A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 527

Panicking, she instinctively used both hands to try and shove Rowan away.

"What are you so shy about?"

Seeing the tips of her ears turn red, Rowan let out a low laugh. "Seeing me holding my girlfriend instead of dying alone is the highlight of her day."

"Right, Grandma?"

He didn't even hesitate to drag Janice into it.

Elissa realized her thick skin was nowhere near his level.

The man was completely bulletproof.

Janice pointed a finger at him from across the room, her smile deepening. "Yes, exactly. It's wonderful seeing you young people so affectionate. I couldn't be happier for you."

Of course she was happy. She was desperately hoping nothing would ever come between them again.

She wanted them to stay exactly like this forever.

Elissa bit her lip, offering a sheepish, embarrassed smile.

But the sense of belonging in her chest swelled.

It wasn't the superficial comfort of familiar objects, but... the feeling of true family.

She could tell the old lady genuinely saw her as a granddaughter-in-law.

It warmed her heart, but beneath the surface, a quiet sense of anxiety lingered.

-

The next day, after finishing her shift at the clinic, Elissa checked the time. It was already 2 PM.

She quickly packed her things, grabbed a quick bowl of noodles nearby, and drove straight to Atwater Manor.

Arriving at this hour was perfect.

Old Mrs. Atwater would just be waking up from her afternoon nap, and Elissa could examine her and leave immediately.

If she arrived too late, she'd run into dinner time, and she had zero desire to cross paths with Carmela.

Old Mrs. Atwater froze for a second. She clearly saw the devastation wrecking her grandson's face, but she didn't put Elissa on the spot. Instead, she patted the girl's hand. "That's wonderful news. As long as you've found a man you can trust with your life, I'm happy for you."

It made sense. There was no law stating a girl had to waste her whole life on the Atwater family.

Her grandson had treated the girl like garbage for years; now he was choking on the bitter reality of his own mistakes, and he had no one to blame but himself.

It took Frank a long time to swallow the agonizing lump in his throat. He stood up to greet her. "Thank you for making the trip just to check on my grandmother."

"She always took such good care of me. Checking on her health is the least I can do."

Elissa offered a polite smile.

But the boundary she drew was crystal clear: she was here for the grandmother, not for the Atwater family, and definitely not for him.

Frank's hands curled into tight fists at his sides. He managed to force a stiff smile and muttered something in reply, though he couldn't remember what he said once he sat back down.

His mind echoed with only one sentence: *She has a boyfriend.*

She had just openly and proudly confessed her relationship with Rowan Murphy—a relationship he had assumed would never last.