long as my kid gets raised as Shepard’s and he never finds out, I’ll go to my grave satisfied.” 

“Of course,” he added, cocky as ever. “Failure isn’t even on the table for me.” 

Eric shot Vivian a smug glance. “No matter how this plays out, Vivian, you’re the real winner. This deal’s all upside for you, no risk, just reward.” 

Vivian could only nod, helpless. She didn’t have any other choice. 

She didn’t dare defy him, not even a little. 

Originally, her only rival was Briana. 

If she could take Briana down, she’d get to marry into the Carter family and finally live the high life, worry–free. 

But now, Vivian was walking on thin ice. 

Stolen goods always came with a catch. 

“Come here,” Eric said, crooking his finger at her, sprawled out on the couch like he was king of the world. “Come serve me properly.” 

Vivian stared at him, her heart sinking. 

“The more we do it, the better your odds of getting pregnant. The sooner you get knocked up, the sooner you’ll get your ticket into the Carter family,” Eric sneered. 

Vivian was trapped. There was no other way out. 

Eric had shoved her onto this path, leaving her utterly cornered. 

“Alright,” Vivian murmured, her voice barely more than a breath. 

Vivian crawled over on her hands and knees, finally getting down on her knees between Eric’s legs. 

Lightning ripped through the darkness. 

Thunder rolled overhead. 

Rain hammered down all night long. 

At Evergreen Estate, Briana woke up to find it was already noon. 

Last night, she checked herself into the ER all alone, and the doctor prescribed her some cold meds that were safe for 

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Chapter 86 

pregnancy. 

She came home, took the meds, and crashed into bed. 

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Now she felt a lot better. The fever was gone, and except for a little cough and stuffy nose, nothing else was bothering her. 

Briana got out of bed and pulled open the curtains. 

The air after the rain was especially fresh and bright. 

She took a hot shower, warming up all over, and her head finally felt clear again. 

Just as she finished getting dressed, she heard a frantic pounding at the door. 

“Briana, open up, something’s happened,” Charles shouted, banging on the door. 

“I’m coming,” Briana said as she opened the door, giving him a look. “Why are you so worked up?” 

She didn’t pay much attention to what Charles was saying. 

Her brother was always freaking out about something. She’d gotten used to it ages ago. 

“Why are you still hanging around at home?” Briana teased. “Isn’t your job just schmoozing and drinking at night anyway?” 

Charles clicked his tongue, clearly annoyed. “Can you not mess with me right now? Something’s really wrong. Anyway, are you feeling better?” 

“Yeah, I’m much better,” Briana replied. 

“Great, so you’re all set for the family showdown,” Charles said. 

Briana ran a towel through her damp hair. “Showdown? Who am I supposed to be up against this time?” 

“Sophia’s back,” Charles replied. “She flew in this morning, and Grandma just called. She wants everyone over at her place for a big family lunch.” 

Sophia was Briana’s cousin. 

Briana was always played by Sophia growing up. 

Sophia was a master at playing the victim. She could turn on the waterworks, whine, and tattle like nobody’s business. With her parents still around and spoiling her rotten, Briana always ended up getting pushed around by them. 

But once Shepard started protecting Briana, Sophia finally toned it down, at least on the surface. 

Underneath, though, she got even sneakier, pulling nastier tricks than ever. 

Edward’s whole family was super bitter about Shepard and Briana’s/marriage plans. 

In their eyes, that kind of dream match should’ve gone to Sophia 

They just couldn’t accept Briana landing such a jackpot. 

The one Briana remembered most was when Sophia snuck her mom’s favorite, super expensive necklace into Briana’s backpack. 

Diana Lane, Sophia’s mom, searched high and low, and the staff and security practically tore the Lane residence apart, but 

the necklace was nowhere to be found. 

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Chapter 86 

Then, pretending to be all innocent, Sophia discovered the necklace in Briana’s bag. 

She totally framed Briana for stealing it. 

That feeling never really left Briana. 

She’d felt lost, flustered, and like the whole thing was totally unfair. 

Luckily, Wrenley stepped in and shut everyone up, refusing to let anyone say another word about it. 

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But later, in private, Wrenley took Briana’s hand and said, “If you wanted it, just tell Grandma, and I’d give it to you. But Briana, stealing is wrong, okay?” 

Briana finally knew what it was like to be blamed for something she didn’t do, and no matter what she said, nobody would believe her. 

That was all Sophia’s doing. 

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