Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 271

Chapter 271 

Briana couldn’t say a word. It was like her throat was being squeezed tight. 

She needed some time to take it all in and calm herself down. 

Right now, she felt cold all over. 

Charles noticed Briana’s distress right away. He could tell exactly how she was feeling. 

He quickly placed his hands on her shoulders, saying, “It’s okay, really. There’s no rush. We’ll talk about it in a few days… I’ve just been feeling so miserable, keeping everything bottled up inside, not knowing how to let it out…” 

Then he gently pulled Briana into his arms. 

“Briana, we can make things right for Mom and Dad. We really can. And our lives are getting better every day. Edward and the others will get what they deserve, so don’t let it get to you,” he said softly. 

Briana’s eyes were red as she wiped her nose. She replied, “Yeah, yeah…” 

“You’re pregnant and still taking care of Mr. Carter. Don’t push yourself too hard,” Charles said, gently patting her head. “You really need to take care of yourself.” 

“I’m fine, Charles. But you need to be careful, too. What if… Edward comes after you as well?” Briana said, worry clear in her voice. 

“No way,” Charles replied confidently. “I told him I’d convince you to let him off the hook and give Lane Group a chance to survive. Right now, he’s desperate for my help, practically treating me like his savior.” 

After thinking for a moment, Briana said, “You should go to the Lane residence and get the bug back. That’s the safest move. If it stays there and they find it, we’re screwed.” 

“Okay,” Charles replied. 

“Just keep it steady,” Briana said. “Shepard, stay cool. We’ve survived so much already; a little more patience won’t hurt us. Don’t do anything that’ll spook them.” 

Charles kept nodding and said, “I will, I will.” 

After Charles left, Briana went back into the hospital room. 

The nurse was carefully rewrapping the bandage around the wound on Shepard’s shoulder. 

She wound the bandage around and around. 

Shepard heard footsteps and glanced her way. 

“Did you go out?” he asked. “Did something freak you out?” 

“No, not really. Charles just came by, and we talked for a bit,” Briana replied. 

Briana sat down by the bed and said, “I’m not the type to get freaked out. Even if I had to watch them change your bandage, 

it wouldn’t bother me at all. You’re the one who keeps thinking I’m too soft.” 

Shepard smirked and said, “There’s really no need for you to see that.” 

“Does it hurt?” Briana asked. “I haven’t even heard you complain or groan.” 

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Chapter 271 

He was still stoic as ever. 

No way he would let his wife catch him acting all pitiful. 

But Shepard said, “It hurts. Hurts so badly.” 

Briana parted her lips, a little worried. She asked, “Ah… so, what should we do?” 

She glanced nervously at the nurse, asking, “Do you have anything for the pain? Maybe an injection or something? Anything to help with the pain?” 

The nurse shook her head. 

Actually, it really shouldn’t be hurting anymore. 

The wound had been healing for days now. 

Honestly, what Shepard probably felt most wasn’t pain; it should be itching. Because the wound was closing up, and new flesh was growing. 

Just as Briana was about to ask something else, Shepard gently rested his hand on hers. 

“If you stay with me, it doesn’t hurt so much,” he said softly. 

Briana was taken aback for a second, then smiled and said, “Okay.” 

Turned out, he was just teasing her. 

She had been worried for nothing. 

But it definitely hurt, just within the range Shepard could handle. 

He was always tough. 

***** 

That evening, at the Lane residence, after dinner, Edward sat on the couch, deep in thought. 

Diana walked over with a plate of fruit. She asked, “Edward, what’s on your mind now?” 

“I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s off,” Edward said. 

“What do you mean?” Diana asked. “Everything’s calm, smooth sailing right now. Isn’t that a good thing?” 

“That’s exactly it; it’s quiet,” Edward said. “The truck driver Sophia set up got picked up, and now nobody’s seen him or heard 

a peep; 

There’s no word from Charles either. And as for Shepard and Briana, they disappeared completely.” 

Next to him, Sophia replied, “Dad, you’re worrying too much. You’re always so paranoid. Here, have some fruit.” 

Diana laughed, saying, “See? Our daughter is such a good kid.” 

Sophia knew she had gotten herself in trouble, so she was on her best behavior lately. 

Edward was finally starting to cool off. 

“You,” Edward said, wagging a finger at her, “you’ve still got a long way to go.” 

“Come on, Dad, I’m still just a kid,” Sophia said. 

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Chapter 271 

“Age has nothing to do with it,” Edward replied. “Look at Briana; she’s barely older than you, but she’s out there running a gallery, hosting art exhibitions, absolutely crushing it, and all without any financial support. Could you pull that off?” 

Sophia wanted to talk back, but just made a face and kept quiet. 

Edward went on saying, “Perhaps it’s genetic. I was never a match for Rayden. He was way better than me at dealing with people and running a business. If not for some maneuvering, I’d never have had this life.” 

“Dad, I’m just taking a page from your book,” Sophia said with a sly grin. “If Briana were out of the picture, I’d be able to move up in the world, too.” 

Edward just pointed at her, smiled, and kept quiet. 

“Dad, see? Nothing’s happened, so I must’ve pulled it off pretty well; didn’t leave any clues behind. Guess it’s true what they say. Like father, like daughter,” Sophia said with a sly grin. 

Diana chuckled as she listened. 

Everyone was enjoying the conversation together. 

Just then, Charles arrived. 

When the housekeeper came in to report that Charles was here, Edward immediately got up and rushed out to meet him. 

Of course, he had to go greet him. 

“Charles, you made it,” Edward said with a wide grin. “I was worried you’d be too busy, so I didn’t want to bother you. If I’d known you were coming tonight, we would’ve waited and had a nice home–cooked meal together.” 

“I just dropped by since I had a bit of free time,” Charles replied. 

Charles made his way into the living room. 

He scanned the spot on the couch. 

Nothing seemed out of place. 

Edward rubbed his palms together nervously and asked, “So, how did things go with Briana? We can’t let Lane Group collapse or go bankrupt… No matter what happens, it’s still got our family name on it.” 

“Yeah, I told Briana the same thing,” Charles replied. “She said she’d give it a couple of days to think it over.” 

Edward thought, ‘Briana’s probably at the hospital with Shepard right now. 

‘What’s she even got to think about? 

‘Seriously, what’s there to consider? 

‘If it weren’t for Shepard, Briana would’ve been six feet under by now! 

But Edward kept all that to himself; there was no way he could ever say it out loud. 

Charles walked over to the couch, leaned down, and settled into his seat. 

He took the exact spot he used last time. 

“Sophia, go,” Edward said, “pour Charles a cup of coffee.” 

“Sure thing.” Sophia replied sweetly. “Charles, just wait a sec.” 

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Chapter 271 

Sophia hurried off to make the coffee, all smiles and enthusiasm. 

She came back quickly, holding the cup with both hands and offering it to Charles. 

Charles looked at the cup of coffee in front of him. 

To be honest, I can’t help but worry they might’ve slipped something into it, Charles thought. 

Edward’s family could be vicious as hell. 

“Charles?” Sophia asked. She noticed he hadn’t taken the cup, so she nudged it closer. “Is something wrong? Don’t like thi kind of coffee?” 

Charles snapped out of it and said, “No, it’s fine.”