Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 184

Chapter 184 

Richard said, “News of the Parker family’s funeral has spread all over Velaris Aanyone who add a 

happened. I called Mr. Parker, and he really let me have it? 

The Carter family was at the very top of Belaris’s social ladder 

Everyone treated them with the utmost respect. 

Richard was old and well–respected, but Kolson didn’t give him any face at all. That potent with the overly held a grudge against them. 

Shepard replied simply, “Eric orchestrated the kidnapping, I’m cleaning, henne for the Center lesby 

Evelyn gripped her cane tightly, her body swaying as she nearly low her bidance. 

“What? Eric, you were fine, so why did you go and kidnap Briana? Evelyn mammered, her voice wombling, 

Eric sobbed as he crawled toward Evelyn, his voice shaking with terror. He said, Gretna, free, save me Soyat ears to kill me. I don’t want to die, Grandma. I’m still your grandson. 

“Where are my parents? Where are they? Please, take me home, yet me out of here. I promise. I sever do anything the th again. I’ll never show up in front of Shepard. I don’t care about anything anymore. I’ll quát Center Corny 

Behind Eric, the floor was streaked with blood where he had dragged himself. 

The living room echoed with Eric’s desperate pleas and sobs. 

No one said a word. 

Just then, Briana said, “Eric, did you really think you could get away unscathed? You’ve you Henry’s blood on your hand.” 

A life for a life. 

Someone like Eric, even if he died ten times, it still wouldn’t be enough. 

“No one can save you,” Briana said coldly. “Eric, the only thing waiting for you is death 

At this moment, Briana didn’t have a shred of softness or doubt in her hear 

Nothing but hatred and anger filled her. 

Back then, she’d pleaded with Eric to let Henry go. And he just tossed Henry into the river like it was nothing 

“I’ll drag you to court myself. And I’ll watch you get the death penalty with my own eyes, Briana said, her souce cold and unwavering. “Scum like you should’ve been dead ages ago. 

To the Carter family elders, Briana had always seemed gentle, obedient, and cultured 

But the Briana standing before them now was a far cry from the girl they thought they knew. 

Just went to show how unforgivable Eric’s actions were. 

Briana stood quietly, unmoving. 

The air seemed to stir around her, as if even the room itself felt tense. 

Shepard walked over to Evelyn and murmured something in a low voice. 

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Briana could only make out a word or two, all muffled and unclear. 

Evelyn nodded now and then, sighing softly. Richard and Isabelle didn’t say a word, their expressions heavy with worry, 

In the end, the bodyguards took Eric away. 

The servants at Carter Estate rushed to clean up the mess. 

“Briana,” Evelyn called out as she was about to leave. Her lips trembled, but in the end, all she could say was, “You’ve had it tough.” 

She didn’t even try to take Briana’s hand, like she always used to. 

Because she knew the Carter family had let Briana down. 

She couldn’t help but think, ‘Maybe this marriage was doomed from the start. 

‘One mistake after another.‘ 

Evelyn had arrived full of energy, but now she left, stumbling and barely able to keep her balance. 

Isabelle tilted her head, giving Briana a gentle look. 

Her gaze was full of tenderness and sympathy. 

Everyone had left. 

The living room was spotless again. 

Everything looked just like before, as if nothing had ever happened. 

Every trace of what had gone down was wiped away, like it had never even happened. 

Briana sat hunched over on the couch, unable to straighten her back, her eyes vacant and lost. 

“It’s over,” she said softly. “It’s all over.” 

It was over between her and Henry. 

It was over between Shepard and Vivian. 

And as for her and Shepard, it was time to let that go, too. 

Briana knew this day would come, sooner or later. 

She was certain she could tear off Vivian’s mask and dig out the truth, 

But while she saw how things would start, she never could have predicted how they’d end. 

Briana never thought that this day would come at the cost of Henry’s life. 

Briana muttered, “I was so hung up on getting closure, on finding out the truth. If I’d just minded my own business and stayed out of it, Henry wouldn’t have had to die for me. 

“I was such an idiot. Why did I have to dig into what Vivian did with that fire? Why did I keep chasing after her? She already hurt me; I paid the price. I should’ve just cut ties and moved on. 

“Did exposing Vivian to everyone help me at all? Not one bit.” 

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Briana blinked slowly. 

Shepard stood quietly across from her, his gaze lingering on her face, taking in every detail. 

He just wanted to memorize her face a little longer. 

Even though they were so close, it felt like there were a thousand miles between them. 

Shepard thought, the finality of it hitting hard,’There’s no going back. 

Even if Shepard walked over, held her, kissed her, it wouldn’t matter. It would all be pointless. 

They just weren’t together anymore, not where it really mattered, not in their hearts. 

Briana’s heart was gone, taken away with Henry. 

“Briana,” Shepard called out softly, just like he did back when they were crazy in love. 

Her heart was cold and still. Briana said, “The old Briana died.” 

Shepard’s lips moved, wanting to speak, but the words just wouldn’t come. 

“Let’s get divorced. This time, it’s final,” Briana said, her voice unwavering. “We can’t walk this road together anymore. Our story ends here.” 

“Alright, but,” Shepard tried saying, his voice barely above a whisper, desperate to say more. 

“No but,” Briana interrupted, her tone icy. “I want a divorce. I’m leaving you for good. I don’t want to share another day, another moment with you. I’m cutting all ties, and I never want anything to do with you again.” 

Shepard sighed, stepped up to her, and bent down, taking her by the shoulders. “If you walk away from me, who’s going to be there for you?” 

“Do I really need someone just to make it in this world?” Briana shot back, her tone defiant. 

“That’s not what I mean, Briana,” Shepard said gently. “It’ll be hard, and you’ll be all alone.” 

Briana’s words were barbed, every line a direct challenge to him. 

She couldn’t muster a single kind word or look for Shepard. 

But Shepard just took it all in stride, never arguing or complaining. 

“Even that’s not as exhausting as being with you,” Briana said, her sarcasm biting. “And nothing’s lonelier than being married to you.” 

Marriage was supposed to be a partnership. 

But for Briana, these past five years felt like she was married, but all alone. 

Shepard swallowed hard. He said, “Briana, I promised I’d let you go, so you could be with Henry. But when I made that promise, I never thought he’d end up dead. Now that he’s gone, what do you even get out of leaving me? 

“With Henry gone, who will love and protect you? How can I watch you live as a single mother, alone? The Parker family won’t accept you; how much more blame and coldness must you endure? 

“You’re my wife, the woman who’s been by my side for nearly twenty years. Even if the love between us has faded, there’s still something real, a bond that won’t ever disappear.” 

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Chapter 185