Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 153

Chapter 153 

Vivian immediately replied, “Shep, how could you ever let me down? No one treat even my own family. I notice everything you do for me.” 

She gently placed her hand on the back of his and continued, “Sometimes I w you. You have so much, but I have you. 

55 vouchers 

better than you, not 

I could ever repay 

“And I’m so lucky to be by your side, even if I have no title or status.” 

Vivian’s fingers slid to Shepard’s wrist, trying to hold it. 

But Shepard brushed her hand away. 

Her hand dropped. 

Shepard asked, “So, have I ever done anything to hurt you?” 

Vivian said, “No, you’ve given me so much. If I could marry you, be with you openly as your wife, and have your child, then Shep, I’d honestly be the happiest person ever.” 

Shepard asked again, “And you? Have you ever betrayed me or let me down?” 

He spoke so naturally, his voice low and slightly hoarse, as if he were just chatting about the weather. 

Maybe it was from smoking. 

Vivian almost lost her composure. 

She quickly pinched her palm hard, forcing herself to stay calm. 

She looked up and met Shepard’s gaze. 

His eyes were deep, unfathomable, and dark. 

His gaze was searching, almost as if he was trying to see right through her. 

Vivian was caught off guard by his sudden question. 

After thinking for a moment, Vivian said, “Shep, if I’m being honest with myself, I do feel like I owe you.” 

Shepard raised an eyebrow and said, “Go on.” 

He leaned back on the couch, crossing his legs and resting his arm on the armrest. 

The cigarette between his fingers was almost burned down to the end. 

Vivian said, “It all started with that fire, when I pulled you out and saved your life. Honestly, that’s probably the only big thing I’ve ever done for you. After that, you’ve done so much more for me than I ever could for 

you. 

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“You even wanted to marry me, going against your whole family. But in the end, when Evelyn threatened to end her life, you had no choice but to go through with the engagement and marry Briana. 

“To keep me safe, worried your family might hurt me, you sent me overseas. 

“You always felt you owed me, so you went out of your way to treat the Fletche Group extra well, giving us all kinds of support and compensation. 

and the Fletcher 

“I noticed everything, and I remember it all. What you’ve done for me is way more than I could ever repay.” 

Vivian really knew how to make herself sound flawless. 

But Shepard’s face stayed impassive, giving nothing away: not a trace of anger or joy. 

Silence hung in the air. 

Vivian was on edge, but she kept it hidden. Every so often, she’d steal a glance at Shepard, trying to figure out what he was thinking. 

After a long pause, Shepard flicked his cigarette into the ashtray. 

He said, “That’s not what I mean.” His voice was much deeper now. He continued, “Vivian, I’m right here, and I’m asking you again–have you ever done anything to hurt me? Have you ever wronged me?” 

Vivian’s face drained of all color. She couldn’t keep up the act anymore. 

She grumbled inwardly, ‘Why is he suddenly asking me this?‘ 

Vivian tried to look as innocent and confused as possible, her eyes rimmed with red, looking lost. She said, “Shep, are you doubting me? I haven’t done anything wrong. I’ve just been resting at home, focusing on my pregnancy. 

“You spent 300 million to buy a brand and set up a company for Briana. Seeing those headlines felt like a needle in my heart, but I never came to you complaining or making trouble. I didn’t want to cause you any problems.” 

Shepard pressed his lips together. Then he pressed, “Think it over, Vivian. I’ll give you some time.” 

With that, he got up and moved to the window by the balcony, lighting another cigarette. 

The click of the lighter rang out clearly in the silent, empty living room. 

After lighting up, he took slow drags, gazing out into the distance. 

Vivian stared at Shepard’s back, feeling herself sway uncontrollably. 

She thought, ‘Crap. 

‘Did Shepard catch on? 

‘Is he waiting for me to confess?‘ 

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Shepard had already asked her twice, and now he was even giving her all the time she needed to come clean. 

He really couldn’t have been any more generous or understanding. 

But Vivian just couldn’t seize the opportunity Shepard was giving her. 

Given everything she’d done: bribing Sam to set the fire, sleeping with En detail got out, she’d be finished. Her life would be hell. Absolutely, she com 

regnant, if even one 

e a word of it. 

Vivian’s mind was spinning, frantically searching for a way out, but she was completely stuck. There was nothing she could do. 

All she could do was keep denying everything, no matter what. 

She had no other choice. 

Shepard just stared out at the Belaris night, lost in thought. 

The city was dazzling, a riot of lights and colors. 

But inside, he felt unbearably empty. 

All these years, he’d been so wrong–so completely, unbelievably off the mark. 

Even though his team hadn’t dug up any hard evidence on Eric or Vivian yet, the trail was already there. 

People who were truly innocent didn’t get tangled up in this kind of drama. 

It was only a matter of time. In a few days, maybe a couple of weeks at most, the proof would land right in Shepard’s lap. 

Once that happened, the truth would be plain as day. 

Instead of just waiting for proof, Shepard wanted to give Vivian a chance. 

He wanted to see if she’d have the guts to admit it herself. 

After all, he’d really owed her one. She was the one who saved his life; she gave him a second shot at living. 

If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t even be here today. 

Shepard thought, ‘But what if Vivian is actually the one who hurt me?‘ 

Smoke curled around him. 

Shepard’s profile was shrouded in bluish smoke and faint light, making him look cold and utterly alone. 

Once he finished his cigarette, Shepard turned back around. 

He asked, “So, have you thought it through? Do you need more time to come clean?” 

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Vivian met his eyes, forcing herself not to flinch, determined not to back down. 

A 

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She replied, “Shep, I don’t have anything else to say. I’ve thought about it a lot, thinking back on all these years we’ve spent together. Maybe my being here has just been a burden for you. 

“Honestly, maybe I should’ve just left your world after saving you, without to put up with so much because of me. If you don’t want anything to do w it quits.” 

in your life. You’ve had nore, then let’s just call 

Even now, Vivian was still pulling the same old trick: pretending to back off just to gain the upper hand. 

But to Shepard, her words sounded nothing but ironic. 

After everything she’d done, she could still brazenly act like the victim, trying to make him feel guilty. 

Back then, Shepard really did feel sorry for her. 

But now, everything had changed. 

Vivian’s true colors were about to be exposed. Shepard was close to seeing through every last one of her disguises. 

So when he heard her say all that, all Shepard felt was disappointment. 

Shepard thought, ‘How did I let myself get played like this by Vivian?‘ 

After Vivian finished speaking, she sat quietly, not making a sound. 

She waited, tense, watching for any sign of how Shepard would respond. 

She waited and waited, and finally, Shepard just turned and walked out, tossing out a single word, “Fine.”