Chapter 230: Secret Anticipation
Melody Monroe was right, and deep down, she knew it too.
"Rose, forget about President Sterling. Don’t let yourself get dragged in deeper! He’s never going to divorce Lana Sheffield! As long as he’s married, even if he loves you, you’re just the other woman. Besides, does he even love you?"
Rose Shaw was stumped.
He didn’t love her. That much was certain.
Because she had never felt the slightest hint of love from him.
"You’ve been by President Sterling’s side for so many years. If he loved you, he would have shown it by now. He doesn’t love you." Melody Monroe knew her words were cruel.
But even if it was like carving open Rose Shaw’s heart and slicing it piece by piece—a death by a thousand cuts—this was a pain Rose Shaw had to endure.
Rose Shaw choked back a sob. She reached for a cigarette, but Melody Monroe immediately stopped her, snatching it away and tossing it out the window.
"Rose, stop running away from this."
"Melody, you think I should just stop here, don’t you? I’ve loved him for so many years. He became my reason for living. You don’t understand how important he is to me! He’s like the blood in my veins. Without him, I lose all hope of even surviving!"
"You have hope! You just refuse to see it!"
Rose Shaw froze for a moment.
Melody Monroe suddenly reached out and hugged her.
"Rose, please try. You’re not happy right now. I know that with President Sterling married, you’re about to break. I’m begging you, Rose, hold on. I need you."
Listening to Melody Monroe’s voice, Rose Shaw’s tense body slowly started to relax.
She knew it was time to let go.
But she was still so reluctant...
"Rose, you can live for yourself. You really can!"
Rose Shaw looked up and met Melody Monroe’s ardent gaze. It was as if there was a fire in her eyes, one full of hope and encouragement.
"You really need me?"
"Mhm." Melody Monroe nodded solemnly.
"Thank you, Melody. I’ll try."
Melody Monroe smiled and nodded. As long as Rose Shaw was willing to try, there was hope!
"Melody, have you really not considered leaving Stellaris?" Rose Shaw started the car again, merging into traffic.
"Leave Stellaris for Starfall? Go work beside the man I’m desperately trying to escape? And then let my heart run wild, completely out of control like an untamed horse? No, that feeling of losing control is too terrifying."
"What if Evan Fairchild is serious about you?"
"He and I are from two different worlds. There’s no way the Fairchild Family would ever accept someone with my background. Why would I want to put myself in such a miserable position?"
"He took Ian, which means he acknowledges the boy."
"Ian is his own flesh and blood, after all. The Fairchild Family can probably accept that much. Evan Fairchild isn’t married yet. Once he has his own family and another child, he might not value Ian as much. It would be better if he just gave Ian back to me. Ian and I can rely on each other, and we’ll be perfectly happy."
"Melody, you have me too. I’ll be with you, through thick and thin."
"Thank you, Rose."
...
Since school let out at five in the afternoon, Ian Monroe had been sitting on the front steps, gazing out toward the gate.
His dad had said his mom was coming back to Rockwellburg today, but he didn’t know what time she would get here.
Evan Fairchild sat in the living room and raised his wrist to check the time.
It was already six-thirty. The sky was completely dark.
Melody Monroe still wasn’t back!
He knew Melody Monroe’s itinerary, but she hadn’t sent him a message, and he hadn’t reached out to ask.
In his heart, he was secretly hoping—hoping that this woman would come back on her own.