Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 195

Chapter 195 

Just then, Shepard stopped in his tracks. 

He thought that if he just took a breather, the discomfort would fade. 

Unexpectedly, it only got worse. 

His head spun, his body felt weak, and his legs were like jelly. 

Then, Shepard suddenly crumpled to the floor. 

“Mr. Carter!” Daniel shouted. 

He was the first to react, rushing forward in a panic and grabbing Shepard just in time, before he could collapse to the floor. 

‘If I hadn’t caught him, he would’ve tumbled down the stairs.‘ Daniel thought, heart pounding. ‘He could’ve gotten seriously hurt!‘ 

Shepard’s whole weight crashed down on Daniel, leaving him completely unconscious. 

Daniel struggled under his weight, barely keeping him upright. 

Luckily, the others rushed over one after another, quickly lending a hand. 

“Call an ambulance,” Daniel yelled, his voice full of urgency. “Hurry up.” 

The ambulance came racing over, sirens blaring, and the paramedics quickly loaded Shepard up before speeding away. 

After putting it off for so long, Shepard finally ended up in the hospital. 

After a round of tests, some scans, and getting put on an IV drip, Shepard was finally settled in. 

The doctor stood at his bedside, X–rays in hand. “He’s got to stay here until his pneumonia clears up. And right now, his fever just won’t break, so it’s pretty bad.” 

Shepard’s lips were pale, his eyes shut, looking like all the life had been drained out of him. 

Normally, he was the picture of strength and authority. 

Daniel nodded. “Alright, Doctor. We’ll do as you say.” 

“Where’s his family?” the doctor asked. “Someone from his family needs to stay with him and handle the paperwork.” 

Daniel froze. 

‘Which family member should I call?‘ Daniel thought, his mind racing. ‘His parents? His grandma? Or his wife?‘ 

But honestly, the first person he would call is Briana. 

Right then, lying in his hospital bed, Shepard suddenly began murmuring the same name again and again. 

“Briana.” Each word came out like he was about to cry, pouring his heart out. 

The doctor couldn’t quite catch what he was saying and asked, “What’s he saying?” 

“He’s calling for his wife, Briana,” Daniel replied. “Doctor, please wait a moment. I’ll call his family over to sign the paperwork.” 

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The doctor nodded, returned to the bedside to check on the IV drip, and then left the room. 

Daniel picked up his phone, found Briana’s number, and dialed. 

“Hello?” After a moment, Briana’s soft voice came through the line. 

“Mrs. Carter, it’s Daniel, the butler at Carter Estate,” Daniel said. 

Briana was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Just call me Briana. I’m not Mrs. Carter anymore.” 

“Once Mrs. Carter, always Mrs. Carter. You were, you are, and you always will be. Carter Estate has only ever had one lady of the house, and that’s you,” Daniel replied. 

Briana smiled, “Just tell me what’s going on, Daniel.” 

Daniel looked at Shepard lying in the hospital bed, concern written all over his face. 

Shepard was still softly murmuring Briana’s name, his voice barely audible. 

“Briana, listen,” Daniel said. 

Daniel brought the phone close to Shepard’s mouth so Briana could hear him herself. 

“Briana, don’t blacklist me,” Shepard murmured, his voice barely audible. “Please, just leave it. I promise I won’t bother you. Briana?” 

Shepard’s words were soft and slurred, but Briana heard every word loud and clear. 

Briana frowned. “What’s up with him?” 

‘Is he possessed or something? Why is he saying all this out of nowhere?‘ she wondered. 

She really had restricted him to just messaging her on her social media. 

But knowing Shepard, he’d just keep it to himself and never bring it up. 

Or, he’d just snatch her phone and change the setting back himself. 

Briana truly understood Shepard’s personality. 

“Briana,” Daniel said anxiously, “Mr. Carter is really sick.” 

“If he’s sick, he should be seeing a doctor, not calling me. I can’t help with that,” Briana said, her tone flat. 

“He’s already been admitted to the hospital,” Daniel explained. “He’s got pneumonia and a high fever, and the doctors say a family member needs to be here to stay with him and sign the forms,” 

There was a brief silence on Briana’s end. 

Then she said, “I’m not the only family member he has.” 

“But you’re the one he wants to see most,” Daniel replied. 

“I’m not coming,” Briana said coldly. “Daniel, don’t waste your breath.” 

Daniel let out a sigh. “Honestly, Mrs. Carter, there are things I really shouldn’t be the one to say” 

“Then just keep it to yourself,” Briana interrupted, her voice icy. 

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Briana cut him off, her tone icy and firm, shutting Daniel down before he could get another word in 

She knew Shepard all too well and she knew herself even more. 

She was just way too easy to sway. 

If Daniel kept pushing, she’d probably cave and go visit Shepard, no matter what she said. 

‘No way, she told herself. ‘I can’t go. If I go, Shepard will just think I’ve caved, that I’m ready to forgive him and start over! 

“He’s really sick, and it’s been going on for days,” Daniel said, worry etched in his voice. “He’s been working overtime constantly, sometimes even sleeping at the office.” 

“If he wants to run himself ragged, that’s his problem,” Briana said, her voice cold as ice. 

“It’s all for you,” Daniel pressed, his tone unwavering. 

Briana blinked, confused. “Me? What did I do?” 

‘It’s not like I did anything, or made things harder for Shepard,‘ she wondered, 

“Well, to be precise, it’s all because of Charles,” Daniel said. “That whole mess with him is a nightmare to deal with But you know how Mr. Carter is. He just handles everything quietly, never complains, never says a word.” 

That really hit a nerve for Briana. 

Shepard was only this sick because he’d run himself into the ground cleaning up after Charles. 

‘So what now? Am I really just going to pretend it’s none of my business?‘ Briana thought. “That’s just heartless. No way I can defend that.’ 

Hearing Briana stay silent but not hang up, Daniel kept talking, trying to reach her. 

“And besides all that, Mr. Carter has been handling every single thing about the divorce,” Daniel went on. “Splitting up the assets, dividing the property, managing the fallout in the press, answering to the board It’s all landed on him alone. 

“Briana, divorce isn’t just a piece of paper. For someone like Mr. Carter, it’s a huge deal; every department gets involved. 

“He’s either stuck in legal or PR, sorting things out. But he’s never said a word to you about it, never complained, not once.” 

He continued, “Now that he’s sick, all he wants is for you to come see him, maybe just look after him a little. Is that really too much? 

“You guys were together for five years as husband and wife, and over ten years in total. That kind of history doesn’t just 

vanish. 

“And more than anything, even now, the only name he’s calling for is you.” 

Briana held her phone and sighed deeply, 

Her voice was no longer cold. She simply said, “I’ll come by in a bit.” 

Daniel replied with heartfelt relief, “Yes, Mrs. Carter.” 

After ending the call, Briana rushed to the hospital. 

Daniel glanced at Shepard, sprawled out on the hospital bed. 

‘I just hope I didn’t do something pointless,’ Daniel thought. ‘I really hope this is what Mr. Carter wants most.‘ 

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When Briana walked into the hospital room, Shepard still had one last IV drip to go. 

The nurse was in the middle of swapping out the empty bag for a fresh one. 

Briana walked over to the bedside and looked at Shepard’s pale face. 

‘It’s only been a short while since I last saw him, how did he end up looking so drained and defeated?‘ she thought. 

His cheeks were sunken, his jawline more defined than ever, and the stubble on his chin was noticeable. His eyes were clouded with fatigue. 

Once the nurse finished swapping out the IV bag and left, Daniel followed her out and pulled the door shut behind him. 

Now Briana was left alone by Shepard’s bedside. 

AD