A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 594

Elissa was full of doubts, but no new messages came through on her phone.

She got out of bed, wanting to go downstairs and tell Rowan, when her phone rang again.

Startled, she glanced at the caller ID, and her racing heart slowly calmed down. She answered, "Hello, Mr. Cross."

"Dr. Drummond," Sean's tone was the same as always, carrying a hint of a smile. "Do you need me to arrange someone to pick you up for tomorrow night's charity gala?"

The charity gala.

Elissa froze for a moment before suddenly remembering that the Wilkinson family's charity gala was tomorrow night.

She had been so focused on Jacqueline these past two days that she had completely put it out of her mind.

Mentioning this made her hesitate.

Tomorrow morning, Alastair's analysis results would be out, and formulating the antidote would be a race against time.

No matter how important tomorrow night was, it wasn't as important as Jacqueline's health.

Between 'biological parents' whom she knew nothing about and the mentor's wife who had genuinely cared for her for so many years, she knew perfectly well which was more important.

After only a brief hesitation, Elissa apologized, "Sean, something unexpected came up these past two days, and I probably won't be able to make it tomorrow night. Can we find another time?"

On the other end of the line, after a moment of silence, Sean asked in confusion, "What happened out of nowhere? Something that would make you skip meeting your own biological parents?"

"Something happened with my mentor."

There was no need to hide it, but Elissa instinctively kept the details vague. "So, I really can't make it tomorrow."

"You won't regret it?"

"I won't."

Elissa answered quickly, though there was a slight tinge of regret in her heart.

After all, she had truly looked forward to it for a long time.

She wanted to know what kind of people her parents were.

Were they... looking forward to finding her?

"Knock, knock—"

Just as she finished speaking, someone knocked on the door.

Mrs. Gable gently pushed the door open, unsure if she was awake. Seeing her on the phone, she breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Elissa, Suzanne is here. She's downstairs right now."

Suzanne?

Her legs hadn't fully recovered yet. Why would she come to Rivercross Residence to see her at this hour?

Elissa was surprised, afraid something had happened to the Wilkinson family. She hastily told the person on the phone, "Sean, I'm very sorry about this, but I have something to attend to. I have to hang up now."

"Don't rush, don't rush." Mrs. Gable saw her urgency and quickly advised, "Janice and Suzanne both told me to tell you not to rush and to come downstairs slowly."

Elissa nodded, but her heart was still worried.

If everything was fine, Suzanne wouldn't have come at this time.

She headed straight downstairs. The moment the elevator doors opened, her eyes met Suzanne's expectant gaze.

But Suzanne couldn't just stand by. She reached out and tucked a stray lock of hair behind Elissa's ear. "Tomorrow, everything with Maya and Marcia will be resolved. After tomorrow, the Wilkinson family will no longer have a third daughter."

Elissa was slightly stunned, but not completely.

She nodded without questioning or doubting anything. She believed Laurel's promise on the phone that morning.

From the very first time she met Laurel, she couldn't help but trust and rely on her.

Laurel really felt like a big sister.

Leaning in a bit closer, Elissa gestured toward Suzanne's puffy eyelids and asked tentatively, "So, did you cry for a long time because of this? Do you feel you didn't discipline Maya well, causing me a lot of trouble, and feel guilty towards me?"

"Silly girl..."

Looking at her bright eyes, Suzanne couldn't hold back her sobs as soon as she opened her mouth. She reached out and pulled her into a tight hug. "Yes, we all let you down."

Elissa froze. Perhaps never having had such close contact with an elder made her body stiffen.

Even though she was very close to Jacqueline, they had never embraced like this.

Suzanne's scent was very warm, like...

Like the unique scent of a mother from a very deep memory.

It was as if this was what a mother should smell like.

Enveloped in this scent, Elissa's body involuntarily relaxed. Feeling Suzanne's tears wetting her shoulder, she comforted her softly, "I don't blame you."

"Suzanne, I know you didn't want this to happen either. If anyone is to blame, it's the instigator. Besides, Laurel told me she'll make her pay the price."