A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 533

Before the words even left her mouth, Elissa was consumed by a nervous dread. Her heart was hammering so loudly in her chest it was deafening.

But the moment the question hung in the air, a strange wave of calm washed over her.

Good or bad, she had mentally prepared herself for the answer. Now, all she had to do was wait for Sean to speak.

Sean gently nudged the teacup toward her. "The Wilkinson family is hosting their annual charity gala here in Vistapeak City. Will you be attending, Dr. Drummond?"

"Mr. Cross, I..." Elissa started, assuming he was deflecting the conversation, until his words clicked. "My... biological parents are going to be at the gala?"

"You're a smart girl, Dr. Drummond."

The moment Sean nodded, an immense, crushing weight lifted from Elissa's shoulders.

If they were on the guest list for a high-society charity gala, they weren't criminals. They weren't cartel bosses or fugitives.

She wasn't the daughter of a monster.

She wouldn't be a stain on Rowan's reputation.

She and Rowan would never have to be torn apart again.

God had actually listened to her prayers and granted her mercy one more time.

The suffocating tension that had gripped her for days finally shattered. It felt as though all the bitter struggles of her past were ending right here, right now.

This was a true rebirth.

She could spend the rest of her life with Rowan, safely deliver their baby, and build the perfect, happy family she had always dreamed of.

Elissa exhaled a long, shaky breath. "Mr. Cross, do... do they know I exist?"

With the relief came a new wave of anxiety. Did her parents even care that they had a daughter?

If she suddenly appeared in their lives, would she just be a disruption to the family they had built without her?

If her existence was going to cause them pain, she was perfectly fine staying in the shadows.

Her life with Rowan was already more than enough.

"Don't worry," Sean said softly, taking a sip of his tea. "They've been searching for you tirelessly. But right now, showing up on their doorstep simply isn't the best idea."

Elissa assumed he was keeping the details vague to prevent her from impulsively seeking them out and causing a scene.

So, she didn't push it.

Her biggest fear had been eradicated, and that was all that mattered.

She was incredibly curious about who they were, but after waiting a lifetime, she could wait a few more days.

Gathering her composure, she took his pulse and expertly administered his acupuncture session before packing up to leave.

By the time she stepped outside, the arrogant McLaren that had been blocking the driveway was gone.

Instead of heading straight back to Rivercross Residence, she drove to the Wilkinson Group headquarters to check on the charity initiative, which was progressing smoothly.

As soon as the project team saw her, they pulled her aside with a flood of questions.

Even though Elissa was always available online, some technical details were simply easier to hash out face-to-face.

She said it so casually, without a single ripple of emotion in her voice.

It was as if she were discussing a piece of trivial celebrity gossip.

Seeing how completely unfazed she was, Jesse's frown smoothed out a bit. "How did you know?"

Marcia had only floated the idea at dinner the night before.

Laurel had instantly shut it down, leaving the table with a cold warning for Marcia to drop the fantasy.

But the Wilkinsons couldn't control everything. Marcia was carrying Frank's child, and if she wanted the marriage and the Atwater family agreed, there was little anyone could do to stop it.

Elissa gave a small laugh. "Just a lucky guess."

Jesse nodded, realizing it wasn't exactly a wild leap in logic. The tabloids had been linking those two for ages.

His lips pressed into a thin line. "I shouldn't even be bringing this up and ruining your day, but hiding it from you felt wrong. Don't worry, though. We're going to find a way to stop the wedding."

Whether Elissa cared was one thing, but whether the Wilkinson family was doing right by her was another.

Elissa knew the Wilkinsons had always been kind to her, but she hadn't expected them to factor her feelings into their own daughter's marriage.

It warmed her heart, which made her care even less about the drama. "You don't need to stop anything. Whoever they want to marry has absolutely nothing to do with me."

The fact that the Wilkinsons had been honest with her was enough to ensure there would be no bad blood between them.

As for the Atwaters? If Frank wanted to let Marcia make a fool of him, why should she stand in his way?