Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 68

Chapter 68 

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When Vivian felt him hug her back, she leaned into him even more. “Shep, I’m really glad you came to me tonight. It means that when you felt awful, I was the first person you thought of. 

“Shep, you can treat my place like your safe space anytime. I’ll stay right here with you.” 

Shepard gave a quiet “yeah” and pulled her closer. “Vivian, I’m lucky you’re here.” 

He honestly didn’t know who else could handle everything he carried inside. Vivian was the only one who never left him and cared about him with her whole heart. 

“Come on, let’s go to the bedroom and get you some rest,” Vivian said. “You worked all day, you drank way too much, and you should lie down.” 

“Okay.” Shepard was completely drunk. His steps felt floaty, and he kept stumbling as he leaned most of his weight on Vivian’s shoulder. 

The bedroom lights were dimmer, and the air had a soft scent from the sleep blend aromatherapy. Vivian guided Shepard onto the king–size bed. 

She spoke gently, half coaxing him. “Shep, take off your clothes. They got soaked with beer earlier.” 

Shepard made a muffled sound with his eyes still shut. The alcohol smell clung to him. Vivian took off his shirt for him, and his solid, muscular torso came into view. 

She set her hand on his abs, unable to stop herself, and kept running her fingers over them. Then she rested against his chest, listening to the strong and steady beat of his heart. 

“Shep, tonight really feels like the right moment,” she whispered. 

She lifted his hand and placed it on her body. “Do you feel it?” she asked. “My heart is beating for you.” 

Shepard didn’t answer. He kept his eyes shut. He had already passed out, completely knocked out by the alcohol. Vivian lifted herself and leaned close to his ear. 

Her breath brushed his skin. “Shep, you fell asleep? Wake up. You haven’t showered yet. You’re going to feel awful if you sleep like this.” 

She let her fingertips wander across his face. “Open your eyes and look at me. Look at me right now. Are you sure you can stay calm when you see me like this?” 

Vivian’s hair fell around her shoulders, and her eyes looked warm and seductive. She had never been this close to getting what she wanted. 

She had to become Shepard’s woman. After she called his name over and over, Shepard finally opened his eyes and looked at her. 

“Shep, you’re drunk, and I’m a little drunk too,” Vivian said, touching his lips with her finger. “We’re sleeping together tonight. This is our first night together. 

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“Don’t you want to hold me? Don’t you want to kiss me?” She used every trick she had, trying her hardest to draw Shepard in. 

“Listen to your heart, Shep. We were apart for five years, and we loved each other for five years. It’s time we finally gave ourselves to each other.” Vivian leaned toward his lips. 

But Shepard suddenly shut his eyes. When he opened them again, they looked even more unfocused and dazed. Then he blurted out something that made no sense. “Is the honey water ready?” 

Vivian froze. “What? Honey water?” 

“For sobering up,” Shepard said. “Every time I came home drunk after a work dinner, you always had a cup of honey water waiting for me. What happened? You didn’t make it this time? Did you forget?” 

Vivian blinked. It took her a few seconds to process it. Shepard had actually mistaken her for Briana. She thought the whole thing was absurd. 

And right then, Shepard spoke again. “Briana, even you slip up sometimes?” 

Vivian’s suspicion was confirmed. He was lying next to her, on her bed, while she was the one trying so hard to get close to him. Yet the only person he was thinking about was Briana. 

Vivian felt like she had just been slapped. He had mistaken her for Briana’s stand–in. She couldn’t accept that. In her mind, if anyone was a stand–in, it should have been Briana standing in for her. 

Reluctantly, she opened her mouth. “Shep, you’ve got it wrong. Look at me. Who do you think I am?” 

Shepard stared at her for a long moment. Then he said, “You’re Briana.” 

Vivian gritted her teeth. She said, “I’m Vivian. I’m not Briana.” 

Shepard shook his head. “That’s impossible. Vivian’s overseas. You’re at Carter Estate. You’re the only one who – could get this close to me.” 

He was completely drunk and out of it. In the past, every time he got this drunk, Briana had always been the one taking care of him. 

She always had honey water ready to help him sober up. She always ran a warm bath ahead of time and set a trash can by the bed in case he threw up. 

She handled everything, every small detail, thoughtful and steady. For five years, it had been the same routine without fail. 

So right now, it was natural for Shepard to assume the woman beside him was still Briana, his wife on paper, the girl he grew up with. 

Vivian kept trying to correct him. She said, “Shep, you’re wrong again. I’m Vivian. This is the place you bought for me. It’s not Carter Estate. You came here to drink with me, and you passed out here. Did you really forget?” 

Shepard pressed his fingers against his brow. He said, “You’re just saying that because you’re upset. I know 

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you’ve never gotten over Vivian. You think I let you down, and you think I’m not the boy you remember. 

“But you’re the one who insisted on marrying me. I never forced you. Briana, people have to live with their choices. On our wedding night, I told you I’d never touch you, and I meant it.” 

Then he waved his hand and said, “Go on. Leave.” 

Vivian bit down hard. There was no way she could walk out at a moment like this. She took a breath and decided it didn’t matter who he thought she was. What mattered was what she wanted to achieve. 

“No, Shep. I’m staying. I’m taking care of you.” As she spoke, she slipped out of her nightgown completely. Then she pulled Shepard’s arm over and rested her head in the crook of his arm. “I want to give myself to 

you. 

“Shep…” she whispered, “Take me. Be with me.” 

Shepard asked, “Briana, what’s gotten into you tonight?” He sounded genuinely confused. 

It didn’t match anything he knew about her. Briana was stubborn to the core, traditional, and reserved. She would never make the first move like this. 

Vivian answered, “Because I don’t want to wait anymore. I want to be yours tonight.” 

Shepard didn’t move. He didn’t react at all. The room felt completely still. Just as Vivian froze, unsure what to do next, everything suddenly flipped. 

Shepard pushed her down beneath him. His arms braced on both sides of her head. He stared straight into her eyes and said, one word at a time, “Briana, you said it.” 

In that moment, Vivian felt her heart crack. She had always believed Shepard loved her the most. She had never questioned it. But now, she found herself wavering. 

The love she trusted no longer felt steady or reliable. She couldn’t get him to want her. But Briana could. And the whole time, he truly believed the woman beneath him was Briana. 

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