Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 216

The man carried himself with a refined air, his hair already streaked with gray. Clad in a tailored suit, he was the picture of a cultured, successful gentleman. 

“Mr. Sharp,” the staff member said, “this is Ms. Briana Lane, the artist behind Beneath the Waves.” 

The man rose to his feet and offered his hand. “Hello, Ms. Lane. I’m Raiden Sharp.” 

“Mr. Sharp,” Briana said, shaking his hand. “Nice to meet you.” 

“Please, have a seat,” Raiden said. 

Briana nodded and sat down. 

Raiden smiled warmly. “I’ve decided to buy your painting and display it at home. But before making the purchase, I wanted to meet you in person. You’re even younger and more refined than I expected.” 

“Mr. Sharp, I’m still new to painting myself. May I ask, what is it about Beneath the Waves that caught your eye?” Briana asked. 

Raiden said, “Out of all the paintings here, Beneath the Waves is the only one that truly makes me feel like I’m right there beneath the waves. 

“The colors are bold and striking, and your technique is truly one of a kind. Trust me, it won’t be long before the whole world knows your name.” 

“You’re flattering me,” Briana said with a shy smile. “Maybe it’s just because I’m new to all this, so the colors come out so vivid and raw.” 

“That’s exactly the feeling I love,” Raiden replied. “Once you get famous, you start worrying too much, and suddenly you hesitate. You lose that fearless touch, and it’s hard to paint what you really want.” 

Raiden kept the conversation lively, every word full of genuine appreciation for Briana. 

They talked for nearly half an hour. 

In the end, Beneath the Waves was sold for 300 thousand. 

“Thank you for appreciating my work, Mr. Sharp. If you ever have the time, you’re always welcome at my gallery,” Briana said. 

Raiden laughed heartily. “I can guarantee you, it won’t be long before Beneath the Waves is worth several times what I paid. For me, this painting is both a treasure for my collection and a smart investment.” 

Raiden didn’t even hesitate. He made a generous offer and bought Briana’s painting on the spot, making her believe in herself more than ever. 

Her art was recognized, and it actually had value in the market. 

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But even more important, someone truly understood what she wanted to convey through her work. 

That meant more to her than any price tag ever could. 

Art had always been something people just got. It was not something people could really explain with words. 

After Raiden left, Briana stayed on the couch, letting the excitement slowly sink in. 

‘Couldn’t have asked for a better beginning!‘ Briana thought to herself. 

Her hands shook as she clutched her cup, bursting with happiness and wishing she could share it with 

someone. 

Who should I share this with?‘ she wondered. 

Just as she was pondering who to tell, Shepard opened the door and stepped inside. 

“Did you close the deal?” Shepard asked. “How did it go?” 

Briana just looked at him, not even blinking. 

At this milestone moment in her life, the one by her side, supporting her and sharing in her joy… was Shepard. 

“Hmm?” Shepard raised an eyebrow. “What’s up?” 

Her eyes held a special look. 

Briana hesitated for a few seconds before asking, “You didn’t set this up, did you? You didn’t have someone buy my painting just to help me out?” 

Shepard smiled softly. 

He curved his lips in a gentle smirk, came over, and lowered himself onto the couch next to her. 

“Briana, are you really that unsure of yourself?” he asked, his voice warm. “Would you rather believe I set all this up, instead of trusting that your talent and your art truly have real value?” 

“Because… it all went so smoothly. It’s almost too good to be true, like I’m living in a dream,” Briana murmured, still in disbelief. 

“No, you really deserve this. Briana, this is just the start for you,” Shepard said, his eyes full of conviction. “You’re going to go even further, and I’ll be so proud to have a renowned artist as my wife.” 

He reached out, ruffled her hair gently, and then gave it a soft, affectionate tousle. 

“To be honest, I really love Beneath the Waves, too. I wish I could keep it for myself. But I know it means so much more to you when someone else truly appreciates your work,” Shepard said. 

After a pause, Shepard sighed. “Honestly, I wish I could own every piece you’ve ever painted.” 

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Briana looked at Shepard’s profile, and she found herself remembering something from their past. 

Back then, they were deeply in love. 

At that time, Briana hadn’t given up painting yet. It was just a hobby. She’d set up her easel whenever she had some free time. 

There was a time when she spent the whole afternoon on the balcony, painting away from noon till dusk, completely absorbed in her art. 

When she finally turned around, she saw Shepard standing right behind her. 

She had no idea when he’d shown up. 

But he didn’t make a sound or interrupt her. He just quietly kept her company. 

When Briana finally noticed him, Shepard spoke up. “Are you done painting? Are you hungry?” 

He lifted the shopping bag in his hand. “I got you the tiramisu from that place you 

love.” 

Nothing ever beat that tiramisu from that shop and at that one time. 

After that, every tiramisu she tried just couldn’t compare. It never tasted as good again. 

Briana pulled herself back to the present, lowering her eyes. 

Shepard had always supported her passions and dreams. 

Yet for marriage, for him, she had set aside all her own plans for her life, choosing instead to become a housewife, to support him and raise their children. 

She thought, ‘Man, I was so stupid. 

‘Being yourself and loving yourself—that’s what life’s really all about.‘ 

Just as Briana was about to say something, someone knocked on the door. 

Right after, the staff member called out from the hallway, “Ms. Lane, are you in there? May I come in?” 

“Come in,” Briana replied. 

It was the same staff member from before, grinning from ear to ear. “Ms. Lane, someone’s interested in your other painting, Starlit Skies. Should I bring him in so you two can talk?” 

Briana’s jaw dropped. She was floored and thrilled at the same time. 

‘Wait, someone wants to buy Starlit Skies, too?‘ Briana thought, her heart pounding. 

She’d brought three paintings to the art show. 

Now, both Beneath the Waves and Starlit Skies had found buyers. 

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That only left By the Window. 

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‘Wait, am I really about to sell out every single piece?‘ Briana thought, her heart pounding with excitement. 

Briana was so stunned that she forgot to answer the staff member. 

Shepard jumped in for her. “Yeah, we’ll wait right here for the buyer,” he said, taking charge. 

“Alright, I’ll bring him right over,” the staff member replied. 

It wasn’t long before the new buyer arrived. 

This buyer was much younger, probably in his thirties, tall and slender. 

As soon as he sat down, he cut right to the chase. “I’m friends with Mr. Sharp. I heard he bought your painting, Beneath the Waves, so I had to come see your other pieces for myself. 

“I’m really taken with Starlit Skies and I’d love to add it to my collection…” 

He didn’t beat around the bush. After a quick chat, the deal was done in under five minutes. 

Before she knew it, within the first hour of the art show, Briana had managed to sell two of her paintings already. 

Leonard was over the moon. He couldn’t stop smiling. 

‘My student is really showing me off big time,’ Leonard thought, beaming with pride. 

Word spread like wildfire through the art show. 

Before long, the booth for Briana’s last painting, By the Window, was swarmed with people. 

Everyone was dying to know what set this rising star, Leonard’s last student, apart from the rest. 

Honestly, Briana was over the moon, but the nerves were definitely kicking in, too. 

Good thing Shepard never stopped hyping her up, always there with words of encouragement. 

And Leonard was just as proud. He couldn’t stop smiling. 

AD