Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 179

Posted by Adminj, ? Views, Released on January 8, 2026

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram

Chapter 179

“If you hadn’t always taken Vivian’s side and let her get away with everything, would she have the guts to do all this? If you’d seen her true colors sooner, none of this would’ve happened.” Olivia snapped, her words coming. out like a machine gun.

“But you’re not completely useless,” Olivia said, her tone softening a little. “If you hadn’t been the first to jump into the river and pull Briana out, she probably would’ve just drifted downstream.

As she spoke, Olivia’s eyes grew misty again. “We found Henry downstream. The rope on the sack got caught on a tree by the river, and he was stuck at the bottom. If it hadn’t been for that, who knows when we would’ve found him.”

Briana reached out and gently wiped away Olivia’s tears.

“Olivia, I owe him my life,” she said softly. “Should I try to live well, or should I pay him back with my own life? The Parker family probably wishes I’d just die a miserable death, so they can finally let go of their hatred.”

Olivia’s eyes widened in shock. She asked, “Briana, how could you even think that?”

“I just feel like I’m a burden, a source of trouble. I have no value, I only bring trouble and end up hurting the people around me,” Briana said.

Olivia shook her head, trying to comfort her. “Of course, you have to live. Otherwise, Henry’s rescue would have been in vain, wouldn’t it?”

Briana blinked slowly, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “Maybe you’re right after all.”

Shepard lingered nearby, opening his mouth to speak several times, but each time the words died before he could get them out.

He couldn’t talk her out of it, and he couldn’t comfort her either.

A hundred words from him couldn’t hold a candle to one sentence from Olivia.

So he had better let Olivia take over.

Shepard was just too awkward to say anything right.

Olivia was even more anxious than Shepard.

“You have to stay safe and keep living, for Henry and for the baby,” Olivia said, gripping Briana’s wrist tightly. “Do you hear me, Briana? Henry saved your life because he wanted you to keep going, to stay in this world.”

“But Henry’s not here anymore,” Briana said, her voice barely above a breath.

“Then live for him,” Olivia said, her eyes firm and steady. “Take care of his parents for him, live through every spring, summer, fall, and winter for him, and find happiness for him.”

Every word Olivia said hit home.

14:12 Thu, Jan D

Chapter 179

Briana’s eyes gradually cleared, determination returning to her gaze.

“Alright,” she replied softly. “From now on, I’m the Parker family’s daughter. I’ll look after Mr. and Mrs. Parker for the rest of their lives, and fulfill Henry’s duties.”

And that became her reason to go on.

Henry’s death shattered Briana’s world.

She’d always felt indebted to him, and now all she wanted was to make it up to him, but it was too late.

Maybe in another life. If such a thing even existed,

“Briana, you really need to get some rest,” Olivia said gently, concern in her eyes as she took in Briana’s worn- out face. “Please, take care of yourself.”

“I will,” Briana whispered.

“You’re not just living for Henry now. You need to make sure everyone who ever hurt or bullied you gets what they deserve,” Olivia went on saying. “The best payback is to thrive, to show them you’re stronger and happier

than ever.”

Briana nodded, then pulled Olivia into a fierce hug.

“I’m heading to the morgue,” Briana whispered in Olivia’s ear. “I want to be there for Henry’s final farewell.”

Even if the Parker family didn’t want her around.

No matter what, she was going to be there.

Olivia immediately replied, “I’ll go with you.”

The morgue was cold and damp, the air filled with a weird, hard–to–name odor mixed with the strong smell of disinfectant.

Henry’s body was placed front and center, impossible to miss.

Just a single white sheet, and a person was wiped off the face of the earth.

With Kolson and Matilda out of the room for now, Briana got a chance to get close to Henry.

Her fingertips rested gently on the white sheet, but she didn’t uncover it.

“You wanted me to remember you at your very best, the brightest and most positive version of yourself,” Briana said. “I remember everything, I really do. In my heart, you’ll always be the kindest, most gentlemanly Henry.

“You’ve always helped me since we met. You guided me in the student council, teaching me organization and management. When I struggled with subjects, you tutored me and organized my class notes.

“After my breakup with Shepard, you were always there. You told me not to waste feelings on someone who

14:12 Thu, Jan 8

Chapter 179

didn’t love me, but to notice those around me. I didn’t understand then, but now I know you meant yourself.

“After waiting five years, you finally appeared the day I got divorced. But deep down, I just felt I didn’t deserve you anymore.”

Briana gently traced the outline of Henry’s face beneath the white sheet, her touch soft and lingering.

She said, “You deserve better. I’m divorced and felt unworthy, but you never judged. You understood me, always had my back and protected me, even without warning, no questions asked.

“Henry, if there’s another chance, let’s be together, okay?”

The biggest regret in life was not unrequited love, not breaking up, and it’s not just missing out because fate wasn’t on your side. It was being torn apart by life and death.

Life and death carved out the deepest divide, one that no one could ever cross, no matter how hard they tried.

Briana couldn’t give Henry her heart in this lifetime; all she could offer was a promise for another.

Henry’s only mistake was not meeting Briana before Shepard did.

Shepard’s luck was meeting Briana when she was just ten.

Everything was so quiet, almost creepily so.

Shepard gazed at Briana’s side profile, a dull ache in his chest.

She said she wanted to be with Henry if there was another chance.

She wasn’t even thinking about Shepard anymore; he was completely out of the picture.

If Henry had made it through, Briana would have run straight to him, no hesitation.

Shepard couldn’t make her stay, no matter what he did.

And now, with Henry gone, he couldn’t hold onto Briana anymore.

She hated him, blamed him, resented him.

Briana made sure the white sheet was perfectly in place, smoothing every edge and corner with gentle care before finally straightening up.

She said, “Henry, you’ll always be in my heart. I’ll come visit you every year.”

Even if her heart was shattered, Briana knew she had no choice but to accept the truth. Henry was really gone.

Footsteps sounded behind her.

Before Briana could even turn around, Kolson’s voice cut through the silence. He said, “You again, Briana. Why haunt us? You killed my son. Must you ruin the entire Parker family to be satisfied?”