Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 163

Chapter 163 

Vivian felt like her organs had been scrambled, and the pain was unbearable. The taste of blood flooded her mouth. 

She hacked up a mouthful of blood. That’s how brutal Shepard’s kick was. 

Vivian opened her mouth to speak, but pain stabbed through her chest again, and she hacked up another mouthful of blood. 

She lay there, barely able to move, and looked up at Shepard helplessly. 

Through her blurry vision, Shepard loomed over her, towering, almost unreachable, just like when she first met him. 

She could never even step into his world, not even within arm’s reach. 

‘Maybe, Vivian thought ‘I have never truly reached his heart.’ 

After all these years of doing whatever it took, Vivian found she’d ended up with nothing. 

Anything she stole would eventually be taken back, and anything that wasn’t hers would eventually leave her. 

“I really just love you,” Vivian said, her voice trembling and hoarse. “Why else would I have put everything in the line for you? If I’d played fair, you would’ve never even looked my way. 

“You love Briana. You two grew up together, you’re engaged, and after graduation, you’ll start a happy life together. The things most people spend their whole lives chasing. It all comes so easily to you. 

“I’m jealous, Shep. Why does Briana get to have everything, while I’m left feeling like a rat in the gutter? 

“My love for you has never been any less than Briana’s. Weren’t we happy together, Shep, all these years? Didn’t you ever love me, even a little?” 

Vivian crawled inch by inch toward Shepard’s feet. 

Blood dripped from the corner of her mouth, trickling down to the floor. 

She really did love this man, but she also knew he could never love her back. 

Ever since the day she decided to set that fire, Vivian had been living with her nerves stretched to the breaking point. 

She never knew when everything she’d gained would just slip away, lost in an instant. 

She had no clue when payback would finally hit, so every day felt like tiptoeing across a minefield. She never knew when it would all blow up. 

Now, her worst fear had finally come to pass. 

Strangely enough, Vivian felt herself finally able to breathe. 

“Love?” Shepard scoffed, as if she’d just cracked the biggest joke in the world. “Vivian, you came after me for my status and wealth. What kind of love are you even talking about?” 

“And what about Briana? Isn’t she after those things, too?” Vivian shot back. “If you were just a regular guy, would she still want to marry you? Would she still treat you like you’re her whole world?” 

“She would,” Shepard replied. 

“No, stop fooling yourself. Someone with your status is destined never to have real love. You shine too bright,” Vivian said, 

Chapter 163 

her voice bitter. 

“Vivian.” Shepard cut her off coldly. “Just because you always put your own interests first, you think everyone else does too?” 

Briana had barely gotten anything out of him all these 

years. 

She was supposed to get more, but she never did. 

Being Mrs. Carter, she had every right to ask for anything, and he’d have to give it to her, no questions asked. 

But Briana never did. 

She never wanted to make things hard for him, never wanted to lean on him. She always put him first and tried her best to be the perfect wife, even when he treated her like a stranger. 

He’d kept her at arm’s length for five years. 

Nearly two thousand days and nights. Shepard couldn’t imagine how Briana survived it all. 

Looking at Vivian, Shepard wanted to rip her to shreds. 

But even that couldn’t quench the rage burning in his heart. 

“I’m sorry, Shep. I’m so sorry, I was wrong,” Vivian sobbed, leaving a long, bloody trail behind her as she crawled. “Other than this, I’ve never wronged you. Just give me another chance, please, forgive me, okay? 

“I want to stay by your side. I don’t want anything else. I just want to see you and to be with you. 

“It doesn’t matter if you never marry me or if you never help the Fletcher family. Those were never what I was after. 

“All I ever wanted was your love. Shep, just love me a little more, love me for real, and I’ll be satisfied, Shep.” 

Vivian cried and shouted, her tears and voice mingling in desperation. 

Back then, Shepard treated her like she was the center of his world, spoiling her and giving her anything she asked for. 

But now, she was as low as a dog. 

“No, you can’t forgive her,” Sam shouted from the side. “Mr. Carter, you need to make sure she’s finished for good. If you let her go, she’ll come back to bite you. 

“She was already plotting crazy stuff back when she was just a student. Now she’s older and smarter, who knows what she’ll do next!” 

Vivian whipped her head around and shot him a vicious glare. “Shut up!” 

“I’m just telling the truth. You’ll stop at nothing to get what you want, no morals, no boundaries. You act all righteous, but you’re cold as ice inside, a real snake,” Sam snapped. 

Worried Vivian might flip the script, Sam quickly shouted at Shepard, “Mr. Carter, she’s the one who should be thrown in jail and pay for every crime she’s committed. Don’t show her any mercy.” 

Shepard’s face was cold and unreadable, not a trace of emotion. 

He already knew exactly how he was going to punish Vivian. 

It wasn’t even worth a second thought. 

Right now, all he could see in his mind was every single memory from those five years with Briana. 

10:52 Wed, Jan 7 

Chapter 163 

He felt he was not even human, but a bastard, a real monstert 

But he was too afraid to face Briana. He didn’t know how to apologize to her. 

“Shep, are you really not going to give me a single chance?” Vivian sobbed, her eyes red and swollen. “Do none of the years we spent together mean anything to you? Not even a little?” 

She was still trying to play the sympathy card, hoping he’d soften up. 

As if that would ever work. 

After doing something so unforgivable, wrecking his life, nearly costing him his own, he couldn’t believe she still dared to hope for forgiveness. 

Shepard toyed with the lighter in his hand. He flicked it open, flame sparking to life, and then snapped it shut. 

The lighter’s sharp clicks echoed again and again through the living room. 

After a moment, Shepard finally said, “Sam.” 

“Right here!” Sam snapped to attention. “Mr. Carter, just say the word. Whatever you need, I’m your guy. If you want the scoop on anything, just ask, and I’ll spill everything I know.” 

“I need you to go see my wife,” Shepard said, his voice cold. 

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“You got it.” Sam nodded like a bobblehead. “I’ll lay out all of Vivian’s dirty secrets right in front of Mrs. Carter. Just say when. This afternoon, tonight, or tomorrow?” 

Shepard’s lips twitched, but he couldn’t bring himself to answer. 

He just wasn’t sure. 

Deep down, all he wanted was to see Briana right now, to hold her in his arms. 

But in reality, he didn’t even dare to contact her. 

Shepard had already muted his phone, shutting out the world. 

He just wanted to be alone for a while, to let the chaos in his heart slowly fade and try to make sense of everything. 

“I’ll let you know when,” Shepard said, his voice rough. He waved his hand dismissively. “Get lost.” 

Sam didn’t need to be told twice. He scurried off, escorted out by the bodyguards. 

Vivian was left to face whatever came next. 

Shepard asked, “Maybe it’s time you got a taste of what it’s like to be trapped in a burning hell?”