Hope Crawls Through Ruins by Kain Rwan Vale 94

Chapter 94 

The CEO’s office door was tightly shut. 

Before Vivian stepped into the elevator, she kept glancing back at the door. 

‘What is Shep up to?‘ she wondered. 

He was becoming more and more unpredictable, and he didn’t share anything with her 

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anymore. 

James stepped to the side, blocking Vivian’s view, and flashed her a brief smile. “See you, Ms. Fletcher.” 

The elevator doors slid shut. 

The floor of the CEO’s office was eerily quiet. 

It felt like the calm before a storm. 

Inside the office, Shepard stood by the floor–to–ceiling window, the skyscrapers of Belaris rising behind him, his figure straight and imposing, as if the whole city was in his hand. 

Shepard asked flatly, “Did you get it?” His tone was calm, giving nothing away. 

“Yes,” the subordinate replied. “Everything’s in here, Mr. Carter.” 

The subordinate handed over a file folder with both hands. 

Shepard reached out, took the folder, and opened it. 

But just as he was about to pull out the documents, his hand froze mid–motion. 

“Are you certain everything’s correct?” he asked. 

“No mistakes at all, Mr. Carter,” the subordinate replied. 

Shepard pressed his lips together, drew out the papers, and studied them intently. 

The more he read, the angrier, more shocked, and more confused his face became. 

With a loud bang, Shepard strode over to his desk and slammed the file folder down. 

He leaned over the desk, hands planted firmly, his tie swinging down in front of him. 

His chest was heaving, unable to calm down. 

“Briana has been pregnant?” Shepard forced out, the words scraping past his clenched teeth. 

He could barely get the words out, his jaw tight with disbelief. 

“How could she be pregnant?” he demanded, voice trembling with shock and anger. 

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The subordinate kept his head low, voice trembling. “Mr. Carter, that’s what we found out… As for the details, I–I think you should ask Mrs. Carter personally.” 

Shepard closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard. 

His mind was a mess. 

He was always the one pulling the strings, always in control. 

But when it came to Briana, she played him for a fool time and time again. 

She’d slipped the abortion consent form into the divorce papers and tricked him into signing it. 

By the time he rushed over, the surgery was already done. 

And now, he’d just learned Briana was still pregnant–he couldn’t believe it. 

‘What the hell is going on here? Just what is she trying to pull? So that’s why she wouldn’t go to the hospital. She was scared someone would find out she’s pregnant, Shepard pondered. 

“Mr. Carter,” the subordinate asked cautiously, “do you have any other questions?” 

“Get out,” Shepard snapped. 

“Yes, sir,” the subordinate replied, practically sprinting out of the office. 

The subordinate felt like he’d just been pardoned, and he couldn’t get out of there fast enough. 

To him, Shepard was like a ticking time bomb, who could blow up at any second. 

Shepard stood alone in the huge office, the silence pressing in on him. 

He could hear his own ragged breathing and the pounding of his heart. 

He was itching to drag Briana in right now, confront her, and demand some real answers. 

‘What kind of story is that sharp tongue of hers going to spin next?‘ he couldn’t help wondering. 

“Bravo, Briana,” Shepard snarled, slamming his fist onto the desk. “You’d better be ready.” 

Shepard sat down, his eyes burning with fury and suspicion, and started scrutinizing every single document in the folder–line by line, word by word–not letting a single detail slip by. 

***** 

That evening, the gallery was closing up for the night. 

Briana was heading toward the parking lot when two big bodyguards suddenly blocked her path. 

Their shadows loomed over her. 

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Chapter 94 

They looked familiar to her. She asked, “Are you… the bodyguards from the Carter Estate?” 

“Yes, ma’am,” one of them replied. 

“Mr. Carter wants to see you,” the other added. 

Briana didn’t even hesitate. “No way.” 

“Mr. Carter says you have to come,” the bodyguard insisted. 

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“Who does he think he is? Just because he wants me there, I have to drop everything and go?” Briana shot back. “Tell him I’m busy, and I don’t want to see him.” 

She’d been racking her brain all day, trying to figure out how to get solid proof set the fire. 

Her head was pounding from all the thinking. 

was the one who 

Briana tried to sidestep the bodyguards and keep going, but before she knew it, she was off the ground. 

A bodyguard, well over six feet tall, just hoisted her up like she weighed nothing. 

“Sorry, ma’am,” the bodyguard said. “Mr. Carter’s orders, and we have to follow them.” 

“Seriously? Shepard’s got no shame, and his goons are just as bad…” Briana grumbled, rolling her eyes. 

And just like that, Briana was hauled off to the Carter Estate, not even given a chance to protest. 

The Carter Estate was blazing with lights. 

But it was eerily quiet. 

Briana couldn’t shake a sense of unease. 

‘What kind of crazy is Shepard on about now?‘ she thought. 

She walked slowly into the villa, heading for the living room. 

Shepard sat on the sofa, his long legs elegantly crossed, turning something over in his hand. 

It was a little white bottle, looking like some kind of pill bottle. 

‘What’s he doing, playing with a pill bottle?‘ Briana pondered. 

Clearing her throat loudly, she deliberately walked heavily so he couldn’t miss her. “I’m here. Whatever you want, make it quick. I need to get home and crash. I’m beat.” 

Shepard didn’t even look up. 

“Hey,” Briana shot him a glare. “You had your goons drag me all the way here, and now you’re just playing dumb? Seriously, what’s your deal?” 

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Shepard’s hand froze for a second, then he lifted his eyes just a bit. “The file folder on the coffee table. Open it and see for yourself.” 

Briana’s eyes landed on the file folder. 

‘What’s in there? Is this what he dragged me here for?‘ she wondered. 

Just as she reached for it, it suddenly clicked in her mind. 

Her knees almost buckled. 

She suddenly remembered. Shepard had said he was going to investigate her. 

‘Wait… did he really dig up everything on me?‘ Briana thought, her heart skippi 

Her vision went dark for a moment. 

She pulled her hand back and turned to look at Shepard. 

He’d been watching her the whole time. 

Their eyes met, and Briana could see the anger simmering in Shepard’s eyes. 

Silence. It was dead silent. 

“Why aren’t you looking?” Shepard asked, his voice cold. “Did you already guess what’s in there?” 

Briana didn’t know what to say, so she kept quiet. 

Briana was frantically searching for a way to get out of this. 

“Don’t bother,” Shepard growled, his voice cold and menacing. “Briana, you’ve really got a lot of nerve.” 

His deep voice echoed through the living room. 

Briana’s ears were left ringing from the force of it. 

She felt a chill run through her. After a shaky breath, Briana grabbed the folder and upended it, spilling everything out. 

Papers were scattered across the coffee table and carpet. 

Her gaze fell on the pregnancy report. 

Her worst fear had come true. 

Briana stared, unblinking, at the pregnancy report. 

Shepard had already gotten up and walked over to her. 

He approached with menacing air. 

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“I want answers,” Shepard demanded, his voice low and dangerous. “Briana, why are you still pregnant? I thought you had an abortion after we signed the divorce papers?” 

Briana turned to face him, her lips moved, but she stayed silent. 

Shepard advanced on her, step by step. 

She instinctively took a step back. 

With every step he took, Shepard fired off another question. 

Shepard snapped, “You never had an abortion, did you? But when I rushed into the D you were right there on the table. Then how the hell are you still pregnant? 

“Briana, I’m asking you–how did this baby happen?” 

With nowhere left to run, Briana’s knees hit the back of the sofa, and she dropped onto it. 

Shepard leaned in, his breath hot against her face. “You’re not going anywhere until you tell me the truth.” 

“Yeah, the baby…” Briana choked out, her voice hoarse and bitter. “I’m still pregnant.” 

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