Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 228

Chapter 228 

Chapter 228 

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“How is this reckless?” Charles shot back. “With how slow you and Briana are moving, if we don’t shake things up, you’ll be stuck dragging this out forever.” 

Shepard’s face darkened. “I call it steady po 

Maybe it wasn’t obvious, but at least things were moving forward safely. 

He could feel Briana was gradually s 

to 

“Cept him. 

It just needed a bit more time. 

It was not a problem for him. He could handle it. 

He’d wait as long as it took. 

He’d already decided, long ago, that he’d spend his whole life with Briana. 

Three or five years, that was nothing to Shepard. 

“Steady progress?” Charles scratched his head. “Aren’t you just spinning your wheels, or even sliding backwards?” 

He continued, “You and Briana were stuck together for a whole day and night, but when you got home, she went straight to sleep by herself. She wouldn’t even let you share her bed.” 

Shepard could only stay silent. 

“She still doesn’t want you to admit you’re the father of her baby,” Charles added. 

Shepard still kept silent. 

“She’s just waiting for the divorce proceedings to be completed,” Charles went on 

If Charles kept going, Shepard was about to lose it. 

Charles finally backed off. 

“Alright, just leave this to Camila and me,” Charles said confidently. “You just go about your business and don’t overthink it. Let us be the ones to stir things up.” 

Camila grinned. “Mr. Carter, just during that meeting, Mrs. Carter was already getting worked up.” 

“Oh, really?” Shepard said, trying to sound indifferent, but he couldn’t help feeling a little pleased. 

“She really can’t stand having me around,” Camila continued. “And you know why? It’s all becau you. If she didn’t give a damn about you, she wouldn’t be so worked up.” 

Shepard looked toward the conference room’s half–open door. 

“Why is Briana taking so long?” he said quietly as he got to his feet. “I’ll go check on her.” 

He quickly walked away. 

actually cares about 

“Mr. Carter’s still got that same old personality,” Camila said, propping her chin on her hand and twirling a pen. “He talks tough, but deep down, he’s all soft for her. Acts like he doesn’t care, but you can tell he’s totally on board.” 

Charles shrugged, “He just can’t let go of his pride.” 

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Chapter 228 

“So, what’s more important, his pride or his woman?” Camila teased. 

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“Come on, it’s his woman, obviously,” Charles said, nodding toward the door. “Look, he’s already chasing after her. 

***** 

Briana stood in front of the bathroom mirror. 

She bit her lip. 

When Charles brought up Camila at home, Briana didn’t pay it any mind. She just shrugged it off. 

But now that she was actually at Dreamscape Corporation, seeing it all for herself, her heart 

‘Ugh, seriously,‘ Briana thought. 

‘I really shouldn’t have come,‘ she complained to herself. 

She thought, ‘Now look at me, just stressing myself out for no reason! 

chaos. 

“Why am I even freaking out?” Briana muttered, staring at herself in the mirror. “If Shepard ends up with Camila, then I’m finally off the hook, right? That’s all I’ve ever wanted anyway.” 

She murmured, “But if he doesn’t fall for Camila and still chooses to stay with me, that means he’s actually serious. Maybe I’d even see him in a new light. Maybe he really is worth forgiving.” 

“Guess this is the perfect chance to see what Shepard’s really made of,” Briana added. 

Briana pressed her palm hard against her chest, trying to steady herself. 

“Why does my chest feel so tight, like I can’t even breathe?” she muttered to herself 

Briana kept trying to take deep breaths, but it was no use. 

She still felt miserable. 

“This is killing me,‘ Briana thought. 

‘Why do I still have such strong feelings for Shepard?‘ Briana thought, annoyed at herself. 

Though they’d been childhood friends, almost twenty years together, but the hurt Shepard had left behind had never really faded. 

“Why am I such a sucker for love?” Briana kept muttering, scolding herself. “I need Olivia to roast me again, seriously.” 

She hurried to grab her phone. 

Suddenly, she heard footsteps outside. 

The sound of a pair of dress shoes echoed loudly across the floor 

And they were coming right toward the ladies‘ room. 

Briana turned around in surprise. 

Shepard walked in. 

He casually closed the door behind him, like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

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Chapter 228 

“What are you doing?” Briana blurted out. “This is the ladies‘ room!“. 

“I know,” Shepard replied, totally unfazed. 

“Then why are you even in here?” Briana shot back. 

Shepard didn’t even slow down as he walked straight toward her. “Why can’t I?” 

Briana felt like she was talking to a brick wall. 

Shepard stood right in front of her. “Are you jealous?” 

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“No way,” Briana shot back without even thinking. “Why would I be jealous? What’s there want to do with Camila is your business. It’s got nothing to do with me at all.” 

about? Whatever you 

She added, “Don’t act like you know what I’m thinking. I’m totally fine, I am.” 

She just kept talking, not even pausing for breath. 

But as she rambled on, she suddenly noticed Shepard was smiling at her, a faint, teasing grin playing on his lips. 

Briana cut herself off mid–sentence. 

‘Seriously? And he’s just standing there, grinning at me?‘ Briana thought, feeling even more annoyed. 

Briana bit her lip. 

“Briana, I just asked a simple question, and you went and blurted out everything yourself,” Shepard said, his voice low and husky. “Looks like you really do care.” 

“Care? About what? I don’t!” Briana shot back. 

“But I didn’t even bring up Camila,” Shepard said, a teasing glint in his eyes. 

Briana bit her lip, turned away from him, and pretended not to care. 

Shepard reached for her waist, trying to pull her closer. 

Briana instantly pushed him away. 

But there was no way she could hold him off. Shepard was just too strong. 

He easily pulled her into his arms, lowering his head so his chin brushed against her hair. “Camila’s just my subordinate.” 

Briana stayed silent. 

“How about I just fire her?” Shepard said, half–joking. 

“No!” Briana blurted out. 

‘He’s got to be joking,‘ Briana thought. 

Camila was a top performer, totally killing it at work. Firing her for no reason would look super suspicious. 

What would everyone else at the office think?‘ Briana was worried. 

It was already obvious to everyone that Camila had a thing for Shepard. 

Her position had always been rock solid, and then, the moment Briana came in for a meeting, Camila got the boot. 

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Chapter 228 

That would make things way too obvious. 

Briana really didn’t want people to think she was the jealous type. 

“So what do you want me to do?” Shepard let out a sigh. “Just say the word, and I’ll do whatever you want.” 

“Just keep it up. You seem to be enjoying all this anyway,” Briana snapped. 

“Enjoying it? How am I enjoying it?” Shepard shot back. 

Briana looked up into his eyes. “She treats you so well. She even makes your coffee and brings it to you herself, always so thoughtful, so sweet.” 

Shepard replied, “She insisted on making me a fresh cup. It’s not like I could stop her, could 

“You could have stopped her, you know,” Briana shot back. 

“Fine, whatever you say,” Shepard nodded, giving in. 

Briana still didn’t look pleased. 

No matter how much Shepard tried to get along with her, it just made her even more frustrated. 

But he always gave in to her, no matter what. 

“Alright, Briana,” Shepard said, his voice was gentle, “she’s nowhere near as thoughtful as you, and she’s definitely not as caring.” 

He added, “Back when we first got married, you were the best wife anyone could ask for, and nobody else even came close.” 

Briana let out a little huff. 

She was a bit pouty, a little playful, but honestly, she was really annoyed. 

“Tell me, what do I have to do to get you to smile? Don’t let something this trivial mess with your mood,” Shepard murmured, half asking her, half talking to himself. 

He added, “You won’t let me fire Camila, so she’s just going to keep fussing over me like this.” 

田 

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