Chapter 583

Perhaps it was human nature in a crisis, but Melody Summers’s mind, dazed by the fire, began to clear. Questions she hadn’t noticed before started flashing through her thoughts—

’Why were there only these two bodyguards left at the villa? Where had the others gone?’

’She had just seen a fire extinguisher by the door on the first floor. Why were these two bodyguards just standing in the yard, watching the villa burn without trying to put it out?’

And...

’Why was the room Sophie Thorne was in locked?’

Too many suspicious details flashed through Melody’s mind. Although she couldn’t find the answers right away, all the inconsistencies told her one thing: there was something wrong with the two bodyguards in front of her.

Thinking this, she took two steps back, avoiding the bodyguard’s outstretched hand, and replied, "...My car is parked right outside. It’s convenient. I’ll take her."

Seeing Melody’s evasive movement, the bodyguard who had just spoken frowned.

A flash of impatience crossed his eyes as he looked at her. He raised his voice, "You’re in no condition to drive! Just hand the young miss over to us!"

Without waiting for her reaction, he reached out and pulled Sophie Thorne off Melody’s back, holding her in his arms.

Then, he shot a look at the other bodyguard and ordered in a low voice, "Have Lowell bring the car around... to take the young miss to the hospital."

After giving the order, he turned back to Melody and gestured toward the main gate. "We’ll take the young miss to the hospital. Please leave now!"

Melody Summers: "..."

Melody was now one hundred percent certain there was something wrong with these two. Otherwise, in a crisis like this, why would they ignore the car parked right at the gate and have someone else drive over from another location?

’Isn’t that just delaying her treatment?!’

Melody didn’t know what kind of conspiracy these two bodyguards were plotting. All she knew was that getting Sophie to the hospital was the most important thing right now; she couldn’t afford to get tangled up with them.

So, when the two bodyguards weren’t paying attention, Melody took out a knockout drug and sprinkled it on them.

The next second, both bodyguards collapsed to the ground.

Melody caught Sophie Thorne just before she hit the ground, carried her on her back to the SUV, and drove toward the medical center.

Perhaps because of the turmoil in the neighborhood tonight, the medical center was exceptionally crowded, several times more so than usual.

The emergency area, in particular, was completely swamped, packed shoulder to shoulder. Anxious shouts, painful groans, and hurried footsteps filled the air.

Ambulances, police cars, military vehicles... they drove in and out one after another. Many pale-faced injured people were carried out of the vehicles. Some were covered in bloodstains, while others had their eyes tightly shut, their fate uncertain.

Medical staff in white coats rushed through the crowd, doing everything in their power to treat every injured person.

The pungent smell of antiseptic mixed with blood filled the air, making it feel suffocating.

Melody Summers carried Sophie Thorne to a hospital bed and explained to a nearby medical staff member, "There was a fire at her house. She must have inhaled too much smoke. She’s been unconscious this whole time..."

Watching the medical staff wheel Sophie into the emergency room, Melody finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She followed the flow of people to a relatively quiet spot and took out her phone, intending to contact Winnie Summers and ask for her location. Unexpectedly, her uncle, Colin Summers, spotted her first.

"Melody?" Colin Summers’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Hearing his voice, Melody turned around. Her eyes lit up when she saw Colin standing behind her. "Uncle Colin! I heard from Mom that there was trouble over here. I was worried, so I came to see for myself!"

Colin frowned at her words, his expression disapproving. "You knew there was trouble and you still dared to run around? It’s the middle of the night! Aren’t you afraid of running into danger..."

"I only came out because Mom said the situation was under control," Melody interrupted his rambling, sighing. "She said you were attacked over here. I couldn’t rest easy without coming to see for myself!"

Looking at Colin’s slightly disheveled clothes and haggard face, she asked with renewed concern, "Uncle Colin, you’re all okay, right?"

Colin shook his head wearily. "We’re fine. Your mom and I are both okay... It’s Officer Rhodes who’s in trouble!"

At the mention of Roman Rhodes, Colin’s expression turned grave. Seeing this, Melody quickly pressed, "How is Officer Rhodes now?"

’Don’t tell me I’m too late... that something’s already happened to Roman?’

At that thought, Melody’s heart skipped a beat.

At Melody’s persistent questioning, Colin recounted what had happened that night—

It turned out that members of the reconstruction department had been inspecting supplies at the warehouse tonight when they were attacked by a group of criminals.

The group had hijacked several military trucks from somewhere. Armed with machine guns and live ammunition, they stormed the warehouse, intending to plunder the supplies inside.

Winnie Summers, Colin Summers, and a few others had initially hidden in the relatively safe basement. They had planned to wait there for the armed police and military to arrive, but then they discovered that several movers in the main warehouse had been surrounded by the criminals.

To rescue the trapped movers, Winnie had grabbed a gun and fought her way out, carving a bloody path. She and the movers managed to hold the warehouse gate, buying time for reinforcements to arrive.

Unfortunately, just as the armed police and military arrived and everyone was celebrating their survival, no one noticed a sniper from the criminal group lying in ambush in the distance.

The moment the sniper’s red laser dot appeared on Winnie’s forehead, Roman Rhodes lunged in front of her, tackling her to the ground and shielding her with his body, taking the bullet for her.

Hearing this, Melody’s palms began to sweat. She asked urgently, "And now? How is Officer Rhodes?"

Colin ran a hand over his face and replied in a heavy voice, "He’s out of surgery. The doctor said they can’t be sure if he’s out of danger yet. It all depends on how things go from here..."

...

Melody hadn’t expected Roman to risk his life to protect Winnie. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, and even as she walked to Roman’s hospital room, Colin’s words echoed in her mind.

To her surprise, Roman’s room was quiet. Besides Roman lying in the bed, only Winnie was there, sitting by his side.

Melody stood by the door, just close enough to overhear their conversation.

She heard Roman speak in a weak voice, "...Don’t say that... You were the one who saved me from Kenneth Adler. You gave me this life... It’s my honor to be able to take a bullet for you now..."

Melody Summers: "..."