Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 165

Chapter 165 

Chapter 165 

Shepard remained silent. 

“Mr. Carter,” Daniel asked tentatively, “are you going to see Mrs. Carter?” 

Shepard shook his head, but still replied. “Go” 

Daniel was dumbfounded. ‘So, is he going or not?‘ Daniel wondered. 

Shepard stood up. “Just want to check on her, but don’t let her know I’m there. 

He just wanted to catch a glimpse of her from a distance. That was all he dared to do. If he actually faced her, he’d be at a loss for words. 

‘Should I say sorry?‘ Shepard wondered. ‘Or ask her to forgive me?‘ None of it mattered anyway. He couldn’t even forgive himself. 

Shepard headed out, took the keys from Daniel, got in the car, and drove toward Dreamscape Gallery. 

It was a weekday, so Dreamscape Gallery wasn’t as busy as it was on weekends, but he could still spot visitors here and there throughout the exhibition halls. 

Even though Sophia had sent people to cause trouble and hired online trolls to smear the gallery last time, with time passing and things settling down, the whole thing had pretty much blown over. 

Shepard parked his car at a distance and deliberately walked the rest of the way. He didn’t want the gallery staff to recognize his car. 

Before he even reached the entrance, he happened to see Briana and Olivia walking out together. The two of them were laughing and chatting. 

Olivia was being super animated, throwing in dramatic gestures and lively expressions, not that Shepard had a clue what they were chatting about. 

Briana smiled softly, her quiet joy shining in her eyes. 

Shepard ducked behind a tree at the side of the road, keeping most of himself out of sight. 

‘Guess this is all I’m good for now, just watching her from a distance, Shepard thought, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. 

He figured he should count himself lucky just to catch a glimpse of her, even from far away. 

Just then, a delivery truck pulled up. It stopped right in front of the gallery. 

“Leonard found out about what happened,” Olivia said, linking arms with Briana. “He’s online all the time, so there was no way to keep it from him. He was really pissed and felt like he had to stand up for you, so… 

Olivia jerked her chin toward the truck. “He borrowed a whole truckload of masterpieces, stuff that could totally be in a 

museum.” 

Leonard’s reputation was legendary in the art world. If he stepped up to borrow paintings, nobody dared say no to him. Plus, word was spreading that Briana was Leonard’s final disciple. 

Briana felt a wave of shame washing over her. Everyone called her Leonard’s last disciple, but she didn’t even have a single painting worthy of showing off. 

Her whole life was tangled up in love and marriage. She just couldn’t settle down and create. 

Chapter 165 

She just had to wait until the divorce. Once she was finally free, she could spend days, even weeks, holed up in her studio with nothing to distract her. 

Briana said softly, “That middle–aged woman was sent by Sophia. She was just causing a scene on purpose, throwing mud at the gallery. 

“Since they couldn’t find anything else to nitpick, they started calling the paintings offensive, trying to drag down Dreamscape Gallery’s reputation.” 

“Yeah, everyone’s on your side. The crowd’s not so easily fooled, Olivia said. “But Leonard thinks you deserve some real credit, so he wanted to make sure you really shine.” 

“I’m really lucky,” Briana said. “I’ve got you, Leonard and Henry…” She wasn’t really all that pitiful or alone, after all. 

Her marriage might’ve crashed and burned, but her work and her friends gave her all the strength she needed. 

The truck rolled to a stop, and the doors were thrown open. The crew got to work unloading the cargo. 

Every painting was meticulously wrapped. No way could even the tiniest scratch be allowed. Each one of these masterpieces was worth a king’s ransom. 

“Easy does it,” Briana called out, keeping a sharp eye on the crew. “Be gentle with those. No need to rush, just take your time? 

She was right there, personally making sure every step of unloading went smoothly, calling the shots herself. She just couldn’t help herself. She had to see it with her own eyes to feel at ease. 

Olivia stuck by her side. “You really were born to worry, huh? I told you I’d keep an eye on things, but you still don’t trust me, do you?” 

Briana just smiled, not saying a word. 

“You’d better take care of yourself and that little one,” Olivia muttered. “When’s your next checkup, anyway?” 

“No clue,” Briana said. 

“Come on, is there anything you actually remember?” Olivia teased. 

Briana stuck out her tongue, shooting Olivia a rare cheeky grin. 

The staff bustled around, carefully moving the paintings. 

Shepard, standing across the street, couldn’t take his eyes off Briana, watching every little thing she did and said. 

Even when he wasn’t there, she still had that spark in her. Her gaze was still as clear and pure as ever, just like before. He was the one who destroyed her. 

He’d wrecked himself, too, and shattered everything they once had together, their love and their marriage. 

Shepard’s life had always been smooth sailing. From the day he was born, he had every advantage, a prodigy who was always number one, never anything less than the best. 

He was handpicked by Evelyn to inherit the family legacy, and his future was practically guaranteed. 

After taking the reins at Carter Group, his business instincts were unmatched, and his methods were bold and decisive. 

With a background like that, Shepard’s confidence was inevitable, sometimes bordering on arrogance. He believed he was always right, no matter what. Nobody could influence him or keep him in check. 

After that fire, Shepard was convinced Vivian was his soulmate and the woman fate had chosen for him. Briana was just a 

Chapter 163 

wife for show, handed to him by the family. 

And with the Carter family fiercely opposing him and Vivian, he was even more determined to defend his choice, no matter what. 

He thought he was always right. But look at him. Reality slapped him hard. 

Shepard stood there quietly, lost in thought, for what felt like forever. Even after the truck drove off and Briana disappeared back into the gallery, he was still rooted to the spot. 

The wind began to stir, gently sweeping through the air. Shepard turned around and walked away slowly, each step heavy with emotion. 

Back in his car, he leaned his head back, eyes closed, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. 

After a moment, he opened his eyes, his gaze steely and determined. He started the engine. 

Shepard drove up to the cemetery. It wasn’t any kind of memorial day, so the place was totally deserted. The wind was even fiercer than in the city, and the leaves were whipping around noisily. 

The whole mountain was empty, not a single person in sight. Shepard drove up to the two tombstones, following the familiar route he’d taken so many times before. This was where Briana’s parents were buried. 

Shepard’d been here plenty of times before. During holidays, he’d always come with Briana to pay their respects. And on the anniversary of their passing, he’d make sure to show up, too. 

But in the past few years, he hadn’t set foot here at all. He thought it was just a bother. 

Every time Briana came to visit her parents‘ graves, she’d bring loads of things, crouch in front of the tombstones, talk to them for a long time, and quietly shed tears. 

That was one of the rare times Shepard ever saw her cry. Back then, he didn’t feel a shred of sympathy, just indifference and complaints. 

His time was far too precious. There were always a million things demanding his attention, and he couldn’t be bothered by anything he thought was trivial. 

He never had the luxury or the interest to waste hours at the cemetery with her, especially when she’d linger there for at least two hours every single time. 

But at that moment, Shepard drove here alone. 

“Rayden, Monica,” Shepard murmured, “it’s been ages since I last visited. I’m sorry. I don’t even have the courage to face you.” 

He placed the two bouquets he’d brought in front of each tombstone. Then he got down on one knee and started clearing away the weeds around the tombstones himself. 

As he worked, he muttered to himself, “Briana was your pride and joy, your beloved girl. She was promised to me when she was just ten. 

“I was supposed to keep her safe, give her a loving home for the rest of her life. But I failed her, and I failed you both.”