Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 117

It was almost noon. 

The courthouse was about to wrap up its morning hours. 

Briana wondered, ‘Did I give Shepard too much of those sleeping pills? Is he really going to sleep the whole day away? 

‘Maybe I should try calling him.‘ 

Briana glanced outside. 

The reporters were still crowding around, showing no signs of leaving. 

Beyond the glass doors, phones were everywhere, all aimed at her, taking pictures nonstop. 

Briana pulled up Shepard’s contact and was just about to call when someone suddenly shouted, “Mr. Carter is here!” 

That one shout sent shockwaves through the crowd. 

Everyone whipped around, all eyes on Shepard. 

Briana was so surprised she jumped to her feet, standing on tiptoe to get a better look. 

The black Maybach pulled up, and Ben got out first, walked around the front of the car, and respectfully opened the back door. 

“Mr. Carter, we’re here,” Ben said. 

Shepard stepped out of the car. 

He stepped out in a perfectly tailored suit, his shoes gleaming like glass, not a hint of dust anywhere on him. 

On that striking, cool face was a look of calm indifference, but every gesture carried an unmistakable air of elegance and 

power. 

He scanned the crowd with a single glance, then turned and pulled an enormous bouquet of roses from the car. 

Ninety–nine red roses. 

He walked straight into the courthouse. 

Reporters rushed toward him, desperate to snag an interview or snap the perfect shot. 

But Shepard’s bodyguards quickly formed a solid barrier on both sides, shutting the reporters out completely. 

Shepard marched straight ahead and disappeared inside the courthouse. 

He turned slightly and looked over at Briana. 

A small, knowing smile played on Shepard’s lips as he spoke in that deep, magnetic voice, “Mrs. Carter, hope I’m not late, am 

I?” 

Briana met his gaze, holding his eyes for a moment. 

Then she looked at the roses he was holding. 

What’s he up to? Briana wondered. 

Chapter 117 

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Briana steadied herself and replied, “No, you’re not late. There’s still a bit of time before they close. I think that’s enough to get the divorce processed. 

“Come on, let’s not keep the staff waiting.” She pointed toward the window. 

Briana urged, “Let’s go?” 

Shepard stepped in front of Briana, blocking her path. He leaned down, bringing his voice close to her ear. “You know exactly where I stand.” 

“But,” Briana said, “with everyone watching, if you don’t go through with the divorce, won’t you lose face?” 

“Losing face in front of my wife? I don’t mind at all,” Shepard replied. 

Briana was taken aback. 

She wondered, ‘What’s that supposed to mean? 

‘What’s he up to?‘ 

“Getting called a whipped husband, or being seen as the guy who’s crazy about his wife, maybe even the reformed bad boy. Honestly, I kinda like that,” Shepard murmured, his breath warm against her ear and cheek. “Wouldn’t you agree?” 

“Shepard, you’ve got no shame!” Briana shot back. 

“For you, I’ll throw my pride away,” Shepard replied. 

Briana snapped, “Did you forget how you acted and what you said right here a month ago? Now we’re back, and suddenly you want to change your mind and refuse the divorce. What gives you the right?” 

Shepard gave her a soft smile, stood tall, and held out the roses for her to take. 

She didn’t take them. 

He didn’t rush her. Instead, he gently took her hand, unfolded her fingers one by one, and helped her wrap them around the stems, making sure the bouquet was secure in her grasp. 

Briana gripped the bouquet for a moment, then…She let go. 

The flowers dropped to the floor. 

A few rose petals were scattered across the tiles. 

There was a certain chaotic beauty to the scene. 

“Briana, why don’t you get it?” Shepard said, tilting her chin up with his finger. “Divorce or not, that’s never your decision. It’s always mine.” 

Briana thought, ‘If he wants a divorce, then that’s it. We’ll get divorced. But if he says no, then no matter how much I want it, it’s pointless. It’s all for nothing.‘ 

Briana clenched her jaw so hard she thought her teeth might crack. 

‘How is it possible for someone to be as shameless as Shepard?‘ she cursed inwardly. 

“Is this even fun for you?” Briana retorted. “We’re both betraying each other, both have someone else in our hearts, and yet we keep dragging out this marriage. Aren’t we just torturing each other at this point?” 

“That’s exactly what I want, to make you suffer,” Shepard said. 

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“Don’t act like you’re any better, Shepard!” Briana snapped. 

“I’m still better off than you,” Shepard replied. “Maybe you should worry about yourself.” 

Briana, seething, shoved him hard. “I want a divorce, Shepard. I mean it.” 

Her voice echoed through the courthouse lobby. 

It bounced off the walls, lingering in the air. 

That’s when Briana realized how dead silent the place was. She’d practically shouted. 

Briana froze and glanced around awkwardly. 

She saw that everyone was looking right at her. 

Inside, outside. Every single person had their eyes on her. 

Briana thought, ‘So this is what it means to have all eyes on you. 

‘Guess I’m living it now.‘ 

But Shepard just acted like nothing was wrong. He let her shove him back a couple of steps, then stepped right back up to her like it was nothing. 

“Alright, that’s enough,” he said softly. “Come on, Briana, be good for me.” 

Briana felt so sick she could puke. 

She didn’t say another word. Just grabbed Shepard’s arm and hauled him straight to the divorce counter. 

Briana thought, ‘Divorce, no matter what! 

‘Can’t let Shepard mess up my plan. 

‘Getting this divorce done today is my top priority!. 

Briana marched up to the counter and slapped her documents down. “Hi, we’re here for a divorce.” 

She shot a look at Shepard. “Hand over your papers.” 

Shepard spread his hands, looking totally unconcerned. 

Aside from that huge bouquet of roses, he hadn’t brought a single thing with him. 

Briana didn’t believe it. She went straight to search him right there in front of everyone. 

She rifled through every pocket in his suit, inside and out, checked his wallet, and even felt around in the pockets of his dress pants. 

After all that, she found absolutely nothing. 

He hadn’t even brought his ID. 

“Divorce was 

never on my agenda, so why would I bother bringing my documents?” Shepard said with a cocky raise of his brow. “Don’t bother, you’re just wasting your energy.” 

Briana glared at him. “If I’d known, I would’ve put it right in the divorce agreement. Once divorce proceedings are up, anyone who refuses to go through it is nothing but a coward!” 

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Chapter 117 

Shepard didn’t even flinch, just gave her a lazy smile. “Are you done yet, wife?” 

“Who says I’m your wife?” Briana shot back. 

“You,” Shepard replied. 

Briana didn’t even want to look at his face anymore. 

She thought, ‘Handsome? Please, like that matters. 

‘Stare at it long enough, and it’s just the same boring face anyway. 

Shepard reached out, trying to hook his arm around Briana’s shoulder, but she dodged away immediately. Briana snapped, “What do you think you’re doing? Trying to get touchy again?” 

“Briana, even if I showed up with all my papers today, there’s no way we’re getting divorced,” Shepard said. 

“Oh, really? Go ahead, bring them and prove me wrong,” Briana snapped back. 

Shepard didn’t bother arguing with her. Instead, he turned to the clerk at the counter. 

He asked, “So, are you actually going to let us get divorced? Even though today is the end of our divorce proceedings.” 

The clerk was a bit stunned, staring at Shepard’s ridiculously good–looking face. 

Shepard raised an eyebrow, a hint of challenge in his voice. “Well?” 

That snapped the clerk back to reality. The clerk cleared his throat, all business now, and said, “Divorce only happens if both of you agree and work together. If one of you says no, we can’t do it.” 

“I’m telling you right now. I’m not getting divorced,” Shepard declared. 

The clerk said, “Sorry, but if you’re not both on board, I can’t help you get 

divorced or hand out any divorce 

papers.” 

Shepard gave a smug nod, then shot Briana a look. “See? Heard that?” 

Briana didn’t even think twice. She raised her hand and smacked him hard across the face. 

Briana seethed and thought, ‘He is so had that slap coming! 

‘I could slap him all day!‘ 

Shepard raised his hand and caught her wrist with effortless ease. With a firm, possessive tug, he pulled her straight into his arms, locking her in his embrace. 

“Alright, honey, that’s enough. Let’s go home,” he said. 

A5 

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