Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 100

Chapter 100 

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Shepard lowered his gaze, his eyes tracing the rise and fall of Briana’s impressive curves. 

He sneered, “Is this how you tempted Henry?” 

Briana swung her other hand, aiming a hard slap in his face. 

She still failed to hit him. 

He pinned both her hands down. 

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“Briana,” Shepard narrowed his eyes, danger flashing in his gaze. “Let me guess–your whole plan was to get knocked up by Henry and then pretend the baby was mine. 

“That was why you got Grandma to drug me, just so we’d end up sleeping together. 

“But then Vivian came back early and threw a wrench in your plans, so you started plotting a divorce, just so you could be with Henry out in the open. Am I right?” 

Briana lifted her chin and stared him down. “You really think I’m that messed up, huh?” 

Not in a million years would she even think about doing something like that, let alone actually go through with it. 

Seriously, what kind of woman would even do something like that? 

“I used to think you were so naive,” Shepard said, his voice cold. “But after filing for divorce, Briana, you started showing your true self bit by bit–and honestly, you turned out way more ruthless than I ever imagined.” 

Briana retorted, “I don’t wear masks or play pretend. I’m just me, always have been, always will be. The only reason you think I’ve changed is that I took back all that unconditional love I used to give you. 

“When I loved you, I was willing to swallow my pride, cater to you, and do whatever it took to make you happy. But now that I don’t love you anymore, I’m just living for myself. Your feelings aren’t my concern anymore.” 

She poked his chest hard. “And you just can’t stand the fact that I don’t love you anymore.” 

Shepard gave her a long, hard look, his eyes unreadable. 

He had to admit that he just couldn’t take it. 

Briana didn’t just stop loving him. She had actually fallen for someone else. 

“Oh, and since you’re so good at investigating me,” Briana said coldly, “why not dig a little deeper into Vivian? Who knows? Maybe you’ll uncover an even bigger surprise.” 

With Shepard’s power and connections, if he really wanted to get to the bottom of that fire, it would be way 

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easier for him than it ever was for her. 

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“Dig into Vivian? She’s squeaky clean. What could you possibly find?” Shepard snorted. 

Briana gave a mocking laugh. “Fine. You totally deserve to get played.” 

Briana thought, ‘If Shepard won’t look into it, then I will. I’ll get to the bottom of this myself. No way Vivian could’ve wiped out every single piece of evidence. There’s gotta be something left behind. 

‘If you don’t want anyone to find out, then don’t do it in the first place. Ju slam the evidence that Vivian started that fire right in your face! 

Shepard. One day, I’ll 

“You’re the one who lied to me,” Shepard said coldly, his voice dripping with menace. “Briana, let’s see if you can protect that bastard, or will I make sure it’s gone for good?” 

“If you dare to abort my child, I’ll perish with you together,” Briana snapped back, her voice trembling with 

rage. 

Shepard gripped her chin hard, his voice cold and vicious. “I’ll take Henry out first, then I’ll get rid of his kid!” 

Briana’s eyes widened in shock, and she was about to speak, but Shepard had already grabbed her wrist and yanked her into the elevator. 

At the hospital entrance, a black luxury van was already parked and waiting. 

As soon as Shepard showed up, Ben quickly drove the van over, and several bodyguards hopped out, opened the doors, and lined up to greet their boss. 

Shepard practically tossed Briana into the van. 

Briana stumbled onto the seat, her hair tumbling down around her shoulders. 

She heard Shepard, still standing outside the van, bark out, “Take her back to the Carter Estate. Watch her closely–don’t let her set foot outside!” 

“Understood, Mr. Carter,” the bodyguards replied. 

Briana gritted her teeth, pushed herself up with both hands, and shouted, “Shepard Carter, what gives you the right to restrict my—” 

Before she could even finish the word “freedom,” Shepard slammed the door shut. 

Bang! The bodyguards piled into the van, and Ben fired up the engine. 

Shepard took a couple of steps back, locking eyes with Briana through the car window. 

Briana rolled down the window and glared at him. “Deal with me if you want, but leave Henry alone.” 

Shepard scoffed, “You can’t even protect yourself, and you still want to shield him?” 

“Did you hear me, Shepard?” Briana yelled. “This is between us–just us. Hey, stop the car. Let me talk to 

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Shepard. Stop the car.” 

But the van just sped up. 

Shepard’s figure faded into the distance. 

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Briana reached out from inside the car, trying to catch the hem of Shepard’s jacket. 

But of course, there was no way she could reach him. 

“Shepard, don’t you dare go after Henry! I mean it,” Briana yelled. 

Her voice was lost in the wind. 

She had no idea if Shepard even heard her. 

He stood there, his posture unwavering, watching as the van sped off into the distance. 

Her hair stuck to Briana’s face, obscuring her vision. 

But even through the mess, she could see the cold, intimidating vibe radiating off Shepard. 

He’d been willing to go so far as to nearly strangle her. 

When it came to Henry, he’d only be even colder, even more vicious. 

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‘No way! I can’t let Shepard hurt Henry, Briana swore to herself, her heart pounding with anxiety. 

Besides, Henry hadn’t known that she had declared he was the baby’s father. 

If Shepard confronted him, Henry would be completely in the dark, and the truth about her pregnancy could get exposed without him even realizing it. 

No matter what, she couldn’t let Shepard and Henry cross paths. 

The van was already cruising down the broad avenue. 

Briana sat back in the van and went straight for her phone. 

But the bodyguard next to her beat her to it, grabbing her phone before she could even react. 

“What are you doing?” Briana snapped. “Give it back!” 

“Sorry, Mrs. Carter, but these are Mr. Carter’s orders. We’re just following them,” the bodyguard replied. 

“He told you to confiscate my phone?” Briana demanded. 

The bodyguard nodded. “Mr. Carter’s orders are that you’re not allowed any contact with the outside world… not until he comes back for you.” 

It was obvious. Shepard was making sure she couldn’t warn Henry or give him a heads–up. 

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That damned cunning jerk!‘ she fumed. 

Shepard was so sharp and scheming, always thinking ahead, and now he’d boxed Briana in with no escape. 

With her phone confiscated and locked up at the Carter Estate, Briana couldn’t do a damn thing. 

She was trapped, with nothing to do but wait for doom to come. 

“He’s got all his tricks aimed at me… but when it comes to Vivian—the on he’s running around like a clueless fool, getting played left and right,” Br 

The bodyguards exchanged awkward glances, not daring to say a word. 

Honestly, only Briana would have the guts to roast Shepard like that. 

“Let me out. I want out. Now!” Briana demanded, banging on the door. 

Tually screwing him over- 

“Just go along with it, Mrs. Carter, or you’re only making things harder for yourself,” the bodyguard said, his tone firm. 

“I have to get out,” Briana yelled, panic rising in her voice. 

She had to stop Shepard before he got to Henry. 

The bodyguards and Ben might as well have been deaf–they didn’t even flinch, completely tuning her out. 

Briana clenched her jaw, desperately trying to figure out a way to get out of this mess. 

‘Should I really risk jumping out?‘ Briana wondered, panic rising inside her. 

Her eyes darted to the blur of city lights speeding past the window. 

“That’s insane. Way too risky,‘ she told herself. 

She was carrying a baby. If she jumped now, she’d lose it for sure. No way she could risk that. 

Shepard would get his way without even breaking a sweat. 

‘No way. Gotta come up with another plan, Briana thought, her mind racing. 

She forced herself to calm down, scrambling for her next move. 

Meanwhile, Shepard was behind the wheel of his Maybach, heading straight for Parker Group. 

He didn’t bother with any formalities, just pulled up and parked right in front of the main entrance. 

A security guard rushed over, eager to see which big shot had just arrived. 

Shepard strode out of the car, all business. “Tell Henry to get his ass out here and face me,” he barked.