Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 116

Posted by ADMINMMADMIN, ? Views, Released on January 1, 2026

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Chapter 116

Early in the morning, a bunch of reporters and paparazzi were already staking out the entrance of the courthouse.

After all, Shepard’s influence in Belaris was immense.

Everyone was waiting, hoping for some juicy gossip and speculating if the divorce would really happen.

Briana parked her car, grabbed her bag, and got out.

In an instant, the reporters who’d been killing time outside rushed over like sharks smelling blood.

Cameras zoomed in on her.

People whipped out their phones, streaming live on the spot.

Flashes exploded everywhere, so bright she could barely keep her eyes open.

Phones were practically shoved in her face.

Briana quickly put on her sunglasses.

She could barely take a step.

People surrounded her on all sides, trapping her in the middle.

“Mrs. Carter, why’d you come solo today? Where’s Mr. Carter hiding?”

“Was it your idea to split, or his?”

“Any thoughts on Mr. Carter and Vivian’s relationship?”

“Is Mr. Carter showing up later, or what?”

“Mrs. Carter, how much did you walk away with in the divorce?!

Ca

to spill?”

Briana kept her head down, forcing her way through the crowd without saying a word.

装 $1

It wasn’t until she reached the courthouse steps that she finally looked up, pushed her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose, and said, “I’m not answering any of those questions. Me showing up is the best answer you’ll get.”

With that, she turned smoothly and strode right into the courthouse.

Briana took a seat at the divorce counter, pulling out her ID and paperwork.

The reporters weren’t allowed inside, so they crowded outside, pressing their cameras against the glass and frantically snapping pictures of her.

Soon, photos of Briana sitting all by herself at the divorce counter, waiting for Shepard to show up, went viral online.

Reporters were live–streaming every second on their phones, broadcasting it all in real time.

The live stream had more than 100,000 viewers tuning in.

[Whoa, Mr. Carter’s actually late?]

IIs he just running late, or is he trying to bail?]

11:14 hu, Jan 1 DO

Chapter 116

M

Σ

[So, Mr. Carter’s the one who doesn’t want the divorce?]

[This is a top dog bowing to love. Mr. Carter looks all high and mighty, but he’s the one bending over backwards for her.]

[I’m totally backing Briana’s divorce. Let women slay on their own. Kick those trash men to the curb.]

Online, everyone was going wild, debating and gossiping nonstop.

Briana even joined the live stream herself, watching the chat go wild and seeing her own reflection on her phone screen.

Olivia’s message popped up.

Olivia: [Pretty wild, huh? The buzz is insane, top trending everywhere. I swear that I could totally do PR for a living.]

Briana: [Seriously, did you set up that whole crowd outside?]

Olivia: [Half and half. Some are actual reporters, some are my plants.]

Briana was torn between laughing and sighing.

Olivia: [Is Shepard seriously not coming? It’s been almost an hour already.]

Briana: [Bet he just rolled out of bed.]

*****

77

Back at the Carter Estate, Shepard was slowly waking up. He felt groggy and exhausted, and his whole body was weak, as if he hadn’t slept a wink. But that almost never happened to him.

Shepard was naturally wired to run on little sleep. No matter how tired or busy he was, a quick rest was usually all he needed to get back on his feet.

He thought, ‘Today, something felt off.

He forced his eyes open.

His eyelids felt impossibly heavy.

He stared up at the ceiling, blinking a few times, and slowly, his mind started to clear.

He lifted his wrist and checked his watch.

Morning…10:30 AM!

He instantly bolted upright in bed.

Shepard rubbed his temples, his lips pressed tight with worry, and glanced over to the other side of the bed.

The bed was empty beside him.

He reached out and found the sheets were cold to the touch.

Briana must’ve been up for

ages.

‘Where did she go?‘ Shepard wondered.

He slipped on his slippers and rushed downstairs in his pajamas.

“Mr. Carter,” Daniel called out from the bottom of the stairs, “you-”

nu, Jan

Chapter 116

.

Shepard cut him off. “Where’s Briana?”

“Mrs. Carter went out. She probably headed to the gallery,” Daniel replied.

“The gallery?” Shepard let out a cold laugh. “You sure about that?”

Daniel hesitated for a second, then quickly said, “I’ll double–check, Mr. Carter. Just a moment.”

“No need,” Shepard said, already heading down the stairs. He glanced at his phone, a bunch of missed calls.

All from the bodyguards assigned to keep tabs on Briana.

He casually opened a social media app, and the whole feed was blowing up with gossip about his divorce from Briana.

There was even a live stream.

He clicked into the stream and instantly saw Briana sitting at the divorce counter.

Shepard thought, ‘Of course, she was already waiting for him.

Shepard’s face turned stormy. “Who allowed her to leave Carter Estate?”

“Mr. Carter,” Daniel hesitated, “you never told us she wasn’t allowed to go out…”

Shepard was left speechless.

He thought, ‘I actually haven’t

‘I have been so sure Briana wouldn’t be able to leave.

‘I was sleeping right next to her. How could she possibly grow wings and fly out of the Carter Estate?‘

But Shepard had totally miscalculated.

He was never the type to sleep in, but today he didn’t wake up until 10:30.

He was totally in the dark about everything going on around him.

Shepard suddenly remembered the glass of milk on the bed last night.

He thought, ‘She must’ve slipped sleeping pills into that milk.

‘No question about it!‘

“Briana!” Shepard gritted his teeth. “You’re something else.”

He wondered, ‘Just how many crazy tricks does she have up her sleeve?

‘How did I end up getting outsmarted by her again?

‘And this time, she managed to fool me with just a glass of milk!‘

Shepard kicked a chair aside, then started pacing back and forth in the living room with his hands behind his back.

Shepard thought, ‘Briana’s already pulled one over on me. So what can I do to take back control?

‘Do I go to the courthouse or not?

If I don’t go…Everyone in Belaris will be laughing at me.

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Chapter 116

‘My wife’s already sitting at the divorce counter, and I can’t even show my face.

I’m the one getting kicked to the curb..

‘But if I do go….I’d be signing those divorce papers, letting Briana walk away to be with Henry and their kid.

‘No way!

‘Not a chance!‘

Just then, his phone rang.

It was Evelyn calling.

“Hello, Grandma,” Shepard answered, his voice flat, showing no emotion.

Evelyn asked, “What’s going on? You still haven’t managed to talk Briana down? Is she really going through the divorce? The whole internet’s blowing up about it. I even saw the live stream myself…”

“She’s just throwing a tantrum at me, Grandma,” Shepard replied.

“What’s she so upset about?” Evelyn asked.

Shepard let out a helpless sigh. “Honestly, who knows what’s going on in a woman’s mind?

“Maybe I’ve been ignoring her too much lately, so now she’s acting up. Ran off to the courthouse just to make my case after her and beg her to come home.”

“Then get moving!” Evelyn pressed. “What are you still hanging around for?”

“I’m already heading out, Grandma,” Shepard said.

“Good. Just soften up, say something sweet, give her a hug, maybe bring a little gift. Trust me, she’ll come around,” Evelyn suggested. “Winning a woman over is all about these tricks. Just go through the whole playbook.”