Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 161

Chapter 161 

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Vivian didn’t even blink. “I want her to die a miserable death, no piece of her body left, torn to shreds!” 

She was pure malice, through and through. 

Even Eric couldn’t help but shiver when he saw her like that. 

Soon, Vivian let out a cold, sinister laugh. “You want me to give you some ideas? That’s too easy. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve imagined killing Briana, in every way possible.” 

She beckoned Eric over with a curl of her finger. “Come here.” 

“Yes” Eric said as he stepped up to her, bent down, and brought his ear close to her lips. 

As he leaned in, his suit pocket slipped open slightly, showing off the elegant pen tucked inside. 

Vivian whispered in his ear, her excitement building with every word. 

Eric just listened, not saying a word. 

“That’s it,” Vivian said. “Do you think it’ll work?” 

“I’m sure it will, but…” Eric replied. 

“But what?” 

“That’s just brutal,” Eric said, giving her a look. “You’re cold–blooded.” 

Vivian snapped back, “I hate Briana more than anyone! If we’re not ruthless, we’re dead. Go easy on her, and she’ll rip us to shreds. We gotta hit first before she does.” 

Eric nodded. “I’ll get it done right away.” 

“Right now?” 

“Yeah. The longer we wait, the more could go wrong.” 

Nobody knew what could happen in the next second or the next minute. The sooner they got rid of Briana, the sooner they could finally relax. 

Vivian agreed, “Yeah, given the situation right now…” 

Before she could finish, someone knocked on the door. 

“Who is it?” Vivian called out, her voice raised in irritation. “Didn’t I say not to bother me?” 

“Ms. Fletcher, someone’s here to see you,” the secretary stammered. 

“See me? Make them wait!” 

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Chapter 161 

“Ms. Fletcher,” the secretary said from outside, “it’s someone from Mr. Carter’s team.” 

‘What?‘ Vivian thought ‘Shepard wants to see me? He even sent people to the Fletcher Group‘ 

Panic flashed across both Eric and Vivian’s faces. 

Vivian shot up from her seat, her face going pale. “Shep sent someone to find me?” 

She suddenly remembered something, quickly pulled her phone out of her b 

1. on. 

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it in, and turned it 

The screen lit up with tons of missed calls and messages, but Shep had only called her once. 

Vivian had a bad feeling about this. An ominous feeling crept over her, making her whole body tense with 

unease. 

She looked at Eric. 

“What are you standing around for?” Eric said. “Go on. Shepard is looking for you. There’s no way you can blow him off, right?” 

“And what about you?” Vivian asked. 

“I’m going to put that plan of yours into action.” 

“Alright,” Vivian nodded. “I’ll go see what Shepard wants.” 

‘If he asks me again if I’ve ever done anything to betray him, what am I supposed to say?‘ Vivian thought. 

Vivian was freaking out, her mind in chaos. But right now, she just didn’t have time to think about it. 

“Keep out of sight,” Vivian said. “I’m heading out.” 

“Okay.” Eric ducked into the corner and hid behind the curtain. 

Vivian hurried to the door, yanked it open, and slipped out, closing it behind her. 

She spotted several burly bodyguards standing there. 

Some of them looked familiar to her. No doubt about it. They were Shep’s men. 

“Ms. Fletcher,” the lead bodyguard said, “Mr. Carter is looking for you. Please come with us to Carter Estate.” 

“Alright. But did Shep say why he wants to see me?” Vivian asked. 

“Sorry, Ms. Fletcher. Mr. Carter just told us to bring you over,” the bodyguard replied. 

“Okay.” Vivian forced herself to stay calm, pushing down the anxiety and panic bubbling inside. She followed the bodyguards out of Fletcher Group and got into the car. 

The car Vivian was in was sandwiched between two cars. 

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Chapter 161 

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On the surface, it looked like an escort, but to her, it felt more like she was transported like a prisoner. 

Vivian’s palms were slick with sweat. 

She stared out the window, nerves shot and fear gnawing at her, a chilling sense that she might never make it back. 

“Don’t let your mind run wild…” Vivian shut her eyes tight and gave her head a out of it. 

e, desperate to snap 

When they arrived at Carter Estate, the bodyguard opened the car door. “Ms. Fletcher, this way, please.” 

The sprawling Carter Estate was eerily quiet, not a single sound in the air. 

Vivian made her way up the steps, but on the very last one, she stumbled and almost took a spill. 

No one moved to help her. 

She steadied herself, forcing her legs to keep moving forward. 

The living room was thick with the smell of smoke. 

Shepard was lounging on the couch. One leg casually crossed over the other. When he heard footsteps, he glanced over, barely turning his head. 

“Shep.” Vivian forced a smile. “I heard you wanted to see me.” 

“Yes, you’re finally here,” Shepard said. 

Vivian explained softly, “I was at Fletcher Group, talking with someone about work, Shep. My phone was dead in my bag, so I missed your call. Sorry. You’re not mad at me, right?” 

Shepard’s face was unreadable as he just lifted his chin. “Sit.” 

Vivian moved to sit down beside him. 

But before she could, Shepard stopped her. “I told you to sit across from me.” 

“Can’t I sit next to you, Shep?” Vivian asked. 

“You don’t deserve it,” Shepard said, his tone icy. 

Vivian felt her heart clench so tight that she could hardly catch her breath. 

Shepard never used to talk to her this way. Her smile was about to crack. 

Before she could even come up with an answer, Shepard continued, “Do you know how I found you?” 

“No,” Vivian answered honestly. “Shep, I’ve been in Belaris the whole time. I wouldn’t just disappear or lose touch.” 

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“I tracked down Eric first, and that led me straight to you, Shepard said. 

Shepard had been keeping tabs on Eric all along. He hadn’t been tracking Vivian. 

Unexpectedly, the team shadowing Eric sent word that Vivian was with him. That’s how Shepard found out where Vivian was. 

Vivian was hit with another wave of panic. 

‘Why would Shepard suddenly care about Eric’s whereabouts?‘ Vivian thought. Her face had gone ghostly pale. There was no hiding the panic that gripped her now. ‘If last time, Shepard came to me to give me a chance to come clean. 

“Then this time, Shepard is here to confront her for real. What has he uncovered? What does he know? Does he find out about my affair with Eric?‘ 

“Why so quiet?” Shepard’s voice was calm, almost too calm. “Aren’t you usually the one with all the answers, always knowing how to play people?” 

“I… I… Shep…” Vivian stammered, her voice trembling. 

Even with nerves of steel, Vivian couldn’t keep her cool in a situation like this. 

Her conscience was already weighing on her, and now she had to face Shepard. 

The living room was dead silent. No lights were on, just the faint glow from outside filtering through the windows. 

The innermost layer of sheer white curtains was drawn shut, making Vivian’s face look even more ghostly pale, almost white as a sheet. 

Vivian was still struggling inside, fighting her last battle with herself. 

‘Should I tell him?‘ Vivian thought. ‘Or keep denying? But what exactly should I say? And what should I keep hidden?‘ 

She had no idea what Shepard had uncovered, and that uncertainty gnawed at her As she hesitated, Shepard’s patience ran out completely. “Vivian, how dare you!”