Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 83

Chapter 83 

Clearly, Charles was siding with Henry. 

Shepard stood there, utterly alone, with no one to support him. 

In no time, Charles came rushing over. 

Seeing this, Briana quickly nudged him. “Charles, just go upstairs and get some rest, okay?” 

He’d been drinking again, and if he got impulsive, he’d probably get himself into trouble. 

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Dealing with those two guys was already giving Briana a headache, and now her actual brother was jumping into the mess as well. 

“How could I just go back to my room and leave you and Henry here? What kind of guy would that make me, a coward?” Charles said, fired up and indignant. 

“I’ve had it with Shepard. Last time, that fight didn’t go my way, but tonight, I’m settling this once and for all. No way I’m losing to him twice,” he added. 

“Come on, Briana, you’d better step aside, don’t want you getting hurt by accident. Wait, what’s that stuck to your forehead?” he said. 

Charles reached out and yanked the cooling patch right off Briana’s forehead. 

Briana was speechless. “You’re always wasted. Are you really working, or just out there drinking and having fun?” 

“Business, obviously!” Charles throws his arm around Henry’s shoulders and gives him a hearty slap. “Your future boyfriend set me up with some major deals. 

“I’ve already closed a few. Honestly, I was just thinking I should treat you to dinner one of these days.” 

“No need to thank me, Mr. Lane,” Henry said. 

“Don’t be so stiff. Just treat me as your brother like Briana does,” Charles said, giving Henry another slap on the shoulder. “We’re family now.” 

Henry just grinned, “Nothing’s official yet.” 

Charles said, “Says who? I’m practically sealing the deal for you two myself. Just wait till Briana’s divorce through, then you show up and pop the question. You’ve got my full blessing!” 

Back then, Charles was always orbiting around Shepard, practically his/number one fanboy, 

papers come 

Plus, flaunting his status as Shepard’s brother–in–law, he’d act all high and mighty, getting away with all kinds of crazy stuff. 

At that time, Briana was still Shepard’s wife, so everyone in Belaris/gave Charles plenty of face. 

Shepard just let it slide, never saying a word. 

But as the whole divorce situation kept escalating, and with Henry always there to support Briana, Charles had totally turned his back on Shepard. 

Charles grinned, “Why don’t you just stay over tonight? We’ve got plenty of rooms, or if you two want to share one, that’s fine by me. Gotta give you lovebirds more time to bond, am I right?” Charles burst out laughing. 

He didn’t give a damn about the thundercloud on Shepard’s face. 

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‘Future husband, huh?‘ Shepard thought, his jaw clenched in annoyance. ‘Seriously? Share a room just to get closer? 

‘Charles is really out here playing wingman, Shepard thought, the sarcasm practically oozing from his inner voice. 

“So Henry gives you a little taste, and you’re already sold?” Shepard sneered. “Is that all it takes to win you over?” 

Charles finally turned to Shepard, looking down on him. “Honestly, I don’t ask for much. But Mr. Carter, tell me, what have you ever given me? 

“In the five years you were married to Briana, you put everything into the Fletcher family’s business, took it from a tiny team to a company with hundreds of people. And me? Did I ever get anything out of it?” 

Charles said, “You know exactly what you’ve put in. So what gives you the right to laugh at the help Henry’s given me? He’s done way more for me than you ever did. And he treats my sister way better than you ever did. 

“I really don’t get what she ever saw in you. If I’d known, I would’ve fought tooth and nail to keep her from marrying you. She’d be way better off with Henry, someone who actually cares, who checks in and looks after her. 

“But with you, she’d worry about you, and you’d just ignore her like she was nothing.” 

Once Charles got a few drinks in him, he just couldn’t stop talking. 

He started airing all his grievances about Shepard, letting it all out right there. 

Shepard snorted coldly, a mocking smile on his lips. 

‘These two are exactly the same,‘ Shepard thought, sarcasm dripping from every word. 

They used to be all over him, hanging on his every word. 

Now, they couldn’t get away from him fast enough. 

“Charles, with your so–called skills, if I handed you a major project, you’d just screw it up,” Shepard said with a cold sneer. 

“Honestly, you’re better off loafing around. How much can you really burn on booze and parties?” he added. 

But if one tanked a project, that was hundreds of millions, even billions, gone in a heartbeat. 

Charles shot back, “You never even gave me the chance. How can you be so sure I’d screw it up?” 

“Trust me. I know your limits better than anyone,” Shepard replied coldly. 

Charles sneered, “So the Fletcher family is all that? Are they all supposed to be better than me? What about Vivian’s cousin, David? Isn’t he just a lazy good–for–nothing? All he ever does is…” 

“Charles, that’s enough,” Briana cut in. “We’re not getting into it with him,” 

She gave Henry a look that said, “Get Charles upstairs.” 

She’d handle things down here. 

Henry hesitated for a couple of seconds before giving in. 

He stepped up and steadied Charles. “Mr. Lane, you’re wasted. Let me get you upstairs, Briana’s burning up, so once you’re settled in, I still gotta take her to the hospital later.” 

“Fine, Henry, I’m only letting this slide for you. Otherwise, I’d have thrown Shepard out myself!” Charles said. 

“Yeah, let’s go.” Henry nodded. 

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Charles staggered up the stairs, but couldn’t resist yelling over his shoulder, “Shepard, you’re not wanted in our house. And Briana’s never gonna go back to you, not in a million years.” 

‘Back to the ex, back to the ex, why do they keep harping on that?‘ Shepard thought, his jaw tight with irritation. Just hearing those words makes me sick. 

Shepard narrowed his eyes at Briana. “You and your brother, seriously, you two really have some nerve.” 

“Took you long enough to notice?” Briana shot back. 

“Did you forget how you used to be my bootlicker?” Shepard sneered. 

Briana answered, steady and unapologetic, “I wasn’t groveling for you. I chose to humble myself for love, gave it my all, and when it was done, I accepted the loss and walked away with dignity. 

“I can own my choices and pay the price to leave, no shame in that.” 

Briana said, “And Shepard, if you think you and my brother are going to treat you like you’re the sun and we’re just orbiting around you, you’re in the wrong house. 

“You should go to the Fletcher family, over there, you’ll be treated like an emperor. No one would dare cross you; everyone just smiles, agrees with whatever you say, and waits on your every mood.” 

Shepard raised his voice, sounding a bit sulky. “Fine, I’m going to see Vivian right now!” 

His words carried a defiant, almost childish tone, like he was acting out of spite. 

“Go ahead,” Briana shrugged, not even bothering to hide her sarcasm. “Seriously, don’t let me stop you, just get going, and don’t waste even a second.” 

She pointed right at the door, arm stretched out like she couldn’t wait to see him leave. 

Shepard stared at her for a long moment before finally moving. 

As he shouldered past her, not even trying to avoid her, he just knocked her aside without a second thought. 

Briana stumbled back a couple of steps before she managed to steady herself. 

That hit actually hurt, a pretty harsh shove. 

‘Bastard, Briana thought, gritting her teeth. ‘Damn, he’s strong!‘ 

Shepard threw himself into the driver’s seat, slammed the car door with a bang, and then brought his fist down hard on the steering wheel. 

The horn blared out of nowhere. 

His chest heaved with anger. 

He’d stayed up half the night, driven over to the Lane family’s place to check on Briana, and now he was the villain, the meddler, the trespasser! 

‘Seriously, do they think I’m some kind of masochist?‘ Shepard fumed to himself. ‘I never should’ve come. Even if Briana coughs herself to death or burns up, it’s none of my damn business!‘ 

Just as Shepard was about to start the car, his phone suddenly rang. 

Vivian’s name flashed across the screen. 

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Shepard swiped to answer and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. 

“Shep, are you still awake? Looks like it’s gonna pour tonight, and the wind’s been howling nonstop. I’m kinda scared. Can you come over and stay with me?” Vivian’s voice trembled ever so slightly. 

B