Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 270

Chapter 270 

“Let me feed you,” Briana said. “Don’t move your hand or use it for now.” 

“Don’t worry, I can manage,” Shepard said. 

“Trust me,” Briana said firmly. “Put your hand down and leave it alone.” 

Shepard pursed his lips and obeyed. 

Now Richard and Isabelle had finally got it. 

Now they saw what it really meant for someone to finally meet their match. 

After the accident, Shepard was basically crippled; he couldn’t do anything for himself. 

For someone with so much pride and ambition, it was a devastating blow. 

He wanted to live like a normal person, but right now, that was just wishful thinking. 

If anyone else tried to take care of him, he would call all the shots; nobody could get him to budge. 

But with Briana there, her word was final; he would just go along with whatever she said. 

Shepard drank it spoonful by spoonful. 

The oatmeal was delicious. 

Shepard thought, ‘When Briana feeds me, it’s even more delicious. 

Briana was so caught up feeding Shepard that by the time she spooned most of it and turned to say something to Isabelle, she suddenly realized that only she and Shepard were left in the room. 

“Huh?” Briana looked genuinely surprised. She asked, “When did they slip out? They didn’t even say a word.” 

She quickly turned to Shepard, asking, “Why didn’t you give me a heads–up? I would’ve walked them out.” 

Shepard replied, “I didn’t notice either.” 

All her attention was on Shepard; she hadn’t noticed anything else. 

And Shepard was the same; he only had eyes for her. 

The two of them were so wrapped up in each other that nothing else in the room even registered. 

Briana let out a soft laugh and said, “Guess they realized they were just the third wheel, so they snuck out without saying a word.” 

The way things were between her and Shepard now was cozy and sweet. 

It was quiet and steady, but it felt like it could last forever. 

Shepard gazed at her, his eyes dark and thoughtful. 

“Briana,” he suddenly asked, “this is really happening, right?” 

Briana blinked, asking, “What’s wrong?” 

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Chapter 270 

Briana couldn’t figure out why he suddenly asked something like that. 

“Of course it’s real,” she replied with a smile. “I’m right here in front of you, real as can be. If you don’t believe me, you can pinch my cheek. Or do you want me to pinch you instead?” 

As she spoke, Briana reached out and gave Shepard’s cheek a playful pinch. 

No one had ever dared to pinch Shepard’s cheek before; she was the first. 

Shepard didn’t mind at all. 

Well, she was his wife, after all. 

“It just feels like happiness came out of nowhere,” Shepard said, his voice soft with emotion. “Something I always thought was way out of reach, impossible even, is actually real now.” 

Briana grinned and played dumb, asking, “Oh? What did you think was impossible? Is there really anything our mighty Mr. Carter can’t handle?” 

Shepard shook his head, a little exasperated but mostly amused. “Briana, you…” 

He gave her a helpless, doting smile. 

She knew exactly what he meant. 

“Alright, I’ll stop teasing you,” Briana said, setting down the bowl and spoon. She pulled out a tissue and gently wiped the corner of his mouth. “Shepard, our happiness didn’t just happen out of nowhere; it took a lot to get here.” 

If Shepard had died in the accident, or become a vegetable and never woken up, or ended up permanently disabled, there would be no way for them to feel this happiness now. 

Even if Briana was willing to stay by his side, not minding or giving up on him, Shepard would still push her away. 

With his pride, he could never stand being less than whole, being disabled. 

He would feel inferior, want to hide away, and just shut himself off from everyone. 

But thankfully, fate wasn’t too cruel. 

“It’s all behind us now. Let’s look forward,” Briana said gently. “We’ll always be together. We will.” 

Since happiness didn’t come easily, they cherished it all the more. 

Shepard looked at Briana with a gentle, loving gaze, his eyes soft as if he couldn’t help but melt a little inside. 

After breakfast, the doctor and nurses came in to do their rounds. 

They needed to change Shepard’s dressings. 

He had multiple serious injuries, some so deep that one could actually see the bone. Every day, they had to clean the wounds, apply medicine, and change the gauze. 

Briana stood at a distance, only able to see the backs of the doctors and nurses. 

Shepard wouldn’t let her get close, saying that it would scare her. 

Maybe the wounds were just too bloody and gruesome. 

Briana couldn’t bring herself to look either. 

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Chapter 270 

She wasn’t scared; she just couldn’t stand seeing him suffer like that. It hurt her so much. 

Suddenly, someone tapped her gently on the shoulder. 

Briana turned around, asking, “Charles?” 

Charles was standing behind her, beckoning with his finger. He said, “Briana, come out for a sec. I need to talk to you.” 

“Okay,” Briana replied. 

In the hallway, the two siblings stood facing each other. 

Charles’s expression was serious. 

He said, “Briana, I’ve been thinking about this. I know this isn’t the best time, but I can’t hold it in anymore… I was up all night, couldn’t sleep a wink. If I don’t get this off my chest, I’m seriously going to go crazy.” 

Briana looked at him, asking, “What’s wrong, Charles? What happened?” 

“Edward isn’t even human, seriously.” Charles was shaking with anger. “He’s a total monster. Scum of the earth. No conscience at all.” 

Even though Charles hadn’t spelled it out yet, Briana instantly knew what he was talking about. 

Her face paled. 

“Charles, the car accident…” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. 

“It was him. All of it,” Charles blurted out, his voice shaking with rage. “The accident with Mom and Dad, and the one you and Shepard were in. Edward was behind every single one.” 

Briana’s body trembled hard, almost making her stagger. 

She had already guessed that the truck crashing into her wasn’t some random accident; it was a setup. 

It was like the driver had zeroed in on her, heading straight for her as if she were the only target. 

But she never imagined that her parents‘ accident was planned, too. 

Briana thought, feeling a chill running down her spine, ‘How could Uncle Edward be so heartless, so cruel? 

‘Dad was his brother. 

They grew up together, a real family; how could he turn his back and do something so unforgivable?‘ 

Briana closed her eyes, forcing herself to pull it together. 

“Charles, did you get any proof? Did you find out the truth?” she asked, her voice shaking. “Then… have Edward arrested. put him on trial, and sentenced to death.” 

Charles took a deep breath, saying, “I planted a bug in the couch at the Larie residence. For the past few days, I’ve been able to listen in live to every single conversation his family had in the living room. 

“Edward admitted it; back then, he orchestrated the car accident to seize control of the Lane Group, killing Mom and Dad and leaving us orphans. And he also said Sophia was the one behind this latest accident. 

“Sophia acted on her own; Edward had no idea. But she was just following his example. She knew what Edward did back then, and now she’s pulling the same trick… The whole family is just pure evil. Absolutely ruthless!” 

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Chapter 270 

The truth that had been hidden for years was suddenly laid bare, bloody and brutal, right in front of them. 

Charles was burning with rage every single day and night. 

He was itching to barge into the Lane residence and make Edward pay with his own blood. 

But he knew he couldn’t just lose control now. 

Ending up in jail for a scumbag like Edward just wasn’t worth it. 

Briana’s whole body trembled uncontrollably. 

She couldn’t believe it. Every bit of her suffering had been orchestrated by Edward. 

“Briana, let’s go to the Lane residence,” Charles said, his voice tight with emotion. “I’m afraid I might lose control and do something reckless. Stay with me; you’re always the level–headed one.” 

“Charles, I… I…” Briana stammered, her voice trembling, barely able to get the words out. 

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