Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 88

Chapter 88 

Chapter 88 

Everyone turned to look at the source of the footsteps. 

With all eyes on him, Shepard made his entrance. 

He was dressed in a sharp suit, carrying a beautifully wrapped gift box. 

Seeing this, Steven quickly stepped forward to take it. “Mr. Carter, let me handle that.” 

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“Sorry, I’m late,” Shepard said with a calm expression, handing the box to the butler. “This is just a small token of my appreciation. I didn’t have much time to put it together, so I hope you won’t mind, Mrs. Lane.” 

Briana was taken aback as she stared at him. 

‘What’s he doing here?‘ Briana wondered. 

Before she could even process what was happening, Shepard had already come up beside her, naturally draping his arm over her shoulders and drawing her into his arms. 

He lowered his head, his lips grazing her cheek. “Why are you looking at me like that? Don’t you recognize me?” 

From what everyone else could see, Shepard and Briana were joined at the hip these days. 

They’d never guess they were supposed to be divorced. 

Briana froze. 

She muttered under her breath, “Please, I’d recognize you even if you turned to dust. But seriously, what are you doing here?” 

Shepard just grinned and said, “I’m here for the same reason you are. Wherever you go, I go.” 

“Come on, we’re divorced,” Briana began, but was quickly interrupted. 

Shepard cut in, “What, you want your grandma to end up in the hospital too, sharing a room with mine?” 

Briana was left speechless. 

Evelyn was still in the ICU, unconscious. 

If Wrenley ended up in the hospital too because of all this, that’d be on them. 

‘So that’s what this is. Shepard showed up to put on a show for Wrenley, making sure everyone sees we’re still together and shutting down those divorce rumors,‘ Briana realized. 

“Fine, thanks for that,” Briana said. 

“Just a thank you? That’s all I get?” Shepard teased. 

“What do you want then?” Briana shot back. 

Shepard paused. “I’ll let you know later. You owe me for now.” 

Briana looked up at him, speechless. 

But Shepard was already turning to Wrenley, flashing her a friendly, respectful smile. “Sorry, I’m late, Mrs. Lane. Got held up at work. Hope that’s okay.” 

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Chapter 88 

Wrenley shook her head. “Not at all. I was just telling them about you.” 

“Really? What were you saying about me? Can I hear too?” Shepard asked with a grin. 

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His hand slipped off Briana’s shoulder and, without missing a beat, he took her hand and sat down right next to her. 

It was all so smooth, like he didn’t even have to think about it. 

Like this was just how they always were around each other. 

Wrenley didn’t say a word. Instead, she turned to Sophia. 

She gave Sophia a look, silently telling her to repeat what she’d just said. 

Shepard glanced over at Sophia, raising an eyebrow. “Well? Go ahead.” 

Sophia met Shepard’s gaze and, for a split second, found herself a little lost in those deep, dark eyes of his. 

He was still rocking that killer combo of good looks and high–class vibes, elegant, charming, and totally magnetic.. 

Shepard was basically the definition of perfection. 

Whether it was his looks, his family, or his skills and education, he was the cream of the crop. 

And when it came to relationships, he was never a player, always all in, always loyal. 

When he was with Briana, he was all in, totally devoted to her. 

And when he started seeing Vivian, he loved her just as wholeheartedly. 

Sophia had been head over heels for Shepard for as long as she could remember, quietly nursing her crush all this time. 

But sadly, he never had any feelings for her. She was never even on his radar. 

“Shepard,” Sophia said. “I came across some gossip and rumors about you online and wasn’t sure if any of it was true, so I just brought it up casually. And look, the moment we started talking about you, you showed up.” 

Shepard chuckled, “Come on, you’re not falling for those internet rumors, are you?” 

“So, it’s not true?” Sophia asked, her voice tinged with reluctance. “You and Briana didn’t get divorced? And you’re not seeing Vivian now?” 

Shepard picked up his cup, eyes lowered as he brushed away the foam with the lid, then took a slow, unhurried sip. 

After a moment, he said, “Me sitting here is all the proof you need.” 

With that, Shepard offered the cup to Briana. “This is excellent coffee, a real rare treat.” 

Briana blinked, caught completely off guard. 

‘Seriously? He just drank from that cup, and now he’s handing it to me? 

‘With the whole Lane family watching, how am I supposed to refuse?‘ Briana thought, feeling the pressure mount. 

Seeing she didn’t take it, Shepard pushed the cup toward her again. “Come on, give it a try.” 

Briana still didn’t take it. 

‘There’s no way I’m drinking from his cup,‘ Briana thought, feeling totally embarrassed. 

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Chapter 88 

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But Shepard just stayed cool, a playful smirk on his lips. “Getting a little bratty, aren’t you? You want me to feed you myself before you’ll drink it?” 

Briana got goosebumps all over her arms. 

‘What is he even on about? 

‘Does he really have to fake being lovey–dovey this much?‘ she complained to herself. 

But with so many eyes on her, Briana had no choice but to force herself to take the cup and, head down, pretended to take a sip. 

She quickly nodded. “Yeah, really good coffee.” 

Truth was, she didn’t actually drink any. Her lips just brushed the rim of the cup. 

Shepard knew exactly what she was doing, but he just let it slide. 

Charles sat across from them, watching the whole thing play out, completely at a loss. 

‘Seriously, what kind of act is this? 

‘Last night at Evergreen Estate, Shepard and Henry were about to get into a fight, and now, here at the Lane residence, Shepard’s acting all sweet with Briana, even drinking from the same cup? What is going on?‘ Charles thought, totally lost. 

And if that wasn’t enough, Shepard even reached over to check Briana’s forehead, like he was making sure she was okay. 

Once he was sure her fever had broken and she seemed to be doing better, he let his hand fall away. 

Briana tensed up, barely managing to stop herself from pushing his hand away. ‘Why is he acting so close in front of everyone?‘ she thought, feeling totally awkward. 

Sophia was dying of jealousy. 

‘Weren’t people saying Shepard had been cold as ice to Briana for five years, just waiting to split up? 

‘But now, look at them, so lovey–dovey, as they’ve gone right back to how things were before Vivian ever got in the picture, Sophia grumbled inwardly. 

“Shepard,” Sophia said with a bit of a pout. “But those rumors are going viral online.” 

Shepard just shot her a look and said, “So, are you going to believe those online rumors, or are you going to believe me?” 

Just as Sophia was about to answer, Briana cut in, her tone playful but with a hint of challenge. “Sophia, what did you just call my husband?” 

‘So, Sophia thinks she’s the only one who can stir up trouble, huh? 

‘Well, two can play at that game. I can dish it out just as well,‘ Briana told herself, ready to give as good as she got. 

“I–I called him Shepard, okay?” Sophia mumbled, her cheeks turning pink. 

“Are you sure that’s what you should be calling him?” Briana said, feigning surprise as she turned to Edward and Diana. 

“Uncle Edward, Aunt Diana, has Sophia been living overseas so long she’s forgotten how we do family titles around here? Even if she has, shouldn’t you two give her a little reminder? 

“Sophia’s my cousin, so she should show some respect to Shepard, right?” Briana added, her voice playful and just a little bit sharp. 

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Chapter 88 

Edward let out a few awkward coughs, clearly uncomfortable. 

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Diana quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Oh, right. Sophia hardly ever stays at home, so she hasn’t seen Shepard much. She just forgot for a moment and called him the wrong thing.” 

Sophia muttered reluctantly, “Fine, Mom.” 

But Briana wasn’t about to let her off that easily. 

“Are you sure you’ve got it now, Sophia?” Briana pressed, her voice playful and a little mischievous. “Go on, say it out loud. Get some practice in, so you don’t mess it up next time.” 

“I won’t forget.” Sophia retorted, her cheeks burning with embarrassment and frustration. 

Sophia was clearly getting embarrassed and frustrated. 

She just didn’t want to call him Mr. Carter 

‘I’m the one who should be married to Shepard, not her,‘ Sophia fumed inwardly. 

AD