Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 201

Chapter 201 

Chapter 201 

Isabelle sat down next to Shepard. 

She couldn’t really understand all those documents and numbers, so she just kept glancing at Shepard’s face and started rambling. 

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She said, “You know, people always say it’s like climbing a mountain for a guy to chase a girl, but just a thin veil for a girl to chase a guy. 

“Honestly, I think it’s the opposite. Women are soft–hearted, sentimental, and a bit reserved. If a man is shamelessly persistent and keeps chasing after her, she won’t be able to escape, even if she wanted to, she probably wouldn’t 

“Even the toughest woman will eventually give in to a persistent man. Shepard, have you heard that one before?” 

Shepard shook his head. 

He managed to keep working while still listening to Isabelle and replying to her. 

She said, “Anyway, as long as a man refuses to let go in a relationship, it won’t end. You want to go after Briana, but you also want to hold onto your pride You can’t have it both ways. 

“If you want a wife, forget your pride. If you want your pride, forget about having a wife. So, which one is it?” 

Shepard blurted out, “Of course, I want a wife.” 

“Then what are you doing about it now? Why did you go along with the divorce?” Isabelle said. 

“If I didn’t agree, what was I supposed to do?” he said. 

“Apologize,” Isabelle shot back. “Just swallow your pride and your ego.” 

Shepard’s fingers paused over the keyboard. “Mom, she’s already made up her mind. I respect her decision.” 

He’d considered chasing after her, refusing to let go. 

But in the end, he realized that respecting her wishes was the love she truly deserved. 

He would just have to leave himself to suffer alone. 

Even if they couldn’t share a life or a bed anymore, whenever Briana faced any problem, he’d always be the first to help her. 

He would help her unconditionally. 

“Alright, whatever. Do as you please, I can’t meddle in you young folks‘ business,” Isabelle said, sounding more and more deflated. “Happiness is something you have to chase for yourself. 

“If you won’t go after it, me worrying on the sidelines won’t help at all.” 

She thought, ‘Why am I the one stressing out when he’s just sitting there, totally unfazed?‘ 

Even Evelyn was out of ideas. 

But Isabelle was still trying to fix things. 

In the end, Shepard just threw in the towel and decided to sit back and do nothing. 

Isabelle said, “Look at your dad. If he hadn’t been so stubborn about marrying me back then, do you think we’d be together 

14:59 

Chapter 201 

How? Would you even be here? 

“Honestly, I didn’t even like him at first. But after all these years, it’s not just about love anymore, it’s more like we’re family? 

Shepard turned his head. “Mom, don’t let others know all this, okay?” 

Isabelle realized she’d been talking way too much today and fell silent. 

Three days later, Shepard was discharged from the hospital. 

All his vital signs had returned to normal, no more fever, and his cough was gone. 

He just looked a little skinnier and not as strong as usual. 

The car was parked out front, waiting. 

As soon as Ben saw Shepard, he hurried over and opened the car door for him. 

Shepard bent down and got in. 

“Mr. Carter, where to now?” Ben asked. 

“Carter Group,” Shepard replied. 

“Huh?” Ben blinked in surprise. “Evelyn told me to take you to the Carter residence.” 

“We’ll go there later,” Shepard checked the time. “Take me to Carter Group first, I need to handle a few things.” 

“Got it, Mr. Carter,” Ben replied. 

Shepard knew that when he got back to the Carter residence, aside from dinner and getting asked about his health, Evelyn would definitely start grilling him about him and Briana again. 

He thought, ‘What’s there to ask about? It is what it is. Getting sick isn’t going to change anything. Even if Briana came to look after me, it wouldn’t make a difference.’ 

She was just being soft. 

But she could be cold as ice, too. 

Like, after she walked out that day, Briana never texted or called him again, not even a simple concern. 

It was as if nothing had happened, she’d disappeared off the face of the earth. 

Shepard rubbed his forehead, forcing himself to set those thoughts aside. 

“Mr. Carter,” James was already waiting at the door. “I’ve put the top priority files on the right side of your desk, you can get started on them immediately.” 

Shepard nodded. 

He sat down at his desk, wrapping up his work quickly so he could make it to the Carter residence. 

After being away for a few days, his desk was stacked with paperwork. 

Chapter 201 

an 9 G 

Besides the paperwork, there were a few packages as well. 

Shepard just glanced over them and didn’t pay them any mind. 

James walked in carrying a cup of coffee and placed it in front of Shepard. 

“Mr. Carter,” James said, “I got a package this morning. The recipient is you, and the sender’s name” 

“What?” Shepard replied. 

“It’s from Henry,” James said. 

Shepard’s hand froze, his pen jerked and left a stray mark on the paper. 

“What did you just say?” Shepard looked up at James, eyes wide. “A package from Henry?” 

“Yes, Mr. Carter. I double–checked, I’m positive I got it right,” James said. 

James had been completely floored when he signed for the package. 

He thought, ‘Wait, Henry’s already gone. How could Henry send a package to Shepard?‘ 

There were only two ways this could’ve happened, 

Either Henry sent it while he was still alive, and it only showed 

up now. 

Or someone used Henry’s name to send the package to Shepard. 

Those were the only two possibilities. 

“Give it to me,” Shepard said, his voice urgent. “Now, right now!” 

James immediately picked out the package from the pile. 

Shepard’s hands trembled as he opened the package. 

Inside was an envelope. 

On the front, it said: [Personal: Shepard Carter.] 

Shepard flipped the envelope over. 

On the back, there was another line of writing, 

[Make sure you truly love Briana, and only Briana, for your whole life, and promise you’ll never betray her. Only then can you open this letter.] 

His lips pressed into a thin line. 

He gripped the envelope so hard his knuckles turned pale. 

He wondered, ‘What’s in this letter? Why would Henry send this to me? So, do I open it or not?‘ 

He knew, without a doubt, that Briana was the only one he’d ever love. 

There was no one else for him. No one could ever take her place. 

Divorced or not, he wasn’t planning on marrying anyone else. He’d just spend the rest of his days alone. 

15:00 Fri, Jan 9 

Chapter 201 

Shepard was rooted to the spot, completely motionless. 

James quietly slipped out, gently closing the door behind him. 

Right now, Shepard really needed some peace and quiet to sort out his thoughts. 

Shepard hesitated. 

He wondered, ‘Should I open this envelope or not?‘ 

This must’ve been something Henry arranged before he died, meant for Shepard to get at a specific moment. 

And now, it was finally in his hands. 

But Henry was already gone. 

Time slipped by, the silence thick enough to hear his own heartbeat. 

Shepard told himself, ‘Briana is the only one I’ll ever love. Nothing and no one could ever shake that, never!’ 

‘So what am I waiting for?‘ he thought. ‘Open it!‘ 

With trembling hands, he ripped open the seal at the top of the envelope. 

Inside was just a single, delicate sheet of paper. 

He slowly unfolded it, and saw that it was written in Henry’s own hand. 

[Mr. Carter, by the time you read this, there’s no chance left for me and Briana. I’m just going back to being her friend, silently wishing her happiness, hoping all her dreams come true.] 

[Honestly, I’ve always been just her friend, never more, never less. When she got divorced, I thought maybe I finally had a shot.] 

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[But after getting to know her better, I realized the one living in her heart has always been you, and only you. You’re the one