Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 154

Chapter 154 

Shepard gave Vivian a chance. 

But she was the one who let it slip. 

: 

Shepard was still clinging to what they once had, but Vivian kept deceiving h 

Shepard thought, “That is it. There is nothing left to say. 

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‘If Vivian really is innocent, if I have been the one who misjudged her, then maybe I can still think better of her, and do whatever I can to make it up to her. 

‘But if she is the mastermind, the killer behind it all, then it is payback time for every grudge, old and new! 

Watching Shepard walk away without even looking back, Vivian suddenly panicked. 

She hurried after him and said, “Shep, are you really leaving? Did something I said upset you? Or did I do something that made you unhappy? 

“Just tell me what it is, and I’ll change. I swear, I’ll change. 

“I love you, Shep. You can doubt anything else, but never doubt how much I love you.” 

Shepard was the one Vivian truly loved. 

Back at Aetherton University, the very first time she saw Shepard, she swore to herself she’d stop at nothing to win him over. 

He was so far above everyone else. 

He had it all: a powerful family, killer looks, and the kind of wealth most people could only dream about. Every bit of it was exactly what Vivian had always wanted. 

She loved him, no doubt about it. 

She loved a man who seemed flawless, someone so far above everyone else that he felt almost untouchable. 

But Vivian felt so small, so unworthy, like she didn’t even deserve to stand next to Shepard. 

But her love for him was so overwhelming, her desire so fierce, that she was willing to risk everything, even to come up with something as reckless as starting that fire. 

“Shep!” Vivian cried out, her voice shaking with desperation. 

Just as Shepard reached the door, Vivian grabbed his sleeve, her fingers clutching at him like she was afraid he’d slip away. 

Vivian’s eyes were red and swollen from crying, tears streaming down her face. She begged, “Please, don’t go. Please don’t leave me here by myself. 

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Chapter 154 

“You’re all I have. I don’t have anyone else. 

“What did I do wrong? Please, forgive me. I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. Everything is my fault.” 

Shepard said coldly, “Let go.” 

“Shep, don’t you want me anymore?” Vivian whispered, her voice tremblin 

Deep down, Vivian could feel it in her gut: her secret was out. 

But she just couldn’t bring herself to face the truth. 

She had no choice but to keep pretending, even if it killed her inside. 

Because if she ever admitted it, that would be game over: no turning back, no escape. 

Shepard wasn’t the kind of guy to ask questions just for the hell of it. 

He came here for one thing: answers. 

“Suit yourself,” Shepard said coldly. 

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With that, he pulled open the door and walked out briskly, gone in a flash as he vanished into the elevator. 

Vivian was leaning against the doorframe, her eyes fixed on his fading silhouette. 

She thought, ‘Shep is gone. 

‘And he isn’t coming back. Not ever.‘ 

Vivian muttered, “No way, I can’t just sit here and mope. There’s gotta be a way out of this. I’m not just going to roll over and accept it.” 

She wiped her tears, staggered back into the living room, and snatched up her phone. She said to herself, “I’ll call Eric. I still have him. He’ll know what to do.” 

Vivian dialed Eric’s number, her hands shaking. 

The phone rang for a while, then it hung up. 

Vivian thought, ‘Why isn’t he picking up?‘ Her heart sank. 

Just as she was zoning out, a message from Eric popped up: [Out with a client.] 

Vivian replied: [Send me your location.] 

Eric texted: [Why?] 

He questioned her, but still sent his location anyway. 

Without wasting another second, Vivian grabbed her car keys and rushed out, practically running, terrified 

10 

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Chapter 154 

she’d be too late. 

She needed to see Eric. He was the only one who could make her feel safe. 

The more panicked she got, the easier it was for her to slip up and expose herself 

The moment Shepard left, Vivian was already heading straight for Eric, n 

She was basically confirming that something shady was going on between here Eric. 

But right now, Vivian’s mind was too scrambled to even care about any of that. 

(37) 

65 vouchers 

g to cover it up, 

Eric was at a cafe downtown. 

The cafe had a warm, minimalist vibe, with baristas in simple linen aprons. Vivian wound through the open seating area, past clusters of houseplants and low wooden tables, before finally spotting Eric in a tucked–away corner booth. 

There was a waitress stationed at the door. 

Vivian said, “I need to see Eric. Can you go in and let him know I’m here?” 

Eric came out a moment later, looking genuinely surprised when he saw her. He said, “Wow, you actually showed up?” 

He closed the door behind him, capped his pen, and slipped it into his pocket. 

He scanned the area nervously before yanking her over to a corner. 

There was a huge potted plant in the corner, big enough to hide both of them from view. 

Eric asked, “What’s got you so worked up? Can’t this wait till tonight?” 

Vivian’s eyes were still red. It was clear she’d just been crying. 

Eric could instantly tell this wasn’t just some small thing. 

Eric said, “So, what’s up? What happened? Slow down, just tell me. Relax, it’s not like the sky’s falling.” 

Vivian recounted everything: how Shepard had come to see her and what he wanted to know. 

Eric’s face grew tense. He said, “He wouldn’t just say all that out of the blue.” 

Vivian said, “Yeah, I think he’s onto me. What am I supposed to do? If he finds any evidence, then… then…” Her voice broke as she started crying again. She added, “It’s really over for me. Everything’s finished.” 

She was completely lost, with no one else to confide in. Eric was the only person she could pour her heart out 

1. to. 

Eric frowned, thinking hard. He said, “Why would Shepard suddenly start suspecting you? I mean, you’re pregnant. He should be over the moon right now, treating you like a queen. But his reaction is way beyond. 

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Chapter 154 

what we expected. 

“You kept the arson under wraps pretty well. And the fact that the baby is mine–no one would ever guess.” 

Vivian paused, thinking hard. Then she asked, “Could it be Briana? Is she the one getting in Shep’s head?” 

“It’s possible,” Eric said. 

Vivian said, “Yeah, that’s it. Briana’s totally behind this. Ever since she found 

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ad something to do with 

that fire, my reputation with Shep tanked, and she’s just getting more and more favored. 

“She keeps trash–talking me to Shep, and her bestie Olivia is helping her out. They’re teaming up to screw me over, digging for dirt, stirring up drama. Now Shep’s finally starting to doubt me. 

“What do I do, Eric? You have to think of something, or we’re both toast.” 

Eric was still deep in thought when Vivian suddenly grabbed his hand, leaned in close, and whispered, “Do you remember what you said? You said you’d get rid of Briana for good.” 

Eric stared at her. 

Vivian said, “If Briana’s gone, that’s the only way I can hold onto everything. You have to do it. We can’t wait any longer. You know better than anyone: if you don’t act first, we’re finished!” 

She hated Briana to the core. 

Briana was the one thing standing between her and everything she wanted. 

Just as Eric was about to answer, his phone buzzed. 

He glanced at the screen: it was a message from his secretary. 

The message read: [Mr. Carter, the client’s getting a bit impatient. You should come back soon, don’t be gone too long.] 

Work always came first. 

Eric patted Vivian’s hand and said, “Alright, I hear you. Just chill out and go home, lay low for now. I’ll figure out how to deal with Briana. Don’t panic.” 

“The sooner, the better!” Vivian pressed, her voice tight with anxiety. 

“Yeah, got it,” Eric said. 

Eric murmured a few hurried reassurances, then slipped back into the private room. 

He sat down, glanced at the documents spread out on the table, and with a grin, pulled out the pen he’d just slipped into his pocket, the very one Henry had given him. 

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