A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 491

The treatment went incredibly smoothly. Afterward, Sean Cross accepted the new prescription Elissa Drummond had written. Leaning on his cane, he walked them to the door. "Dr. Drummond, thank you for all the trouble."

"I won't delay your matter, don't worry." He brought it up before Elissa even had to ask.

Elissa pressed her lips together. Her guard remained up, but her tone softened a fraction. "Mr. Cross, please let me know the moment there is any progress."

Even though Rowan Murphy's words had eased some of her confusion, she still needed to know why she had ended up entirely alone in an Eastern European smuggling den all those years ago.

Was she trafficked? Abandoned? Or... were her parents the smugglers themselves?

A chilling wave of dread washed over her at the thought. However, another realization surfaced with crystal clarity: if that were true, even if they were still alive, she would never acknowledge them.

Her life had already been a mess for decades. She couldn't allow a single ounce of risk into her child's life.

On the way to the research institute with Cliff Riley, he noticed her absentmindedness. He hadn't wanted to pry, but out of genuine concern, he finally asked, "What exactly did Mr. Cross promise you?"

Elissa slowly snapped out of her daze. "He promised..."

Before she could finish, her phone rang. The caller ID flashed: Paige Jensen.

She used to put on a polite front and save the contact as 'Grandmother,' but she had changed it recently.

Paige hadn't stirred up trouble for her in a while. Surprised by the call, Elissa hesitated for a moment before answering. "Hello." Her tone was glacial, stripping away any formal greeting.

In the past, Paige would have used the opportunity to scream at her. Elissa braced herself for an outburst.

Yet, the expected barrage of insults never came. Paige didn't seem to mind the coldness at all and instead asked with a laugh, "Elissa, are you working at the clinic today? Are you busy?"

Elissa frowned, unsure of what game the older woman was playing. Before Paige could finish, Butler Murphy's voice came through the line. "Miss Elissa, the madam fainted last night. She's been asking for you all day."

"If you have time, could you come see her at the hospital?" Elissa's frown deepened. "Butler Murphy, if there's something you need, just say it."

This sudden shift to a warm, emotional angle only set her on edge. "Do you want me to convince Rowan to go on blind dates again, or is it something else?" she asked bluntly.

On the other end, Paige looked utterly humiliated and shot a furious glare at the butler. Butler Murphy had no choice but to continue, "This time, the madam truly just misses you. She just wants to see you and have a chat, that's all."

"If I just what?" Paige had never bowed her head to anyone in her entire life; she couldn't even stand to hear the suggestion.

Rowan had stripped her of her shares the night before, leaving her suffocating with rage. Now they wanted her to beg for forgiveness from a brat like Elissa? Not a chance in hell.

With a sharp flick of her gaze, she ordered the butler to retrieve her phone. Taking it back, she dialed an unsaved number. "It's me."

"I have your number memorized." The man's voice on the other end was gravelly with age but carried a patience he rarely afforded others. "We just saw each other last night. What is it?"

Paige swallowed her anger. "Why do I have to play nice with Elissa? Can't we just stop her from reclaiming her true identity?"

It shouldn't be that hard to block the wretched girl from returning to the Wilkinsons. They could even... eliminate the problem permanently.

"Paige, this isn't twenty years ago," the man reasoned. "Ever since her car accident in Cresthaven, the police have been watching our company like hawks. We have to do something to lower their guard."

Letting Elissa return to her real family was a peace offering to the Wilkinsons. And making peace with the Wilkinsons meant making peace with the authorities. Only then would they have the breathing room to operate in the future.