Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 281

Chapter 281 

Olivia walked over to a quiet window and called Briana. 

Briana picked up right away. “Hey, Olivia.” 

“Mrs. Carter,” Olivia said with a laugh, “what are you up to?” 

“You’re just teasing me,” Briana replied. 

“Come on, what are you up to?” Olivia pressed. “Is it just you and Shepard, enjoying some couple time?” 

“Actually, no,” Briana replied. “He’s at work, and I’m home.” 

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“So you’re holding down the fort all by yourself, huh? How about I take you out for some fun, Mrs. Carter?” Olivia teased. 

“Hang out?” Briana asked, a bit surprised. 

Olivia nodded. “You must be bored at home. You’ve been stuck at the hospital with Shepard for so long, barely any time for yourself. We haven’t had a girls‘ day in ages. If you say no, I’ll come pick you up right now! 

Briana glanced at the time. 

It was still early. 

‘Even if I go out and have some fun, Shepard probably won’t be home by the time I get back, Briana thought. 

“Alright,” Briana said. “Send me the address, I’m on my way.” 

“Ok, waiting for you,” Olivia replied. 

Easy peasy. 

Whenever Olivia steps in, Briana can’t resist. 

If Olivia didn’t have to stick around and make sure the proposal goes smoothly, she would’ve already gone to pick up Briana 

herself. 

After hanging up, Olivia took a few steps, then something suddenly popped into her mind. 

“Shoot! I totally forgot to remind Briana to do her makeup!” Olivia said to herself. 

She quickly sent a message, [Briana, make sure you tidy up and look gorgeous.] 

Once she sent the message, she went over to check on the drones. 

Shepard was planning to use drones to spell out Briana’s name across the sky. 

And when Shepard popped the question, every giant screen on the skyscrapers in Belaris would be flashing Briana, marry me‘ on repeat. 

Briana didn’t even bother replying to Olivia’s message. 

By the time she saw it, she was already in the car. 

“Come on, it’s just hanging out with my bestie, who needs makeup for that?” Briana muttered, tossing her phone aside. Bare face is good enough.” 

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Besides, she was just wearing her comfy athleisure. 

Briana glanced down at her outfit. 

‘This is totally fine,‘ Briana thought. 

She’d walk right into a bar dressed like this and not care one bit. 

Besides, she was pregnant, Olivia wouldn’t risk taking her to a bar, would she? 

When Briana showed up, Olivia was already there waiting for her. 

“Hey, you made it. Wait, seriously?” Olivia blinked, surprised. 

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Olivia looked Briana up and down..“I told you to dress up a little! This is what you call getting ready? Where’s your glam?” 

“I even washed my hair for you,” Briana replied. “Isn’t that enough effort?” 

Olivia just stared, lost for words. 

‘Oh my god, you can’t just show up like this on a day that’s supposed to be unforgettable,‘ Olivia thought. 

“Okay, here’s the plan,” Olivia said. “I’m taking you to a salon for hair and makeup. And for clothes… I’ll pick something out for you.” 

Briana gave her a confused look. “Why? Is there something wrong with how I look? Why bother dressing up?” 

“Come on, just listen to me,” Olivia urged. 

“Nope,” Briana refused. “Seriously, just tell me, what’s so special about this place you brought me to?” 

She looked around, trying to figure out what was going on. 

‘Fine dining? A shopping spree? Hitting a laid–back bar for drinks?‘ she wondered 

‘But honestly, it didn’t look like any of those things.‘ she thought. 

“Don’t overthink it, just go with me,” Olivia insisted. “Seriously, just because you’re married doesn’t mean you can let yourself go, you know?” 

“I look perfectly fine,” Briana shot back. 

She honestly didn’t see anything wrong with her look. 

Olivia was about to say something else, but Briana fixed her with a stare. “Alright, spill it, what’s your real plan?” 

Olivia instantly zipped her lips. 

If she said anything more… 

She’d totally blow the surprise. 

If Briana caught on to what was about to happen, it would spoil the whole thing. 

Surprises only work their magic when you have no idea what’s coming; that’s how you get the biggest impact! 

“Fine, suit yourself,” Olivia muttered, her voice getting softer. “Just don’t regret it later.” 

“What did you say?” Briana didn’t catch what she said. 

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“Nothing,” Olivia said, linking her arm with Briana’s. “I just want to see you dressed up for once. You’ve been at the hospital with Shepard so long that you haven’t had the chance. I’m almost forgetting how gorgeous you are.” 

Briana chuckled. “Honestly, we’re like an old married couple now. I think we’ve both seen enough of each other.” 

“Come on, that’s impossible! You two are still totally in the ‘crazy in love‘ stage,” Olivia teased. 

“Crazy in love?” Briana blinked, a bit taken aback. 

‘Hmm… maybe she’s got a point,‘ Briana thought. 

Ever since they got back together, Shepard had been treating her even better than before. 

Honestly, it felt like Shepard was treating her a hundred times better than all those days before combined. 

Brianna felt a deep sense of happiness. 

People who are truly happy tend to be carefree and don’t obsess over their appearance. 

Shepard never stopped telling her just how gorgeous she was. 

But that’s just how Briana felt right now. 

If she’d known she was about to get proposed to in a huge, over–the–top way in just ten minutes… 

She would’ve gone all out with her makeup, no doubt about it! 

“Come on, let’s head upstairs,” Olivia said. “There’s a new restaurant in here, hardly anyone knows about it yet. I made a reservation just for us.” 

“So we’re here for some good eats,” Briana grinned. “I thought so! I could’ve sworn there wasn’t a restaurant in this building before.” 

“It just opened,” Olivia replied. 

Still chatting, the two of them stepped into the elevator. 

From the second Briana stepped into the elevator, every move she made was caught on camera. 

Shepard could see every little detail. 

He stood right in front of the screen, staring at Briana, unable to look away for even a second. 

He didn’t blink once. 

“She’s here, she’s here!” Charles called out from the side. “Shepard, don’t just stand there, get ready!” 

Shepard took a deep breath. “Alright.” 

“Everyone, get in position!” Charles called out excitedly. “The bride–to–be is here!” 

Shepard took a deep breath, then stepped out. 

All the lights shut off at once. 

Everything plunged into darkness. 

The elevator doors slid open. 

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Briana looked out at the rooftop, which was completely dark. 

“Why are the lights off?” Briana hesitated at the doorway. “Olivia, are you sure this is the right place?” 

“Trust me, this is the spot,” Olivia replied. 

“Are you sure we can eat here?” Briana asked. 

Olivia nodded. “Trust me, it’s all taken care of. Just walk ahead, would I ever trick you?” 

With Olivia saying that, Briana could only go along, still not fully convinced as she hesitantly walked forward. 

With it being pitch black, Briana couldn’t bring herself to walk any faster. 

After a few steps, the whole thing was starting to feel weird. 

“Olivia, are you sure this is the right place? Maybe you mixed up the floor or something…” Briana called out. 

But there was no response. 

“Olivia?” Briana called out again, but still got nothing. 

Confused, she glanced back over her shoulder. 

Olivia was nowhere to be seen. 

She was gone! 

Briana’s heart skipped a beat. 

What the heck is Olivia doing?‘ Briana thought. 

Is she messing with me or something?‘ Briana wondered.. 

Briana took a deep breath, about to shout “Olivia!” when suddenly, all the lights snapped on. 

Everything around her went from pitch black to blindingly bright in an instant. 

10:2 

Sat, Feb 

Chapter 282