Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 108

Chapter 108 

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Vivian glared at Briana, her eyes sharp and fierce, like she was ready to tear her apart. “Tell me the truth. How did you make Shepard not want a divorce?” 

Briana’s eyes twinkled. “Want to hear it?” 

“Of course! Briana, I seriously underestimated you,” Vivian said. 

Five years ago, Briana married Shepard, just like she’d always wanted. Now, even though the divorce wasn’t final, Briana was still Mrs. Carter, and she was indeed turning things around, winning Shepard’s heart back. 

Vivian had always confidently assumed she was in an unassailabe position. But she was now discovering that her footing was no longer so firm. 

Briana walked right up to Vivian. “Let’s trade secrets. I’ll tell you what you want to know, and you tell me what I want to know.” 

Vivian asked, “What do you want to know?” 

Briana mouthed, without a sound, “The fire.” 

Vivian read her lips, and her expression shifted in a flash. She never expected Briana to call her out about this, right here at 

the Carter Estate. 

“So, do we have a deal? Or are you too scared to own up to what you’ve done?” Briana chuckled. 

Vivian looked shocked and uncertain, staying silent for a long moment. 

Briana said, “Let’s just lay it all out. No point in hiding anymore. The evidence points right to you. You tried to cover your tracks, but there’s always something you can’t hide. Sooner or later, I’ll get to the bottom of it. 

“That fire is the reason you stayed by Shepard’s side and changed your family’s fate. But if you were the one who started it, that changes everything, Vivian. 

“You thought after all these years no one would ever find out, didn’t you? But the truth always comes out. What you did will be exposed,” Briana said. 

Vivian instinctively stepped back twice, shocked. Briana had her totally beaten. She parted her lips, but no words would come out. Right now, keeping quiet was the smartest move. Saying too much would only screw things up further. 

Briana closed the distance between them. “Honestly, I’m over Shepard. Who he ends up with is none of my business. But I need the truth about that fire. 

“Vivian, if you come clean, I swear I won’t cling to being Mrs. Carter anymore. Hell, I’ll even play matchmaker for you and Shepard. 

“How’s that for a deal? Otherwise, you can forget about ever learning the real reason Shepard won’t divorce me,” Briana added. 

Vivian’s knees buckled, and she plopped down onto the couch. She looked panicked and guilty, her eyes darting around the room, avoiding Briana’s stare. 

Briana chuckled. “I’m being nice for now. I’m trying to work with you here, but if you don’t cooperate, don’t blame me for getting tough. If I dig up the evidence and throw it in Shepard’s face, you’re done for. 

“But right now, if you just tell me the truth about the fire, I’ll let slide like it never happened. I want a divorce, and I don’t want to ruin things between you and Shepard. 

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16:35 Wed, Dec 31 DGG. 

Chapter 108 

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“If he finds out the truth, it’ll be even harder for me to get out of his marriage. Vivian, think about it,” Briana said. 

Vivian’s chest was heaving, her breath quick and shaky as she ke gulping nervously. But she still didn’t say a word. 

Briana felt a twinge of anxiety, but she couldn’t let it show. Right now, it was a battle of nerves. The person who could stay calm the longest would win. 

Is five minutes enough?” Briana glanced at the clock. “If Shepard comes back, we won’t get to finish this conversation.” She sipped her coffee and picked at some fruit, looking completely case. 

Briana reminded herself to be patient. She knew that if Vivian spoke up, she’d win this round. Briana wasn’t bothered by Vivian’s snarky remarks. What really got under her skin was if Vivian just kept silent. 

Finally, Vivian spoke up. “I don’t know what you’re talking about 

Briana shot her a look. “Still playing dumb?” 

Vivian said. “I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about. Truth? Fire? Briana, the cops already looked into that fire inside out. Someone already took the fall for it. It’s all settled.” 

You’re the one who set that fire!” Briana snapped. 

“How can you throw that kind of accusation at me? Don’t pin something that serious on me!” Vivian retorted. 

Briana secretly clenched her jaw, keeping her frustration hidden. She thought, ‘Vivian is so damn sly. 

Vivian lowered her eyes, looking all innocent and pure. “I just happened to be passing by when the fire started. The sports equipment room is tucked away. Hardly anyone ever goes there 

“I caught a whiff of something burning, so I hurried over to check it out. When I saw the flames raging and heard Shep faintly calling for help inside. 

“I didn’t think twice. I dashed in and did everything I could to get Shep out. I was lucky I managed to haul him out on my back. Otherwise, we both would’ve been toast. 

“It all happened in a flash. I didn’t have time to think. All I knew was, I couldn’t just stand there and let the fire take Shep.” She was really selling it, her voice full of emotion. 

Briana was fuming inside. “It’s just the two of us, so quit acting all sweet and innocent. That’s not how it happened, Vivian. 

“You bribed the equipment room guy to start the fire, then waited around. As soon as the flames broke out, you pretended to just be passing by and jumped in to play the savior. 

“You went all in on this gamble. If it worked, you’d have it all. If i didn’t, you wouldn’t just ruin yourself. You’d drag Shepard down with you, too. If things had gone south, Shepard would die in that fire.” Briana couldn’t even continue. 

She thought, Vivian never cares about Shepard, not even a little. She’s just using him, that’s all. If you really loved someone, you’d never let them risk their life in a fire. 

Vivian shook her head. “No, that’s not it. Why would you even come up with something so ridiculous? That fire is what brought Shep and me together. It was fate. 

“After all these years, you’re still bitter about it, so you keep spinning these crazy conspiracy theories about that fire just to make yourself feel better. 

“But that fire was just an accident. It was a human error, just the equipment manager’s negligence. It had nothing to do with me. Even now, my voice still hasn’t fully recovered. It’s hoarse and raspy, never getting back to normal. 

“Sometimes, I get so jealous of people who have such clear, beautiful voices.” Vivian coughed as she spoke. 

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16:55 Wed, Dec 31 DGG. 

Chapter 108 

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“And you, Briana, you even tried to ruin my voice with poison. ever made a fuss about all the cruel things you did to me, but now you’re trying to force me to admit I started that fire.” Vigan sighed. 

Briana was about to lose it. How can anyone be this shameless?riously, if she’s got absolutely no shame, she’s basically invincible, 

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