A Caged Songbird's Escape: Into the Arms of a Predator novel Chapter 613

She had always known Laurel was not someone to be crossed.

But in the past, her sister's methods had always been direct, leaving some room for maneuver.

This was the first time she felt genuine terror.

She could clearly sense that Laurel wanted her ruined beyond recovery.

Hearing this, a hint of suspicion crept into the gaze Tristan directed at his eldest daughter.

However, Laurel had seemed like a completely different person since that morning.

Previously, while she was calm and decisive, she had also been respectful and reasonable.

But today, she was only the former.

Before Tristan could voice his doubts, Laurel gave the police a slight nod. She let out a soft chuckle and spoke with absolute conviction in front of all the guests. "It's me. But how is this pulling strings? Weren't you the one operating in the shadows to poison someone?"

"One of our family's core principles is to never abuse power or bully others. I am simply respecting law enforcement doing their duty."

Her words not only answered Maya but clearly stated the Wilkinson family's stance, firmly nailing the impostor to the pillar of shame.

An uproar rippled through the guests.

Did that mean Maya had actually taken a life?

At that moment, all the eyes on her shifted from flattery and fawning to a complex, indescribable emotion...

It was disgust and disdain, yet muted by her status and the fact that this was the Wilkinsons' home turf.

Maya experienced a moment of daze.

She felt as if she had been transported back to the days right after her biological parents died.

The debt collectors who had come to her door back then had looked at her with this exact same expression.

Or perhaps, an even more nakedly cruel one.

If she lost her title as a Wilkinson, these people would look at her just as the debt collectors had.

Extreme panic flooded her heart.

No...

She could never allow herself to return to that life.

Back then, it was Tristan who had come to take her away.

Snapping back to reality, she clung to Tristan's arm, looking fragile and helpless, shaking her head frantically. "I didn't do it, Dad. How could I ever do something like that..."

No matter what, she just needed to hold onto his trust.

Completely exposed.

Every single whispered comment drilled into her ears.

Leaving her humiliated and terrified.

"Shut up!"

Tristan was beyond enraged. Just as he raised his hand to stop her, someone gripped his arm tightly.

"You're ready to hit all of us over an evil adopted daughter?"

Seeing his biological children stand against him one by one, Tristan frowned deeply and instinctively looked toward Jesse standing nearby.

But all he found in Jesse's face and eyes was coldness and disappointment.

Tristan swayed slightly on his feet. Just then, Paige spoke up from the side, "Laurel, we are all one family. Why make a joke out of this for outsiders to see..."

This was the first time Laurel had seen someone practically offer their face to be slapped.

Thinking of everything Vera had suffered, she let out a cold laugh. "She is not our family. Just like..."

Her gaze swept over Slate. "Mr. Slate isn't actually part of the Murphy family either."