Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rowan Vale 46

Chapter 46 

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Briana thought. He called cruel and wicked? He didn’t care about the truth. He just jumped to the conclusion that I was out to hurt Vivian. 

Briana stared Shepard right in the eyes. She shot back, “What do I get out of Vivian losing her voice? If I really wanted to poison her, I’d just do it for real and get it over with.” 

“If Vivian dies, you’ll die with her,” Shepard snapped. 

Briana scoffed, “Oh? So if she ends up mute, are you going to make me mute, too?” 

Shepard’s eyes blazed. He said, “You’d better pray Vivian’s voice is okay, Briana.” 

Vivian’s voice was messed up long before this. It all started when she charged into the burning building to save Shepard. She breathed in so much thick smoke that her throat, windpipe, and lungs got seriously damaged and infected. 

Vivian, tiny as she was, had to haul Shepard’s big frame out of the fire, struggling every step. She pressed a wet shirt over Shepard’s mouth and nose, while she took the brunt of the flames and smoke herself. 

She put all her hope for survival on Shepard, never once thinking about herself. 

When Vivian finally escaped the inferno, she was blackened from head to toe. After handing Shepard over to the firefighters, she passed out cold right there. 

When she came to, she couldn’t get a word out. Her voice was hoarse and raspy, barely more than a croak. After months of careful treatment, she managed to speak again, but her voice never regained its old clarity. 

That was a pain that Shepard carried in his heart. Her voice was what mattered most to him. He wouldn’t let anyone get away with destroying Vivian’s voice, and Briana was no exception. 

Briana flashed a faint smile and said, “I hope she gets her wish and marries into the Carter family soon. May you two live happily ever after.” 

She thought, ‘If that happened, Vivian would finally settle down and stop causing trouble for me. 

Even a fool could see it: Vivian had orchestrated the whole thing herself. The coffee was absolutely fine. 

Briana thought, ‘No wonder Vivian had that thoughtful look when she picked up the cup. So she was already plotting back then. She really knows how to play the game. 

Olivia couldn’t stand it anymore. She snapped, “Are you out of your mind, Shepard? That fire ruined Vivian’s voice, but did it fry your brain, too? 

“Who would poison someone so blatantly? It’s like they want ‘I’m the culprit‘ tattooed on their forehead. If Briana really wanted to poison her, wouldn’t she be more subtle? Wouldn’t she do it on the sly? 

“Why would she hand her the coffee herself when she’s at the gallery? I think Vivian is just trying to frame Briana!” 

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Chapter 46 

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Vivian was so anxious that tears streamed down her face, her hands flying everywhere as she tried to explain herself. But she still couldn’t make a sound. 

All she could do was shake her head, wave her hands, and mouth words silently, desperately trying to get her meaning across. She mouthed, “It wasn’t me. It wasn’t me.” 

Shepard got it. He held Vivian close and said, “Vivian, I’m taking you to the hospital. Your voice will recover. I’m here. Don’t be scared, alright?” 

Vivian’s eyes were red and tear–streaked as she leaned into his arms. 

Shepard held her close and hurried out, not even glancing back. He threw over his shoulder, threatening, “If Vivian’s voice doesn’t recover, you’ll have me to answer to.” 

Olivia was about to say something, but Briana took her hand and gave her a gentle shake of the head. 

Olivia stomped her foot and said, “I’m so pissed. It’s so obvious and so lame, and Shepard still can’t see it?” 

“He always trusts Vivian, never me,” Briana said. 

“So what are we supposed to do now?” Olivia asked, her voice tight with worry. 

Briana replied, “Don’t stress about it. Vivian’s way too cunning to actually poison herself mute. She’d never risk something like that for real.” 

Olivia gaped at her. She said, “Seriously? You’re the one getting set up here, and you’re still trying to comfort me?” 

Briana said lightly, “It’s not like this is my first rodeo.” She’d gotten used to it ages ago. It didn’t faze her at all. 

She pulled a wry smile and said, “Business as usual. We’ve got a party tonight, Olivia. I need to be at my best. I can’t let all this drama mess with me.” 

“You really are a fighter, Briana,” Olivia said. 

Briana just kept smiling. 

Nobody was born tough as nails. Every woman wished she had someone to rely on, but they were pushed to be this way. For her, it was that cold, heartless man she shared her bed with; he had forged her into this, blow 

after blow. 

Briana gazed at the cup of coffee, lost in thought for a moment. 

At the ER, doctors rushed to check Vivian over from head to toe. They hooked her up to an IV and handed Shepard a list of meds, then wheeled her straight into the emergency ward. 

Shepard never left her side, not for a second. 

Vivian lay against his chest, looking so fragile, her hand hooked up to the IV drip. 

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Chapter 45 

“Take your meds, Vivian,” Shepard said softly. He handed her the pills and a glass of water. 

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Vivian swallowed the medicine without a fuss, then leaned back into his arms. She picked up her phone and typed out a message: [Shep, can you stay with me a little longer, please?] 

Shepard replied. “Of course.” 

Vivian typed again: [It’s probably nothing serious. I should be able to talk again in a couple of days.] 

Shepard gently stroked her soft hair and murmured, “Mm.” 

Vivian typed: [Shep, don’t blame Briana. She’s just upset. Let her vent. Maybe once she’s done, she’ll leave it alone.] 

Shepard’s face darkened. He said, “Don’t worry about it. Just rest up. I’ll take care of things and make sure you get an answer.” 

Vivian typed: [I don’t want you and Briana to end up on bad terms. You two were once husband and wife, after all. I don’t want to make things difficult for you. 

[As long as I get to be with you, I can handle a little unfairness.] 

Shepard thought, ‘Vivian is always so understanding, always thinking about things from my perspective. What about Briana? She is always picking fights with me, causing trouble whenever she gets the chance. 

Vivian typed: [Briana’s probably vented enough by now. David got his head bashed in by Charles, and I’ve been mute for days. Let’s just call it even, Shep.] 

Mentioning Charles smashing David’s head at a time like this was just adding fuel to the fire. 

Shepard’s voice was icy as he said, “Time to settle all the old scores and the new ones, all at once.” 

Vivian clung to his sleeve, shaking her head over and over. 

Shepard said, “Briana knows your voice was damaged because you saved me, and she still went and pulled something like this. That’s just ruthless. I’m not letting her off the hook.” 

Vivian started to type again, but Shepard gently stopped her, holding her wrist. He said, “Get some sleep, Vivian. I’m right here with you.” 

Vivian squeezed his hand in return and closed her eyes, nestled in his arms. 

Time passed, the sky darkened, and soon the night grew quiet. 

It was already ten o’clock. But Vivian still couldn’t say a word. 

Shepard called the doctor over, and the doctor said Vivian should stay in the hospital for a couple of days so they could keep an eye on her. 

Vivian typed: [Shep, I’m scared to be alone in the hospital. Can you stay with me tonight?] 

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Chapter 46 

She thought Shepard would agree in a heartbeat. But instead, he said, “No” 

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