Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 177

Chapter 177 

Suddenly, the phone rang. 

Shepard and Briana glanced at the phone at the same time. 

“Hello?” Shepard said. 

He picked up the call and put it on speaker. 

Olivia’s voice came through the speaker. She said, “We found Henry. But.” Her words faltered, heavy with emotion. 

She didn’t finish her sentence. 

But everyone understood what she meant. 

Olivia’s sobs grew clearer. She said, “He’s not breathing. There are no vital signs. 

“When they pulled him out, he barely looked human anymore after being in the water for so long. 

“The paramedics did everything they could, but in the end, they had to declare. 

“He’s gone.” 

Briana’s vision went black, her head spinning. 

She gripped the blanket for dear life, forcing herself to stay upright instead of collapsing. 

“No, this can’t be true. I don’t believe it. This is a lie,” Briana said, her voice trembling. “Olivia, please, just tell me the truth. Don’t do this to me.” 

“Briana,” Olivia sobbed even harder, saying, “I’m struggling to accept it, too, but I heard the doctor say it myself. They’ve already covered Henry with a white sheet.” 

Briana’s face was as pale as a sheet. She bent over, her fist pressed tightly to her chest. 

Only this way could she ease the ache in her chest, even if just a little. 

Olivia was sobbing on the other end of the line. 

Briana was crying, too, but her tears were silent. 

Her grief was so overwhelming, she couldn’t even cry out. 

“How could this happen? Why? Why?” Briana mumbled, her voice thick with grief. “How could he be gone? He was meant to live, not die like this. Maybe if they’d pulled him out sooner, he could’ve made it.” 

As she spoke, Briana pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed. 

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But as soon as her feet touched the floor, her legs went weak and she slumped toward the ground. 

Shepard reached out and steadied her, keeping her from falling. 

“I must Henry,” Briana said, her gaze fixed on the door as she tried to stand. “He can’t be gone. He was too good, he deserved a long life, not this. Why did someone so kind have to leave so soon? 

“If anyone deserved to die, it was Eric and Vivian, not Henry. Why is this world so cruel to people who actually do good? 

“It was me. I’m the reason he’s gone. It’s all on me. How am I supposed to face the Parker family now?” 

Briana was hurting so much, she was on the verge of blacking out. 

“Please, Shepard, take me to see Henry. I’m begging you, just take me,” she said, her voice trembling. 

Shepard nodded and replied, “Alright.” 

Seeing her break down like this, his heart ached, too. 

He felt even more heartbroken for Henry. 

Honestly, if anyone should’ve died, it should’ve been him. 

Shepard thought to himself, ‘If I died saving Briana, would she break down like this? Would she be in so much pain? Would she cry this hard for me? 

‘If she could grieve for me like this, then laying down my life would be worth it.’ 

After all, he owed Briana. 

But Olivia said, “No, Briana, please don’t come. Just stay at the hospital and take care of yourself. You really shouldn’t be exhausting yourself right now. I’m in the ambulance with Henry, we’re heading to the hospital 

morgue now. 

“Just wait for us at the hospital, okay? We should be there in about an hour. The police have already told Henry’s family, and they’re at the hospital waiting, too. Briana, there’s nothing we can do now.” 

Olivia’s voice broke, and she couldn’t say anything more before hanging up. 

Silence returned to the hospital room. 

Briana hunched over, one hand resting weakly on the bed, the other leaning on Shepard’s arm for support. 

She was barely holding herself together, looking like she could fall apart any second. 

Her tears hit the floor in big, heavy drops. 

Briana kept crying, not uttering a single word. 

She still couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that Henry was really gone. 

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Chapter 177 

No way could someone so sunny, so charming, such a true gentleman, just vanished like that. 

“Why wasn’t it me?” Briana asked, looking up, her eyes swollen and red. “Shepard, am I wrong to think that?” 

Shepard just stared at her. 

A flood of emotions, heartache, sympathy, and guilt rushed through him. He had no idea how to respond or 

what to do. 

All he could say was, “Briana, my condolences.” 

“Condolences?” Briana jerked at the word, her whole body trembling. “Don’t say that. How can you talk about condolences right now? Henry must still have a chance. Can’t they try again? Get the best doctors, the best team, anything.” 

“He’s already been declared dead,” Shepard said quietly. 

Doctors didn’t just give up. They kept trying, again and again, and only when there’s absolutely no sign of life left, nothing at all, did they finally cover someone up with a sheet. 

They used every medical trick they had, but Henry just wasn’t breathing anymore. His heart had stopped, no matter what they did. 

In the end, Briana’s body went limp and she just sank to the floor. 

Shepard bent down, picked her up, carried her back to the bed, and tucked her in. 

He couldn’t do anything else; all he could do was be there for her and take care of her. 

Briana didn’t say a word, and not a single tear came; she was past the point of crying, lost in a numb silence. 

Her expression was blank and cold, like her soul had left her body; she looked like nothing but an empty shell. 

Shepard swallowed, his voice hoarse. He said, “Briana, honestly, I’d rather see you cry than just sit there in silence.” 

He wasn’t worried about her being heartbroken; what really freaked him out was seeing her so numb, as all her emotions had vanished. 

That was what truly terrified him. 

Briana remained utterly silent, her eyes vacant and unfocused, staring off into nothing as if she’d lost all sense of direction. 

After more than half an hour, Briana finally spoke, her voice steady. She said, “I need to go meet Henry. He’ll be here soon.” 

She got out of bed, composed and collected. 

This time, she stood firm, no weakness, no shaking. She walked on her own, steady and sure. 

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Shepard followed close behind, ready to support her if she needed it. 

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At the hospital entrance, Kolson and Matilda were already there, standing on the steps and gazing out at the passing cars, completely lost in their own world. 

Matilda clung to Kolson, unable to stop the tears pouring down her face, 

Kolson’s eyes were swollen and red, too, 

Briana walked over. She said, “Mr. Parker, Mrs. Parker. 

When Kolson saw her, his face twisted with rage. He said, “You. How dare you show up here? How can you even stand in front of us? My son, the one I was most proud of, our family’s heir, was all destroyed because of 

you. 

“You’ve brought nothing but shame to our family. You’re a curse. How did Henry ever get mixed up with someone like you? You destroyed everything for him.” 

Kolson pointed a shaking finger at her, too furious to speak straight. 

Matilda lunged at Briana, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her violently. She shouted, “You owe me my son. You took him from me. Briana, is this what you wanted? He gave up his life for you.” 

Briana collapsed to her knees with a heavy thud right in front of Mr. and Mrs. Parker, her whole body shaking uncontrollably. 

“I’m sorry,” she said, her voice raw with guilt. “This is all my fault.” 

Matilda collapsed to her knees right in front of Briana, her whole body trembling. 

“Do you even realize?” she said, her voice cracking. “Henry planned to wait for your divorce to pursue you. He just wanted to protect you, even if you refused. He fought with us, begged us to accept you, and always defended you outside.”