A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 593

Cliff also waited quietly for Aaron's diagnosis.

Aaron tucked Jacqueline's hand under the blanket and said, "It's pretty much as you judged. The compound poison is too complex. Right now, there's still a portion of the poison in her system that hasn't flared up."

"At this point, administering an antidote that isn't perfectly matched will only accelerate that portion of the poison."

Hearing this, Elissa's heart grew even heavier, and she couldn't speak for a long time.

It was all because of her.

Having watched her grow up, Aaron naturally knew what she was thinking. "Alright, I'm back now. Cliff will stay and give me a hand. You and Rowan go home and get a good day's rest."

There was no point in persuading her further right now; it was better to just send her home to rest.

"I want to stay here with her," Elissa insisted.

"I told you to go back, so go back."

Aaron unceremoniously reached out and checked her pulse, his face unusually stern. "I noticed you looked awful earlier, and you're still being stubborn with me. Feel your own pulse and ask yourself if you still want this baby."

"..."

Elissa pursed her lips. "I checked it, it's fine for now..."

"For now? Then hurry up and rest properly. Do you have to wait until something goes wrong to be satisfied?"

Aaron frowned and glared at Cliff. "Go get Rowan to take you home. None of you give me a moment's peace."

Her mentor rarely lost his temper like this. Elissa knew she couldn't force her way to stay.

"Then I'll head back first and come over first thing tomorrow morning."

It just so happened that Alastair's results would be out tomorrow morning as well.

Aaron shot her a look. "If you still look this terrible tomorrow, don't bother coming to annoy me."

Seeing Elissa's eyelashes droop, Aaron felt helpless and couldn't keep up the fierce act. He sighed. "You're an adult now. If you can't even take care of yourself, how do you expect to take care of Jacqueline and me in the future?"

Hearing this, Elissa pursed her lips and nodded vigorously. "I understand. Don't worry."

Rowan walked in, chatted briefly with Aaron about Alastair's progress, and then led Elissa away.

Once in the car, Rowan squeezed her palm. "Did Aaron scold you?"

"No." Elissa sniffled, looking out at the rapidly receding landscaping outside the window. "He cares about me and is worried my body won't hold up," she said with a lump in her throat.

She wasn't ungrateful.

Her mentor was just anxious, which made his words a bit heavy.

He was right; she needed to take care of herself so she could properly care for him and Jacqueline as they grew older.

They were her only family.

Upon arriving at Rivercross Residence, Rowan watched her get into bed before heading to his study to work.

This was the most joyous occasion between the two of them, and Janice had the self-awareness of an elder not to interfere in such things.

Rowan's face darkened. "Of course it'll be me."

The thought that the child might have called Frank "Dad" made a surge of irritation rise in his chest.

Because Aaron had returned, Elissa felt somewhat reassured subconsciously, even though she still worried about Jacqueline.

She slept very deeply and it was pitch black outside when she woke up.

She rubbed her eyes. Just as she was about to grab her phone to check the time, a notification chimed.

It was a message from an unknown number.

[Leave Rowan, and I can give you the antidote.]

Elissa's heart skipped a beat. She immediately dialed the number, but no one answered.

She called several times, all with the same result.

Suppressing her racing heartbeat, she replied: [Who are you? Maya?]

No.

It couldn't be Maya.

On the way back, Rowan had told her the Wilkinson family had essentially placed Maya under house arrest.