A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 574

As Jacqueline was carefully transferred into a VIP suite, Rowan firmly guided Elissa into a nearby chair, essentially forcing her to sit down.

"No matter how worried you are, you can't neglect your own health."

Elissa didn't resist. The moment she had felt Jacqueline's pulse, she knew that panic wouldn't change a thing.

All she could do was wait for the chemical analysis from the lab.

Once she had that breakdown, she could formulate an antidote in record time.

But the question that kept gnawing at her mind was *how* Jacqueline had been poisoned in the first place.

Ian called right on cue.

The call went to Rowan's phone, but knowing how anxious Elissa was, Rowan handed the device straight to her.

"Boss, the police haven't found any toxic substances in the house so far. However, we pulled the security footage, and..."

Ian's voice trailed off hesitantly. Elissa couldn't help but press, "What did you find?"

"We found that Frank Atwater visited Mr. Blaine's residence earlier today. But... shortly after he left, your mentor's wife seemed to get a strange message. She rushed out of the house looking incredibly frantic."

"She collapsed shortly after returning, which is when Cliff found her."

Elissa's face went rigid. "Are you saying the poisoning might be... connected to Frank?"

The mere thought sent a freezing chill down her spine.

Yet, it didn't make sense...

Frank wasn't that kind of person.

Ian agreed, "It's a strong possibility. The police are continuing their investigation to see who exactly she met up with when she rushed out."

Anyone Jacqueline had come into contact with before collapsing was a prime suspect.

Elissa thought for a moment before asking, "How much time passed between Frank leaving and Jacqueline returning home after her outing?"

"An hour," Ian replied.

Elissa inexplicably let out a breath of relief. She spoke with absolute certainty, "Then we can rule him out for now."

The poison coursing through Jacqueline's veins was viciously aggressive. Medically speaking, it would have triggered violently in minutes.

It definitely wouldn't have taken an hour.

Ian, accustomed to trusting her judgment implicitly, didn't even question her reasoning. "Understood. I'll coordinate with the police and pivot the focus entirely onto whoever she met while she was out."

Rowan interjected in a low, commanding voice, "Lead the search personally. I want definitive answers by the end of the day."

Ian controlled the most formidable intelligence network in Vistapeak City, so this tight deadline wasn't an unreasonable demand.

Ian replied instantly, "Yes, sir."

After ending the call, Elissa finally noticed Rowan staring at her intently.

She handed the phone back, instinctively feeling the need to explain herself. "I wasn't defending Frank. I was just analyzing the toxicology of the poison..."

"Where is your mind running off to?"

Rowan affectionately ruffled her hair, his eyes shining with open admiration. "I was just surprised that you managed to calm down and objectively analyze the situation so quickly."

If this had happened when she was younger, she probably would have just stared at him with big, tearful eyes, begging him to tell her what to do.

Rowan wasn't sure which version he preferred.

He loved it when she depended on him. But seeing her so strong made him incredibly proud, even if it caused a slight pang of protectiveness in his chest.

Cliff added gently, "Mr. Blaine has already boarded his flight. He'll touch down tomorrow morning."

The mention of her mentor finally gave Elissa a sliver of reassurance.

Her mentor... he might have a way to save her.

Elissa refused to leave the room, standing vigil by the bed. By noon, Janice arrived, personally delivering a home-cooked lunch.

With Janice there to keep Elissa company, Rowan took the opportunity to head back to the corporate headquarters to handle some urgent matters.

Cliff also had to return to the clinic for his shift.

Seeing Elissa merely pushing her food around like it tasted like ash, Janice scooped some soup into a bowl for her and spoke softly. "No matter what's happening, you have to eat properly. Otherwise, you'll collapse before we even find a solution!"

"Besides, you're carrying a child. The baby needs nutrition too, doesn't it?"

Hearing this, Elissa remembered Rowan's hilarious misunderstanding. She realized Janice likely didn't know the truth either.

She stayed silent for a moment, taking a slow sip of the broth. "Janice, you didn't even know that the baby in my stomach was Rowan's, yet you still treated it with so much love. Why?"

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

Janice didn't even pause to think, shooting her an affectionate glare. "I already love you to pieces, why would I let something like that..."

Halfway through her sentence, the meaning of Elissa's words finally hit her. Janice stopped dead, her jaw dropping as she stared at the young woman. "Wait, what did you just say?"

What did she mean, 'didn't know the baby was Rowan's'?

Janice felt a tidal wave of shock and euphoria, though she tried to suppress her beaming smile, feeling it was highly inappropriate given the grim setting. She gripped Elissa's hand tightly, her eyes shining with desperate hope. "Are you telling me this baby belongs to Rowan?"

Elissa knew that although Janice had never held her past against her and always treated her wonderfully, deep down, the older woman definitely dreamed of holding her great-grandchild.

She squeezed Janice's hand back and gave a firm nod. "Yes. He's the father, and you're the great-grandmother."