Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 244

Posted by Adminj, ? Views, Released on February 16, 2026

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Pinterest Telegram

Chapter 244

5 voucher

Shepard wished Briana would cherish herself above all others and live a life full of brightness and radiance,

All Briana needed to worry about was how to protect the baby.

Shepard, on the other hand, was only concerned with saving her. He couldn’t lose her.

“You’ll always be here for me, always by my side,” Briana sobbed, “But if I’m gone someday, what will you do? Who will you turn to then?”

Shepard’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice choked with emotion. “Briana, I’ll try my best to make sure you’re always here, so you’ll live longer than me, okay?”

“Don’t say it!” Briana blurted out, shaking her head.

Briana already had heart issues, and the surgery was a huge risk. There was no way she could outlive him. She didn’t like Shepard saying such things.

“Don’t say stuff like that,” Briana’s tears streamed down as she looked up at him, her eyes all blurry. “Shepard, you’re going to live long.”

“Then you have to live long too, Briana,” Shepard said softly.

“I–I-” Briana mumbled.

Shepard gave a gentle smile. “It only matters if you’re there with me.”

Her last emotional wall was shattered completely.

Briana collapsed into Shepard’s arms, her sobs wracking her body, loud, desperate, and utterly hopeless. Every cry was like a desperate plea, each one aching with grief.

When Shepard saw Briana quietly shedding tears, it tugged at his heart. He hoped she’d let herself break down and release it all.

But when she finally did, it hurt him even more to see her fall apart.

Shepard wrapped his arms around her, patiently waiting for her to finish crying.

From time to time, he’d reach up and gently wipe away her tears.

Briana had no idea how long she’d been crying. Her voice was raw, her eyes puffy and swollen, before she finally managed to calm down.

“Feeling any better?” Shepard asked softly. “You know, you almost made me cry, too, Briana.”

Briana was taken aback, glancing up at him in surprise.

‘Wait, did he actually cry?‘ she wondered. But he hadn’t. She felt a bit relieved.

But Shepard’s eyes were rimmed with red. He was fighting back tears, comforting her again and again.

“Do you really love me that much?” Briana asked, her voice trembling. “Just me? Not anyone else, not even our baby?”

“Yes, Briana. No matter what happens, even if we’re both in danger, I’d always choose you first,” Shepard replied.

1/4

Chapter 244

It was like when we were trapped in that canyon and when Henry risked everything to save Briana.

If Shepard had been there, he would’ve done exactly what Henry did.

When one loved someone that much, nothing else mattered, not even their life.

6 vouchers.

Briana bit her lip so hard it almost hurt, desperately trying to keep her feelings in check. “Shepard, I love you, too.”

After a long moment of silence, she finally let the words slip out.

Shepard froze for a second, then his face lit up with pure joy. He carefully pulled her into his arms, holding her close like she was the most precious thing in the world.

She was finally opening up to him. She told him she loved him.

Those were the most touching words Shepard had ever heard in his life.

“I love you so, so much. From the time I was just a clueless girl until now, you’ve always been the only man I’ve ever truly loved, the only one who’s ever made my heart race,” Briana murmured.

“Honestly, I know I could never fall for anyone else. My heart doesn’t have room for a second person,” she added.

Shepard’s heart beat only for her. His eyes were full of tenderness.

But then Briana’s tone shifted. “But I love our baby, too. Sometimes I feel so useless. Why do I have to be stuck with a body that keeps failing me? I was pregnant with twins, and I couldn’t even save either of them.”

She blamed herself. She couldn’t resign herself to it.

“Shepard, can we love our baby together? Let’s-” Briana’s words faltered. But before she could finish, Shepard answered her

with a kiss.

He sealed every word she wanted to say with his lips, letting his kiss speak for him. It was so gentle, like a feather brushing against her lips.

Most of the time, Shepard’s kisses were possessive and overwhelming, claiming her mouth until she could barely breathe.

He was always so assertive, so passionate, and so intense. But this time, all Shepard wanted was to soothe her, to bring her

peace.

Whenever Briana tried to speak, Shepard would deepen the kiss, gently quieting her.

Eventually, Briana relented, curling up in his arms like a little kitten, soft and quiet.

Shepard brushed her lips with a soft kiss before finally releasing her.

“Now it’s my turn,” Shepard murmured, his chin gently pressed against her hair. “Briana, ever since I found out you were sick, my mind’s never changed, and it never will. Nothing you say is going to change that.

“I’ve already decided. Once the medical team gets here, you’re getting admitted and starting all the tests. The doctors will work out the best plan for you.

“Even if you try to fight me, it won’t matter. If I have to, I’ll carry you to the hospital myself, kicking and screaming.”

Briana blinked in surprise. “Huh?”

2/4

1:10 am PPP

Chapter 244

Yep, hogtie you if I have to,” Shepard teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Briana let out a helpless laugh, burying her face in his chest and snuggling closer.

Vouchers

“Don’t fight it, and don’t keep struggling. Put yourself first. Love yourself, okay?” Shepard said gently. “I love you, and we’re all here loving you.”

“The baby?” Briana murmured.

“As long as you get healthy again, maybe in three or five years, we can try for another one. Would you like that?” Shepard said gently. He took a step back for her.

Even though the odds of Briana getting pregnant again after heart surgery were very slim, this was all Shepard could promise her right now, just to give her a little hope, something to hold on to.

Briana wasn’t some naive kid anymore. She knew exactly that he was trying to comfort her.

By now, they’d said everything there was to say, and Shepard refused to budge. It seemed like Briana had nothing left to try.

Briana gently placed her hand on her stomach.

Noticing this, Shepard placed his hand on top of hers. He held her hand for a moment, then released it.

“We really can try again for a baby, but you only have one life,” Shepard said softly.

After a long, long silence, Briana finally murmured, “Okay.”

Shepard stiffened, then asked in a low, incredulous voice, “Briana, did you really say yes?”

“Yes,” Shepard replied.

When Briana gave him her answer again, Shepard was ecstatic. He suddenly pulled her into a fierce embrace, squeezing her. so tightly that it was almost overwhelming.

Realizing he might be holding her too tight, Shepard eased up a bit, but he couldn’t let her go.

“It’s settled then, Briana. We’re in this together,” Shepard said, his voice steady and resolute. “We’ll face the treatment and heart surgery side by side.”

He said we, not you. Shepard always stood shoulder to shoulder with Briana. There was no dividing line between them.

Briana looked up at him, holding onto his shoulders, and gave him a soft, tender kiss. “Alright,” she said gently. “I promise you.”

Shepard was so overjoyed that words simply couldn’t capture what he was feeling. He kept taking deep breaths, trying to steady himself.

“Briana, you finally agreed. You’re finally choosing to love yourself,” Shepard murmured. “Promise me, from now on, every time, you’ll put yourself first. Can you do that for me? I want you to love yourself, even more than you love anyone else.”