Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 278

Chapter 278 

“Honey, you gotta help me out,” Shepard said, leaning on Briana. 

Shepard really knew how to act vulnerable. 

Briana gave him a disapproving look, but still held him steady with both hands. 

“Don’t do that again,” she said. “It’s really dangerous.” 

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“I only got hurt this time, Briana. Next time, and the time after that, I’ll be able to climb the mountain by myself,” Shepard replied. “I can even carry you on my back.” 

Briana nodded. “Yeah, yeah, whatever.” 

‘This guy just can’t help but act tough,‘ Briana thought. 

With Briana’s help, Shepard made his way to Briana’s parents‘ graves. 

Shepard said, “I’m here to visit you.” 

He bowed deeply three times, paying his respects. 

“Rest assured, for the rest of my life, I’ll take good care of Briana. I’ll cherish her more than I do myself,” he said. 

Charles chuckled from the side, saying, “I’ll be keeping an eye on you.” 

“Go ahead,” Shepard replied with a grin. “I don’t mind at all.” 

Standing there, all kinds of memories came rushing back to Shepard. 

He realized he had messed up a lot. 

He was lucky; he still had a shot at making up for it. 

That year, Briana lost her parents. 

But Shepard came into her life. 

He was the only light in her world. 

For that light, Briana was willing to give up everything. 

In the end, Briana thought she was left with nothing. But fate had its own way of working things out, giving her the best outcome she never expected. 

Just when the road seemed blocked, and all hope was gone, life threw her a curve, and the clouds finally parted. 

Only after losing it all did Briana truly understand just how priceless everything she once had really was 

“Mom, Dad, Briana said softly, “I’m starting to really figure out what I want in life. I’m learning how to be myself, how to make my marriage work, and how to chase after the life I want. I’m getting happier every day.” 

“And Charles is killing it, too,” Briana added with a grin, shooting him a look. “He’s sharper than ever, he can run the company, dig up evidence, and just keeps getting better. We’re both leveling up, so you guys don’t need to worry about us,” 

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Chapter 278 

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Shepard took her hand, unable to take his eyes off her. 

Charles stood there all alone, looking totally out of place. 

Once again, he got hit with another dose of sweetness. 

He used to enjoy getting hit with their sweetness. 

But today, for some reason, he actually felt a bit lonely. 

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Just as he was lost in thought, Briana said, “Charles, next time we come to visit Mom and Dad, you’d better bring your future. wife along.” 

“Uh…” Charles blurted out, caught off guard. “I mean, I’d love to, but it’s all about fate, right?” 

“You gotta put in the effort too, you know. If you’re just out there playing the field, messing around with people’s feelings. how are you ever gonna meet the one?” Briana said. 

Charles scratched his head, saying, “I haven’t been dating or messing around in ages. I’m always busy with work, either cooped up in the office or out meeting clients all day.” 

“You gotta pay attention to your love life, too,” Briana said, giving him a playful wink. “Anyone you like? Need me to play matchmaker for you?” 

“No,” Charles said. 

“Seriously, not even one crush? What, are you secretly into guys or something?” Briana teased. 

Charles rolled his eyes at her. “I’m as straight as they come, okay.” 

“So, you mean to tell me there’s not even one woman you’d want to go after?” Briana teased, holding up a finger. 

Charles paused, caught off guard. 

But with Briana putting it that way, someone did come to mind. 

Charles thought, totally caught off guard, ‘Wait, could it really be? 

Camila. No way! 

Charles was floored; he couldn’t believe it himself. 

Charles thought, “Wait, Camila? Seriously? 

‘Do 1 actually like Camila? Am I really thinking about going after her, and maybe even marrying her? 

‘Could I really keep up with a woman as strong and capable as her? 

“Charles, looks like you’ve got someone in mind, Briana said, catching every little change in his expression “Come on, spill. who is it? Let me weigh in.” 

Briana thought, “That’s my future sister–in–law we’re talking about. 

‘Gotta make sure she passes my test! 

“No, no,” Charles said, flustered. “I’ll keep an eye out for someone suitable. If I meet someone. I’ll let you guys know.” 

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Right then, Shepard suddenly said, “Isn’t there already someone suitable right by your side?” 

He glanced over at Charles as he spoke. 

“Who?” Charles asked. 

Shepard and Briana replied in unison, “Camila.” 

Charles froze for a couple of seconds, totally caught off guard. 

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Then he started saying, “Come on, what are you even talking about? That’s just nonsense. Don’t go playing matchmaker for me.” 

Charles thought, feeling a little flustered, ‘Wait, am I really that obvious? 

‘Seriously, how did they both catch on? 

‘Are they psychic or something?‘ 

“Come on, Charles, it’s totally normal to like someone. Why hide it?” Briana said with a playful grin. “If you’re a real man, just be upfront about it and go for her openly. That’s how you actually win the girl.” 

Charles waved her off, shaking his head. He said, “Stop with that stuff. Camila and I, we just work together. Actually, she’s my boss.” 

Briana thought, ‘Well, damn. 

‘Now he’s pulling the boss card. 

Briana reminded him, saying, “Charles, don’t forget; we’re right in front of Mom and Dad’s graves. If you try to lie, you know they’re watching.” 

Charles felt his nerves spike, getting even more uneasy. 

He quickly changed the subject, saying, “Alright, alright, we should get going. Come on, Shepard, let me help you. Briana’s not exactly built for this.” 

But Shepard brushed him off, saying, “I just want my wife to take care of me.” 

Charles fell silent. 

He thought, ‘Fine, whatever. 

Guess I’m just doomed to keep getting hit with all this sweetness as a single guy 

A month later, in the hospital room, several doctors were gathered around Shepard, doing his discharge evaluation 

After a thorough check and some serious discussion, the attending doctor finally made the call 

“Mr. Carter, you can be discharged,” the doctor said. “Just remember to come back for a weekly check–up. And take it easy, no strenuous activity for the next six months. Just focus on resting and recuperating 

Shepard nodded. 

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‘Finally, I can get out of here, he thought. 

Honestly, he felt like he was already back to normal. 

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His wounds had healed, he could move around just fine, and he had no trouble with his daily routine at all. 

But it was Briana who insisted he stay for extra observation, so Shepard had no choice but to hang around in the hospital. 

“Honey,” Shepard turned to Briana, asking, “You heard the doctor, right? Looks like I’m cleared to leave.” 

His words made all the doctors and nurses burst out laughing. 

He might be the man who called the shots in Belaris, but when it came to getting discharged, Briana had the final say. 

Briana’s cheeks turned a little pink as she got embarrassed. She said, “Yeah, yeah, I heard you.” 

“Then, can you help me with the discharge paperwork?” Shepard asked, giving her a hopeful look. 

“Alright, alright,” Briana said with a smile, “I’m on it.” 

She knew Shepard couldn’t wait to get out of there; his mind was already back home and at Carter Group. 

For the past month, he had been working from his hospital bed. 

His secretaries would drop off files every morning and pick them up again at night. 

He could handle most things remotely, but there were still some important tasks that needed him to be physically present at Carter Group. 

While Briana went to take care of the paperwork, Shepard got out of bed and walked over to the window. 

He looked out at the world beyond, lost in thought. 

Truth be told, the only reason Shepard was so desperate to get out of the hospital wasn’t anything else; it was just for one thing. 

He could finally pop the question to Briana. 

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