A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 579

The intense anxiety that had kept Elissa tightly wound all day finally eased a fraction.

She definitely wasn't going to argue anymore. After giving Cliff a strict rundown of medical instructions to watch out for, she and Rowan headed back to Rivercross Residence.

Normally, Rivercross Residence was pin-drop quiet, even during the day.

But tonight, even though it was completely dark outside, the moment the two of them stepped through the front doors, they were hit with a chaotic, bustling wave of energy.

Elissa and Rowan exchanged a bewildered glance before walking further inside.

The entire living room, radiating outward from the central coffee table, was completely buried in a mountain of luxury baby supplies.

There were massive items like designer strollers, high-end cribs, and changing tables—at least fifteen to twenty huge boxes of varying styles.

And then there were smaller items: actual mountains of baby clothes, swaddles, and premium newborn accessories...

Rowan walked further into the room and noticed an incredibly rare, vintage set of jade jewelry resting on the coffee table. It was a prized heirloom Janice had hoarded for years, never even bearing to wear it herself. He clicked his tongue. "What exactly is going on here?"

"They're for Elissa!"

Janice turned to Elissa, her voice bursting with earnest enthusiasm. "I know you're stressed out of your mind about Jacqueline's condition, so you just focus entirely on taking care of her. Leave absolutely everything else to me."

Even though the due date was still over four months away, she insisted that so many things needed to be locked down immediately.

It wasn't just about buying gear. They needed to interview elite maternity nurses, hire top-tier postnatal nutritionists, secure the best VIP maternity suite, and book a world-class obstetric surgeon.

If they didn't book those things right this second, all the good ones would be snatched up by other families.

Rowan knew his grandmother adored Elissa, but seeing her literally pulling out her most fiercely guarded family heirlooms still caught him off guard. He shot Elissa an amused look. "The old lady is practically handing over the entire family vault to you."

Originally, he had been mildly worried that his grandmother might pretend to be happy while secretly resenting the fact that the child wasn't his.

Clearly, he had vastly underestimated her.

Elissa had anticipated that Janice would be thrilled to know the truth about the baby, but she had never, in her wildest dreams, expected her to be *this* over the moon.

She glanced down at the solid jade bangle Janice had already aggressively shoved onto her wrist, and the massive emerald necklace she was currently trying to clasp around her neck. 'Terrifying' was the only word for it.

Based on the terrifyingly flawless clarity and color of the stones, the set easily cost north of a hundred million dollars.

Rowan calling it 'the family vault' wasn't an exaggeration in the slightest!

Elissa was just as shell-shocked as he was.

That Gold Keepsake Locket was so massive that forget a newborn—if Elissa wore it, her neck would probably cramp from the sheer weight.

But Janice was thoughtful. She had clearly bought the insanely heavy, solid gold set purely for good luck and symbolism, and had ordered a separate, delicate set for the baby to actually wear.

Elissa could feel it in her bones—Janice was pouring pure, unadulterated love and breathless anticipation into this child.

It was a kind of unconditional family love Elissa had never once experienced from her own blood relatives.

Her baby was going to grow up incredibly loved and blissfully happy.

During dinner, Elissa was quietly sipping her soup when the man beside her suddenly asked, "What exactly did you say to Grandma at the hospital today?"

She choked on a sip of broth. "What do you mean?"

"I could tell you two were hiding a secret the second I walked in."

Rowan handed her a napkin, leaning back in his chair as he stared at her with a knowing, arched brow. "And now the old lady is running around like she's on speed. Forget giving you priceless jade; I bet if you asked for her bank account passwords right now, she'd read them off to you."