A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 522

On the surface, her question seemed directed solely at Maya.

But for some reason, a cold shiver ran down Marcia's spine.

As soon as they finished breakfast, Marcia noticed Maya shooting her frantic looks across the table.

Hesitating for a moment, Marcia stood up and offered to help the maid carry the plates into the kitchen.

Laurel observed her with a detached gaze. "We have staff for that. You don't need to lift a finger."

"It's fine."

Masking her panic, Marcia replied with practiced humility. "I used to do this all the time when I was with the Atwater family. And honestly, it's nothing compared to the orphanage..."

Those words tugged at Suzanne's heartstrings.

Her daughter should have been raised as a pampered heiress, yet she had been forced to endure a life of unimaginable hardship.

Laurel, however, remained completely unfazed. "That reminds me, you were at Pine Hill Orphanage, right?"

During her time in Cresthaven over the past few days, Laurel had dug into every corner of Marcia's past.

"Yes."

Knowing there was no hiding it, Marcia admitted it quickly, only to freeze at Laurel's next question. "Then shouldn't you and Elissa Drummond have known each other since you were kids?"

When Laurel had investigated the validity of Elissa's car crash evidence earlier, she had done a quick background check on Elissa as well.

Elissa had also grown up at Pine Hill Orphanage.

Her trip here today was entirely motivated by the fact that things were lining up a little too perfectly. The coincidences were piling up, and a nagging suspicion had firmly taken root in her mind.

Marcia's hands trembled slightly against the plates, though she forced a look of surprise. "Really? I had no idea she was from Pine Hill too..."

Desperate to sound normal, she scrambled to explain, "We were in-laws for three years, sure, but we only really saw each other at the occasional family dinner. I honestly don't know much about her personal life."

"Is that so?"

Laurel offered a thin smile, playing along effortlessly. "Well, you were both very young back then. It makes sense you wouldn't remember each other."

Before leaving the house, Maya had told everyone they were going shopping.

Marcia knew that was nothing but a convenient excuse.

"It doesn't matter what we do."

Maya had dismissed the driver and was behind the wheel herself. "What matters is that now that Laurel is in Vistapeak, you need to find every possible excuse to avoid her."

Someone as stupid as Marcia would inevitably slip up and expose everything if she spent too much time around Laurel.

"Got it."

Swallowing her frustration, Marcia brought up the text message. "Did Frank ever reply to that text you sent him?"

She was dying to know what Maya was actually plotting.

Without even glancing her way, Maya replied with an icy tone. "That's none of your business. Stop stressing over things that don't concern you. I told you I'd handle it, and I will."