Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 287

Chapter 287 

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Camila laughed. “Date? No way. Mr. Lane and I just finished meeting with a big client. We were supposed to have dinner with them, but they were busy. So we just ended up grabbing a bite together.” 

Briana was speechless. 

She thought, ‘So it wasn’t even Charles who asked Camila out for dinner. 

‘Man, he’s so dense. He really has zero game when it comes to chasing girls. 

‘But still… 

“So you call this just grabbing a bite?” Briana teased. “Look around. Everyone here is either a couple or married. When do bosses and employees ever eat at a place like this?” 

“Mr. Lane picked it,” Camila replied. “How could I refuse?” 

Charles jumped in, “This place is the closest, has the best food, highest ratings, and yeah, it’s the priciest too. You’re a star at Dreamscape Corporation. There’s no way I’d let you down.” 

Briana facepalmed. 

She’d finally managed to steer the conversation toward relationship stuff. 

But Charles just had to drag it right back to work. 

Briana muttered in her head, ‘All he ever thinks about is work! 

Back when he should’ve been hustling, he was just out partying and living it up like some spoiled rich kid. 

And now, when it’s time to make big life decisions, all he can think about is work.’ 

Briana was at her wits‘ end with him. 

She honestly wanted to coach Charles step by step on how to confess his feelings. 

Briana thought, ‘Yeah, I might as well just walk him through it step by step! 

Otherwise, God knows when he’ll ever make a move! 

Once the weekend art show was over, she’d be heading to the hospital to get ready for the baby. 

Then it would be a whole month of recovery, taking care of the newborn, and trying to get back in shape. 

By the time she finally had the time and energy to even think about Charles’s love life, it’d be at least half a year from now 

If nothing happened between Charles and Camila by then, maybe that was for the best. 

Her real worry was that Camila ended up with someone else. 

Since she bumped into them at the restaurant today, Briana thought she couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste. 

“Charles, come on. Don’t try to talk your way out of it,” Briana said, wiggling her eyebrows. “You brought Camila here for dinner. Just admit it, you like her, don’t you?” 

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Briana thought, “That’s about as straightforward as it gets! 

I’m really going all out to play matchmaker here!‘ 

Charles froze for a second, looking awkward. 

He shot a quick, nervous glance at Camila before replying, “Come on, Briana. You-” 

“I can see right through you,” Briana said. “If you like Camila, just admit it already. 

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“If I were a guy, I’d totally be into her too. She’s gorgeous, super capable, well–educated, and the best part is she’s smart and has a great personality. Seriously, what guy wouldn’t like her? If you don’t, you must be gay.” 

Briana cleared her throat. “Hey, Charles, are you gay or something?” 

“I’m as straight as they come!” Charles replied. 

‘So, you like Camila, right?” Briana pressed. 

Yeah! Uh…” Charles blurted out, totally caught off guard. 

He answered without even thinking. 

Only after he’d said it did he realize Briana had totally set him up. 

Mission accomplished. Briana looked super pleased with herself. 

‘Hey, Charles, that’s as far as I go,” she said with a wink. “The rest is all on you.” 

Then she turned to Camila. “Honestly, Charles is actually a pretty good guy. He’s got a sense of responsibility, and he’s totally cleaned up his act. 

‘Plus, I bet you could handle him no problem. He’d be putty in your hands. Whatever you say goes!” 

With that, Briana plopped back down in her seat, looking absolutely pleased with herself. 

She was clearly in a great mood. 

‘Hey, babe, Briana asked, “wasn’t I awesome just now?” 

“Pretty good,” Shepard replied. 

“I know, right? Honestly, if I hadn’t jumped in, we’d probably be waiting another half a year,” Briana said. “Besides, I really want a sister–in–law already.” 

Shepard just nodded absently and kept helping Briana with the food. 

He couldn’t be bothered with all that. 

All he wanted was to make sure his wife ate well and had her fill 

Briana found her appetite again. 

While Briana and Shepard were happily digging into their food, Charles was left sitting there… 

He was so restless. He could barely keep still in his seat. 

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Charles thought, ‘Should I just go for it and confess right now?‘ 

But it felt way too rushed, like he was being pushed into something before he was ready. 

Charles paused, and then started, “Briana-” 

“Mrs. Carter just loves to joke around,” Camila jumped in, cutting him off. “Right, Mr. Lane?” 

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“Yeah. Shepard spoils her so much these days, so she’s gotten really bold. She even jokes around with me now,” Charles said. 

“Mrs. Carter really seems to want to play matchmaker for us,” Camila added. 

Charles paused. “Do you mind?” 

Camila replied, “Mind what?” 

“Well, she keeps trying to set us up. But right now, we’re just boss and employee,” Charles said. 

“I don’t mind,” Camila answered casually. 

She lowered her head, not meeting Charles’s eyes. 

Charles opened his mouth, but nothing came out. 

However, his mind was racing. 

He thought, ‘It’s about time I made a move.‘ 

After dinner, Charles stood up and looked over at the table next to theirs. 

It was spotless, already cleared and ready for the next guests. 

Shepard and Briana had already finished their meal and slipped out. 

“Didn’t even say goodbye,” Charles muttered to himself. 

By the time they got back to Carter Estate, it was already late at night. 

Briana lay in bed, gently rubbing her round belly. 

Shepard was helping her apply body oil. 

“Even though I’m the one who’s pregnant, you’ve been putting in just as much effort,” Briana said, looking at him. “You take care of me every day, paying attention to every little thing. You never used to be this attentive.” 

“It’s still not enough,” Shepard replied. 

“You’re already doing great,” Briana said. “Having a husband like you, and our baby having a dad like you, we both feel so 

blessed.” 

She looked at her belly. “Isn’t that right, baby?” 

She got no response. 

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Briana sighed. “He’s usually so active, always kicking and squirming, but now he’s suddenly so quiet.” 

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“You’re working so hard. He doesn’t want to give you any trouble,” Shepard said. “Do you really have to oversee the art show yourself this weekend?” 

He still wished Briana would check into the hospital early to get ready for the delivery. 

Briana sat up and replied softly, “Of course. Didn’t we already agree I’d go to the hospital on Monday?” 

“Okay, I’ll follow your lead,” Shepard said. 

Just as Briana was about to say something else, her phone started ringing. 

She glanced at the screen and found it was Charles calling. 

“Is Charles calling to yell at me?” Briana muttered, staring at the caller ID. “At this hour, he must’ve just finished dinner with Camila, dropped her off, and now he’s got nothing better to do than come after me.” 

Shepard reached out. “Give me the phone. I’ll answer it.” 

Briana refused. “Hmph, if he dares to scold me, I’ll roast him right back. Seriously, he’s a grown man and still can’t get the girl after chasing her for ages. I need to tease him a little!” 

With that, Briana swiped to answer the call. 

Briana picked up and answered boldly, “Hey?” 

“Hey, Briana, you still up?” Charles‘ voice was unexpectedly soft. “Are you asleep?” 

“Nope, still awake. What’s up?” Briana eased her tone, trying to get a read on him. “So, what’s going on?” 

“I’ve got some good news for you,” Charles said. 

“Oh? Is it work stuff, or something personal?” Briana asked.