Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 104

Chapter 104 

Chapter 104 

* 27% 

What’s up with this. Did Vivian not check her phone? Maybe she’s busy? Or is she just trying to come up with a plans Briana mused. 

She glanced at the clock. Guess I’ll wait a bit longer. Vivian’s probably working out her next move. Once she’s got it figure out, she’ll go to Shepard, she thought 

Even if Vivian didn’t make a scene, she’d probably act all cute and express her dissatisfaction in that playful tone of hers. 

Briana kept sneaking glances at Shepard every now and then. 

He was sitting on the edge of the couch, laptop balanced on his p. 

Maybe Briana was staring a bit too much, because when she glanced over again, Shepard looked up and met her gaze. 

What’s going on in that head of yours?” Shepard asked. 

“Nothing,” Briana shrugged. “Can’t I even look? Is that against the rules now?” 

Tm keeping an eye on you all day. You’re not going anywhere,” Shepard said, turning back to his laptop. “Don’t even think about leaving this place.” 

“He’s actually going to watch me himself! Briana thought, a bit surprised. 

Whatever you say. But…” Briana asked, “Where’s your phone? Don’t you even scroll through your phone while you work?” 

“Why, you wanna check my phone?” Shepard raised an eyebrow 

“Just worried you might miss something important, like a call or a message,” Briana replied. 

Shepard said, “My phone’s hooked up to my laptop.” 

So anything that pops up on his phone shows up on his laptop, too. 

That meant Vivian really hadn’t messaged Shepard at all. 

‘Oh my god… Briana exclaimed inwardly, a little stunned. 

She had to give her credit. 

Being the side chick or the secret lover? That was not something ust anyone can handle. 

Vivian was indeed tolerant. 

Briana understood why she had failed in competing with Vivian 

She was done putting up with this. She was ready to file for divorce. 

“Mrs. Carter,” Tiffany said as she walked over with a tray. “Here’s some fresh fruit, just cut up. It’s super sweet. You and Mr. Carter should have some.” 

Tiffany set down the desserts and snacks but handed the fruit plate straight to Briana. 

There were two forks next to the plate. 

‘What’s up with that? Does she want me to feed Shepard?‘ Briana thought, a bit thrown off. 

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18:34 Wed Dec 31 D 

Clepy 10: 

Brians stated at Tiffany, totally caught off guard 

26%A 

Mr Carter’s swamped with work and can’t spare a hand right no. Tiffany said. “You’re just chilling, so why not help him pai ser fruit and get his vitamine 

As Evelyn’s trusted informant in the house, Tiffany was always eming to play matchmaker for Shepard and Brians. 

But before Briana could respond, Shepard jumped in. “She’s giving in the cold shoulder. No way she’d be so sweet. Whatever 

Out of nowhere, he closed his laptop and set it aside. “Cuess I the one feeding her 

Briana suddenly started hacking up a storm. 

She was caught so off guard that she ended up choking on her n spit. 

Did I drive Shepard crazy or something? Is he actually going to feed me fruit?‘ Briana wondered, her mind spinning 

Before she knew it, Shepard was already standing right in front of her. 

He handed her a glass of water. “Here, drink this to soothe your throat. It’ll help.” 

Briana took it without a second thought. She really needed it; her throat was raw from all that coughing. 

As soon as she finished the water, Shepard had already speared piece of cantaloupe and was holding it out for her to eat. 

She kept her mouth shut, just staring at the fruit. 

She couldn’t eat anything at that moment. 

“Ehn?” Shepard moved the cantaloupe even closer, urging her to take a bite. 

“I… I’ll do it myself, Briana stammered, reaching for the fork. 

But Shepard stopped her, his voice firm. “I told you. I’m feeding you.” 

Briana felt goosebumps crawl up her arms. 

She just couldn’t part her lips. 

Tiffany, seeing the awkward moment, quickly encouraged, “Mrs. Carter, give it a try. Mr. Carter’s really making an effort here.” 

Tongue–tied, Briana felt a chill running down her spine. 

Even if she took a bite, she doubted she could actually swallow it. 

If she somehow managed to, it would probably just make her feel sick. 

The awkward standoff dragged on. 

Shepard wasn’t budging. 

Briana wasn’t having it either. 

Tiffany was practically freaking out on the sidelines. 

“Well…” Shepard leaned down so he was eye–level with Briana, “Looks like our Briana is still holding a grudge against me.” 

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18:54 Wed Dec 31 D 

Chapter 104 

Briana’s skin was still crawling with goosebumps. 

Did he just call me Briana so intimately? the thought, stunned by the sudden use of that tone. 

It had been five years since Shepard last called her that way. 

It was indeed rare. 

Ton’t that right, Tiffany? Shepard said lightly. “Guess I’ll just have to keep working at it, prove myself, and maybe then Briana will forgive me and stop bringing up divorce. 

“That way, I’ll have something to tell Grandma. 

26% 

Tiffany nodded quickly. “Exactly, Mr. Carter. These things take me, and you can’t rush them. Mrs. Carter’s just a little upset right now. You’ll need to be extra understanding and patient with her.” 

Then Tiffany turned to Briana. “Mrs. Carter, maybe give Mr. Carter a fair shot. Of course, I’m not saying you have to forgive him right away, but there’s no need to go out of your way to butt heads with him either.” 

Shepard let out a chuckle. “Tiffany, you really know what’s up. What do you say, Briana?” 

He waved the fork around, teasing the piece of cantaloupe right in front of Briana’s lips, occasionally grazing them as he moved it closer. 

The spot at the corner of her mouth where Shepard had bitten her was still visible. 

And Shepard’s lips had a similar mark, too. 

Neither of them looked any better than the other. 

Briana took a deep breath, shut her eyes tight, snapped up the cantaloupe, chewed twice, and swallowed it down fast. 

Will this do? Is he happy now?‘ she thought in resignation. 

Shepard smirked, straightened up, and stabbed a piece of watermelon with his fork. 

‘Seriously?‘ Briana was shocked. 

“You’re still at it?” Briana shot back. “Why? You getting hooked on feeding me now?” 

Shepard wasn’t being caring at all but was just messing with her, trying to make things difficult on purpose. 

Briana knew him way too well. 

He was all about calling the shots, always chasing that rush of control and having the upper hand. 

“Nope,” Shepard said, shaking his head. “Briana, you feed me.” 

‘Wait, what? Is this his idea of fun? Does he get his kicks from doing so?‘ Briana grumbled inwardly. 

“Here,” Shepard said, took her hand, and placed the fork in her palm. 

“If you’re the one feeding me, I’ll eat it,” Shepard said with a smirk. “Even if you dipped it in poison, I’d swallow it without batting an eye.” 

Briana was this close to just chucking the whole fruit plate right in his face. 

‘He’s so damn childish,‘ Briana thought, rolling her eyes. 

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1854 Wed, Dec 31 D 

Chapter 101 

DGG 

One second, he had his hands around her neck, looking like he wanted her dead. 

The next second, he was all up in her space, acting sweet like nothing ever happened. 

Briana put on a fake smile, her lips curling up in mock amusement 

Oh really? Maybe I’ll go spike it with something right now. You st wait and see, she shot back. 

“Go ahead, Shepard replied instantly. “Briana, who says it has to be poison? A love potion would be even better 

Briana just stared, lost for words. What is he even talking about Briana was baffled. 

Tiffany covered her mouth and let out a chuckle, then quickly ide herself scarce. 

Better not interrupt Mr. and Mrs. Carter’s private time, Tiffanyhought as she hurried away. 

Briana clenched her teeth, jammed the watermelon right into Shepard’s mouth, and snapped, “Eat it. Hope you choke” 

The juice exploded everywhere. 

Juice dripped all over the back of Briana’s hand. 

She wrinkled her nose in disgust, jumped up to grab some tissues, and wiped her hand furiously, desperate to get rid of the sticky mess. 

Shepard took his sweet time munching on the watermelon. 

Mm, it’s sweet. But it’s even sweeter when you feed it to me,” he eased. 

It’s just the two of us here,” Briana said, not even glancing his way. “Cut it out. You can drop the act now.” 

What if I’m not acting?” Shepard asked. 

When they were crazy in love, they used to do all kinds of lovey–dovey things way sweeter than this. 

Briana was stunned for a moment. 

Is he actually serious now?‘ she wondered. 

But that thought only lasted a split second before Briana shoved it down. 

Men never have real feelings,‘ she told herself. 

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