Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rowan Vale 28

Briana thought in shock, Wait… isn’t that David? Vivian’s cousin? Charles really has no sense. Of all the people to pick a fight with, why did it have to be a Fletcher?‘ 

David worked for the Fletcher family’s company. He was capable and knew how to play the game, which was how he’d risen so quickly to become general manager. 

In fact, the whole Fletcher family was coasting on Vivian’s success. Ever since she won Shepard over, the rest of them had been along for the ride. 

But as far as Briana knew, Charles and David had never even met. They had no business dealings and no personal connection. ‘So how on earth did they get into a fight?‘ she wondered. 

David’s face was swollen like a bruised pumpkin, one eye completely blackened. He had clearly lost the fight, and badly. 

“Good, you’re here, Briana,” David said, his voice tight with anger. “Let me make one thing clear: this is not over. Forget compensation. I’m having him charged with assault, and I won’t rest until he’s in jail. You can count on that.” 

Briana’s heart sank. She’d been ready to apologize on the spot and cover all the medical costs. She’d swallow her pride and do anything to make this go away. But with a Fletcher involved, it was a whole different story. 

The Fletchers had been riding Vivian’s coattails for years. They stuck together, of course. 

And they’d never had any love for Briana. In their eyes, if it weren’t for her, Vivian would have long married into the Carter family, and the whole family would be sitting pretty. This was gonna be a tough fight. 

Before Briana could get a word out, Charles lurched to his feet, jabbing a finger in David’s direction. “Who says it’s over? You’ve got some nerve, you trash–talking nobody.” 

His finger hovered inches from David’s swollen face. “Playing rich for a couple of years and you forget what gutter you crawled out of? You think you’re part of the elite now? 

“Back when I had real money, you were still grinding just to get by. Don’t get cocky just because your precious cousin Vivian made it big.” 

David shot right back, not giving an inch. “Look who’s talking. The Lane family’s one and only disappointment. Three generations of respect, and they end up with you. Blew through the family fortune and you still think you’re hot stuff? 

“Oh, I see. Your parents died in that crash years ago. No wonder you turned out like this.” 

Charles was livid, his eyes blazing as if he wanted to tear David to pieces. He threw a wild punch without a second thought. I’ll end you today, you piece of—” 

Police officers rushed in, pulling the two men apart. “What do you think you’re doing? You really want to keep fighting here? Haven’t you done enough?” 

Charles thrashed like a wild animal, impossible to restrain. “Let me go. I’ll make him pay for crossing me. Who does he think he is? Screw him!” 

David didn’t back down either. “Fine, let’s go again. You only won last time because you got in a cheap shot.” 

The small room descended into chaos, giving Briana a headache. “Enough,” she yelled, shoving Charles hard into his seat. 

An officer pulled out a pair of handcuffs and secured one of Charles’s hands to the armrest, just to keep him from starting another drunken brawl. 

Charles yanked against the cuffs, metal clanking loudly as he strained. 

Chapter 28 

David was about to start up again, but Briana shot him a sharp look. “Enough. Getting punched doesn’t automatically make you the victim here. Let me get the story straight first.” 

‘Charles could be a handful, sure, but he isn’t totally out of control. What could’ve set him off enough to go after David like that?‘ Briana wondered. 

“Yeah, right,” David sneered. “The bar has cameras. Your brother threw the first punch, not me. Last I checked, I can say whatever I want. Who’s he to shut me up? Is that his excuse for losing it like a maniac?” 

Briana could already picture it. David had probably mouthed off, pushing just the right buttons to set Charles off. And with alcohol in the mix, it was only a matter of time before things went sideways, and the bottles started flying. 

She looked at Charles. His eyes were bloodshot from drink or fury, and the effect was frightening. 

“This is not on me,” Charles began, his voice unsteady. “Briana, he was trashing you. I couldn’t just let it go. 

“I was out with the guys, minding our own business, when I spotted David at the next table. We weren’t bothering anyone. But then he started bragging about Vivian being the big star now and how she’s going to marry Shepard.” 

His voice grew tighter. “Then he turned on you. He called you a washed–up has–been who couldn’t keep Shepard hooked for five years. He said you were desperate and pathetic.” 

He clenched his fists. “But it got worse. He started telling everyone you were having dinners and sleeping with clients to get ahead. He even said that’s how you got your gallery, by sleeping with Henry.” 

He finally looked at her, trembling with fury. “Briana, how was I supposed to just sit there and listen to that? Who the hell does he think he is, talking about you that way?” 

Briana stayed silent, a familiar frustration rising. The Fletchers‘ arrogance always seemed to trace back to Shepard. He kept shielding them, letting them act like they owned the city. 

But now wasn’t the time to get caught up in all that. The real headache was figuring out how to settle things. 

She didn’t blame Charles at all. Useless or not, he was still her brother, and he always stood up for her. And honestly, David’s mouth was way out of line. 

Briana paused, and then asked quietly, “And then you hit him that hard?” 

“Yeah.” Charles nodded, his jaw tight. “A guy like that? I could’ve taken him with one hand tied behind my back.” 

David was a mess, while Charles didn’t have a scratch on him. It was obvious Charles had pinned him down and let him have it. 

“Just you wait,” David sneered, still putting on a defiant front. “I’ll sue you. If getting my ass kicked means you end up behind bars for a few years, I’ll call it a win.” 

“Like I’d ever see the inside of a cell,” Charles shot back. “I could beat you down a hundred times and still walk free.” 

“Keep dreaming, Charles,” David scoffed. 

Charles leaned in, his voice low and sharp. “My sister is the real Mrs. Carter. Your cousin? She’s just a homewrecker. What’s so great about that? There’s no way Shepard’s going to stick his neck out for the Fletchers.” 

“We’ll see about that,” David said, a smug grin spreading across his face. “Mr. Carter hasn’t left Vivian’s side for days. He’s all in on her now, and he’s backing our family all the way. Come on and try me.” 

Charles was ready to snap back when Briana cut in, her tone low and decisive. “David, let’s handle this privately. There’s no need to make it a public spectacle.” 

18:24 Fri, Dec 19 M 

Chapter 25 

This was exactly the kind of mess best swept under the rug. If anyone decided to press charges, Charles was clearly the one who started it. And Briana knew there was no way Shepard would ever take her side over Vivian’s. 

“Settle this privately?” David tilted his chin up, a smirk on his swollen face. “Not a chance. We’re doing this by the book. Every single step.” 

Briana gritted her teeth, forcing a placid smile as she stepped closer to David. She lowered her head slightly, her voice softening into something careful and conciliatory. “I apologize for my brother’s actions. Is that enough? Can we let this go?” 

18:24 Fri, Dec 19 Mw. 

Chapter 29