Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 182

Chapter 182 

Eric instinctively looked at Shepard. 

A playful smirk tugged at Shepard’s lips. 

“Vivian’s kid is yours,” Shepard said. “Just as I thought.” 

“Shepard, I, please, just listen to me,” Eric stammered. 

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Shepard let out a cold laugh. He said, “You really are a schemer, Eric. If Vivian had actually married me, that kid would’ve been raised as mine, and you’d just sit back and reap all the rewards. Well played. You’re smart as hell.” 

Vivian suddenly turned and knelt, her back straight. She said, “Shep, he made me do it. He forced me to have his child.” 

Even now, at a time like this, Vivian was still clinging to her same old phony stories. 

Shepard couldn’t stand hearing it anymore. 

He slowly got to his feet. 

“When you told me you got pregnant with my kid that night, I already had my doubts,” Shepard said, his voice flat. “Even drunk, I wouldn’t have touched you. I know my own self–control. I trust myself.” 

He never truly believed the baby was his. 

That’s why he didn’t hesitate to have it aborted. 

Even if it really was his, he still would’ve made the same choice. 

“Vivian, what really happened that night?” Shepard asked, towered over her, his gaze cold and commanding. “Hmm?” 

Vivian gritted her teeth and answered honestly, “You drank, then you passed out. You never touched me.” 

“That’s it?” Shepard asked. 

He thought, ‘Details? Process?‘ 

With a chance like that, there was no way Vivian would just sit back and let it go to waste. 

“I tried to seduce you,” Vivian said, her voice trembling as she laid it all out. “But you were completely unmoved, Shep. You had zero interest in me. And even then, you were calling out Briana’s name in your sleep. 

Shepard froze. That totally blindsided him. 

Vivian gave a bitter smile. “We were fine back then, without a single issue. Yet even drunk beside me, you called out Briana’s name. Shep, has she always been the one in your heart? 

“I was just a pawn to you, something you used to fight against the Carter family’s marriage plans. Honestly, if it hadn’t been me, there would’ve been someone else to come between you and Briana. 

“Because your love was never truly unwavering.” 

Shepard’s expression slowly turned to stone. 

“Isn’t that right?” Vivian asked. “Deep down, you wondered if you truly wanted to spend your whole life with Briana, from childhood to old age. Are you sure she’s your true love? You tried to find a different kind of love, something that felt 

different.” 

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Chapter 182 

Shepard was silent for a long, long time before finally saying. “No.” 

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“You can’t even admit it,” Vivian said, her voice dripping with contempt. “Shepard, you know, how can you be so spineless and weak when it comes to love?” 

“No.” Shepard suddenly roared, his voice so loud it almost shattered the thick walls, echoing through the entire villa. 

“Oh, really?” Vivian asked, her bitter smile grew even more pronounced. “Then why are you so worked up? Looks like I struck a nerve, huh?” 

Vivian knew Shepard inside out. 

She never loved him with her whole heart. 

It was all about schemes and self–interest. 

That was why she could see right through him, clearer than anyone else ever could. 

She was out to conquer him, treating him like a target, a tough puzzle she was determined to crack. 

If she wanted to win, she had to figure Shepard out like a project, know him inside and out, down to every last detail. 

That’s exactly why, for years, Vivian had complete control over Shepard. 

But Briana just loved him way too much. 

When you love someone that much, you get blinded, lose your mind, and stop thinking straight. 

Love was just a wild rush, impulse, hormones, adrenaline, all mixed. 

Vivian continued saying, “Just because I saved you, you really think you could just walk away from Briana, your childhood sweetheart, and toss aside your engagement? Am I really that irresistible? No, Shepard, the truth is, you just wanted to start something new. 

“You and Briana are way too familiar, too comfortable. There’s no spark, no rush anymore. Deep down, your heart was itching for something different, craving a change. I just happened to show up and gave you the perfect reason to justify it all.” 

“Shut up,” Shepard cut her off. 

Vivian looked up at him. “You still can’t face what’s really in your heart, can you? Even now?” 

Vivian finally realized how things stood. 

She was doomed. 

No matter how much she begged or groveled, there was no way out. 

So she just went all in, said whatever she wanted, vented all the pent–up frustration and bitterness in her heart, and kept going until she finally broke through Shepard’s defenses, 

If she was going down, she was taking everyone with her. 

“Vivian, I said, shut up” Shepard barked, his voice sharp and furious. 

But Vivian still didn’t dare defy him, not when things were like this. 

But just then, a gentle voice floated down from the second–floor landing. Someone said, “She’s got a point, Shepard.” 

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Chapter 182 

Shepard turned his head to look. 

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Briana had appeared out of nowhere, standing by the railing on the second floor, quietly watching everything unfold in the living room. 

There was still a trace of sleepiness lingering in her eyes. 

She slowly made her way down the stairs, coming closer. 

As Briana got close enough to see Eric sprawled on the floor, she was hit with a jolt of shock. 

It was a bloody mess. 

But when she caught sight of Eric’s hands, her stomach lurched violently. 

Briana doubled over, clutching her mouth, turning aside as she retched uncontrollably. 

Seeing this, Shepard hurried over and started gently patting Briana’s back. 

At the same time, he barked out, “Drag Eric out.” 

“No,” Briana said. “I’m okay. I’ll get used to it soon.” 

After a few gulps of water and a moment to catch her breath, Briana finally managed to swallow down the nausea. 

She turned her gaze back to Eric. 

“Which finger did Henry bite off?” Briana suddenly asked. 

No one said a word. 

Eric, shaking all over, slowly lifted his head. He asked. “Huh?” 

“Which finger did Henry bite off? You seriously don’t remember?” Briana asked. 

“I don’t remember,” Eric stammered, racking his brain, but it was just a blank. “Whatever. I don’t have a single finger left 

anyway. 

He clenched his jaw, voice trembling with rage. “Shepard, you’re my cousin, my own flesh and blood. How the hell are you gonna explain this to Grandma? To my parents? To the Carter family? 

“You won’t lay a finger on Vivian, but you keep torturing me, your own brother. Are you seriously still falling for Vivian’s crap? How many times does she have to run circles around you before you finally wake up?” 

Shepard just shrugged, totally unfazed. He said, “I don’t owe anyone an explanation.” 

With all the shit Eric had pulled, nobody could save him now.