Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 105

Chapter 105 

Briana thought. Shepard just made a casual remark. Why am I king it so seriously? Men’s words are just lies 

“Seriously? Before all of this, you didn’t love me, never even boffered to try for us. Now that I’m carrying Henry’s baby, yo suddenly want to patch things up?” Briana said. 

She then thought. He must be out of his mind. Shepard Carter cold–blooded, distant, and heartless. If he thinks I betrayed him, he could never give his heart to me 

Shepard replied with a cold, mocking edge, “So, you really do get it.” 

Briana snorted. “Obviously. I’m not delusional.” 

Briana thought. He loved Vivian. Not me. He was just torturing the now. It wasn’t about hurting me or freezing me out. Instead, he chose a twisted way to mess with me. 

It seemed sweet and caring on the outside, but deep down, it was just messed up and perverse. That was torture, plain and simple. It was straight–up emotional abuse. 

But then Shepard said, “Briana, if I cut all ties with Vivian, came back to you, and actually tried to fix our marriage, would you leave Henry and end the pregnancy?” 

Briana was shocked. ‘Did I just hear that right? Am I hearing things, or am I dreaming?‘ She gave her thigh a hard pinch, and the pain made her realize this was real. This was actually happening. 

She reached out to check Shepard’s forehead. “You’re not running a fever, so what’s with all this crazy talk?” 

“I asked you a question. Answer me,” Shepard said, his gaze turning cold. 

Briana sneered. “Right. Had you really given up Vivian? She’s the one you treasure most, the one who risked her own life to save you from that fire. You’d rip your heart out for her. Don’t act as if you’d ever let her go.” 

“What if you mattered more to me than she ever did?” Shepard said, his voice low and serious. 

Briana stared at him in disbelief. “Wait, what? What did you just say? Say it again.” 

But Shepard just pressed his lips together, staying silent. He barely knew what he was saying anymore. Maybe he just wanted to test her, to see who truly mattered more to her. He’d truly lost it, trying to go head–to–head with Henry. 

Obviously, Henry was the one who mattered now. He was her new flame. I never stood a chance. Honestly, Henry was way better to her than I ever was. Even a blind man could tell who she’d choose. 

“Forget it,” Shepard said, his voice flat. He turned and sat back down on the couch, picking up his laptop and setting it on his lap. 

But when he saw the screen, he hesitated for a moment, then took out his phone and dialed a number. He pressed the phone to his ear and said, “Hey, Vivian.” 

Briana was still stuck, wondering what was up with what Shepard just said. But as soon as she heard him calling Vivian on the phone, whatever she’d been thinking about instantly disappeared. 

She tuned in, completely focused on what Shepard was saying. Without even realizing it, she inched a little closer to him, drawing his glance. 

Briana played it cool, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear, her eyes darting everywhere like nothing was up. She wondered, ‘So, Vivian finally snapped and couldn’t keep it together anymore! What’s she going to say? 

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16:54 Wed Dec 31 D G 4. 

Chapter 103 

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Te she just going to blurt out that she got my message? Or may the If ask Shepard if he still wants a divorce? Briana was so desperate to know, she almost wanted to ghue her ear to Shepard phone. 

Why not had come over and listen?‘ Shepard said, pulling the phone away from his car so Briana could hear. He held the phone out letting Triana catch what was being said on the other end 

Briana coughed awkwardly, trying to cover up. “What am I supposed to be listening to? I wasn’t listening, really” 

“Don’t play dumb, you know exactly what you did,” Shepard said coldly. It looked like he’d just gotten word that Vivian had 

come clean. 

Briana admitted, “Yeah, I did. I messaged Vivian. So what? I did do anything wrong. Since you’re not divorcing me, I had to give your sweetheart a heads–up. Wouldn’t want her thinking on the one chasing after you” 

Shepard shot her a cold look, then pressed the phone back to hear. “Yeah, there’s been a complication. We can’t get divorced right now. That’s just how things are for now. Don’t stress about it.” He kept it short and hung up. 

Briana was surprised. She stared at Shepard, blinking, her mind till processing what had just happened. “Vivian’s really that easygoing? Not even a little drama?” 

You think everyone makes a fuss as you do?” Shepard shot back 

“What did I do? When did I ever make a fuss in front of you?” Briana retorted. 

Shepard pressed his lips together, eyes narrowing. “So, now you’re tattling on me, Briana? What other tricks do you have that I haven’t seen before?” 

Briana replied, “I’m just being honest here, not exaggerating anything. You’re the one who doesn’t want a divorce. I actually do. 

“Why don’t you just tell Vivian the truth? Admit you’re only stalling because you can’t stand the idea of me being with Henry. She’d understand, and it’d make things a lot easier for you to deal with.” 

You want the whole world to know you cheated on me and made me look like a fool?” Shepard shot back. 

“Vivian’s not just anyone. When you made me a laughingstock, everyone already knew.” Briana scoffed. 

It was basically an open secret in Belaris. Shepard never wanted to marry Briana. He was head over heels for Vivian. 

Five years ago, at their wedding, Shepard went through the motions with a stone–cold expression, looking like he’d rather be anywhere else. That very day, Vivian packed her bags and flew overseas alone. 

But even during those five years, Shepard and Vivian messaged each other every single day, never missing a beat. The Carter family knew. The Lane family knew, too. 

But nobody ever said a word. Everyone just figured that with time, things would work themselves out. Even Briana believed that back then. 

Things just kept getting worse. But ironically, it was only after the gloves came off that Briana’s situation finally started to improve. 

She used to revolve around Shepard, always making him the center of her world. But now, the tables had turned. Shepard was the one orbiting around her. 

He no longer bothered to go to the office. He just camped out on the living room couch, personally keeping watch over her. 

Talk about VIP treatment. Shepard’s time was worth its weight in gold, and now he was spending it all on her like she was the center of his universe. 

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Chispter 103 

Risata glanced around, then scooted over and sat down right we to Shepard. “Honestly, I’ve always wanted to ask you. If that fire never happened, if Vivian hadn’t save your life, would you still be in love with her? 

What is it that you actually love about her? Is it just because she saved your, or is there something else about her that traket her so special to you?” 

This was the second time Shepard hail heard this question. Richard asked him, and he hadn’t been able to give a straight answer back then. Even now, he still didn’t have a straight answer 

He was lost in thought. What do I even love about Vivian? Honestly, maybe it really did all come down to her saving me. 

And then there was that rebellious streak, always going against Carter family, always clashing with Briana. All of that just made me want to treat Vivian even better, in every possible way 

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