Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 188

Chapter 188 

Chapter 188 

CLEA 

22–Luchers 

“What’s the point of all that?” Briana asked. “How much can you really spend? You can’t take it with you when you go? “How is it useless? Money gives you respect and confidence. Besides, Shepard’s got way more than just cash, Charles said. 

“Then go marry him,” Briana shot back. 

Charles fell silent. 

“I’d love to,” Charles replied. “But do you think he’d actually want to marry me?” 

Briana rolled her eyes at him. 

“But,” Charles switched gears, “Shepard’s got a nasty temper. Honestly, I don’t think I could put up with that. Anyway, I’m getting off track. 

“Just tell me, you said you wanted a divorce just to piss him off, right? You were just saying it out of anger, weren’t you?” 

“I’m dead serious,” Briana replied. 

“Briana, what’s going on in that head of yours?” Charles muttered. 

“Charles,” Briana cut him off, “yeah, chasing money matters, but there are other things worth fighting for, too. Like freedom, love, and happiness. 

“If I keep staying with Shepard, I’ll just get more and more depressed. I don’t want to waste away in a marriage like this.” Charles was practically freaking out. “So what am I supposed to do?” 

“You?” Briana raised an eyebrow. 

“I’m basically broke,” Charles groaned. 

Briana just stared at him. “Do you even have any assets?” 

“Forget it, you wouldn’t get it,” Charles said, getting to his feet. “Give me three days, I’ll see how things turn out, and we’ll talk.” 

Briana couldn’t care less about his problems. She absently took a sip of her coffee and gazed at the empty living room. 

Her heart felt just as empty. 

‘After all these years, what do I really have to show for it? Nothing. I had lost more than I could count. The only one who’d stick with me for the long haul is the little one growing inside me,’ she wondered. 

If it weren’t for this baby, Briana wouldn’t have any reason to keep going. 

** 

Night fell. 

The maid knocked on Briana’s door. “Time for dinner, Ms. Lane.” 

“Okay,” Briana replied. 

She opened the door and headed downstairs to the dining room. 

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The dining room was empty, with just three dishes and a soup set out on the table, and only one place setting. 

“Charles isn’t eating at home? Briana asked. 

“No. Mr. Lane said he had something to take care of tonight,” the maid replied. 

Briana just nodded, sat down, picked up her plate, and began to eat slowly. 

The room was so quiet that the only sound was the crisp tap of her fork against the porcelain plate. 

As she ate, Briana’s throat tightened, and she could barely get the food down. 

She just wanted to cry. All she could think about was Henry. If only she could rewind the clock. 

She forced herself to chew, each bite harder than the last. “I’m full,” Briana finally managed to say. 

If she forced herself to eat any more, she’d probably throw up. 

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The maid stared at the barely touched food, about to say something, when suddenly, a string of headlights swept across the window. 

Who could that be?‘ Briana wondered. ‘So many cars.’ 

Briana turned to look out the window, but it was so dark that she could hardly see anything; she could just make out two or three cars parked out in the garden. 

Instinctively, she figured Charles must’ve messed up again, and now people were coming straight to the door to deal with it. 

That explained why they were rolling in like they meant business. 

Briana’s head was already starting to pound. 

When will Charles ever stop causing trouble?‘ she thought. 

“I’ll go check it out,” Briana said, getting up. She turned to the maid. “You can clean up here.” 

“Yes, Ms. Lane,” the maid replied. 

Briana took a deep breath, doing her best to look composed. She didn’t want anyone to truly underestimate her just because she was a woman. 

She stepped out of the villa just as the door of the lead car swung open. 

Out stepped, it was Evelyn, along with Richard and Isabelle. 

Then, Wrenley stepped out of the next car. 

Briana recognized the last car. 

It was Shepard’s. 

So this whole scene wasn’t about Charles at all; they were here for her. 

Briana was caught off guard. 

She could be cold and sarcastic with Shepard, but when it came to the Carter family and Evelyn, she still had to show the proper respect and manners as someone from the younger generation. 

Briana stepped down the stairs, feeling a bit awkward. “Good evening, Mr. Carter.” 

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She glanced at Richard and Isabelle, but she just couldn’t bring herself to act as their son’s wife anymore. 

“Let’s head inside. It’s windy and chilly out here,” Evelyn said. “Briana, come give me a hand. 

“Okay, Mrs. Carter,” Briana replied, 

Briana offered her arm to Evelyn as they walked in. 

Behind them, Shepard and Wrenley followed, walking side by side. 

Just moments ago, the living room had felt empty and lonely, but now it was filled with people. 

Evelyn and Wrenley took the seats of honor at the front, sitting side by side. 

Richard and Isabelle sat together. 

Shepard sat on one side, while Briana settled on the other, putting as much distance between them as possible. 

The gap between them was obvious. 

Steam curled up from the cups. 

Despite the crowd, the room was unusually quiet. 

Evelyn was the first to break the silence. 

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“Briana, I hope you don’t mind us showing up here with half the family and no warning,” Evelyn said. “I was just worried sick about you, thinking about you all the time.” 

“Shepard’s already told us everything,” Evelyn sighed, shaking her head. “You’ve really been through a lot, Briana. You didn’t deserve any of this. 

“I always knew Vivian was trouble, just a gold–digger, clearly targeting Shepard and our family from the very beginning. 

“That’s why I never liked her, never wanted her around, and always pushed for you to marry into the Carter family and become Shepard’s 

Wife, the real deal. But I never thought she’d turn out to be so nasty!” 

She continued, “And Eric? Well, that’s just more family mess. Honestly, it’s a scandal.” 

Evelyn looked genuinely ashamed. “Briana, I just have to ask you face–to–face, have you really thought this through? Are you sure you want a divorce? You won’t regret it, right? This isn’t just you being mad, is it?” 

The whole room turned to stare at Briana. 

All eyes were on her, waiting for her answer. 

Briana wasn’t hesitating. She’d already made up her mind. 

Just as Briana was about to answer, Wrenley spoke up. “Briana, it was Evelyn and I who brought you and Shepard together. If your marriage hasn’t turned out well, we have to take responsibility. 

“If we hadn’t taken it upon ourselves to arrange this match, maybe you both could have found happiness on your own paths.” 

Wrenley looked at Briana with the same affection and pity she’d always shown her. 

Ever since Briana lost her parents as a child, Wrenley had been the only one she could truly rely on. 

Wrenley had believed she was doing right by her granddaughter, hoping that a good marriage would bring comfort to her 

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late son and his wife’s souls. 

But in the end, she’d only pushed Briana further into the abyss. 

Everyone in the room felt like they’d let Briana down. 

And these were the ones who truly had Briana’s best interests at heart. 

Isabelle’s eyes were rimmed with tears as she quietly dabbed at the corners. 

Richard silently handed her a tissue. 

R 

“I’ve never held a grudge against anyone because of this marriage,” Briana said quietly. “The day I married Shepard, I was genuinely happy. Even now, I can remember every single detail of our wedding like it was yesterday. 

“I thought if I was just patient enough, gentle enough, and understanding enough, I could make things work and keep our life peaceful. 

“But I was so naive back then. I never realized that love and marriage are really about two people, not just one.” 

AD