Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 238

Chapter 238 

But Shepard stopped him. 

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“She’s already asleep. Even though you’re her brother, you can’t just walk in,” Shepard said. “If you’ve got something to say, say it here.” 

Charles was frantic. “At a time like this, you’re still worried about propriety? Briana, you fainted at the hospital today, didn’t you?” 

He raised his voice, loud enough for everyone on the second floor to hear. 

Briana sat up in bed. 

She quickly wiped away her tears, blinked, and tried to sound calm and casual. “Yeah, Shepard brought me home. Don’t worry, Charles, I’m really okay.” 

“Briana, you’re still forcing yourself!” Charles said. 

“What are you talking about? Come on, Charles, I probably fainted from low blood sugar. I just had my prenatal checkup, I’m really fine,” Briana replied. 

Charles shouted even louder, “Don’t try to hide it from me! I already talked to the doctor! I’m your brother, so the doctor told me everything!” 

Briana couldn’t get a single word out. It felt like an invisible hand was gripping her throat. She couldn’t breathe, as if she might suffocate at any moment. 

Shepard’s eyes darkened with concern. “What did the doctor say?” he asked, and if one listened closely, his voice was trembling. 

Charles let out a heavy sigh. “Briana, are you going to tell Shepard yourself, or do I have to do it? This is something you two have to figure out together!” 

The bedroom was dark. 

Shepard turned around and could barely make out Briana’s motionless figure sitting on the bed. Briana stayed completely 

still. 

After about ten seconds, Briana finally spoke, her voice quiet. “Charles, I’ll talk to him myself. You should get some rest; it’s already late.” 

“Alright, alright, Charles nodded. “I’ll come by tomorrow morning to see what you two decide.” 

With that, Charles left. As he walked out, he patted Shepard on the shoulder. 

The door closed behind him. The light from the hallway disappeared. 

Shepard still didn’t turn on the light. He stood there in silence, unmoving. Briana remained motionless on the bed. 

After what felt like forever, Shepard finally spoke. “Briana, what’s going on with your health?” 

He already had a sense of what was happening, but he didn’t know the exact details. 

She fainted, wouldn’t stay in the hospital, and her mood was clearly in the dumps. 

It was obvious from everything Briana said and did that she was carrying a heavy secret all on her own. 

11:03 Sat, Feb 14 

Chapter 238 

Shepard walked over to the bed, bent down, and sat on the edge beside her. 

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He reached out and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. His touch was tender, full of affection. His fingertips brushed softly across Briana’s cheek, making her skin tingle. 

He soon felt the dampness beneath his touch. Those were her tears, the tears that she hadn’t wiped away. Shepard’s fingers stilled against her face. 

The next second, he felt the wetness of her tears as they slid down her cheek. She was crying again. 

Shepard’s heart clenched with pain. 

‘What on earth happened to make her cry like this, again and again?‘ he thought. 

“Briana, tell me,” Shepard said, gently pulling her into his embrace. “No matter what, I’m always here for you.” 

He held her close, softly comforting her. But instead of soothing Briana, it only made her fall apart even more. 

In his arms, she finally let herself sob uncontrollably. Her cries echoed in the room. 

Briana’s sobs and choked whimpers spilled out, no longer needing to be held back. She let herself cry as much as she needed. 

She buried her face in Shepard’s chest, sobbing nonstop, her shoulders shaking as her tears soaked his pajamas. 

She cried for what felt like ages before she finally stopped. 

Her face was covered in tears, and her eyes were red. Her voice was all raspy from crying. 

The whole time, Shepard didn’t interrupt her. He held her and stayed with her. He waited in silence until she was ready. 

Late at night, in the darkness, the two of them sat so close together. 

But he couldn’t help but wonder if their hearts could ever find each other again. 

Shepard used to think that after being trapped in that valley for a whole day and night, he could finally find his way back into Briana’s heart. He’d really been too naive. 

‘But what about this time? Can we really let each other in again?‘ he wondered. 

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” Shepard said, brushing away the tears beneath her eyes with his thumb. “Briana, it’s time to tell me the truth.” 

Briana looked up from his embrace. 

She could barely see Shepard’s eyes in the dim light coming from outside. 

She grabbed his shirt tightly. “Shepard, it’s either the baby or me. If you have to pick one—” 

“You,” Shepard replied instantly, not even hesitating. 

“I knew it,” Briana choked out, her voice thick with emotion. “You’d never even hesitate to pick me.” 

That was exactly why she hadn’t wanted to tell him. She wanted to choose the baby. 

Even after five years of marriage, when their relationship was hanging by a thread and they were nearly divorced, Briana always knew, deep down, just how much Shepard loved her, especially now. 

His feelings for her went way beyond just love. He felt guilty, like he owed her something. 

11:04 Sat, Feb 14 

Chapter 238 

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“Of course, I’d choose you,” Shepard said. “Briana, you’re the most important, the one and only. There’s no one I’d ever give you up for. Not even- 

He added, “Not even myself.” 

If it ever came down to choosing between himself and Briana, he’d always choose her. She was always number one to him. 

Briana’s tears overflowed again, breaking free. Her tears came down in heavy streams, big drops falling onto her cheeks. 

“Don’t cry,” Shepard sighed. “You’re crying so much. I can’t wipe the tears all away, no matter how hard I try.” 

Briana bit her lip, her vision blurred by tears. 

“The prenatal checkup was fine, the baby is perfectly healthy,” Briana said, her voice hoarse and soft, with a hint of hopelessness. “I’m the one who’s not okay. My heart needs surgery.” 

Shepard’s face fell, suddenly serious. “Heart surgery?” he asked, his voice strained. “When do you need it?” 

Before Briana could even finish, his mind was already racing, thinking about which world–class cardiac team he could call in for her. He’d spare no expense, whatever it took. 

Briana looked up, meeting his gaze. “If I have the surgery, I’ll have to lose the baby,” she said, her voice trembling. “And the surgery isn’t a sure thing. Even if I get the heart operation.” 

Shepard cut her off again. “We have to fight for that chance. We can’t give up.” 

No matter what Briana said, Shepard’s stance was crystal clear. 

He was all in for the treatment, for the surgery. He never even brought up the baby, Because to Shepard, Briana was more important than the baby. 

“Can you let me finish?” Briana choked out, her voice trembling with tears. “Shepard, even if I lose the baby, there’s no guarantee I’ll live much longer. 

“So why can’t I choose to have this baby, let it carry on my life for me?” 

The gentleness in Shepard’s voice disappeared. “Are you crazy?” he shot back. 

‘Is she out of her mind? She’s willing to gamble her own life just to have this baby, and throw away her best shot at getting treated?‘ Shepard thought. 

11:04 Sat, Feb 14