Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 200

Chapter 200 

“Leave? Uh, wait” Isabelle hurriedly tried to stop her. “No, you can’t go. I was just passing through, really. I’ve got other things to handle, so I can’t stick around for long.” 

It was a pretty weak excuse, but Isabelle had no choice but to say 

it 

anyway. 

“And,” Isabelle added, “when I walked in just now, I saw Shepard standing by the window, opened it to get some air, and said he was about to smoke. 

“Seriously, with the way he is, if there’s no one around to keep him in check, his condition will just keep acting up, and it’ll take forever for him to recover.” 

‘Getting some air? Smoking?‘ Briana wondered. She immediately fixed her gaze on Shepard. 

She didn’t say a word, but her eyes were sharp, silently demanding an answer. 

Shepard didn’t even glance at her. He replied coolly, “Haven’t smoked in ages. The craving’s kicking in.” 

Briana was about to blow a fuse. 

She instantly thought of how Shepard came down with a fever again last night. 

‘Don’t tell me he was smoking by the window with the wind blowing on him while I wasn’t around, and that’s why his condition got worse?‘ Briana thought, her annoyance spiking. 

Briana was speechless. ‘Seriously?‘ 

“Shepard!” she snapped, unable to hold back. “Would it kill you to go a couple of days without smoking?” 

The moment she yelled, Briana instantly regretted it. 

‘Why am I getting so worked up over this?‘ she thought, a little embarrassed. 

And Isabelle was still standing right there. 

‘Scolding Shepard in front of his mom? That’s seriously awkward, Briana cringed inwardly. 

But Isabelle didn’t look the least bit upset. Instead, she was all smiles, her eye’s practically disappearing into little slits. 

“Exactly, Shepard. What’s the big deal about skipping a cigarette?” Isabelle jumped in. “Briana’s got it right. You totally need someone to give you a hard time. 

“You just do whatever you please, like you own the place, and honestly, only Briana can keep you under control!” 

As she spoke, Isabelle got up and grabbed Briana’s hand. “Go on, scold him as much as you want. Seriously, let him have it. Nobody else would dare to give him a hard time out there, he totally needs someone to keep him in line.” 

Briana was totally thrown off, her mouth slightly open, not knowing what to say for a long moment. 

“Briana, why don’t you wait until Shepard’s fully recovered before you leave? If he keeps relapsing, he might end up with a chronic issue,” Isabelle said, her voice gentle. “Could you do me this one favor?” 

Of course, Isabelle was totally backing up her son and his wife at this moment. 

Briana was hands down Isabelle’s favorite girl ever. 

Briana was caught in an awkward spot, not sure whether to agree or refuse, just frozen there. 

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Chapter 200 

Isabelle saw how uncomfortable she was and decided not to press the issue. 

“Alright.” Isabelle said with a smile. “It’s really fine. If you’re busy, just go ahead, I’m here, I’ll take care of Shepard” 

Briana said, “Mrs. Carter, I need to head to the gallery. There’s a new exhibition opening today, and I really can’t miss it. 

“I understand. It’s fine. Go ahead and take care of your business,” Isabelle replied. 

Isabelle was all grace and warmth, not the least bit bothered. 

She even asked, “When are you heading out? Have you had breakfast yet? No rush, right? Why not eat something first, and I’ll have Ben drive you to the gallery.” 

Briana nodded. 

Even though they were in a hospital room, the housekeepers from Carter Estate had laid out a lavish breakfast spread. 

After breakfast, Isabelle got up to see Briana off. 

She turned to Shepard and said, “Just stay in bed, and don’t even think about opening that window again. I’m going to have someone watch you.” 

Shepard just grunted in response, barely acknowledging her. 

Now that Briana was leaving, there was no point in opening the window anymore 

He wasn’t the type to make things harder for himself or fake being sick. 

Isabelle and Briana walked shoulder to shoulder, taking their time as they headed for the hospital entrance. 

“Honestly, I haven’t been sleeping well lately,” Isabelle sighed, “I keep having dreams, about you, about Shepard, and even about your father.” 

Briana lowered her gaze, just quietly listening. 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve dreamed about my parents,” Briana said with a bittersweet smile. “They just haven’t visited me in my dreams lately.” 

Isabelle said, “I feel ashamed to face your parents, Briana. When you married Shepard, I was so happy. 

“I wanted to treat you like my own daughter, to always look out for you and support you, but honestly, I haven’t really done much for you at all,” Isabelle admitted, her voice full of regret. 

“Honestly, Mrs. Carter, everyone in the family has been really good to me, well, except for Shepard,” Briana replied. 

Isabelle and Evelyn were very kind. 

Even Richard, despite some old baggage between Isabelle and Rayden, never gave Briana a hard time or showed any real dissatisfaction. 

Back then, Briana was still pretty naive. 

She thought, ‘Even if Shepard doesn’t love me like he used to and has his heart set on Vivian, at least the Carter family is on my side. With them backing me up, things wouldn’t get too bad for me over time. 

Yeah, Briana never lacked for anything when it came to food, clothes, or daily comforts. 

But what really hurt was inside, her heart. 

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Chapter 200 

That kind of pain? She had no one to confide in, nowhere to vent, and nobody who truly understood. 

Isabelle sighed, “Honestly, at this point, there’s really not much left to say. Briana, it’s just us here. Just tell me, from your heart, do you really want to end things with Shepard? 

“No regrets, not just saying it out of anger, but something you’ve truly thought through?” 

Briana just gave a small nod. 

Isabelle got it. 

“Alright,” Isabelle said, not pushing any further. “It’s your decision. Even if you’re not my daughter–in–law anymore, you’ll always be a daughter to me. 

“Don’t forget to visit me on holidays, and don’t pretend you don’t know me if we bump into each other, okay?” 

“Of course not, Mrs. Carter,” Briana replied. 

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“Don’t be so formal,” Isabelle said, patting her hand. “If you ever treated me as your mom, even just once, or for the rest of your life, I can’t tell you how happy that would make me.” 

“That’s not really appropriate,” Briana replied. “If you think Mrs. Carter sounds too distant, how about I call you Isabelle instead?” 

Isabelle just looked at her with gentle eyes. “That’s fine, whatever makes you comfortable.” 

“Isabelle, I’m heading out now,” Briana said. 

She stood by the car door and waved at Isabelle. 

Watching the car drive away, Isabelle turned and walked back to the hospital room. 

Shepard was camped out on the couch, laptop open and papers scattered all around. 

Briana had barely left before he dove right back into work. 

“You just never change, do you?” Isabelle said, shaking her head at him. “Guess you’ll be married to your job for the rest of your life.” 

“I want to spend my life with Briana,” Shepard murmured. 

‘Who’d ever choose to drown in paperwork and screens all day, when what I really want is someone real, someone vibrant by my side?? he thought. 

“So, what have you actually done to make that happen?” Isabelle pressed. 

Shepard replied, “I did try, but it was no use.” 

Isabelle gave him a look of utter disappointment. “That only proves you didn’t try hard enough.” 

Shepard finally looked at Isabelle. 

“Mom,” he asked, “do you have any way to help?” 

Right now, Shepard was willing to try anything, no matter how crazy or unlikely, as long as there was even a chance to fix things and save his marriage. 

‘What if it actually works?‘ he thought, clinging to that slim hope. ‘Might as well try, even if it’s hopeless.‘ 

Chapter 200 

“No.” Isabelle said. “Briana’s completely set on this. She’s not budging at all.” 

The hope in Shepard’s eyes vanished, and his gaze dimmed. 

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