Chapter 511: Unlocking the Shackles

His phone rang again. He wearily answered the call. It was Melody Monroe.

Melody Monroe’s worried voice came through the phone, "Keith Coleman, how is Rose?"

"I’m still at the hospital. Rose Shaw isn’t out of danger yet."

"Rose..."

"When I got there, she was lying in the bathtub..." Keith Coleman choked up. "It was suicide."

Melody Monroe’s heart clenched!

She knew things couldn’t be as simple as Rachel had made them sound! ’If it were just because of Lana Sheffield, Rose wouldn’t have resorted to this!’

’There has to be something more!’

"Melody, tell me, is the person Rose likes Christopher Sterling?" Keith Coleman had always had his suspicions; there had to be a reason Rose Shaw had stayed with Stellaris for so many years.

"Yes," Melody Monroe nodded.

"I understand."

"No, you don’t understand. Rose’s feelings for Christopher Sterling aren’t that simple. He’s the one who pulled her out of hell."

Keith Coleman froze for a moment.

He recalled a question Rose Shaw had once asked him.

’Hell...’

’What did she go through?’

’No matter what she’s been through, I won’t let her face it alone anymore. Her past—I’ll accept it all. Her future—I’ll take charge of it. I will protect her—her person, her heart!’

Two doctors walked out of the emergency room, and Keith Coleman quickly said, "The doctors are coming out. I have to go."

"Okay, keep me posted." Melody Monroe hung up.

Evan Fairchild stroked her hair, comforting her in a soft voice. "Don’t worry too much. Rose Shaw will be fine."

"I want to go back to Rockwellburg." With something this serious happening to Rose Shaw, she couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

"Okay. I’ll go with you first thing tomorrow morning."

Evan Fairchild was going with her? She immediately threw herself into his arms. "Honey, thank you."

"Silly girl, I’ve always got your back." Evan Fairchild then added, "No matter when, no matter what. Always."

...

Keith Coleman followed the doctor into the emergency room. Rose Shaw lay on the hospital bed, her face so pale it was nearly the same color as the white sheets.

He slowly walked over and took Rose Shaw’s hand. It was still without warmth, and its iciness made his heart ache.

"The patient is no longer in mortal danger, but she needs to be hospitalized for observation. Are you a family member? Please go handle the admission paperwork. A nurse will transfer her to a ward afterward."

"Thank you, Doctor. How long until she wakes up?"

"There’s no telling. She might wake up soon, or it might be tomorrow morning."

"I understand. I’ll go take care of the paperwork right away." Keith Coleman turned and walked out.

Half an hour later, Rose Shaw was moved to a ward. Keith Coleman sat by her bed, holding her hand tightly and rubbing it gently, hoping to bring even a little warmth back to it.

In the dead of night, Christopher Sterling looked at the sleeping Lana Sheffield and their child, then got up and walked out of the hospital room.

He took out his phone and dialed Rose Shaw’s number.

"The number you have dialed is currently powered off."

Christopher Sterling’s brow furrowed. He dialed again, only to get the same automated message.

He knew Rose Shaw’s habits well after all these years; she would never turn her phone off. He put his phone away and headed for the elevator.

When he arrived at Rose Shaw’s apartment, he tried the passcode he hadn’t used in years. To his surprise, the door unlocked.

The moment he pushed the door open, he saw that the apartment was a complete wreck.

Rose Shaw was the last person to tolerate a mess; her apartment was always kept spotless. But now, there were empty wine bottles and shards of glass scattered across the floor. A sudden, terrible premonition washed over him.